Buying descision

Reached a cross roads in my Budget planning for my new workshop.

Given that I've got £1,000 to spend on machinery, I'm undecided between buying a lathe and milling machine or spend the lot just on a lathe?

Bearing in mind that I'm a complete beginner and that I want to have a go at small engines/models, I assumed that buying a lathe and mill would be the way to go.

However, based on User recommendations, I do like the look of the Sieg C4 lathe (which blows the budget on its own). I would like the lathe to have powered feeds, which I'm not sure the Chester Conquest lathe has got.

Opinions/advice please?

Spend it on a lathe a bit bigger than you think you need, keep a little to buy any tooling, taps etc (say £150) and start saving for a mill. Steve W

If you do go for just a lathe then make sure you can fit a vertical slide to it as this will allow you to use the lathe for light milling operations, Even if there is not a specific one for your chosen machine it is often possible to fit a decent Myford one, thats how I built the traction engine in my avitar - Emco lathe and Myford slide.

Most of the small lathes are likely to have a powered longditudinal feed but its not until you get to something around the size of the Warco 250VF that you will get power cross feed.

J

Frank,

Arc Eurotrade have a special offer on the C6 at the moment including some of the accessories you'll inevitably need:

**LINK**

Gary

Edited By Gary Marland on 22/05/2013 20:47:21

All the imports come with those accessories these days. It's like electric windows on cars.

I think I'd prefer an AUD for that money.

Accedemic anyway as Frank should have stapled his wallet shut for 3 months while he learns more.

Save yourself a HUGE amount of cash and hold out for a Drummond M series

Then munch lots of metal and have 800 quid for all the other bits you'll need

Try and get one with a 3 and 4 jaw chucks

gl

Edited By Ady1 on 23/05/2013 01:55:22

this doesn't appear to be a bad buy, the basic lathe without accessories is nearly £3k new, with the stand and accesories probably nearer £4k worth....

http://www.lathes.co.uk/advertphoto/130410ceriani/

or for a little extra work and searching for the missing bits, an emco compact 10.

http://www.thetoolbox.org.uk/late_arrivals/metalworking2.html

Edited By Durhambuilder on 23/05/2013 09:21:38

There's an Emco Compact 8 advertised on homeworkshop.org.uk which may suit.  Price £450

Contact John on 07847 621456, but be quick.

Located in Walsall, so not far away

Phil

Edited By Robbo on 24/05/2013 09:51:27