Small Lathes - Anyone have any recommendations?

I need a small light duty lathe...

Ebay is full of this "HEC" model, but I am not super impressed by the outward appearance of the quality...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4306228424&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Harbor FRIGHT has one on there as well... Seems too cheap to be worth a crap...

I unfortunately don't have a lot of space to go much bigger

Any experiences with either of these 2? Better suggestions?

thx.

Mike

 

well i have a rockler mini jet ,bought the extension and a couple other items the thing is built and finished nice , you will pay a little more about 150 more http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_group.cfm?&catid=84&objectgroup_id=481&segment_id=4&gtse=goog&gtkw=small%20lathe

 

Right now I hate Harbor Freight. Their "precision" stuff sucks.

Have you ever seen the Smithy setup?
Check out their website. It's pricey, but I hear it's worth it...
http://www.smithy.com/index.asp

 

Maybe try www.use-enco.com They have the profesional quality import stuff. About the same pricing. Owned by MSC. I have had one of there lathes for about 15 years and it is great. Just bought mill from them last year. Cheap and excellent.

 

taigtools.com, but that one is REALLY tiny... I sorta wish I had that one instead of the harbor freight one.

But, I still havent used the one I have to its fullest potential, therefore havent hit its limitation (excluding swing size) therefore, I'm actually pretty darn happy with it. It was pretty damn accurate out of the box, it only caused a .001 taper over 6" of 1" round aluminum stock.

My buddy, however, got the same lathe about a year before I did, he's still messing with his trying to accurize it. So yeah, dont buy one made the day after a Communist Party holiday!

-J

 

Thanks guys...

The Rockler (Jet)sounds interesting... And the price is not that bad... Anyone else ever use one?

 

I like the old Atlas machines. Early Craftsman is great too circa 1950 or so.

 

Yeah Crease, I would dig finding one of those for a decent price. They seem to be way popular on ebay...

 

Hmm... Atlas... $400... Bigger than I wanted, but damn, she looks pretty cool... Maybe even PINSTRIPEABLE(TM)
I think I found what I am looking for...

 

Hey, if that $400 atlas is local, and you pass on it, LEMME KNOW!!!!

-J

 

It is, will do...

M-