A long term mini lathe review

Came across this looking for something else. Might be of interest

**LINK**

John

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Sounds like a nice one. I like that it came standard with roller bearings in the headstock. Sadly though he says it is no longer sold in Australia.

It looks like it can be ordered from China still. I liked some of the comments about the major parts and it looks like it's stood up to use well. I had wondered how the Chinese got on with twin V beds - cheats, they mill clearance on one of them on the saddle and locate the tailstock on the other and probably the head. Being fair though the gear needed to make the saddle match perfectly with a twin V bed is specialised and very expensive. I'd guess that the speed change via a belt would put many off especially as it's not so easy to as on a conventional older rear countershaft lathe.

Trust Oz too come up with a good review. If I'm thinking of buying a dslr I generally look there as they don't seem to pull any punches about them. It's all there in the reviews.

Opti has been slated but as far as I know they are the only ones offering a "conditioned" bed. At least 6 months old, enough ??????. Also mention of what bearings they use but this is on a bigger lathe than Brian for instance wants. If I remember correctly it's mini lathe size, maybe next one up. It's in their catalogue anyway. The other thing that struck me about Brian's is maybe it's a one piece saddle - no front bolt on part to carry the feeds etc. If it is like that distortion is far more likely.

Anyway Hopper after what you have done to it I suspect he might find a shereline is a step backwards.

John

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Edited By John W1 on 10/11/2015 23:56:26

Its not unlike a seig c6 or c8

Although the SIEGs in Australia come with angular ball bearings, not rollers.

Opti put taper rollers in them - following bad press I feel they should get some good press because I suspect all makes are more or less the same especially at the baby end but they vary design wise, Sieg for instance.

I just picked the next 2 up from baby. They don't give anywhere near as much detail on the baby,

Next one gives the aged bed

However if any one wants easily changed feed rates and the 1in spindle bore they need to go for the 2506 or the even bigger 2807. These go down to 30 rpm. No screw cutting indicator though. These seem to be entirely missing from continental lathes who ever makes them which I have always though is a little strange.

I'd more than guess the price differences would be far less if all sizes had the same features.

John

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