Taig lathe?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

NewLondon88

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
5,077
Location
Claremont NH
Has anyone used one? It's a micro-lathe that has been sitting in storage
for decades. My dad brought it into the shop and told me to have at it.

I took the cosmoline and packing grease off of the 3 jaw and 4 jaw chucks,
the teeny tiny little jacobs chuck and the vertical mill. Still going through
boxes (and handwritten instructions for boring out the chuck jaws) but
does anyone have experience with these?

I'd like to try it out for some small parts and maybe some aluminum.
Anything particular to watch out for? Problems that are commonly known?

I'll be hitting the search engines and some other forums (sorry, sorry, I
apologize..) to see what people have to say, but wondered if anyone here
has info to share..
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

Gary Max

Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2004
Messages
6,224
Location
Southern Kentucky
Lee Valley sells a bunch of parts for both wood and metal working Taigs.
I use the long tool support with two bases for pens.
I have been turning with a 4500 for several years the only draw back I have is no morse taper.
 

amosfella

Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
261
Location
Vulcan, AB, Canada
I just bought one with the compound mitre cutters, and everything. Set me back about 900 dollars for a fully equipped one. Interesting that most of the headstock chucks, etc. fit my record power lathe. I think it's cool to have a lathe that you can carry under your arm. :D
 

NewLondon88

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
5,077
Location
Claremont NH
Great! More places to read! One of them I had been to before, but just
briefly.. I don't want to ruin his lathe.:redface:

Thanks everyone..
 

me2cyclops

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2008
Messages
125
Location
buford GA
don't worry about it every part can be replaced individualy for very little $$
(lee valley is overpriced!!!)
 

leehljp

Member Liaison
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
9,314
Location
Tunica, Mississippi,
I began my pen turning hobby by using a Taig. I couldn't find a decent lathe here (Japan) for a decent price so I bought a "metal" Taig and the wood turning extra's while in the States and brought it back in a suitcase. Purchased a motor over here.

18 months later, I was in the States for 10 months and purchased a Rikon and had it shipped over here.

I still use the Taig on occasion. The main reason that I don't use it as a second lathe is - limited space in my little shop crowded with lots of flat work tools.
 

bitshird

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
10,236
Location
Adamsville, TN, USA.
Try Nick Carter tools, for Taig parts and accessories, also the Taig users group on Yahoo, I have had a Taig mill for about 5 years and wouldn't part with it, Taig machinery is solid and worth every penny, also Nick gives a nice discount on accessories and new machines, and gives excellent service.
 

NewLondon88

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
5,077
Location
Claremont NH
I got it set up ad tried out a small piece of aluminum. It works great but one
thing I've found so far is that the cut seems to be about 2/1000 lower than
center. Having no experience to speak of, I'm thinking I should shim the
cutters a bit.
Are there shims made for this purpose? Or should I slip a piece of paper
under the cutters? I haven't had time to read everything (thanks for those
links! They're great!) Is this OK to do or am I going off half cocked?

I'm looking forward to trying out some pen parts.. finials, centerbands etc.
and need to get some collets and such..
This could be FUN! :biggrin:
 

me2cyclops

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2008
Messages
125
Location
buford GA
thats normal, just pickup a cheap set of feeler gauges from the auto parts store and use whatever one sets your bit on center (I think I use a .020 on mine)
 

bitshird

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
10,236
Location
Adamsville, TN, USA.
.002 below center isn't going to hurt any thing, .020 will be hard on your spindle, most printer paper is .003, a good easy check is chuck up a piece of round stock take a small 6 inch scale, with the spindle off put the scale against the stock, run your tool against the scale if it is pretty close to perpendicular,your good to go, if it leans away from you your cutter is too high of center, if it leans back toward you it's too low. If you cant tell, if it's leaning go ahead and cut, your pretty close to center,or at least within a TRCH, sorry this is a family site so I can't give an explanation for that acronym .
 

NewLondon88

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
May 15, 2008
Messages
5,077
Location
Claremont NH
.002 below center isn't going to hurt any thing, .020 will be hard on your spindle, most printer paper is .003, a good easy check is chuck up a piece of round stock take a small 6 inch scale, with the spindle off put the scale against the stock, run your tool against the scale if it is pretty close to perpendicular,your good to go, if it leans away from you your cutter is too high of center, if it leans back toward you it's too low. If you cant tell, if it's leaning go ahead and cut, your pretty close to center,or at least within a TRCH, sorry this is a family site so I can't give an explanation for that acronym .

LOL ..
Problem with it being under center is that the cutoff tool doesn't cut OFF.
It leaves a very nice finish and a needle point in the center. And yeah.. it's
about a TRCH.

I chucked and re-chucked a piece of aluminum and wondered why it was
no longer centered. Then I put a boring tool in the holder and went inside
the chuck jaws to true them up. Worked great, but that's a bit scary.
Seems true now.

I get a kick out of that tiny jacobs chuck though.. almost hard to take it
seriously when it's so small.
 

Attachments

  • taig.jpg
    taig.jpg
    71.9 KB · Views: 178

bitshird

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2007
Messages
10,236
Location
Adamsville, TN, USA.
LOL ..
Problem with it being under center is that the cutoff tool doesn't cut OFF.
It leaves a very nice finish and a needle point in the center. And yeah.. it's
about a TRCH.

I chucked and re-chucked a piece of aluminum and wondered why it was
no longer centered. Then I put a boring tool in the holder and went inside
the chuck jaws to true them up. Worked great, but that's a bit scary.
Seems true now.

I get a kick out of that tiny jacobs chuck though.. almost hard to take it
seriously when it's so small.

Yup a cutoff tool has to be purdy close, I thought you were just turning, if it's .002 to low that's gonna leave a .004 "nubbin", doncha just love them technical terms. I've always wanted a Taig lathe to go with my Mill, but I'd sure get a quick change tool post, but some folks say they slip around on the cross slide or on the compound if your fortunate enough to have one.
 

me2cyclops

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2008
Messages
125
Location
buford GA
I have the QCTP from A2Z CNC and never had a problem with it moving, I did make a new base mount for it becouse the original left too much of the toolpost "hanging" I just made one a bit wider and it supports the cutters much better.
still use several standard Taig toolposts when I need to cut larger diameter pieces the QCTP takes up a good bit of the cross slide.
 
Top Bottom