Why I bought a lathe

[hq308]

My reasons are similar to yours, It's something I'd wanted for a long time but never really did anything about it. There's been so many things I could of used it for over the years, I really don't know how I got by without one for so long. A couple of years ago my father-in-law a machinist how had not long before retired bought himself a Seig C2 lathe to play around with and it got me thinking. I sold a race car project I had which gave me some space in the shed and some money in my pocket so I went out and bought my H&F 9x20 and I've since found uses for it that I'd never previously considered.

 

[Gary Max]

I needed a bigger drill and a big old lathe just seemed to way to go.

 

[PIKEMAN]

For the same reason I own more than than one wrench and one screwdriver. As my skills have increased, my desire to fix things myself has also increased. My tools are used for my mechanical hobbies (Farmalls, Evinrude Lightwins,VW dune buggy), and I get tired of paying for machine work I am smart enough to do. I needed some chrome moly push rods cut to length for my buggy, and went to 3 machine shops before someone would take the job. I waited 3 weeks,went to pick them up, and was told the end pieces that came with the push rods were .002" too big to be pressed in, and it would be another 3 weeks before they could work on them. I took them home,chucked them in my tubing vise, and tapped the ends in with a 16oz. hammer. This type of service is why I bought a mig,drill press, bearing press,lathe,etc.

 

[pdentrem]

I was always going over to a good friend's mother in laws to use her dead husbands SB lathe. Doing gun stuff and parts for telescopes. Finally an Atlas was offered and I did not look back. Now I did not have to drive 10 miles and phone first to see whether or not she was going to be around. Sadly she passed away just last month.
The Atlas did me well for the last 20 yrs and now have a larger Jet or clone which I have posted pictures before and asked for help in ID the lathe.

 

[Rbeckett]

Mayhem,
I guess because I just wanted one wasn't good enough to satisfy your'e associates. I too bought the lathe, and mill and most of my metal working gear because I wanted the capability to make something if I needed to. There was no specific need, just a desire to be able to if I needed to. Some folks just scratch there heads when presented with the answer, but they are the same ones who have a 500 dollar IPhone and Ipads and spend 10 grand on fish tanks and other hobbies. It fills a "need" in my psychie and thats good enough for me and the SWMBO. they are the only two who really matter anyway. Have fun and make stuff cause you can.
Bob

 

[ScrapMetal]

Mayhem,
I guess because I just wanted one wasn't good enough to satisfy your'e associates. I too bought the lathe, and mill and most of my metal working gear because I wanted the capability to make something if I needed to. There was no specific need, just a desire to be able to if I needed to. Some folks just scratch there heads when presented with the answer, but they are the same ones who have a 500 dollar IPhone and Ipads and spend 10 grand on fish tanks and other hobbies. It fills a "need" in my psychie and thats good enough for me and the SWMBO. they are the only two who really matter anyway. Have fun and make stuff cause you can.
Bob

In a way that summarizes it for me as well. I have been building/inventing things as long as I can remember as well as working on engines, car, motorcycle, and old tractors/implements, etc. Many times I have come up with an idea or new part but failed to get it through the prototype stage for lack of having the tools to make it. Yes, I could draw it up and pay someone else but that is cost prohibitive, especially on small items with little or no commercial value. Even building my motorcycles I hit things where "I could make that!" instead of buying some cheaply made knockoff. This also extends to making "specialty tools" for transmission repair, bearing installation/removal, and on and on.

If you can afford to have the basic tools, why wouldn't you? The lathe and mill just seem like a natural progression of gathering tools to me. Along with getting the increased capabilities the type of projects I consider gets extended as well. It's a win-win! :biggrin:

-Ron

 

[Hawkeye]

I've always made things and fixed things. If I didn't have the right tool, I figured out a way around it. After decades of making do, I picked up a Taig micro lathe and used that for a few years. Then a 7 x 12 that felt like a huge machine. :lmao:

A few months later, a mini-mill was a logical addition. Step forward a bit more and a local ad brought a ZX-25 mill/drill. Soon after, the Hercus AR (SB9A clone) put things into a better perspective. The 7 x 12 had to go to make room, but the mini-mill is still useful as a second.

The next step will have to be a knee mil, I'm afraid. The round-column mill has that one limitation - height adjustment blows the vertical alignment.

You can farm out a lot of metal work for the price of lathes, mills and welders, but then you could also hit the laundromat a lot of times for the cost of a washer and dryer. I don't expect many of us would go that route. :biggrin:

 

[12bolts]

I got mine for the enjoyment of getting back into something I used to do 30+ years ago, and for the odd job I need to do on my boats to keep them running, (thats my livelihood now).

...You can farm out a lot of metal work for the price of lathes, mills and welders...

Yes you can, but you sure cant always get it done when most of us want it done... Yesterday!
And if you visualize something, then as with most home inventors/gadget builders you start one way and finish another, well the machine shop is not going to 2nd guess you on how you might change your mind.

.....so Darren, are we just coming up with excuses that you can ease into a converstaion next time someone asks why YOU have a lathe?

Cheers Phil

 

[Kevinb71]

I think my short answer to the question would be "because I have always wanted one". I always knew there were things that I would like to make (tools for other work, parts for projects cars, and just parts that Cat or Ditch Witch feel are made of gold), but didn't realize how many until I now have the equipment and the "I need to make a...." list just keeps growing.

 

[AR1911]

When one of my friends asks me why I bought a lathe, I usually answer "You remember that time when you had a busing that was just a little bit too big to fit the hole? And you figured out a way to chuck it up in your drill and sand and file on the OD until it fit...sorta?
Me too. that's what a lathe is for, plus a whole bunch of similar things"

Everybody that grew up tinkering with stuff has been there.