Anyone bought a new Myford

But it can't be ideal as she has about 4 or 5 other lathes

Edited By JasonB on 26/11/2018 20:23:41

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Rather depends on the space you have available and the electricity you want to burn machining mostly smaller model components. The fact is, there is no "ideal" lathe. It's entirely based on the class of work you want to do. Personally, I find Cowells are not worth the money, not because I can't see the price reflects their excellent quality but their capacity is totally useless for what I make where a watchmaker will love them. Similarly, the sheer number of accessories to fit a Myford easily out number those for a Colchester or a Harrison. But this is old ground being retrodden once more and probably will be again in another few months.

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Wouldn’t change my refurbished by Myford 254s, lot of wi**y waving goes on about myfords.

IH,

I suspect the 254 was developed as an improved Raglan 5”, after they bought out Raglan and closed them down.

While there are areas which are an improvement over the 5”, the concept doesn’t seem to have moved on that far.

I would certainly not downgrade my 5”, to a lesser myford. Yes, it may need a little more space, but the plusses are considerable, so I can fully understand your attachment to your later myford design.

I have a used Myford that I refurbished to as-new condition. It's a good little lathe but nothing fantastic. At the 300 Quid or so I have invested in it, it's good value. No way I would pay 8,000 quid for one.

It has to be remembered that the main reason Myfords became the model engineer's standard lathe from the 1940s through to the 1980s was price and value for money, rather than highest level quality. They were cheap to buy, cheaper than the preceding Myford/Drummond M-type, cheaper than the Raglan, or Boxford, or South Bend and its many clones. They were good useable quality at the price, but no Rolls Royce. More the Morris Minor of lathes really. Good value for the masses.

I wonder how much a brand new Morris Minor would sell for these days?

And would it be any better to drive in modern traffic than the 1950s models?

Edited By Hopper on 27/11/2018 02:11:47

I have two lathes.

1, A used Myford S7 which has power cross feed.

2, A used Boxford ME 10 with power cross feed and a rare clutch, it is the actual one shown on Tony's lathes.co.uks site.

Both are well built machines with similar specs. I don't know why but prefer to use the Myford in preference to the Boxford even though the Boxford has a bigger spindle bore 3MT and better ways.

I would assume if I put both up fore sale the Myford would sell quicker and for more money.

Thanks all for the reply’s, but all I really wanted to know was if anyone could offer a review on a newly built Myford, not planning on buying one as I am very happy with my 1960’s super 7, just interested to know how they are getting on.

Thanks.

I noticed George Daniels the watchmaking legend had a Myford in his workshop.

Mike

Well I hope my comments are useful Brian. Assuming that the latest "new" versions are the same as from the old Myford I think they will slowly fade away with the mystique.

Don't recall any members here saying they had bought a new Myford in recent times. An American member on another forum I lurk on had a new Myford. Said it was wonderful ( he called it a "toolroom lathe".) But he had it up for sale because it no longer suited his needs or whatever.

Other than that,  the 8k pricetag seems to keep most mere mortals away. There may be more takers on the 2.5k reconditioned units.

Edited By Hopper on 27/11/2018 09:58:23

Brian

The last chat I had with the lads on the Myford stand at the Midlands show they said they were selling 1 or 2 connoisseurs a week and they are built from scratch. Personally I'm not sure I would buy a new one but I did buy a referb for the following reasons.

All my kit is based on the Myford.

I had a old one to trade in.

I wanted to upgrade to power cross feed and gearbox

It suits clockmaking and can do all I need it to regarding steam models.

regards Martin

Hello all.

John, yes they were, thank you.

I think what I was trying to get at but not very well is this.

I’m going to assume that new Myfords are made from new parts not old stock, this being the case are the new parts to the same standard, or better maybe than they were back in the day.

Hello all, my 2 cents worth....I owned an ML7 for about 35yrs and for a brief time whilst I refurbished it , a Super 7. Out of the 2, the ML7 was better because of a Trilever attachment I fitted to it. In my opinion, the best speed change facility on a lathe Ive ever seen, even better than my HLVH ( just sold). A grossly under rated facility.

Is a new Myford worth £9000 ?, well, I sold my Hardinge for just under £3500, which again in my view, is in a different league altogether, but crap for model making, and for what the Myfords are best suited for. Horses for courses. Value wise, the Myford is grossly over priced.

I think there might not be anyone, on here, that would own up to paying out 10 grand for a lowly myford lathe!

That is if there is actually anyone on the forum that would go out and spend their money that way. I would guess that any such owners/reviewers would have bought their lathe before joining the forum.

"Out of the 2, the ML7 was better because of a Trilever attachment I fitted to it. In my opinion, the best speed change facility on a lathe Ive ever seen,"

+1 for that, and of course, the ability to use it as a spindle lock

rgds

Bill

Well you have met me now. I took a colchester home from work, and regret taking it for free ! Another grossly overrated brand, like landrover, barbour etc. Trading on a history of a name, when their products are often middle of the road at best, and downright junk at worst.

There's nothing wrong with Myford lathes.

My feeling is that for most Myford owners it's the joy of ownership that matters.

No different to having a Jag when a Mondeo would do the same job

Neil