Buying a Metal Lathe

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manatee

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Florida
I'm considering buying a metal lathe next week and I have narrowed the choices down to these two:

Micro Mark 7 x 16
LittleMachineShop.com 7 x 14

They are the same Sc2 machine made by Seig in China with some modifications. The Micro Mark has true imperial (inch) feed screws and dials and the Littlemachineshop is metric. There is also a 2" bed length difference. Has anyone compared these two machines before? The price difference is only $100.
Thanks

Bob
 
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My golden rules on deciding on what lathe to buy are;

1. Metric
2. Change gears, not gearbox
3. Large hollow bore headstock spindle ( Min MT3 )

and most important of all...

4. The longest bed you can afford.

You never know what you'll eventually want to bolt on to it:wink:

Mine is a 10 x 21.5 and it is often too short for some of the pen stuff I make.
 

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I'm in the process of deciding on my second metal lathe. I first bought an Enco 7x10, modified it by using the LMS 14" extension kit, added a DRO. Now, I'm wishing I bought bigger and better as I want to use it beyond its current capacity. I would suggest that you seriously consider everything you might want to do with it in the future and decide accordingly. As an example, I found that the amount of threading I want to do necessitates changing gears repeatedly, and a gear head machine will serve my needs far more conveniently than my current machine. I also wish I had considered my ultimate desire for precision over price. It's a big enough investment to do some serious consideration to avoid future regret.
Doug
 
I looked at both of them for a long time and wanted to get the micromark because it was bigger, but they were out of stock for a good while so I got the little machine shop one. It is a fine little machine, but metal lathes get crowded because of all the gizmos on the tool rest. (or whatever you call it). I would opt for the longer one if I had it to do over.
 
I was going to buy x 7x14, but retailer was out of stock and after 3 months he still didn't have any stock.

Came across a 9x20 with EVS (electronic variable speed), which was the reason I selected the 7x14 in the first place. I grabbed the 9x20 and am glad I did. Great lathe more room thane the 7x14 and by the time you figured in the accessories that came with it, not much more money.
 
I got TWO 7 x 14's and just love them great little lathes they fill all my needs. Go with the longer bed you can always use that. As far as metric verses imperial this being an international forum metric is the primary form of measurement in most countries BUT in the US like me I would defiantly want the imperial. I know metric is more world wide recognized but us Americans were brought up on inches and feet and I still can't get myself to think in metric.

Anyway I think you will like the mini metal lathe. Full variable speed from 0 to 2500 with a spin of the knob and reversing. Just be sure to read the directions and make sure the speed pot control is turned to zero before you turn your F.O.R. switch off or on or reverse direction or you will blow the mosfets in the control board over 4 years I put 3 boards in. Also make sure your F.O.R. switch had a rubber boot on it to keep dust out if it doesn't come with one find one somewhere trust me it will save you a little down the road. Other than that it is a great little lathe with no issues. There are some modifications that are good the first is the tail stock cam lock. Little machine shop is the best source for parts and information. There is also a great group on Yahoo groups very active informative and strictly moderated.

Good Luck
Bruce
 
Thanks to everyone, I think I will go with the Micro mark 7 x 16. But wait! I just got an email from Harbour Freight for 25% off one item on New Years day only. Maybe I should look at their lathes also. Decisions! Decisions!
 
manatee said:
Thanks to everyone, I think I will go with the Micro mark 7 x 16. But wait! I just got an email from Harbour Freight for 25% off one item on New Years day only. Maybe I should look at their lathes also. Decisions! Decisions!
Click to expand...

The HF 9x20 is a good lathe, maybe a bit large for the moment, But you will grow into it, their 7x what evers are not too shabby, just not as nice as the Micro Mark label you can usually get a bed extension for the 7x'x from Little Machine Shop.
 
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