Bench lathe

Probably the wrong topic but couldn't find one to suit so picked this. Recently put a wanted add up looking for a Bench lathe. Sight damaged after syroke and stupidly as it turns out sold all y gear. So sitting in the lounge with nothing to do going doolally, not feeling good so get a lathe and you could do some rough turning, precision is out as difficult trying to read a mic/vernier etc. Well I've had a fabulous weekend thanks to very very kind and generous fellow model engineer as I'm now the proud owner of an low mileage Asian lathe. Just shows what a supportive bunch of people are who use tools to actually make things. You know who you are, I can only say a heartfelt thank you, think I might have a few more winters in me now.

Glad to hear it Graham.

Have you considered getting a digital caliper with an extra large screen? Such things are available from the usual suppliers.

Hi Graham,

I wonder if you could fit a dro to your lathe? They seem to have a large read out.

Lee

Glad to hear Graham. I was making a rocking horse when I had a stroke it was the wanting to finish it that got me back in the saddle making things in wood and then progress to metal bashing.

I have gone for digital read outs on everything to make things easier to read and it works for me

Glad to hear you're back in a workshop.
How do you get on with an LED, as opposed to an LCD display?
These come up sometimes, but make sure you get a good one, as they will all be quite old by now.
I do like mine, both Imperial and Metric, but the battery contacts seem not to stand the test of time.
Not the best of photos, but you get the idea.

Bill

Mitutoyo and others still sell digital micrometers:

Thanks for all the suggestions guys will see if digital can be a way to go. Cheers Graham W

I hadn't seen a large screen digital caliper until this thread prompted me to google them.

**LINK**

Just beware of the advertising hype. Some auto shut-down too soon and some auto shut-down but do not turn off - so the cell(s) don’t last long. Cheaper ‘digis’ can be expensive to keep fed with new cells.

A while ago, MEW did a survey of digital callipers from the circa £10 to the £80+.

Some of the cheapies still used current to maintain their memry, shortening battery life.

One that came ouy well was the M & W from machine DRO. At the time it was about £25.

Might be worth exploring?

Howard

Thanks for that Howard. Had a digital mic passed to me from B in Law and certainly helps. As to calipers they all seem to have what I would call a thumb wheel to advacne the jaw not a screw adjuster. Had the Aldi type like that in the past and didn't find them very good. Does anyone know of digital alipers that have screw adjusters?

cheers Graham W

A fine pitch screw adjuster on a caliper, which typically has a range six times greater than that of a micrometer, would make for very tedious operation. I don't know whether such a caliper is commercially available, but I assume not.

Old time Starrett etc pre-digital vernier calipers often had a fine pitch screw adjuster, but only short and it slid up and down with the moveable jaw then could be clamped in position for final fine adjustment. But have never seen it on a digital. Seems to be a thing of the past.