"Harry" wrote in message news:47318$4029519e$4523d552$17304@allthenewsgrou ps.com...
It looks like basically the same unit, 2 inches longer, but for less money.
The mini-lathe website repeated what you said about cleaning and de-burring
the unit to make it last.

No. It's four inches longer, the HF is really a 7 X 8. It's quiet a
bit more weight because of the longer bed. I have one, does fine on
smaller work, but two inch diameter and you're starting to push the
limits on steel. It ain't no hogger, you have to take your time with
it, but it can do very nice work.

Cleaning is a must, it's full of grease to protect it during
shipment, and there might even be some foundry sand still hanging on
to the castings. The corners of the gibs on the cross slide and
compound slide are sharp, right into the corner, and if you take a
swipe down them to break the sharp edge off, they work a lot better.
Tooling can be standard sizes, half inch chuck for the tailstock,
smaller probably better, quarter inch HSS for turning and facing, just
shim to bring to center, or better yet, get rid of the turret and get
one of the quick change tool posts.