Good workshop lathe

Hi all, I'm a beginner here ! I must firstly hold my hands up as owning a Clarke CL500 lathe for a few years that I use to make bits for old motorcycle renovations and other model projects - I want to now get 'respectable' and change this for something a bit more traditional and decent. I was 'brought up' in my early working career in workshops with Myfords/Boxfords/Harrisons and always had a soft spot for the Boxford rather than colleagues who used the the others and I could always leave this set up with my work ! I now want my own Boxford for home use and wonder if there are any recommendations to what model and things to look for. I think the size and weight are just about OK and some reasonably priced ones seem to appear on ebay and elsewhere regularly. I know that there have been various posts on choosing before but would appreciate some particular help here before I buy a duff one ! Many thanks - Joe

Hi Joe,
Firstly Welcome to the forum. Ebay can be a minefield, descriptions such as was my Dad's but hardly ever used I could go on... If you take the ME have a look through that especially the inner back page, if you are in a local SMEE club ask around, If they have a newsletter get a litttle notice into it.

Bob

I harbiour a secret desire for a Boxford AUD, but don't tell anyone...

Neil

Welcome Joe.

You have started a ball rolling here. Your own interests will be the key I think. If your intentions are for small models and clocks you are not going to require a large diameter swing or longer bed. After this your man cave or workspace will physically limit your Boxford choices. I assume that your CL500 is to be replaced by your new Boxford? I had a smaller space and started with the CL250 and have graduated into a new workshop adding a Myford ML4 which is big enough for clocks and small models. I'm not building a railway here. I added a separate mill machine, as my CL250 had the add-on mill stand. You may have had one on the CL500? I recommend this action. Enjoy the search for your perfect machine anyway and good hunting.

John

Hi Joe,

I already have a model 'A' Boxford, so am biased, but do also have a Mk1 Myford Super7 in stunning condition.

My own choice in a reasonable price range would be an AUD. The under-drive cabinet takes up less room than the standard 'A', with all the features you are likely to need, at least to start with.

\As John says, it depends what you want to do, and if you need a 4½" swing. But the Boxford is a good sturdy lathe for general purposes.

Phil

As long as the headstock bearings and the leadscrew nuts aren't knackered most decent lathes will make the replacement parts you need

Boxfords are serious bits of kit

If I was getting one "for life" I would consider getting a spare pair of those roller headstock bearings they use since this is probably the only part you haven't a hope of making yourself if it fails

If I was going to buy a Boxford it would be a me10 or AUD IMO the gearbox is a big plus Best Wishes Martin

Although the AUD gives you the convenience of a screwcutting box you still have to faf around to move between metric and imperial and for the number of threads an amateur does it simply isn't essential. So a Bud or Cud is going to be ok Just forget the Tud. A Cud in good condition is better than an Aud in poor condition but peeple get mesmerised by 'features'.

There seem to be people who then complain that going from screwcutting to feed is just toooo much trouble with change gears. So have a look at Graham Howe's 'quiet power feed' mod on a different lathe halfway down here **LINK**

In fact nowadays without going into CNC you could still use a simple stepper driver to provide both power cross feed and longitudinal for a cheaper lathe that others had turned down.

Edited By Bazyle on 06/07/2013 12:02:08

Hi Joe

I would forget even the underdrive Boxfords and go for one of the more modern Gearhead Boxfords. These can be had at prices lower than the AUD/BUD. Not that they is anything wrong with the underdrive units but they are getting old now.

Mike

Hi Joe,

I have a 1953 Model "A" imperial Boxford it's been a great machine over the years, if I wanted to replace it I might go for another Boxford but a later 5" MKIII AUD.

With belt drive machines like mine when running they can be almost silent something to consider if your workshop is perhaps inside a house or flat.

Parts are readily available and lots of South Bend bits like the steady rests, changegears can fit as well as the Boxford was designed from the SB 9" machine.

There are a lot of poor quality machines out there for silly money, if you are not entirely sure what to look out for you could do a lot worse than contact one of the dealers who regularly advertise in MEW to supply a machine.

Regards

Paul

Many many thanks for all the very informative replies - I am most appreciative and must sign up for ME as I believe I belong here ! My head is reeling a bit on which way to go now but firstly feel that a Boxford is definately what I want and that I must carefully select model and where to find one. The world of ebay has a few at the moment but I will check out some established dealers (any recommended ?). This will replace the Clarke which has served it's time well - it is the one with the mill head but that is a bit wobbly - I have a separate Alpine vertical mill anyway which performs well. Although a screwcutting facility sounds good, in fact I rarely need this but a powered crossfeed would be useful. May I ask opinion on what would be the 'rolls royce' of Boxford models and what designation is given to the modern gearhead ones as I am not so familiar with them ? Many thanks again, Joe

Have a look at Tony's Lathe website **LINK**

I have had Myfords, a AUD Mk111 and currently a Boxford STS 10-20. The gearhead is nice and quiet.

mike

Have a look at the inside back cover of Model Engineer. Ian S C

Many thanks again for all the help - I have been mulling over this for the last week now and checking with dealers and other ads - they do seem to pop up regularly for sale but I can't quite be sure yet what fair prices are - I'm coming to the conclusion that it will be a good CUD or ME10. The CUD's seem traditional build quality ME10's seem to be built to a more 'economic' standard - do they have any particular shortcomings ?

Joe