Which Lathe???

Well this has probably been done to death, but ill ask the latest opinion.

Ive bought a Myford ML10 Metric a while ago, its a great little machine, but after a while i find myself hankering for a bigger unit. Its got a raft of extras with it, but i find myself being limited by what the unit can do. I hastily bought it without doing my research first. Im limited by the MT2 in the headstock.

The foot print of the lathe is great, small, compact and light. It makes a great finish and is very capable, to a point.

So my next route up is an ML7 with a big bore kit. Roy Milner has stopped making them, i messaged him a few days ago.Myford themselves make a big bore lathe based on the ML7 , wether they will sell me just a big bore headstock i i dont know.?They are closed at the moment. Do you know anybody else who makes one?

Roy was doing the headstock for £1500. Now you can buy a new lathe for that, but it will be chinese but 26mm capable.

I hear Warco and Chester gets good reviews, but also some terrible ones too. I prefer to stay English i think.

So i think ill change my route to an Myford ML7 and find the metric conversion for it, and try and find a big bore headstock .So the question is, which ML7?

One of the gearbox versions seems to be the way to go, whilst im changing over.

The other limiting factor is the space i dont have, the ML7 will fit, but a Boxford or similar toolroom lathe wont.

Im doing general fabrication of tools and log splitters,belt sanders etc for a hobby, i cant for one fit a 17mm shaft thru the headstock as its mt2.

Ive a 52 inch width available , slighty more if the unit can be pushed in at an angle then squared up afterwards due to a shelving support, which i could move if i have to.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply.

Your views are greatly received.

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 05/04/2020 12:11:46

See *** Journeyman's Workshop *** for my views on choosing machinery!

John

Thats a good and comprehensive read that. well put together !

Tricky one, but despite objections to Chinese, one of them may be the answer. Going 'English' reduces the available choice particularly if a good condition big bore must fit into a small space. It may take a while to find a suitable classic machine, especially if metric is also important. (Buying second-hand, condition is more important than make and model.)

Myford suffer from the name attracting premium prices. If money is no object Triona list a Connoisseur at the moment. It's said to be in unused condition. Price on Application; no harm in asking, but make sure your pacemaker has a fresh battery!

Health emergency apart an important advantage of new Chinese machines is they're available off-the-shelf in a wide range of different sizes. The machine that fits best into the available space can be picked out of a catalogue.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 05/04/2020 16:37:18

Well put together website. Well done.

Paul, you,of course, know your own needs but if "big-bore" is driving your choice make sure that you actually need it.

I started with an early Chinese lathe and then got an ML7. I kept the Chinese lathe as well because of the larger bore. I actually used that machine, I think, once in 7 years and then mostly "because it was there".

I finally sold that lathe and haven't missed it.

ymmv.

That connoisseur will be big bucks , fat end of 8k id say. But tanks for the heads up.!Im not a collector, i want to use it. Quite why you'd want to collect lathes is beyond me , watches are easier to store.

Ive also wondered about boring out the spindle and keeping a spare to swap back should i need to.

Edited By Paul Smith 37 on 05/04/2020 19:39:12

So what chinese lathes are any good?

Harrison M300, there's 4 on ebay in the UK, 2 might be OK, 2 are junk.

Prices are pretty much the same

My advice is go for something as big as you can fit in your space.

IIRC I noticed that same Myford a few days ago at £14K. Perhaps it was April 1st.

£14k crikey o riley. ill leave that there.

Thanks Andrew

Thanks Dave. ill check them out

Thanks Mr Banders

Thanks Mr Duffer

What about a Boxford with the rear mounted motor. About the same size as the myford but a better machine.

Have you a model type? whats the spindle capacity?

Im not up on my Boxford models, but ME10 and CSB come to mind though ive seen models A, B, abd C with rear mounted motors too.

The underdrive models are CUD, BUD and AUD.

I believe the spindle bore is about 3/4"

The standard Boxford passes 3/4", (3MT). Bigger bore versions were made but rare.

All are screwcutting except any designated "T" which are very basic.

Model A:- Screwcutting g/box., power cross feed & long. feed

Model B:- Power cross-feed & long. feed

Model C;-Power long. feed.

Thinking about it the under drive models probably take up less room than the rear drive models and not much more than a ML7. About comparable to a super 7.

I understand you said you don't have much room but the only difference is the cabinet rather than being bench mounted.

Im looking into the Boxford box lathes, they maybe very efficient in what they do, which is of course the primary goal, but lack the charisma of a myford super 7 style lathe. Or Is it me just being a tart?

I have always thought Myfords have been way over priced, as an example Home & Workshop Machinery has a Myford Connoisseur big bore for a whopping £14000 + vat £16800 total.