Jim Stewart wrote:
Bob La Londe wrote:
I've got an HF 7 x 10 mini lathe and its actually done ok. Quite often
it exceeds the workability of the materials, but I found it to be just a
tad under powered yesterday when I was roughing an injector nozzle out
of aluminum. It could also stand a more rigid tool post / cross slide
assembly. I don't plan to get rid of it as its very handy for some small
work. In fact I plan to get the 14" bed for it from The Little Machine
Shop, and if I can figure out a way to improve the rigidity of the tool
post and cross slide I will.

However, I am looking for something a little better and a little bit
bigger also. I'm not made of money and I was kinda wondering what a nice
middle range machine would be without going to one of those names that
is priced as much by name recognition as by quality.

Don't overlook used Taiwan-made Jet lathes.
I have a 10x24 and I've made all sorts of
stuff on it, including internal and external
single-point threads. It's a little more
noisy and a little more flexible than I'd like,
but it has always gotten the job done.

I have a 10x24 Enco, made in the 1980s.
Good machine. I use it most of the time rather than my Logan, which I
just sold.