Buying a lathe and milling machine

I'm after both a lathe and milling machine. I've been looking at the Clark CL500M but not sure if it is the best thing for me. A few years ago you could pick up a great lathe for peanuts but now the prices have gone silly unless, of course, I'm looking in the wrong place.

I would like a metric lathe BUT if I can get the right imperial one then it isn't the end of the world as I'm thinking of getting a 3 axis digital read out. I would like motorised feeds later and enough capacity to make useful stuff for the Landrover such as wheel spacers etc

For the mill I would again like a reasonable size capability and again the ability to add motorised feeds.

So the questions.....

Any suggestions for lathes and/or mills to look at AND places to look?

Budget is a couple of grand in total (for now) but I could add stuff later although I'd prefer to get enough to properly start now. I can get the CL500M VAT free at £899 and that is both but I don't want to get the wrong thing.

If I can save enough from this budget there is a great metal cutter, roller and bender by Clarke in Machine Mart that I would like to add too at about £359

Jolly good idea. I haven't got any personal recommendations, but I often think about how great it would be to have a lathe. I'm torn between the idea of getting a brand new hobbyist machine like a Clarke or going for a second hand professional job off Ebay. Something about the size of a Colchester Student would be handy. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COLCHESTE...946240?hash=item25b1b0d5c0:g:ShkAAOSwwE5WUdEQ But then with a second hand one there's likely to be a bit of slop in the bearings. I'm due a bonus from work soon, but I think it will go on an overdrive unit rather than a lathe. Good luck in your search and show us some pictures of what you end up buying.

I've got a couple of lathes, my main one is a Myford 254+ which I have converted to CNC and I've also got a CNC Sieg X3 mill. I wouldn't recommend getting a combined lathe/mill like the CL500M if you are planning on using it for anything other than light hobby work. The mill wont be that rigid as it is a bolt on extra and also the amount of available X/Y table movement is limited as the lathe headstock gets in the way so effectively reduces the size of the piece you can machine. If you have the space I would recommend going for a separate lathe and mill as combined models are a real performance compromise. Remember with this sort of equipment rigidity is one of the key factors and you will be surprised on how much difference it makes, generally the bigger (heavier) it is the better. One thing to factor in is tooling as this can add up but can also be added as and when required.
May be worth looking for some descent high quality second hand gear rather than new lightweight kit. You can generally get 3 phase kit cheaper and then buy a single phase to 3 phase VFD to power it.

Buy proper machines not mini toys, it's longer lasting, more stable, and the bigger kit is lower cost. I've got a Bridgeport Mill and a Colchester Student lathe, both 3 phase, both running on an invert from single phase. Both rewired for 220V 3 phase.

Also with industrial equipment the parts are easy to get such as bearings, etc.

For me, you'll hate this, but both were free , it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Another thing to consider is the max diameter you can turn on the lathe if you are looking at making wheel spacers, don't know exact diameter of a spacer but as the CL500M appears to have a swing of 305 over the bed and 172 across the cross slide you may find it too small for a spacer?

The CL500M seemed to be the best I could find new that was in my budget. There's such a massive jump after that but yes I do want something large enough and accurate enough to re-face, repair and make parts that I can actually use. I haven't much experience with either but so many things I'd like to build which would be easier done using them.

Yes a few years ago when schools were ripping them out I know that large numbers were simply weighed in!

I'd like to back up Kwakerman with regard to machines like the CL500. A friend has one, milling accurately with it is incredibly frustrating and if you added the 3 axis digital measuring you will tear your hair out when you see how much everything is moving. I'm hoping to be able to build a workshop this year, and will be going for big, old heavy stuff with a view to renewing bearings where needed.

Have a look at warco.co.uk for some decent entry level machines. I have one of their pillar drills which is much more solid than the equivalent priced Clarke offering.

I considered all the usual lathe options and ended up buying a second hand Boxford, which unfortunately has turned in to a bigger project itself before I've even started on anything else. I'm starting to think something newer would have been a better investment.

With regards to milling machines, again I found the only Bridgeports for sale were either serious money or required serious overhaul. Still undecided, but I like the look of the Warco VMC and will probably make a decision early in the new year. Will be interested to see what other people suggest.

Thanks. I want a bit of kit that is accurate. Skimming a head or doing a re-bore should be doable without worry of destroying a bit of kit and making a spacer should be a doddle without worry that it will wreck the balance. I've numerous projects I want to play with and these two machines will hopefully join the metal bender/roller/shearer plus the equipment I already have.

When I was an engineer it was a Bridgeford's and Ward 7's.

Good secondhand quality kit will still be better than mass produced new, engineering machinery will have adjusters in the slides to compensate for wear.

Don't go for Clarke stuff, it feels cheap and nasty.

I'd go for secondhand Colchester lathe and Bridgeport mill...used them in my apprenticeship many moons ago and they're solid professional kit...if they can withstand apprentices using them then that says it all! I'd love to have them in my garage!

cowasaki said:

Thanks. I want a bit of kit that is accurate. Skimming a head or doing a re-bore should be doable without worry

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If you want to be skimming cylinder heads then you ideally need a surface grinder not a milling machine. If you need heads skimmed, farm it out, and keep the interesting stuff to make yourself.

And you'll need a shaping machine