Machinist opinions

[scalelover]

My biggest worry was tolerances and usage wear. I don't want to invest that much into a machine that willed up needing that much more for upkeep and repairs. Especially seeing as I have access to nice high end equipment. I just want to have something at home I can use and learn on and if I break heads or tools I'm SOL not the company.

--Dan

[Joat]

Originally Posted by scalelover

My biggest worry was tolerances and usage wear. I don't want to invest that much into a machine that willed up needing that much more for upkeep and repairs. Especially seeing as I have access to nice high end equipment. I just want to have something at home I can use and learn on and if I break heads or tools I'm SOL not the company.

--Dan

I love my grizzly 7x14 lathe, once you do a few tweaks it's a well worth the money, I have an adjustable backing plate for my chuck and can get .0005 or less in accuracy,not bad for a $500 lathe!!!!!!!
I also have a LMS mini mill, like it very much
Read up on mini-lathe.com Frank has a world of good info there.

[scalelover]

Originally Posted by Joat

Read up at mini-lathe.com

Originally Posted by Joat

I love my grizzly 7x14 lathe, once you do a few tweaks it's a well worth the money, I have an adjustable backing plate for my chuck and can get .0005 or less in accuracy,not bad for a $500 lathe!!!!!!!
I also have a LMS mini mill, like it very much
Read up on mini-lathe.com Frank has a world of good info there.

I will check the site and do some more research before I make a purchase. I do appreciate all the info you guys have given me on this.

On another thought if I went a bit bigger than the tabletop what would you recommend. I have a decent amount of room available in my hobby room, but I also have an old root cellar that I was thinking of converting to my machine shop anyway, if that's the case then I'll have quite a hit more room. In there it's roughly 8x12 or 14 and I can build whatever I need as far as benches shelves framework etc etc etc. so this way may be a better option anyway. Only downside is I would have to do a but of prep work to area, like add some insulation and probably false walls just to keep the temp a bit more stable in there. But again not a huge deal if I have too

--Dan

[Joat]

Originally Posted by scalelover

I will check the site and do some more research before I make a purchase. I do appreciate all the info you guys have given me on this.

On another thought if I went a bit bigger than the tabletop what would you recommend. I have a decent amount of room available in my hobby room, but I also have an old root cellar that I was thinking of converting to my machine shop anyway, if that's the case then I'll have quite a hit more room. In there it's roughly 8x12 or 14 and I can build whatever I need as far as benches shelves framework etc etc etc. so this way may be a better option anyway. Only downside is I would have to do a but of prep work to area, like add some insulation and probably false walls just to keep the temp a bit more stable in there. But again not a huge deal if I have too

--Dan

If your doing small work the 7x's "as they are commonly referred to" are dependent on what your gonna work on, small parts the 7x's are hard to beat,it's hard to do small work on a large lathe?
I would not give up my grizzly , but will be getting a large lathe for other work