Anyone got a Chinese mini- lathe?

[Trogladyte]

I've acquired a mini lathe, unexpectedly. It was there, and at a price I couldn't turn down. It all seems to be there, with the exception of a chuck key for the tail stock.

I've always fancied one, but now it's here, I'm slightly apprehensive, as I've got no experience with such things. Any tips? Where do I start? Will YouTube videos make me a machining expert?

[cheb]

I haven't got one, but I taught myself to use my grandad's old lathe, an ex-MOD Atlas, decades ago. Thoutube will help, as well as reading books about it.

Pics of the lathe pls. Have you tooling and the like?

[demographic]

Not got one but I'm pretty sure This Old Tony has done a vid on Youtube about one he bought.

[Count Steer]

Rule No 1: Remove chuck key before starting.

(The only time I didn't, the start button was on the left so the main chuck key went past my right ear and left a significant dent in the metal tool cupboard behind me. It was quite a big chuck key though...a two handed job).

[iansoady]

I have one and it's great for smallish jobs. It's surprisingly accurate but not particularly powerful. Straightforward turning, thread cutting etc are fine but it struggles to do parting off.

They do have a reputation for trashing the control panel - mine did - but there's a bloke in America who fixes them. Pete Brush http://www.olduhfguy.com/

I've done the chuck key trick as well but many years ago.

[mangocrazy]

I'm envious. I really want a lathe, but the only place I could fit one is in the cellar, so it would have to be light enough to be carried down stone steps to the cellar. And light lathes aren't (as far as I can make out) as good as heavy lathes. Mass helps in damping out vibes and improving accuracy. Or so I've been told.

[iansoady]

It depends what you want to do. Yes, heavy lathes are generally better but of course are fixed. My Chinese model isn't actually that light (40 kg or so) and I have it bolted down to a rigid bench. If you have the space the best are old ones from schools / tech colleges etc - Boxford, Colchester Student etc which used to be available for a few hundred quid.

[Horse]

Rule No 1: Remove chuck key before starting.

An offence in metalwork at school that would result in punishment, usually painful. But less so than a chuck key in the face.

[Beancounter]

I'm envious. I really want a lathe, but the only place I could fit one is in the cellar, so it would have to be light enough to be carried down stone steps to the cellar. And light lathes aren't (as far as I can make out) as good as heavy lathes. Mass helps in damping out vibes and improving accuracy. Or so I've been told.

I've got the other side of that problem. My FIL has a reasonably big lathe in his cellar which looks like he built the house around it. Fuck knows how we're going to remove the thing when he finally let's start clearing the house out.

[MrLongbeard]

I've got the other side of that problem. My FIL has a reasonably big lathe in his cellar which looks like he built the house around it. Fuck knows how we're going to remove the thing when he finally let's start clearing the house out.

Got a lunch box and a friend with a camper?
If so Johnny Cash has the perfect instructional song that'd help

[iansoady]

I'm envious. I really want a lathe, but the only place I could fit one is in the cellar, so it would have to be light enough to be carried down stone steps to the cellar. And light lathes aren't (as far as I can make out) as good as heavy lathes. Mass helps in damping out vibes and improving accuracy. Or so I've been told.

I've got the other side of that problem. My FIL has a reasonably big lathe in his cellar which looks like he built the house around it. Fuck knows how we're going to remove the thing when he finally let's start clearing the house out.

Just put it on ebay with the proviso the buyer has to remove it.

[mangocrazy]

I'm envious. I really want a lathe, but the only place I could fit one is in the cellar, so it would have to be light enough to be carried down stone steps to the cellar. And light lathes aren't (as far as I can make out) as good as heavy lathes. Mass helps in damping out vibes and improving accuracy. Or so I've been told.

I've got the other side of that problem. My FIL has a reasonably big lathe in his cellar which looks like he built the house around it. Fuck knows how we're going to remove the thing when he finally let's start clearing the house out.

I'm more than a little intrigued... What kind of make and biglyness is his lathe? And how did he get it down there?

[Yorick]

I'm envious. I really want a lathe, but the only place I could fit one is in the cellar, so it would have to be light enough to be carried down stone steps to the cellar. And light lathes aren't (as far as I can make out) as good as heavy lathes. Mass helps in damping out vibes and improving accuracy. Or so I've been told.

I've got the other side of that problem. My FIL has a reasonably big lathe in his cellar which looks like he built the house around it. Fuck knows how we're going to remove the thing when he finally let's start clearing the house out.

I'm more than a little intrigued... What kind of make and biglyness is his lathe? And how did he get it down there?

I'm having that word

[Beancounter]

I'm envious. I really want a lathe, but the only place I could fit one is in the cellar, so it would have to be light enough to be carried down stone steps to the cellar. And light lathes aren't (as far as I can make out) as good as heavy lathes. Mass helps in damping out vibes and improving accuracy. Or so I've been told.

I've got the other side of that problem. My FIL has a reasonably big lathe in his cellar which looks like he built the house around it. Fuck knows how we're going to remove the thing when he finally let's start clearing the house out.

I'm more than a little intrigued... What kind of make and biglyness is his lathe? And how did he get it down there?

No idea, it's buried under suitcases, hand tools, power tools and God knows what else. There's a bench grinder, pillar drills, reciprocating saws (if that's the correct term).

The whole house needs tearing down and rebuilding - I should point he lives with us, not at said house which is slowly dying.

If I can get in there I'll try to get some photos.