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- Nov 23, 2014
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I have a Rockwell 10 x 36 (variable speed) and a Clausing 5418 (step pulley), but got the clearance from "the boss" to pick up a gear head lathe. I have a few makes/models in mind and would appreciate some advice from others. My wish list is a foot brake so I don't run my hand on the chuck to stop the spindle and a gear head so I don't have to drop to my knees to change speeds (Clausing step pulley is in the lower cabinet). By the way, I'll sell the Rockwell once I upgrade, look for it on the for sale forum. Here's my list of prospects and a few key points on each one:
Bolton Tools BT1440 - $4375 including shipping with power lift-gate. 70-2000 RPM spindle speed, 0.002" - 0.054" longitudinal feed rates. Power controls on the front of the lathe. Longitudinal crank and half-nut levers are reversed in position from conventional.
Precision Matthews 13 x 40. Don't know the price/shipping. Comes with a taper attachment (plus for me as the only reason I've kept the Rockwell is it has a taper attachment) and QCTP. Power on the front.
PM 14x40: Don't know the price/shipping. Comes with 5C closer, taper attach., 70-2000 RPM, 0.0013" - 0.0173" feeds. Power on the front.
Grizzly G0782 13 x 40, $4555 with shipping. 70-2000 RPM spindle speeds. Power controls are on top/back of the headstock.
I'm leaning toward the Bolton lathe, but have read nothing but great things about Matt and PM. I can probably get a taper attachment on the Bolton for under $500 to do apples to apples comparisons. I'm good with a $150 D1-4 collet chuck instead of a lever-style collet closer too. Grizzly has a good rep, but I'd prefer the power controls on the front of the headstock instead of on the top/back side. Any obvious things I'm missing? Any other manufacturers?
One other question, most of these lathes I believe come with metric cross-feed nuts so you get 0.127" per turn. Is that hard to get used to? I'm used to chucking up a piece of 1" stock that needs to turn down to 0.5"; do 2 1/2 turns from 0.000 to take 0.250" off the radius. Do guys turn to 0.100" on the cross feed then reset to zero or just do the math?
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Bolton Tools BT1440 - $4375 including shipping with power lift-gate. 70-2000 RPM spindle speed, 0.002" - 0.054" longitudinal feed rates. Power controls on the front of the lathe. Longitudinal crank and half-nut levers are reversed in position from conventional.
Precision Matthews 13 x 40. Don't know the price/shipping. Comes with a taper attachment (plus for me as the only reason I've kept the Rockwell is it has a taper attachment) and QCTP. Power on the front.
PM 14x40: Don't know the price/shipping. Comes with 5C closer, taper attach., 70-2000 RPM, 0.0013" - 0.0173" feeds. Power on the front.
Grizzly G0782 13 x 40, $4555 with shipping. 70-2000 RPM spindle speeds. Power controls are on top/back of the headstock.
I'm leaning toward the Bolton lathe, but have read nothing but great things about Matt and PM. I can probably get a taper attachment on the Bolton for under $500 to do apples to apples comparisons. I'm good with a $150 D1-4 collet chuck instead of a lever-style collet closer too. Grizzly has a good rep, but I'd prefer the power controls on the front of the headstock instead of on the top/back side. Any obvious things I'm missing? Any other manufacturers?
One other question, most of these lathes I believe come with metric cross-feed nuts so you get 0.127" per turn. Is that hard to get used to? I'm used to chucking up a piece of 1" stock that needs to turn down to 0.5"; do 2 1/2 turns from 0.000 to take 0.250" off the radius. Do guys turn to 0.100" on the cross feed then reset to zero or just do the math?
Thanks in advance for any advice!