Hello from Yorkshire

Hello all

i recently found this forum as my journey into purchasing my first late began. i have a small workshop in my basement and have done all kinds of projects working with many materials but my most recent was to make my wedding ring from pattern welded steel, and although i managed it with hand tools and a drill press, it lead me down a path of all kinds of ideas and possibilities and so i started to research. i have watched so many videos and read so many reviews of various off brand import lathes and although i could most likely sort one out if i got it and it was in need of fettling, i think i would rather go down the route of a second hand lathe, emco, modelmat etc... i have a space in my workshop for it albeit a basement workshop with only access down narrow stairs so the size of the lathe is limited to a what i can get down there. i know that significantly limits my options to the smaller lathes.

so you will likely find me scouring the internet and classifieds for something suitable and probably for some time, but i am in no rush.

look forward to joining in the forums

Adam

Hi Adam welcome to the forum. A Myford lathe is not too big to get down some steps with some help I saw one slide down some wood battens with a rope to hold it back. It had been partially dismantled to make it lighter and the base came separately. Any lathe can be reduced to smaller sections, within reason, so always buy one that will allow you to machine what you would like to make.

David

Welcome Adam. Loads of useful info and friendly advice here. Getting machinery down narrow stairs is perfectly doable with extreme care and enough hands! David's comments about partial dismantling is perfectly sensible, but I would caution you against this if you are a 'beginner' (with lathes and such). If you don't know what you are doing its very easy to end up with something that doesn't work as it should do or is severly innacurate when re-assembled!

There is plenty of choice out there, but in your situation you have limits. As is often quoted on this forum when similar questions are posted - try to get a clear idea of what you intend to use it for first. That will give you a baseline - then look to buy a bigger version of what you think (limited by £ and in your case practical access) as you will always want to move on to larger projects than you thought.

All the best with yout search

regards Mike

Hello Adam and welcome. David and Mike have just about answered the question but all the best with finding the ideal lathe.

Please let us know what you decide in the end.

Brain

hello all, thanks for the warm welcome and advice, i think i would be comfortable taking parts off and re-assembling them.. in terms of intended uses, i really like pens but wood turning just doesn't really intrigue me the same way... i think wood turning pens is all in the setup of the blank and some beautiful results can be achieved, overall the pens tend to follow a similar aesthetic, where as i love the clean lines and detailing of metal pens that i have seen people make with knurling and grooves etc... also my dad plays darts and it would be fun to try make him a set of custom darts for sure.

thanks again for the welcome folks.

Edited By adam lavery on 08/02/2022 22:22:26