Taig headstock options

[jdef]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering buying a small lathe so I can make pens out of brass and aluminum. After much rumination about space and weight, I am zeroing in on a Taig micro lathe. They have 3 options for the head stock: 5C, ER16, and the Standard Threaded Headstock (3/4″-16 TPI). The 5C option is significantly more expensive than the others but it looks like it would be worthwhile because it would allow me to pass bars up to an inch wide through the spindle so they are supported well for deep drilling operations and they don't take up the limited length of the lathe.

Is the 5C option a worthwhile buy?

John

 

[darrin1200]

Absolutely. The 5C collets and the through hole make it worth it. But you have to factor in the collets.

 

[d_bondi]

+1 for the through hole spindle.

I have no personal experience with 5C, but I have fitted my machine with an ER40 collet chuck and the through hole spindle allows me to work with longer stock. The other day I made a few mandrels and was using 3/4" 12L14 steel that started at 36" long. With a spindle spider (Thanks for pointing me there @rherrell) I was able to chuck the rod into the collet chuck, support it out the back end of the spindle with the spindle spider (that I designed in Fusion and 3D printed), complete my work and then part off.

For actual pen making, an example is that I like to chuck the cap piece all the way in when cutting the threads. The materials like to flex when being threaded with a tap which can result in tight threads. When chucked all the way into the collet, they have nowhere to go.

Have fun!

David

 

[darrin1200]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering buying a small lathe so I can make pens out of brass and aluminum. After much rumination about space and weight, I am zeroing in on a Taig micro lathe. They have 3 options for the head stock: 5C, ER16, and the Standard Threaded Headstock (3/4″-16 TPI). The 5C option is significantly more expensive than the others but it looks like it would be worthwhile because it would allow me to pass bars up to an inch wide through the spindle so they are supported well for deep drilling operations and they don't take up the limited length of the lathe.

Is the 5C option a worthwhile buy?

John

I will say though. You might find the Taig lathe bed becomes to small quite quickly. Especially when drilling.

 

[d_bondi]

I will say though. You might find the Taig lathe bed becomes to small quite quickly. Especially when drilling.

This is an excellent point. When reporting measurements, lathe manufacturers generally measure from headstock spindle to the tailstock quill. You must then subtract the space used by the headstock chuck, jacobs chuck in the tailstock and length of any drills you use. It adds up quickly!!

 

[jhiggi83]

I will say though. You might find the Taig lathe bed becomes to small quite quickly. Especially when drilling.

I considerd Taig myself for small pen parts but I dont think id try to drill on it but I have a PM-25 mill that I used to drill. I have a cheap HF metal lathe in addition to my rikon lathe but i find it pretty hard to get quality parts from the HF 7x12. Maybe after another 100 hours of tweaking and upgrading and it will be at a usable standard. I think i need to scrape the ways and do some machining.