On 2008-12-17, Michael Koblic wrote:
The continuing saga of a miser looking for a "wonderlathe":
1) http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...330,50260&ap=1
I have a motor and lots of 1/4" tools of uncertain provenance. Would need a
chuck for the headstock and probably compound slide from this selection:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...330,50260&ap=1
Get the metalworking version, and the accessories to add
woodworking capabilities. The price difference between the two compared
to the cost of the cross-slide alone says this -- *if* you want the
Taig.
I have heard good things about this. It would take care of small parts
(steel, 3/4" diameter).
Yes -- but it would not single-point threads (that is, cut with a
properly shaped tool bit to make threads). Otherwise, it is a nice
*small* lathe.
I am not sure how specialized and therefore
obtainable the parts are.
Most of the parts are rather specialized. The chucks are
interchangeable with Sherlines, FWIW. The 4-jaw chuck which is
available for the metalworking version is very good for the price.
I don't see the three-jaw chuck with the soft jaws which used to
be part of the setup.
2) http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?NTITEM=B1979C
The apparent cost is over double of the Taig, but it comes with a motor, a
compound, 3-jaw chuck etc. which closes the dollar gap considerably. Lower
speeds, therefore almost three times the diameter can be handled, screw
cutting, auto feed etc.
Much more swing over the bed. 7" for this, vs 4-1/2" for the
Taig. The riser blocks can increase the swing of the Taig, but at the
cost of rigidity.
It can single-point threads, but the slowest spindle speed is a
bit fast for threading up to a shoulder.
If it has a threading dial (not clear there) it will only work
with one of the two series of threads -- either only for the metric, or
only for the inch threads.
There is no *list* of what threads it cuts, so we don't know
whether any particularly useful ones are left out.
I would like to see a much more detailed list of what it has and
what it will do.
The nearest mini is $200 more. Why, oh why, the short distance between
centres?
About the same as the Taig, FWIW.
All in all, it seems that No.2 will do everything the No.1 will and much
more for a slightly greater sum. Does this make sense?
How will it do for the woodwork? I think that the top speeds
are a bit slow for small diameter woodwork. The Taig can reach
frightening speeds which would be very good for woodwork.
It almost seems that you should consider both -- one for you
with metal, and one for your wife for wood. (And get her dust masks,
too, since hardwood dusts are generally bad things to breathe.
Actually -- both are a bit too small in my opinion for anything
that *I* would be doing these days. If you consider them as simply
first (learning) steps, that could be different.
Good Luck,
DoN.
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