Lathe Quality

[GPtuners]

A friend of mine is looking to tinker around making mods for his Beretta and 1911, and is looking at lathes. He would just be making small parts from stainless, cold rolled, and tool steel and threading on pistol barrels for barrel bushings. He is looking at the following one, and thought that some smiths here could chime in on their opinions of a lathe in this price range.


This is the one I think is the most realistic, even though I won’t be able to spend that kind of money any time soon:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/JET-9-in-x-2 ... qjYFn8o4dV

Thanks,
Carlos

[guncrank1]

I would get the biggest headstock bore in the size range I was choosing.
Not neccessay on price.

Not Jet either
Same machine from a different supplier.
But this machine will do the job

[mike@meridian]

Pass on that JET. Save your money. If your friend is only making small pins and bushings, it's honestly not worth the expense to invest a quality lathe for the trade. He would be far better off finding a machine shop or a home machinist who has equipment he can rent time on if he really insists on making it a DIY job. Most of the new import lathes are pretty junky. You need to get into a $2K+ price range, minimum; to get a machine with decent tolerances, features and bore. If he is set on getting his own and wants the most bang for his buck, I would suggest a Grizzly. Buying used is another option if you are willing to wait and hunt for the right one. I bought my mid-90's 14x40 gap bed engine lathe by Luxmatter used from a small shop that was making polymer mower deck rollers on it; found on Craigslist. My Bridgeport clone came from Advance Machinery of Ohio, they're a big reseller. Don't skimp on equipment as much as possible.

[richief]

maybe look for a used clausing 5914 with tooling, good small size and very capable.

[guncrank1]

I use a a Grizzly 12x36 and a Smithy 3-in-1 mill/drill/lathe in my shop.
And working on a restoring a Uni-mate to use as well.
It is wise to get the best that you can get but it is the craftsman skill in using what you have in talent and machinary to do your best.

[guncrank1]

All turning , knurling and threading was done on a Grizzly lathe