i'm having a terrible time finding a great deal on a used desktop lathe. i
currently own a taig mini-lathe, though i am looking for something with closer
tolerances, a few more features, and that is able to cut harder materials such
as steel.

my first choice has been an emco compact 5, followed by either a compact 8 or
a prazi masterturn 5x12. can anybody help me out?

also, if anybody else knows of any resouces at ALL for any USED or CHEAP emco
accessories, i'd be extremely appreciative. ...i'm also looking for an emco 4-
jaw chuck, or any fitting alternatives.

thanks!

In article ,
shaun staples wrote:
i'm having a terrible time finding a great deal on a used desktop lathe. i
currently own a taig mini-lathe, though i am looking for something with closer
tolerances, a few more features, and that is able to cut harder materials such
as steel.

I have no problems cutting steel with a Taig. More features
would be nice, of course, including power feed and threading. The major
thing is having properly sharpened bits rigidly mounted. The tolerances
are also up to you as a user.

my first choice has been an emco compact 5, followed by either a compact 8 or
a prazi masterturn 5x12. can anybody help me out?

I've got a Compact-5/CNC, and like it -- once the carriage gibs
are backed up with some metal (the plastic gibs wear too fast near the
tightening screws, and not at all over the rest. I made some backing
plates of aluminum, with counterbores for the screw heads, and it has
made all the difference in the world.

I've not used (or even touched) a manual version of the
Compact-5.

A Compact-8 would be better, of course, in that larger is more
rigid and will handle larger workpieces.

also, if anybody else knows of any resouces at ALL for any USED or CHEAP emco
accessories,

They don't seem to exist. Even on eBay, they normally command
premium prices.

i'd be extremely appreciative. ...i'm also looking for an emco 4-
jaw chuck, or any fitting alternatives.

For which size lathe? I finally found one for my Compact-5/CNC
on eBay, but it took a long time.

Good Luck,
DoN.
--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
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--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

thanks for replying everybody so far.

I have no problems cutting steel with a Taig. More features
would be nice, of course, including power feed and threading. The major
thing is having properly sharpened bits rigidly mounted. The tolerances
are also up to you as a user.

the main reason why i'm looking for a premium desktop lathe isn't only for the
listed reasons, but also because i NEED a 2nd machine for a 2nd location. i
figured that i'd pay the extra money to make an investement to be able to cut
with less tinkering and with more available features, as well as a 'out of the
package' more accurate machine. my taig is cutting nicely, but i'm also
attracted to certain convieniences that these premium lathes offer ...i have
yet to test out the taig with anything harder than ebony and hard plastics.


my first choice has been an emco compact 5, followed by either a compact 8
or
a prazi masterturn 5x12. can anybody help me out?

I've got a Compact-5/CNC, and like it -- once the carriage gibs
are backed up with some metal (the plastic gibs wear too fast near the
tightening screws, and not at all over the rest. I made some backing
plates of aluminum, with counterbores for the screw heads, and it has
made all the difference in the world.

I've not used (or even touched) a manual version of the
Compact-5.

A Compact-8 would be better, of course, in that larger is more
rigid and will handle larger workpieces.

also, if anybody else knows of any resouces at ALL for any USED or CHEAP
emco
accessories,

They don't seem to exist. Even on eBay, they normally command
premium prices.

i'd be extremely appreciative. ...i'm also looking for an
emco 4-
jaw chuck, or any fitting alternatives.

For which size lathe? I finally found one for my Compact-5/CNC
on eBay, but it took a long time.

i am specifically interested in a 4-jaw chuck for the emco compact 5. i've
found one resource who's selling their manual compact 5 for a reasonable
price, but not a GREAT one w/o a 4-jaw chuck and live center, which i need.
i'd rather not have to go shopping after i've made such an investement (by my
flimsy standards).

i've tried ebay for about a month now and have come very close to finding a
few great deals, but all sellers are from the states, making s&h and customs
adding about 20-25% increase in price, thus eliminating the deal. any
canadian sellers would be awesome.

i'm having a terrible time finding a great deal on a used desktop lathe. i

I have a nice Myford ML7 lathe for $1500. Located in Naperville IL.
Includes nice 3 jaw, 4 jaw, face plate, change gears.
Its going on ebay soon.

chuck

In article ,
shaun staples wrote:
thanks for replying everybody so far.

I have no problems cutting steel with a Taig. More features
would be nice, of course, including power feed and threading. The major
thing is having properly sharpened bits rigidly mounted. The tolerances
are also up to you as a user.

the main reason why i'm looking for a premium desktop lathe isn't only for the
listed reasons, but also because i NEED a 2nd machine for a 2nd location. i
figured that i'd pay the extra money to make an investement to be able to cut
with less tinkering and with more available features, as well as a 'out of the
package' more accurate machine. my taig is cutting nicely, but i'm also
attracted to certain convieniences that these premium lathes offer ...i have
yet to test out the taig with anything harder than ebony and hard plastics.

O.K. I can understand that desire.

I think that you'll find that the Taig does work nicely for mild
steel and most other metals. (Mine also has more speeds that most of
the others do, unless you get a variable-speed motor drive.)


my first choice has been an emco compact 5, followed by either a compact 8
or
a prazi masterturn 5x12. can anybody help me out?

I've got a Compact-5/CNC, and like it -- once the carriage gibs
are backed up with some metal (the plastic gibs wear too fast near the
tightening screws, and not at all over the rest. I made some backing
plates of aluminum, with counterbores for the screw heads, and it has
made all the difference in the world.

I've not used (or even touched) a manual version of the
Compact-5.

But the warning about rapid wear of the plastic gibs probably
still holds.

BTW -- in terms of "desktop" lathe -- the CNC version of the
Compact-5 will take up most of the desktop, with the chip tray and box
of electronics mounted behind the chip tray. I have no idea how the
compact-8 would fit on a desktop, but I would consider it to be a better
machine overall. (Not that the Compact-5 is bad. It is a very nicely
made little machine, other than the above-mentioned problem with the
plastic gibs. My fix for those seems to have done the job, as I have
not had the play in the carriage re-appear after I fitted the metal
backing plates.

[ ... ]

also, if anybody else knows of any resouces at ALL for any USED or CHEAP
emco
accessories,

They don't seem to exist. Even on eBay, they normally command
premium prices.

i'd be extremely appreciative. ...i'm also looking for an
emco 4-
jaw chuck, or any fitting alternatives.

For which size lathe? I finally found one for my Compact-5/CNC
on eBay, but it took a long time.

i am specifically interested in a 4-jaw chuck for the emco compact 5. i've
found one resource who's selling their manual compact 5 for a reasonable
price, but not a GREAT one w/o a 4-jaw chuck and live center, which i need.
i'd rather not have to go shopping after i've made such an investement (by my
flimsy standards).

Hmm ... you could consider doing what I did at first for my
Compact-5/CNC -- I modified a Taig 4-jaw. Remove the jaws, clamp it
reversed in the 3-jaw (with reversed jaws), and turn a recess in the
back 40.00mm diameter by about 4mm deep. While you're set up, bore out
the threads which mount it on the Taig spindle.

Then, drill and counterbore four holes between the jaws for the
mounting screws. What I did was to mount a dividing head on the drill
press, on an X-Y table. (A mill would be nicer, but I didn't have one a
the time.) Carefully position it so the 3-jaw chuck held in the
dividing head's jaws centers one of the mounting holes under the drill
spindle. Then remove the 3-jaw, and replace it with the 4-jaw, and
drill the first hole. Then use the dividing head to rotate it 90
degrees, and drill the second, proceed similarly for the third and forth
holes, then you can remove it from the drill press, and use a piloted
counterbore to make the recesses to accept the screw heads. You may
have to buy some more metric screws of an appropriate length for mounting
the chuck. I've found that when buying more than four screws, I usually
do better to buy a box of a hundred from MSC, instead of paying the
hardware store prices for individual screw -- especially at Home Depot. :-)

There are other ways to transfer the radius of the mounting
screw holes from the existing chuck to the new one, but they are made
more complex by the need to produce a pattern of four holes, instead of
the three used to mount the 3-jaw chuck.

If you don't have a dividing head, perhaps you have a friend who
does, who could help in the drilling of the chuck body for the mounting
screws.

I still have (and occasionally use) that modified 4-jaw from the
Taig (and I bought a new replacement for the Taig for a *lot* less than
the cost of an Emco 4-jaw. I now have the Emco one, but it took several
years of watching eBay, and it still was not that inexpensive.

i've tried ebay for about a month now and have come very close to finding a
few great deals, but all sellers are from the states, making s&h and customs
adding about 20-25% increase in price, thus eliminating the deal. any
canadian sellers would be awesome.

Is there a Taig dealer near you in Canada? Or for that matter,
what is the customs situation for things shipped from the UK? There,
the Taig is known at the Peatol, and I suspect that the prices are
similarly attractive.

Good Luck,
DoN.
--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message
...

[ some other stuff snipped... ]

i am specifically interested in a 4-jaw chuck for the emco compact 5.
i've
found one resource who's selling their manual compact 5 for a reasonable
price, but not a GREAT one w/o a 4-jaw chuck and live center, which i
need.
i'd rather not have to go shopping after i've made such an investement
(by my
flimsy standards).


[ a suggestion to use the Taig 4-jaw chuck snipped... ]

I still have (and occasionally use) that modified 4-jaw from the
Taig (and I bought a new replacement for the Taig for a *lot* less than
the cost of an Emco 4-jaw. I now have the Emco one, but it took several
years of watching eBay, and it still was not that inexpensive.

i've tried ebay for about a month now and have come very close to finding
a
few great deals, but all sellers are from the states, making s&h and
customs
adding about 20-25% increase in price, thus eliminating the deal. any
canadian sellers would be awesome.

Is there a Taig dealer near you in Canada? Or for that matter,
what is the customs situation for things shipped from the UK? There,
the Taig is known at the Peatol, and I suspect that the prices are
similarly attractive.

I'm in a similar situation. Lee Valley Tools has the taig for about $85 (82
or 89, can't remember) but that will be plus tax (17% here in NS) and
postage for the original poster if he's not near an outlet. Little Machine
Shop sells a 4" 4-jaw with a backing plate for the chinese 7x8/10/12/14
that'll take both the 4-jaw and the original 3" scroll chuck, for about $120
US including postage to the Great White North. There will be some extra
chages for gst and paperwork fees but even so, with the canuck buck doing so
well against the bush buck it looks like a better deal.

I've been looking on ebay for a few months now; the 4" 4-Jaw is a buy-it-now
for $59 but there's ebay shipping and won't sell to anyone outside CONUS
etcetera.

A 5" 4-jaw would be just right, I think.

Why do they even sell a lathe without 4-jaws?

hey don, that sounds like a great idea. i probably have a 4-jaw chuck
afterall, but it's not going to be an emco and will probably need a similar
modification to mount it.

appreciate it! ...though i will have to find somebody who has a dividing
head. i know that i don't have one.

taig accessories are available here. 'lee valley' deals them out of canada.

Hmm ... you could consider doing what I did at first for my
Compact-5/CNC -- I modified a Taig 4-jaw. Remove the jaws, clamp it
reversed in the 3-jaw (with reversed jaws), and turn a recess in the
back 40.00mm diameter by about 4mm deep. While you're set up, bore out
the threads which mount it on the Taig spindle.

Then, drill and counterbore four holes between the jaws for the
mounting screws. What I did was to mount a dividing head on the drill
press, on an X-Y table. (A mill would be nicer, but I didn't have one a
the time.) Carefully position it so the 3-jaw chuck held in the
dividing head's jaws centers one of the mounting holes under the drill
spindle. Then remove the 3-jaw, and replace it with the 4-jaw, and
drill the first hole. Then use the dividing head to rotate it 90
degrees, and drill the second, proceed similarly for the third and forth
holes, then you can remove it from the drill press, and use a piloted
counterbore to make the recesses to accept the screw heads. You may
have to buy some more metric screws of an appropriate length for mounting
the chuck. I've found that when buying more than four screws, I usually
do better to buy a box of a hundred from MSC, instead of paying the
hardware store prices for individual screw -- especially at Home Depot. :-)

There are other ways to transfer the radius of the mounting
screw holes from the existing chuck to the new one, but they are made
more complex by the need to produce a pattern of four holes, instead of
the three used to mount the 3-jaw chuck.

If you don't have a dividing head, perhaps you have a friend who
does, who could help in the drilling of the chuck body for the mounting
screws.

I still have (and occasionally use) that modified 4-jaw from the
Taig (and I bought a new replacement for the Taig for a *lot* less than
the cost of an Emco 4-jaw. I now have the Emco one, but it took several
years of watching eBay, and it still was not that inexpensive.

i've tried ebay for about a month now and have come very close to finding a
few great deals, but all sellers are from the states, making s&h and
customs
adding about 20-25% increase in price, thus eliminating the deal. any
canadian sellers would be awesome.

Is there a Taig dealer near you in Canada? Or for that matter,
what is the customs situation for things shipped from the UK? There,
the Taig is known at the Peatol, and I suspect that the prices are
similarly attractive.

Good Luck,
DoN.
--
Email:

We had a prazi where I used to work. It was bought for some engineer
that had to have it. What a piece of junk!. It was nearly useless
and poorly constructed, hard to use, wore the plastic and fiber gears
quickly. The motor was a TEFC and the air intake would suck all the
chips in and blow them into the motor and gear box. You could not
disengauge the lead screw and the only way to move the carrage was to
crank the leadscrew a million turns. Pure crap.

Bob

On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 16:29:17 GMT in rec.crafts.metalworking, shaun staples
was alleged to have written:
i am specifically interested in a 4-jaw chuck for the emco compact 5. i've
found one resource who's selling their manual compact 5 for a reasonable
price, but not a GREAT one w/o a 4-jaw chuck and live center, which i need.

It shouldn't be too hard to find a MT-1 (Morse taper #1) live center to
fit the Compact 5 tailstock.

In article ,
David Harmon wrote:
On Wed, 03 Dec 2003 16:29:17 GMT in rec.crafts.metalworking, shaun staples
was alleged to have written:
i am specifically interested in a 4-jaw chuck for the emco compact 5. i've
found one resource who's selling their manual compact 5 for a reasonable
price, but not a GREAT one w/o a 4-jaw chuck and live center, which i need.

It shouldn't be too hard to find a MT-1 (Morse taper #1) live center to
fit the Compact 5 tailstock.

Certainly not. I have an old Enco (not Emco) which I bought
back around 1978 or so for my old Atlas/Craftsman 6x18" lathe, and which
I moved to the Compact-5 when I go it.

I have also purchased a *very* nice one by Royal (from MSC)
which has two tapers and a short straight -- so it acts both as a normal
sized live center, and (with a bit of tool relief from the straight
section) as a bull-nose taper as well. Granted, it was not cheap, but I
have not regretted it, and normally use that in preference to the Emco
(which was still a pretty good quality in those days.)

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---