Metal lathe thoughts

[Hallelujahal]

Been thinking for a little while about getting a mini metal lathe to turn pens and maybe go down the kitless rabbit hole. Having had a look around was wondering what you folks thought about the Warco offering below? Thoughts gratefully received

Warco Mini Lathe - Buy Small Metalworking Hobby Bench Machine

The best selling Warco Mini Lathe from the original trusted UK machine tools supplier. Top quality machine, unbeatable specification, free and fast delivery

www.warco.co.uk

 

[flexi]

Looks nice, I am waiting for Axi to discount a Seig lathe they offer.... Very tempting

Axminster Model Engineer Series C2-300 Mini Lathe

This is a top quality bench lathe which is just about portable at 37kg. It is constructed almost entirely of cast iron with ground bedways and has a fully featured saddle and carriage assembly, a tailstock with spindle taper turning capability and a...

www.axminstertools.com

 

[Hallelujahal]

Yes Mark I it’s basically the same Sieg machine as the Warco offering I’ve posted…but more expensive

Arc Eurotrade have a similar

SIEG SC2 & SC3 HiTorque Mini Lathe - Belt Drive with Brushless Motor - Arc Euro Trade

SIEG SC2-300 and SC3-400 HiTorque Mini Lathes - belt drive with powerful 500w brushless motors.

www.arceurotrade.co.uk

But the Warco just appears a little more robust?

 

[nimrod]

I use a Chester DB 7 lathe for turning pens but I have also used a Cobra and a Conquest lathe. I drill the blanks using a self centering chuck, I turn the blanks using a mandrel which I either hold in the chuck or remove the chuck which is held in place by 3 bolts and fit the mandrel into the headstock Morse taper.

 

[Phil Dart]

I've no experience of them myself, but I know several people who have a Warco lathe, and seem very satisfied with it. Some of them members here.

 

[Curly]

My metal lathe is a fair bit bigger (13"x37") so I don't have direct experience with the SIEG family of lathes. What I do know from lots of past discussions about them is that the 250mm and 300mm centre to centre distance makes for some difficulties when trying to drill or tap with. Once you add the chuck, put a blank in it, put a drill chuck in the tailstock and then the drill bit you have run out of room or it is at least a tight squeeze. Same happens when you want to put a tap holder in the tailstock along with the tap. Not enough length. There are always ways around it but it is an extra frustration that pen making doesn't need. It's supposed to be fun. For those reasons I urge you to pop for a lathe with at least a 400mm centre to centre distance or save some more and move up into the 600mm length lathes that may come with a quick change mounting system for chuck changes. D1-4 is a popular size spindle nose.

Or look for a good used Myford ML-7 or Super 7 lathe. Not made anymore but very popular with the home machining crowd and they can be easily setup to do small milling work too.

Pete