Forum sponsored by:
Which Myford do I buy??
| Mark Freeman | 07/10/2011 21:29:37 |
| 2 forum posts | I am looking to upgrade to a larger lathe, I currently have a Emco Compact 8 and a Emcomat 7 with V10 mill attachment.
I am looking to buy a Myford ML7 or Super 7. Can anyone help me decide which to go for, what are the pro and con's of each model? I don't want to be changing my lathe again for so need to get it right first time.
I want to start making scale model IC engines and a scale model of my real car. A year 2000 model Nissan Silvia S15.
It seems that only old models of cars are ever made in scale models and want to do something bang up to date. And having a real one to take information from hopefully will help. I am new to scale model making but have been a Mechanical engineer for 12 years. In 2007 I suffered a near fatal industrial accident having both legs crushed by a 1969 Ford Mustang, I'm walking again now but as a result have to slow down in life a little, hence the start of a life long ambition of getting into scale model making. I found this site just Googling for info and hope to learn a lot from you guy's. Any help would be appreciated.
Mark.
|
| Stub Mandrel | 07/10/2011 22:06:00 |
 4318 forum posts 291 photos 1 articles | Hi Mark, Welcome aboard, make sure you post some pictures to show us your progress! Better let the Myford Club advise on this, though I understand the S7 is abit more up to date - 1950s design rather than 1940s - >ducks< Neil |
| Nobby | 07/10/2011 23:20:44 |
 587 forum posts 113 photos | Hi Mark I agree with Neil I would go for the Super Seven I think the bearings are better than the ML 7 It as a tapered cone on the headstock and a pair of ball races at the back And are adjustable .Mine is a Mk 1 Super 7 and still giving good service Nobby |
| Jeff Dayman | 07/10/2011 23:21:55 |
| 2356 forum posts 47 photos | Just my opinion - the best Myford is the one you don't buy at all. Much better value for money with a used ex industry Colchester, Harrison, Boxford, South Bend etc. There are still lots around with lots of life. Check for wear of bed, slides and spindle before buying. A turning test of a bar's diameter at same too setting over a few inches length is the best way to quickly rough-evaluate them. Don't buy non-runners, they're riskier. If you can find a Hardinge or Schaublin (they are rarer) they are an absolute pleasure to use.
OK I'm ready to be shot drawn and quartered by the Myford Club but the above is my honest opinion having used all makes mentioned at length in industry and in the hobby.
JD |
| Nobby | 07/10/2011 23:27:56 |
587 forum posts 113 photos | Hi Jeff
I may have misunderstood I thought the choice was between the S7 & ML7
Nobby |
| Steve Withnell | 07/10/2011 23:45:30 |
 858 forum posts 215 photos | I'm with Jeff - more lathe per £ not buying Myford. |
| Chris Trice | 08/10/2011 03:08:46 |
 1376 forum posts 10 photos | No contest. Get the newest Super 7 you can afford. If you look away from Myford, Boxford are the undervalued gems in the same class. Bigger lathes are great but many are three phase and often a sledge hammer to crack a walnut. It really depends the class of work you're intending. |
| ady | 08/10/2011 07:43:21 |
| 612 forum posts 50 photos | An Emco Compact 8 is 4"x16" An Emcomat 7 with V10 mill attachment is 3.5" x 17.7" or a long-bed 3.5" x 23.7" A standard ML7 is around 3.5" x 20" So you aren't really going to be getting a "bigger" lathe. Personally speaking, if I wanted a bigger lathe, I'd use the emcos for smaller work and upgrade to a bigger boxford for doing any heavy work, some of those boxfords can take over an inch through the spindle bore. Edited By ady on 08/10/2011 07:58:57 |
| michael cole | 08/10/2011 08:58:22 |
| 166 forum posts | Go for a late super 7, you will want to make sure it has the power cross feed and gearbox. Even better go and have a look at the boxfords and Colchesters, etc. Lots of lathes out there, cheaper than Myford.
Mike |
| Phil P | 08/10/2011 11:59:10 |
| 851 forum posts 206 photos | I am lucky in that I have a Myford S7B and a Harrison L5A along with a couple of small Pultra watch and clock makers lathes.
I inherited the Super 7 when my dad died, he bought it new in 1987 and it still looks like it left the factory yesterday.
Previously I used a well equipped ML7 for many years, and the difference is like chalk and cheese, the Super is a much nicer machine to use and has much better bearings etc.
These days the Myford is the "main" lathe, and the Harrison only gets used for the occasional bigger jobs.
It all really depends on the size and type of work you intend to do, some people will advise you to get a bigger lathe on the premise that it will cover all the sizes of work you do big or small.
But you will find the the bigger lathe does not have the same "feel" for doing small delicate work.
The Chinese import lathes might give you more lathe for your money in terms of size and specification, but from reading and talking to people about them, there "may" be some build quality issues.
A lot of these can be resolved I suppose if you want to rebuild and blueprint your new lathe once it arrives. However I have only heard good things about the Austrian imports.
So it all boils down to deciding what you are going to use it for, which will dictate the size you need, then buy the best quality your budget will allow.
Personally I would always look for something second hand that has been well looked after and comes with a good pedigree.
Just as an example, a friend of mine recently bought a Swiss Mikron lathe and a van load of accessories and tooling for £150, it doesn't happen every day but you never know.
Phil
|
| The Merry Miller | 08/10/2011 17:10:53 |
 484 forum posts 97 photos | Two Myfords just gone on E-bay, a Super 7 for £600 and a ML7 for £800.25 Len. P. |
| Mark Freeman | 08/10/2011 20:29:28 |
| 2 forum posts | Wow thanks for the reply's I am going to look at some other makes as a few of you have suggested. One reason I thought of the Myford's is there seems to be a vast array of spares and accessories available, unlike the Emco's I have.
I think I need to go and see some lathes in the flesh before I make a decision. I do want to go bigger as I hope to do some work to earn a few quid with it, as my accident has rendered me unemployed and it's impossible to get even a basic job with the restrictions I have now. So help myself I will..
I have a lot to learn and am trying to find an experienced person in my area who would be willing to show me the ropes with lathes and maybe some milling. I have my head in books every spare second at the mo, I'm building my new shed next week 6.5m x 3.5m so should be big enough to make a good workshop.
Thanks again for your advice, if there is anyone in the Torbay area of Devon willing to help me please let me know.
|
| Chris Trice | 09/10/2011 00:29:38 |
1376 forum posts 10 photos | I maintain the best way to learn is by doing. The books will give you the theory and the neccesary lists of cutting speeds etc. but there's no substitute for firing the machine up.
There's a show in Warwick this weekend if you want to see a large number of lathes and mills in one place although probably a good run from Devon.
|
| ady | 09/10/2011 00:41:40 |
| 612 forum posts 50 photos | Don't buy too much gear until you have a couple of years of hacking under your belt. It all looks great (and it costs a bomb)...but you'd be surprised how much experience can be gained if you limit your purchases and focus on cutting the metal. If you don't have something, don't buy it, make it yourself. Edited By ady on 09/10/2011 00:43:48 |
| David Clark 1 | 09/10/2011 11:14:38 |
 3357 forum posts 112 photos 10 articles | Hi Mark
Before doing anything sell your first item.
Without sales, you have no business.
No point in wasting all your capital on something you don't need.
regards David
|
| Chris Trice | 09/10/2011 11:17:39 |
1376 forum posts 10 photos | Posted by Robin Woodward on 09/10/2011 11:06:12:
Hi Mark,
As someone who has been there done that and got the tee shirt, a few cautionary words.
Try and make do with the equipment that you have until such times as you have built up a regular business, then buy where your capacity lets you down, do not buy on a whim.
Be sure to sound out the local Planning Office and consult the neighbours, the last thing you want is grief from either of these sources.
Lastly getting paid is the biggest drawback to working for yourself, I did a job for one firm delivered it in September and was paid after much chasing the following February, and whilst you are chasing you are not earning.
Best of Luck,
Rob,
Robin, add terms to your invoice next time offering a 5% discount for payment within 30 days and/or reserve the right to charge interest at 1% above the bank base rate for invoices unpaid after 90 days. |
| JohnF | 09/10/2011 12:04:57 |
 1243 forum posts 202 photos |
Hello Mark, my heartiest congratulations on your philosophy -- "so help
Regarding a lathe, most advice has already been said but here's my 5 bits
Myford is in my opinion probably the best small machine bar none for small
As Jeff says there are a lot of small industrial machines to be had and
|
| blowlamp | 09/10/2011 13:22:24 |
 1885 forum posts 111 photos | Chris.
I can't see that you would gain very much by going for a Myford, given that you already have two pretty decent lathes of similar size already, one of which is equipped with a better arrangement for milling (in my opinion) than the vertical slide setup that would be needed for the Myford.
If you have the room, my view is that it would be more useful for you get a milling machine now - preferably with a quill so it can double up as a precision drilling machine - and then buy a larger lathe later.
There are plenty of good lathes to be had, but it might be worth looking at something about the size of a Boxford (nice british lathes), or maybe a Warco WM280V-F (chinese manufacture), both of which have a greater through-spindle bar capacity than a Myford 7 series machine.
A personal preference of mine would be to have a variable speed lathe that doesn't have a screw-on chuck.
Martin. |
Please login to post a reply.
Magazine Locator
Want the latest issue of Model Engineer or Model Engineers' Workshop? Use our magazine locator links to find your nearest stockist!
Sign up to our Newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter and get a free digital issue.
You can unsubscribe at anytime. View our privacy policy at www.mortons.co.uk/privacy
Latest Forum Posts
- *Oct 2023: FORUM MIGRATION TIMELINE*
05/10/2023 07:57:11 - Making ER11 collet chuck
05/10/2023 07:56:24 - What did you do today? 2023
05/10/2023 07:25:01 - Orrery
05/10/2023 06:00:41 - Wera hand-tools
05/10/2023 05:47:07 - New member
05/10/2023 04:40:11 - Problems with external pot on at1 vfd
05/10/2023 00:06:32 - Drain plug
04/10/2023 23:36:17 - digi phase converter for 10 machines.....
04/10/2023 23:13:48 - Winter Storage Of Locomotives
04/10/2023 21:02:11 - More Latest Posts...
- View All Topics
Support Our Partners
Shopping Partners
Subscription Offer
Latest "For Sale" Ads
- Reeves** - Rebuilt Royal Scot by Martin Evans
by John Broughton
£300.00 - BRITANNIA 5" GAUGE James Perrier
by Jon Seabright 1
£2,500.00 - Drill Grinder - for restoration
by Nigel Graham 2
£0.00 - WARCO WM18 MILLING MACHINE
by Alex Chudley
£1,200.00 - MYFORD SUPER 7 LATHE
by Alex Chudley
£2,000.00 - More "For Sale" Ads...
Latest "Wanted" Ads
- D1-3 backplate
by Michael Horley
Price Not Specified - fixed steady for a Colchester bantam mark1 800
by George Jervis
Price Not Specified - lbsc pansy
by JACK SIDEBOTHAM
Price Not Specified - Pratt Burnerd multifit chuck key.
by Tim Riome
Price Not Specified - BANDSAW BLADE WELDER
by HUGH
Price Not Specified - More "Wanted" Ads...
Get In Touch!
Do you want to contact the Model Engineer and Model Engineers' Workshop team?
You can contact us by phone, mail or email about the magazines including becoming a contributor, submitting reader's letters or making queries about articles. You can also get in touch about this website, advertising or other general issues.
Click THIS LINK for full contact details.
For subscription issues please see THIS LINK.
Digital Back Issues
Donate
Register
Log-in
Model Engineer Magazine
- Percival Marshall
- M.E. History
- LittleLEC
- M.E. Clock
ME Workshop
- An Adcock
- & Shipley
- Horizontal
- Mill
Subscribe Now
- Great savings
- Delivered to your door
Pre-order your copy!
- Delivered to your doorstep!
- Free UK delivery!
All Forum Topics > Beginners questions > Which Myford do I buy??