Serious Bidness

[pigeonfarmboy]

Think it's time to get serious. I don't have any experience in CNC so it'll be manual machines for now. Time to commence the search for a "Toolroom" lathe and a J Head Bridgeport.

Lathes I'm considering:
Grizzly - G4003G
Jet - 321357A
Kent - KLS-1440
Knuth - Basic Plus
Precision Matthews - 1127VF
Hardinge - HLV-H (haha)
Monarch - EE
South Bend - Heavy 10

My limitations:
Nothing much wider than a 40" centers lathe. I only have 220v 1phase in the garage. I plan to run a VFD and step-up transformer if needed for both the lathe and mill.

Expectations: My Taig setup is fine for very small stuff, when it comes to modifying/making full-scale car parts, and larger RC stuff, it just doesn't have the ability. The taig takes way too long or is obviously too small for most work. My free time is stretched among 100 different hobbies so time savings is a very huge deal in my garage. I want my first project to be making a 657G Scraper from the ground up. I believe these machines will allow such an undertaking.

Budgeting: 10k+/- for both machines and tooling. Would like DRO on mill, not a deal breaker on the lathe for now.

This guy is down by Ed in Illinois but I can't get him to return an email or phone call: http://www.jchandlermachine.com

This place is 3 hours north of me, still waiting on a quote for the Monarch they have listed: http://www.libertymachinery.com

This Clausing is close-by. I was told the Colchester versions are quite sought-after: http://www.ebay.com/itm/140967219888...84.m1423.l2649

Any experience, suggestions, leads, or name-calling is welcome. Am I a dumb@ss for thinking I need such "overkill" machinery? 10k buys alot of yellow toys.....but these things also produce new toys

[ihbuilder]

Don't buy anything off ebay without looking at it with someone knowledgeable in machine tools . beware of sugar coated used machines that say reconditioned from dealers . A good EE is going to fetch $$$$ . If you don't mind a trip this way , I can show you a couple lathes (hardinge ) should be there yet . They need some cleaning though . Good luck

yes the scrapers are a serious undertaking I have to rebuild my goosenecks then the fun begins , cramming everything in it

hey 30+K can make a **** ton of cool toys

[pigeonfarmboy]

30k=selling all my cool toys.....hehe

I plan to visit those two dealers to see how full of it they are.

[pigeonfarmboy]

Grizzly G4003G lathe just listed locally for $2600 w/tooling. Gonna go check that out.

[pigeonfarmboy]

Looking like she'll be mine. I'm too fast for your guys' help hehehe

[doodlebug]

Hey Nathan, bigger, heavier, newer, means better work!
I built the Gingery scrap metal lathe, it won't hold a candle to
My 6" Atlas lathe. You take care of it, and it will stay tight
Longer!
Cheers, Neil.

[ihbuilder]

here's a clausing , Nate looks like a toy next to the hendey ,monarchs and lablonds . Where the clausing sits is where mine sat . they had a SB about the same size as the clausing with everything you could ask for with it but that went in a few weeks after he got it in .

the 1 behind it has a pulley forming attachment on it . after 100s of trips to this place I just noticed it

[pigeonfarmboy]

My bad, I should have updated this sooner. I ended up finding a Grizzly G4003G 12x36 lathe locally for half the price of a new one. It's not as nice as other's I was considering but hopefully it will last long enough until I can save for a more precise machine. I really could have used this thing when I was building my motorcycle a year ago. It's been very nice churning out parts instead of painfully waiting for the Taig to shave off microscopic amounts of material. Powerfeed is sure nice to have as well

Thanks to those that offered help. I will begin the search for the Mill once I modify the shop this fall. (Anyone that wants a sidecar or hotrod, lemme know)

[doodlebug]

It will be just fine, giddee up and make some parts!
Cheers, Neil.

[tc1cat]

Nice find! I was going to warn you not to get a Clausing lathe. Half nut on the power feed was a high usage part that they quit making in the early 80's. Where I worked had one setting for years waiting on the half nut. Never found when they closed the doors in 9 years.

Don't be completely set on a Bridgeport mill. Lots of other Bridgeport clones out there that are just as good. I agree with Steve about ebay or finding 1 on the web. You must go see the machine and see it run if possible.

[doodlebug]

Originally Posted by tc1cat

Nice find! I was going to warn you not to get a Clausing lathe. Half nut on the power feed was a high usage part that they quit making in the early 80's. Where I worked had one setting for years waiting on the half nut. Never found when they closed the doors in 9 years.

Don't be completely set on a Bridgeport mill. Lots of other Bridgeport clones out there that are just as good. I agree with Steve about ebay or finding 1 on the web. You must go see the machine and see it run if possible.

Make your own half nut, I did!
Cheers, Neil.

[pigeonfarmboy]

Any Bridgeport clone brands to stay away from?

[pigeonfarmboy]

This looks appealing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tchlink:top:en

[Izzy]

do some research - Bridgeport reconditions and then sells, usually the trade in units.

Of all the tradesman I have ever talked with - a mediocre condition Bridgeport is better than most off brands in top condition.

watch you collet styles

[doodlebug]

R-8 is a fairly common collet size.
Cheers, Neil.

[ihbuilder]

Originally Posted by doodlebug

R-8 is a fairly common collet size.
Cheers, Neil.

yea but so small

[Izzy]

It is but we're not try'n to run a 6" roughing head either