New member (South Wales)

Hello all

Just joined Model Engineer although have been reading on and off here for some time.

I,m not an engineer or metalworker, but have an interest in buying my first lathe and learning to use it as a hobby.

I,m a retired firefighter from South Wales and have placed a wanted advert on here for a lathe, but not sure which route to take at the moment.

If any members here can advise on which make of lathe i should consider please get in touch, don't mind getting an older quality bigger lathe as i understand these can be found at reasonable prices

Thank you

Best wishes Steve

Steve, reckon your best bet is to get in contact with a Model Engineering club, or a Mens Shed, or something like that, so you can talk to the blokes about the different lathes. If you indicate a rough location, there might even be someone on the forum who can help.

Ian S C

Welcome Steve.On the lathe question, what size things are you likely to be making and what size workshop space do you have available?

My own lathe is a Boxford AUD bought second hand. It is slightly larger that a Myford ML7 and accessories are easily obtainable.

A good site to research lathes and other machine tools is

**LINK**

They also have a section on lathes etc for sale.

Any questions, you know where to come.

Brian

Thank you Ian and Brian for replying to my introduction post, I'm located in Maesteg, South Wales and it would be ideal if i could find a engineering club or someone close by who i could talk to regarding lathes.

Not sure of the size of items I'll be making yet as starting from scratch, but have plenty of room for a medium sized lathe in my double garage, have to try and sell a couple of motorbikes.

Found a late model Boxford AUD lathe in the for sale section of the lathes.co.ok website but sadly its sold for £1350

Looked to be in excellent condition as well.

Not sure yet how I'll transport a machine like this, what I'm thinking at the moment is to hire a van and a engine hoist

when I come across a suitable lathe.

Thanks again, Best wishes Steve

Hi Steve,

I'm up the road in Llantrisant.

My Boxford was put complete in to a Sprinter van. I've since moved it by splitting from the base makes it managable by two strong people.

If you want to look at one in the flesh, or discuss it's merits PM me.

Richard

Thanks Richard

Sent you a PM

Regards, Steve

Replied

Hello Steven and Richard, I recently moved to Margam from Kent and am hoping to get my shed set up in the next few weeks.

That's great, now the fun starts!!

Steven, maybe a Box- Ford A, hasn't got the heavy base with the motor underneath, you make the bench, and the lathe is easy to move. Personally, I would like something about that size as a second lathe, my wants would be, back gear and belt head. Separate lead screw and feed rod, the Box-Ford I use at the MenzShed (and all others)has the two combined and the keyway has stuffed up the gear on the screw cutting indicator dial. My own Taiwanese lathe has a lead screw and a feed rod. I'm not too sure about the fine thread on the lead screw of the Mini lathes.

When I first saw your thread, for some reason I read New South Wales, I was thinking that your nearby modeller might well be a couple of hundred miles down the road, but where you are it won't be too far away.

Ian S C

From memory,

Boxford AUD (Screw cutting gearbox, underdrive with power cross feed and saddle )

BUD (no gearbox, change gears for feed and screw cutting, under drive with power cross and saddle)

CUD (As BUD without the power cross feed)

The serial number can be found on the top face of the bed at the end, normally where the tail stock lives. Be a little careful as like a landrover you can upgrade and change components.

The most sought after is the later AUD in the long bed version. Tooling can be as expensive as the original purchase. The lathes have back gear, they are available in metric and imperial, and they were mainly used in schools. The lack of a screw cutting gearbox should not put you off as although less convenient most things are possible!!

Hope it helps - For a wealth of information lathes.co.uk are the font of all knowledge!!

Welcome Steven lots of advice available on here you only need to ask, having a chat to Richard is a great first move in deciding what will work best for you.

To me this thread is an excellent example of why its good to have a public profile showing at least where you live ! If Steven had not mentioned in his post where he lived Richard would no have seen it and offered to meet and they live very close each other.

All you do is click Profile and fill in the parts you are happy with, country, town, county and other details if you wish

Cheers John

Hello all

Thank you all very much for your prompt and detailed responses to my introduction post.

Never imagined so many helpful replies would be forthcoming

Got lots of helpful information to better prepare me in my search for a nice lathe, just keep an eye out and ear to the ground now for a beauty to come along which I'm sure it will.

Could be a Myford or a Boxford or who knows what else.

Since I started looking and researching for a lathe I just love the engineering in some of them and find myself getting carried away.

Thanks again for all your help

Best wishes, Steve

Steve, I forgot to mention that the Box-Ford "A" has a gear cutting gear box.

Ian S C

Many thanks again to all.

Went to see Richard John who as luck has it only lives 20 miles down the road from me, he kindly spent some time with me and has given me some great advice on buying used machinery and walked me through some techniques, pointed me in the right direction, a perfect gentleman Thank you Richard.

Best wishes

Steve

You're welcome Steve, I'll ask around for the kit we chatted about,

Richard

Welcome to the forum, Steven.

Neil