Lathe Recommendation?

[Ron Z]

Daniel will tell you that it's worth polishing the guides and gibs before you start to use the lathe. Do it when you clean the shipping grease off.

 

Is this in the same class as a South Bend? No. But take reasonable care of the lathe, and I think it will serve you well.

[rtrinkner]

Hi folks,

 

I found a 20% off coupon for Harbor Freight at http://www.retailmenot.com/view/harborfreight.com?c=6855548. It drops the price of their 7x12 lathe from $599 to $479.

 

Richard

[Jamesbeat]

Harbor freight always has a 20% coupon if you look hard enough.

 

I used one when I bought my 7x12.

Shipping was an astonishingly cheap $9 to my address in NY, and it took just over a week to arrive.

[Ron Z]

Hi folks,

 

I found a 20% off coupon for Harbor Freight at http://www.retailmenot.com/view/harborfreight.com?c=6855548. It drops the price of their 7x12 lathe from $599 to $479.

 

Richard

 

Even better, the current flier has it on sale for $510, which means that with the 20% off coupon it's down to about $408, plus tax of course.

[rtrinkner]

 

Even better, the current flier has it on sale for $510, which means that with the 20% off coupon it's down to about $408, plus tax of course.

Cool! I haven't clicked "buy" yet. I looked on the HF web site but didn't see the lathe in their red tag sale. Does the flier have a discount code I could use online? Or is it only available for in-store purchases?

 

Their 7x10 lathe is on sale for $509.99. Is that the one you meant? I was thinking that the 7x12 model would be more versatile.

 

Richard

Edited April 30, 2015 by rtrinkner

[TREBFPN]

Hi. The coupon code is 28049963 and you can view the ad on this link - it is good through May 2015, http://www.harborfreight.com/20off-coupon912-aff-17547.html

[Joe Penmanship]

I've always been a bit wary of Harbor Freight machines. I have never owned a piece of machinery from them, but I've read quite a bit on the woodworking sites about shoddy workmanship in their "precision" tools.

 

I love HF for their hand tools - wrenches, carts and wheel sets and such. Stuff that isn't expensive and is sufficient to the task. But caveat empor on the big stuff.

 

I own a Jet lathe, which I adore. You can't go wrong. I'd also suggest looking into the Nova lathes. Woodcraft has a sale on one as of this writing. Granted, it's in the $1000 range. But if you can swing it, go big and get the quality.

 

JP

[Glenn Atkins]

Cool! I haven't clicked "buy" yet. I looked on the HF web site but didn't see the lathe in their red tag sale. Does the flier have a discount code I could use online? Or is it only available for in-store purchases?

 

Their 7x10 lathe is on sale for $509.99. Is that the one you meant? I was thinking that the 7x12 model would be more versatile.

 

Richard

 

From what I have read, the 10 is actually an 8 and the 12 is really a 12. Get the 12.

 

Glenn

[kirchh]

I've always been a bit wary of Harbor Freight machines. I have never owned a piece of machinery from them, but I've read quite a bit on the woodworking sites about shoddy workmanship in their "precision" tools.

 

I love HF for their hand tools - wrenches, carts and wheel sets and such. Stuff that isn't expensive and is sufficient to the task. But caveat empor on the big stuff.

 

I own a Jet lathe, which I adore. You can't go wrong. I'd also suggest looking into the Nova lathes. Woodcraft has a sale on one as of this writing. Granted, it's in the $1000 range. But if you can swing it, go big and get the quality.

 

JP

 

Note that the machines being discussed here are engine lathes, aka metalworking lathes, not wood lathes as are the Jet and Woodcraft machines you mention. The Harbor Freight machines, and the similar items from other sources, are perfectly good when properly set up and handled, and they are outstanding values.

 

--Daniel

[kirchh]

 

From what I have read, the 10 is actually an 8 and the 12 is really a 12. Get the 12.

 

Glenn

 

I agree. Once you get a drill chuck into the tailstock, things can get very, very tight on the shorter machine.

 

--Daniel

[lcoldfield]

I agree that it is not good to bolt down. I have two lathes - the small Chinese one rests on a wooden bench and the larger (Myford ML7) is on a cabinet that itself is on rubber castors.

Laurence

[Jamesbeat]

 

Note that the machines being discussed here are engine lathes, aka metalworking lathes, not wood lathes as are the Jet and Woodcraft machines you mention. The Harbor Freight machines, and the similar items from other sources, are perfectly good when properly set up and handled, and they are outstanding values.

 

--Daniel

Agreed.

Search around on the internet and you'll find lots of naysayers who don't actually own a HF lathe, but feel qualified to give an opinion of them anyway.

You will also find many, many happy people who actually own one.

 

I also agree on the 7x10 (actually 7x8) one being a false economy. Spend the extra $50 for the 7x12 and wait patiently for it to be delivered.

 

One of my other hobbies is building cannons. Even on my 7x12, I find myself running out of room fast, especially during drilling operations.

Edited May 6, 2015 by Jamesbeat

[TREBFPN]

 

Harbor Freight is giving 25% off this Sunday Only with coupon code: 10408701

 

+ Ebates gives 3% cash back at Harbor Freight: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=6xz4VOiZ8Cv044mfu6FlTg%3D%3D&eeid=28187

 

 

Here is the 7 x 12 lathe: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-x-12-inch-precision-mini-lathe-93799.html

Edited May 9, 2015 by TREBFPN

[Ron Z]

Little Machine shop sells a bed extension kit that lets you turn your 7X10 into a 7X16. Tempting. I've thought about doing an upgrade, but I'm too busy doing repairs.

 

The other thing that they sell is a tailstock conversion kit that turns it into a cam lock tailstock. That's worth doing.

[es9]

Reviving this thread. 
 

I think I’m starting to hit the place in my repairing where a lathe could be helpful. For example, I’m tired of trying to replace 51 connectors with soft nipples; I’d like to be able to do the repair. I’d also like to be much more precise in some cases, like when drilling out or trying to widen a slightly shrunken Sheaffer TD barrel. Finally, I’ve been thinking about a comment in M&O about how using a lathe gives you a new appreciation for pen design more broadly. 
 

With all that said, I’m definitely not advanced enough to be able to justify a big expenditure. It seems like folks really liked the HF lathes a few years back. Are users still happy with them? Additionally, is a 7x12 enough, or is a 7x14 noticeably more useful? 

[Ron Z]

The 7X12 is too small.  You really don't have use of the full 12 inches. You do want the real estate when working with drills and longer pieces.  A 7X14 works, and I've had one for almost 20 years now, but I wouldn't mind having a 7X16.  

[es9]

Thanks, Ron. That’s a solid endorsement. Now I just have to wait for a sale and a special occasion… 

[es9]

Incidentally, looks like the largest HF offers is 7x12. 

Are any of the ones on Amazon (like Vevor) any good? 

[Ron Z]

The Micro-Mark is  quite similar, but better - same manufacturer.  Grizzly sells a couple  too.

[es9]

Has anyone ever heard of LatheMax?