Register now to get rid of these ads!

Mill or Lathe--which is more useful?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Brad54, Oct 3, 2008.

  1. It really all depends on what you want to do. Seems the majority here use their lathe more, but I use my mill a LOT more then my lathe, mostly because I make a lot of windshield frames.
     
  2. TatMatt
    Joined: Mar 31, 2003
    Posts: 83

    TatMatt
    Member

    And it mostly has to do with your skill level. If all you make is round things, like covers, washers, spacers and such, a lathe is perfect. But if you want to make more complicated parts, a mill is needed. My old shop had 5 CNC mills, 12 Bridgeport mills & 3 lathes. It seemed about the right mix.


    Matt
     
  3. I'm with you. I like mills, and would love a CNC mill. I don't understand why so many people are saying lathe- let's see pics of the unusual stuff you guys are making using lathes.

    Thanks,
    Kurt
     
  4. Lmao,,, everybody loves a roadster.[/quote]

    out of a '94 Escort wagon- that's a bit of a stretch...
     
  5. I don't think anyone is say they use their lathe alot for making unusual parts but you can if you need to. If you have a welder a drill press and a means of cutting, which most guys already have, you can make alot of parts that you would use a mill for. Yes they might not be as precise or it may take longer to do but most can do it. There is no real way to turn stuff with common tools like you can on a lathe.

    As other have said the cost of a mill is just the beginning you need a whole lot of accessories to do most of the stuff guys are saying you can do. A rotary table is not cheap, index heads aren't cheap, mills aren't cheap a lathe is pretty much ready to go with very little extra cost. So bang for the buck I think most guys feel they get more for their dollar with a lathe than with a mill. At least that's my take on it which might not be right:D. To each his own.
     
  6. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,941

    squirrel
    Member

    That sounds about right. A lathe is good for making useful stuff, not unusual stuff.
     
  7. Creepy Jack
    Joined: May 1, 2007
    Posts: 264

    Creepy Jack
    Member
    from SoCal

    Not horribly unusual, but these velocity stack tops were made mostly on my manual lathe. The only thing that I used my milling machine for was the slash cuts, as you can see in the second photo. I also made the bases on my lathe:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    These HD Sportster lower legs were turned on my manual lathe to remove the fender mounts for a friend of a friend:

    [​IMG]

    I'm certainly not saying that I would want to be without my milling machine, but I have to agree with the others that have stated that they use their lathes more than their mills.
     

  8. Any chance you could post some pics on your windshield frames - or maybe a tech post?

    I've had one bent, cut to size and ready for the groove for several years, but I keep getting tangled up in other stuff.
     
  9. Babyearl
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 610

    Babyearl
    Member

    I did machine work as a means of monitary gain for 50 years,, I believe the lathe is the most used machine. I graduated high school 1958 with 3yrs of machine shop training. My shop teacher always said that the lathe is the only machine with the capacity to reproduce itself. The most important skill to have is to sharpen a drill bit correctly for the task at hand, the drill bit will remove the largest amount of material with the most accuracy. Speed and feed is the magic of the machining process. Always wear eye protection and no loose clothing or gloves. I still have all my fingers and both eyes, with help from the Lord. Tooling is more costly than the basic machine.
    When I stand back and admire something that I made,, I can't help but think of the man that made the first lathe or fatham how he went about that task. Just food for thought.
     
  10. paco
    Joined: Oct 19, 2006
    Posts: 1,141

    paco
    Member
    from Atlanta

    Having both.... a PACKARD Precision Vert. mill & a South Bend 16" lathe I'd say BOTH are equally as usefull as the other......just kind of depends.

    I had the mill before the lathe & swear I couldn't have lived without the other - but I did.

    So to directly answer the question - BOTH are as impotant as the other but it depends on the job your doing.

    Paco
     
  11. plym49
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,802

    plym49
    Member
    from Earth

    LOL - everybody is different. I use my Bridgeport WAY more than my lathe. You can do a lot with just an end mill, too.
     
  12. I also have both, and at one time had a milling attachment for my lathe. If I had to pick one, it would be lathe.

    this is the least expensive site to get a lathe manual.
    http://www.bbmgw.com/MANUALATLAS.html
    Bob
     
  13. plym49
    Joined: Aug 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,802

    plym49
    Member
    from Earth

    Put that way, I agree. If I could have only one, I'd want a lathe. But I use my milling machine more. Of course, some things you do with a mill you can do with other tools (just not as nicely).
     
  14. TagMan
    Joined: Dec 12, 2002
    Posts: 6,294

    TagMan
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I have a 13" Southbend and have easy access to a good friend's Bridgeport mill at any time I want. I use my lathe 50 times more often than his mill with no exageration. I often marvel I got along as many years as I did, without a lathe. It will be the last tool that goes, if, God forbid, I ever have to downsize.
     
  15. OldSub
    Joined: Aug 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,064

    OldSub
    Member Emeritus

    I have a lathe, my buddy Gene has a mill. My brother Dan has both. I know how to use both the lathe and the telephone. I think this approach works for me and could for others...
     
  16. RoadsterRod1930
    Joined: Jun 15, 2005
    Posts: 415

    RoadsterRod1930
    Member
    from NEPA

    BOTH.. with a mill, lathe, welder, your hands, your mind, and time. you can literally do ANYTHING.
     
  17. brigrat
    Joined: Nov 9, 2007
    Posts: 5,615

    brigrat
    Member
    from Wa.St.

    If you have a lathe you will want a milling mach. and if you have a milling machine you will want a lathe! I am in the first catagory and want a mill...........but keep the lathe............
     
  18. CoolHand
    Joined: Aug 31, 2007
    Posts: 1,929

    CoolHand
    Alliance Vendor

    Indeed.

    When I didn't own a lathe, the sole reason I was able to never find myself in a bind, was because I had a good buddy who owned a lathe.

    When I absolutely could not cut the part any other way, I just called him up (he named it a dial-a-turn call :D ), took the part or print down to his shop, and went on with my life.

    It's hella easier to just have one of your own though. Just cut it yourself and be done with it. As a side benefit, my list of favors owed is a hell of a lot shorter now as well. ;)
     
  19. EHBoy
    Joined: Nov 30, 2006
    Posts: 66

    EHBoy
    Member

    i'm a 3rd year fitter and turner apprentice and i would say go with a reasonable size good quality lathe i've seen some amazing things done on a lathe useing a four jaw chuck and some imagination also using a milling cutter in the three jaw and the workpiece fixed to the topslide/toolpost. i'll try to get pic's if i can.
     
  20. I have both. My Bridgeport runs on single phase, has the variable speed, power table, DRO. I pick up surplus tooling when I see it. Important things like the vise, collets, drill chucks I got as new. My boring heads were used and work great. My parallels I made myself and had the heat treated and I did the finish grinding.

    The lathe is a well used Clausing that was free. I still have to get it wired up and find a DRO for it.

    You can use a mill as a lathe if you can chuck the part in a collet. The tool bit gets locked into the vise. Maybe not the most precise way to go, but it works in a pinch.

    Bob
     
  21. kenb
    Joined: Sep 19, 2008
    Posts: 89

    kenb
    Member Emeritus

    If I had to choose one or the other, I'd pick the lathe for sure. Mills are nice to have around, but I think the lathe will get me out of more everyday situations than a mill ever could.

    Your mileage may vary though, as the answers from some of the previous posters also suggests that their preferences are often guided by what they are up to most of the time.

    Ken
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.