I Got Money Burnin' A Hole In My Pocket

Juiceclone: This is what I was looking for! Thanks for sharing your experience. I don't quite have the moxy to import myself.
 
That is $1300 more than the machine the OP is looking at. If he was will to spend $3000 for a lathe, I would be strongly suggesting he go for a 12x36 model that has a real (Norton) QCGB (or a Grizzly 12x24 if he didn't have space).

The question to answer is what other lathes should he look at that are near that $1700 price point.
1. Grizzly 11x26 at $1500. No power cross feed, no separate feed rod, no variable speed.
2. Grizzly 1022V at $1700. No power cross feed, no separate feed rod.
3. PM1030V at $1800. No power cross feed, no separate feed rod.

I would strongly recommend that the OP gets a photo of the actual lathe DROPros is selling, showing the separate feed rod, prior to purchase, just to make sure there is no mis-communication. I haven't seen any Weiss WM250V photos online that show this configuration.
http://www.weiss.com.cn/products_detail/productId=51.html

A
lso, if you do buy from DROPros, recommend (if you can swing the cash) you buy a DRO at the same time. Having one on a lathe is a glorious thing, and the 25% discount they are offering is nice.

Your thought process is exactly how I eliminated Grizzly and shyed away from PM. I completely agree that some pics of the actual lathe are in order and I'm sure DRO will send me some when it arrives before I send $. I'm hoping that this unit is the imperial version of this. http://www.rogitrading.com/products/weiss-lathes/wm250av-f

The DRO would be slick but, I am in the market for a push/pull gun for my big Miller. They cost almost as much as this toy lathe. You are correct, If I had $3700 in my pocket....the PM1236 would be mine without question!
 
Not a chance. The only new machines I have seen smaller than the 12x24 or 12x36 range with a camlock chuck was the (discontinued) South Bend (Grizzly) SB1001 9" lathe.

to the OP: separate feed rod on this class of machine is a huge plus. Should be a nice machine.

Just one caveat: if you have the additional money and the space, stepping up to a 12x24 or 12x36 lathe gets you a real Quick Change Gearbox (the ones in machines this size are crippled), and a camlock chuck. Both huge advantages.

Here is one, I just benched it today
http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM-1228VF-LB.html
 
Just a couple of things:

1. The PM-1030 at that price includes shipping and quick change tool post set, etc. To compare more, the 1030V on the web site is $1899.
If you are saying that they have a 10x30 with brushless motor, separate feed rod, and its not missing anything (Like a headstock ha ha) and they are at $1699, then buy it. There is no way I can touch that price for a machine like that. BUT from what I have found, if I can't touch the price, there is something thats just not right. - And if you are up in the 11x30 and they got it mixed up with the 1030, well our 1127VFLB has all of that, plus quick change tool post, etc. And its now a VFD controller motor, no more DC on that 1127. I like that lathe, if that 11x27 had a good quick change gearbox, and camlock spindle, Id love it. (Thats why we have the 1228 now, but you see the price is up there with the 1236)
Also ask DRO pros how a quick change tool post will work on their machine, thats important too.

2. The PM-1030V DOES have power cross feed. And the feeds run off of the key like south bend used to do, so its the same as a separate feed rod, not wearing the threads when using the half nut for feeds like some small machines do.

3. I can not say a bad thing about DRO Pros. A good bunch of guys. HOWEVER, weiss is a completely different story. I was really disappointed when I saw those guys getting involved with weiss, since I like those guys. I worked with weiss for a bit. Not good at all.

4. Sumores web site is a trading company. They have machines on there from probably 10 or more different factories. Not that its a bad thing, but for a small machine like this, there is no way you can import it and save any money by the time you figure in customs brokers, insurance, ocean shipping, inland freight, etc. - If they have something you like, no problem, as juiceclone seemed to have good luck with them, but there are a lot of variables to get right. And if they dont, youre out of luck. And not sure where you would get parts if you need them.

5. Im working on a small lathe but the factories keep fighting me. I want a D1-3 or D1-4 camlock, (Which D1-4 is coming on the 1127 soon) but still hounding them and working on a quick change gearbox. Problem is, with all of this, the price creeps up and up.

6. I need to clone myself, because I am also working with the foundry on patterns for things I Want to do, and putting more attention in to larger machines (Like our 1340GT and 1440GT) but Id like to get these smaller lathes situated. Im workin on it!

7. Save up and get the 1236 now, instead of buying a smaller one, selling it, and then getting the 1236 (Haha just kidding)
 
Dammit Matt, now you got me thinking! To be honest, your 10x30 was the target. What swayed me was the availibility of a stand (I want a stand dammit! lol) and the seperate feed rod and supposedly more powerful motor.

Support is huge and your record speaks for itself. If I could divert more money from the welding side of my little shop, your 1236 would be mine. Unfortunately the welding makes more money than the machining will for me.

The Grizzly 1236 gunsmithing lathe is on sale now but, Grizzly won't get any more of my cash......ever! A G0695 debacle done killed that for me. Had I not been persistant (more so than I should have ever had to), I would have had a $4200 boat anchor. Which further drives me toward your product.

Matt, now you've done got me all confused. I'll get ahold of you tomorrow.......save me one please!
 
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Im working on a small lathe but the factories keep fighting me. I want a D1-3 or D1-4 camlock, (Which D1-4 is coming on the 1127 soon)

Awesome! There are a lot of people who are space/budget constrained, and it is good to see Matt working to deliver a quality product that has features no one else offers.
 
Matt will definitely steer you in the direction for what fits your situation. For my needs the 1127 has been fantastic. There are only two things I would change on the machine. 1) a quick change gear box, and 2) I would utilize a wider pulley for the drive train so that a wider belt with a bit more grip could be utilized. Now, for a newbie, that belt slipping has saved my bacon on two occasions where a gear head lathe would have done some damage, so I guess it isn't all bad.
 
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