Lathe

T

TrxR

New member
Curious what everyone here uses for their gunsmithing lathe and what lathe you would recommend for someone looking to purchase one.

Thanks
 
my lathe is some where around $10k
weighs 2000 lbs
metric and std threads with no gear change
14x40
thru hole is just over 1.5
DRO more accurate than the lathe
oil system
aloris tool holder
220/3ph off a motor converter 3hp/ 16 speeds
birmingham west coast sales
less than a 'production" lathe, more than most "Hobby" lathes
i know a working 'smith that uses a smaller cheaper lathe
they are "tools" ,its all in the user
 
Summit 14x40

I bought my current lathe ~20 years ago, the company is still around, but I think their smallest machine now is a 16x60. For the uninitiated "14x40" means you can turn a 14" diameter piece, 40" long between centers. That's a bit overkill for gunsmithing, but for general use I'd want at least 36" between centers unless I was sure that I'd exclusively work with shorter barrels. My lathe has a nearly 3" spindle bore (hole through the spindle) - whatever you pick should be big enough to put your thickest barrel into, or you'll forever regret it. Mine is a gear-head. On the one hand it won't slip or stall (if, for example, I were to get tangled up in it...) on the other hand, the headstock is too long to put most barrels through. That may or may not matter depending on your theory about how best to chamber a barrel.

My lathe is about 4500# and I've had the "pleasure" of relocating it twice (actual moves, not moving it around in the shop). Those times make me wish (momentarily) that I'd purchased something smaller. But, I suspect the next time my lathe moves I'll be gone, or nearly so, so I no longer entertain those thoughts.

I've got all the accessories (and more) don't let those drive your decisions, they can all be purchased after the fact *except* a taper attachment - if you really need one, make sure you can get one for your lathe, or be prepared to design one (which might incorporate changes to your cross-slide if your lathe wasn't designed for a taper attachment. In any case, I find myself cutting tapers with tailstock set-over for the very few I cut. (and I have a taper attachment). DRO, toolpost, chucks - you can get 'em all later if needed.

If I could go back and do it all again I think I'd go with the same machine. I almost bought a SouthBend 10" toolroom (back before SB was purchased by Grizzly) - I'm rather happy today that I bought the lathe I did.

If I were shopping I'd want:

At least 30" between centers.
At least 1.5" spindle bore
D1-x spindle (i.e. not threaded - just a matter of preference)
All else being equal, a shorter headstock.

The Grizzly branded gunsmithing lathes are not bad. I've looked at three instances of the G4003(G) and it seems like a pretty good machine for the money. Haven't seen the larger ones or the Grizzly/SouthBend models in real life.

GsT
 
I have an 11" Rockwell originally purchased from a rimfire smith. He used it for many years before he acquired a Harrison M300. The Rockwell is a great gunsmith lathe for lots of reasons as is the M300 with both sharing a short head-stock as their best feature for chambering with the through the head-stock method. The only potential downside to the Rockwell is its 1 3/8" spindle bore so if you want to do large diameter big barrels it may not be for you but for everything else it's fine. If I were to chose to buy another lathe for gunsmithing I'd seek out an M300. The Rockwell's have a limited parts supply so if you find one you really need to check it out well for potential problems. Mine was in pretty good shape but needed parts that were quite worn. I was able to source some and make some to bring it up to par. After a complete tear down and rebuild it's a great little lathe I enjoy running.


http://www.lathes.co.uk/delta metal/page2.html

http://www.lathes.co.uk/harrison-m/page2.html
 
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WSnyder said:
I have an 11" Rockwell originally purchased from a rimfire smith. He used it for many years before he acquired a Harrison M300. The Rockwell is a great gunsmith lathe for lots of reasons as is the M300 with both sharing a short head-stock as their best feature for chambering with the through the head-stock method. The only potential downside to the Rockwell is its 1 3/8" spindle bore so if you want to do large diameter big barrels it may not be for you but for everything else it's fine. If I were to chose to buy another lathe for gunsmithing I'd seek out an M300. The Rockwell's have a limited parts supply so if you find one you really need to check it out well for potential problems. Mine was in pretty good shape but needed parts that were quite worn. I was able to source some and make some to bring it up to par. After a complete tear down and rebuild it's a great little lathe I enjoy running.


http://www.lathes.co.uk/delta metal/page2.html

http://www.lathes.co.uk/harrison-m/page2.html
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I like what Mr. Snyder says. I've used my buddy's Rockwell and it is a great little lathe. I've used another buddy's Grizzly 4007. I was very surprised at how well the Grizzly works. I use my Clausing 6913-14x48 and after figuring it out I can do 19.5" barrels in the headstock. I love the M300 Harrisons, but if I bought today I would get a Grizzly G0509G.
 
Any truth to 3 phase lathes doing a better job than single phase? No 3 phase available here but could do some sort of phase convertor if there is a large enough benefit of the the 3phase over single phase
 
TrxR said:
Any truth to 3 phase lathes doing a better job than single phase? No 3 phase available here but could do some sort of phase convertor if there is a large enough benefit of the the 3phase over single phase
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Yes, and a VFD will allow spindle speed changes with a twist of a knob.
 
Pm1440tv

I special ordered it through Precision Matthews from Taiwan. It took almost a year to get it. D1-4 nose, 5 HP main motor, factory Yaskawa VFD, DRO Pros. The headstock is kind of long, but not insurmountable, many ways around it.
 

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NezRongero said:
I special ordered it through Precision Matthews from Taiwan. It took almost a year to get it. D1-4 nose, 5 HP main motor, factory Yaskawa VFD, DRO Pros. The headstock is kind of long, but not insurmountable, many ways around it.
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So your using the vfd as a phase converter as well?
 
I have a new in 1985 12X37 Grizzly that has served me very well. Its a belt speed change, hole threw head abit over 2 inches and also quite short. Down side it has screw on chucks so if running in reverse it can be abit concerning. Its actually a pretty accurate machine. I have opened several cast bullet mould blocks anywhere for a .001, 1/2 per side up to .004 without any issues.
 
TrxR said:
It dont look like they offer the 1440tv anymore or i cant find it on their site. Did you get the vfd through Precission Matthews as well?
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It never was a catalog item. Call Matt amd talk to him about it. It is the same lathe as the Eisen 1440EV. Made by the same factory, Liang Dei, just different badge.

https://eisenm.com/products/eisen-1440ev-precision-lathe-5hp-dro-installed-heavy-cast-iron-base

The VFD was installed in Taiwan. I opted out from the factory DRO offering, I wanted the DRO Pros. PM installed it.
 
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Precision Mathews used to offer a Harrison M300 clone, do they still offer one? I almost bought one from Matt years ago.
 
NezRongero said:
It never was a catalog item. Call Matt amd talk to him about it. It is the same lathe as the Eisen 1440EV. Made by the same factory, Liang Dei, just different badge.

https://eisenm.com/products/eisen-1440ev-precision-lathe-5hp-dro-installed-heavy-cast-iron-base

The VFD was installed in Taiwan. I opted out from the factory DRO offering, I wanted the DRO Pros. PM installed it.
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I can't agree with Nez enough here...... I used 7 different DROs from DRO PROS, I'd have one on my coffee cup if it'd help.

https://www.dropros.com/?gclid=Cj0K...qHi4n04F7BhDuuA5K9e_goLFvaGAXgnEaAr3eEALw_wcB

I do put them on myself.... for instance I've one on my tailstock quill-feed for chambering.

Veteran/American, and they don't stuff it in your face. Good Stuff/value ... Ooorahh
 
Another Callout for DROPROS

Installed the magnetic version years ago on my Clausing 5914. Can't say enough good things about It. It's not bothered by oil or swarf and it is much better than my old glass DRO that broke and couldn't get parts for. They used to have pics of my installation but I couldn't find it today. DROPROS are Good people to deal with. ----Bill
 
WSnyder said:
Precision Mathews used to offer a Harrison M300 clone, do they still offer one? I almost bought one from Matt years ago.
Click to expand...

I asked Matt, he said it must have been about 15 years ago when they offered the model, no longer available from them.
 
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If you can find one, an Emco Super 11 is a great gunsmith sized lathe. They are small, light, and don't have a big footprint, perfect for a smaller shop, but are high quality and accurate. I really like mine.

Another nod to DRO Pros as well. Great product, and great to do business with.

Justin
 
Some very nice lathes are being recommended but abit hard to justify for some home hobbyists like myself. All though I do somewhat regret not getting a 14X40 Mathews a couple of towns over from me that was listed for sale at actually a real good price. That lathe appeared as if it was never being used and it also had the Dro. installed. And I still think about not going ahead and getting that one quite allot.
 
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