Mini lathes & mini mills

[Ocean1]

Ok im interested in this how can you tell the difference between a SG iron or grey iron bed?
most of the chink stuff is not induction harden sideways like the colchesters where or maybe thats
just a myth about the place..

Without the owner getting all bent out of shape? On a new machine you can get a good idea by just wiping your finger over a machined but out-of-the-way surface. Grey CI,(especially most of the shit out of China) has a lot more free carbon which gets left on the surface by the machining.

Of course you could ask the vendor for a traceable standards materials compliance cert. Or a sample you can test...

[F5 Dave]

Been tempted to acquire a small lathe to do bits & pieces. Any of you guys have one & where did you get it? I haven't seen any on trademe that look ok & aren't thousands of dollars.
harbour freight in the States seem to have a few so we should have some distributors over here.

here's a really ggod website i've found that explains the basics to a noob as myself.

http://www.mini-lathe.com/Default.htm

I'm only looking at less than $500 cos i'd only use it a few times a year.

for a few times a year it just isn't worth it. On the other hand I bought my 1950 Sheldon about 4 years ago for $500. Its old & worn & there's no way I can make anything seriously accurate or complex on it, but that suits my ability perfectly. Complex is a paid job sub'd out to an engineer.

Tooling is old sc. . .no I'm not going to use that lame term. Lets just say they did things a little differently. Some would turn thier nose up, but its a level for 80-90% of what I want done.

Now I don't know what I'd do without it. Spacer? Hmm, here's some stock offcut or maybe this would work if it was thinner, or needs opening etc etc. Bit more? try, bit more? Sorted.

Fuck its useful.

But you'll find your self spending a little on stock ally & plastic & some cutting stuff & a set of large drillbits.

[BIG DOUG]

I would go bigger,mine was a shop floor model and near new and I paid $1300.00 for it ,you say you will only use it a few times a year but once you get one it becomes quite addictive and rewarding to make you own shit, if mine shit itself tomorrow I would beg or borrow the money and have a new one by the end of the week.

[Willdat?]

Been tempted to acquire a small lathe to do bits & pieces. Any of you guys have one & where did you get it? I haven't seen any on trademe that look ok & aren't thousands of dollars.
harbour freight in the States seem to have a few so we should have some distributors over here.

here's a really ggod website i've found that explains the basics to a noob as myself.

http://www.mini-lathe.com/Default.htm

I'm only looking at less than $500 cos i'd only use it a few times a year.

Or if you've got any jobs you want to do give me a PM/text and I'll let you have a play...

[Padmei]

Or if you've got any jobs you want to do give me a PM/text and I'll let you have a play...

Now there's a great offer. Thanks Will.