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Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:53 am
by john bunsenburner
Well, the chinese lathe will cost me about 70$ more for shipping that means 500bucks and that is without anything that is not included.
The other lathe osts 555euro thats 735$ without anything.
What do you think?
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:02 am
by MRR
In the end it's your discission.
At first you should read a lot about lathes. I did and there are so many things that you can do wrong and blow money so that I didn't feel like buying a lathe anymore.
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:08 am
by john bunsenburner
Ok, you seem to have read alot about lathes, got any links for me? German and enlish are equally fine for me.
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:13 am
by MRR
A good start a is the user manual of a rotwerk lathe, and there are a lot of forums that are easy to find via google.
http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&q=dre ... =&aq=f&oq=
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:33 pm
by john bunsenburner
see update at the bottom!
Ok i found this, the seller seems a bit dubious but hey 450$ for an original rotwerk including parts is a great deal, further more there is no bids on it, i have only a day or so for this so you tell me what you think, then ill discuss with parents and god knows, i might have a lathe in a few weeks!
http://cgi.ebay.de/ROTWERK-DREHMASCHIN ... 240%3A1318
The ebay is the german one, so the language used is accordingly german.
DAMN, i found an even better deal 135$ for the same machine as above, the guy doesn't wan to ship so maybe ill have to give it a bit of an up price and of coarse pay for shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.de/Drehmaschine-EDM-300 ... 240%3A1318
UPDATE
Ok i have discussed the matter with my dad and he is happy to spend money if i get a good quality product Therefore i have settled on the lathe which is directly from the seller, it is located in germany costs 735$ and will hopefully fulfil my needs:
http://server.co101.spacenet.de/www.rot ... ntentserv/
Ask if you don't understand the german and need translation.
Also can some one tell me what the maximum workable diameter(this is my very crude translation) is? Does that mean i cannot work with anything under this diameter without getting another chuck or what? I am a little worried about certain measurements supplied as for example the inner diameter of the chuck is smaller than all other measurements given. and 20mm chuck does seem a little tight for my needs. anyway, thanks for all the help and advice until now!
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:27 pm
by Sparkie
Your old man is cool.
Just don't let him on it or you may never get a go
Your old man knows what you are using it for right?
Making tap washers and stuff like that

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:59 pm
by john bunsenburner
My dad most probably can't use a hammer correctly, and i told him its for soem high precision work which includes spudguns, steam engines and chairs(the main things im making) he said thats ok, so of i go. Yeah he is cool.
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:07 pm
by jrrdw
Are you looking at the EDM 300 for that price? Way to small for the price, it's just a hair bigger then a micro.
Edit: Main page in English --
http://translate.google.com/translate?t ... ryID%3D192
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:15 pm
by john bunsenburner
Well it is small, but it is high quality, fulfills my needs interms of size and the supplyer is close by so i can easyly get spare parts and recomendations. Do you have an alternative Jrrdw?
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:22 pm
by jrrdw
Try the Seig company, google it or find the link on
www.mini-lathe.com. They are European and range in price per size.
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:47 pm
by john bunsenburner
I can't find what ou talked about, and mini-lathe.com seems to be down, or broken, mind giving me a direct link?
Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:18 pm
by jrrdw
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:46 am
by john bunsenburner
Well really i wouldn't mind if my lathe was slightly larger than those mini lathes, also larger than the rotwerk one. But i am afraid that looking for something like that will most probably be out of my price catergory. Sieg doesn't seem as relliable as id like it to be, its a manufacturer in china and my experience with chinese products is far from pleasing. Ok then, if any of you find some other lathe, or if some one else has a recommendation feel free to post it here or to pm me, and when i have settled on which lathe to buy, I will update this thread.
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 9:52 am
by Gippeto
The lathe I have at work is a Smithy AT-300. Made in china. The quality of machine tools coming from China has risen dramatically since our lathe was built. Don't dismiss "Made in China" too quickly.
Everything that I've posted to date has been made with the AT-300 (and many things not posted) including the co-ax.
This is the updated and re-introduced model of the AT-300. I know it's more than you want to spend.
http://www.smithy.com/product_specs.php ... 9&pid=1016
Despite what you may hear from some people about 3 in 1 machines, they will do the job if care is taken. I'm still learning that.
I suggest you go to wherever you get "hobby" magazines, and find a couple european metal working type magazines. There will be advertisements in there from suppliers that most of us (in North America) will never have heard of.
Have a look, post some links, get some opinions based on what is actually available to you in Switzerland.
If I were to set up at home, I would buy a bigger 3in1 machine if cost and space were the major considerations. Separate lathe and mill if funds and space allowed.
Also, watch the classifieds. These type of tools DO get sold occasionally, and for considerably less than new cost. Maybe put an advertisement in the local paper and offer a "finders fee".
It's worked for me in the past.

Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:13 am
by Technician1002
Gippeto wrote:The lathe I have at work is a Smithy AT-300. Made in china. The quality of machine tools coming from China has risen dramatically since our lathe was built. Don't dismiss "Made in China" too quickly.
Everything that I've posted to date has been made with the AT-300 (and many things not posted) including the co-ax.
This is the updated and re-introduced model of the AT-300. I know it's more than you want to spend.
http://www.smithy.com/product_specs.php ... 9&pid=1016
Despite what you may hear from some people about 3 in 1 machines, they will do the job if care is taken. I'm still learning that.
I suggest you go to wherever you get "hobby" magazines, and find a couple european metal working type magazines. There will be advertisements in there from suppliers that most of us (in North America) will never have heard of.
Have a look, post some links, get some opinions based on what is actually available to you in Switzerland.
If I were to set up at home, I would buy a bigger 3in1 machine if cost and space were the major considerations. Separate lathe and mill if funds and space allowed.
Also, watch the classifieds. These type of tools DO get sold occasionally, and for considerably less than new cost. Maybe put an advertisement in the local paper and offer a "finders fee".
It's worked for me in the past.

Nice

I approve
