View Full Version : Buying a new lathe and I have questions?
gundog
03-20-2007, 12:27 PM
I have been looking for some old USA iron and I am tired of waiting. I just missed out on another ebay deal I was outbid. I maybe should have bid more but anyway water under the bridge. I have been eyeballing this Grizz for a while now. http://www.grizzly.com/products/G4003G Give me your thoughts.
I like the fact it has roller fingers on the steady and follow rest and the spindle bore is 1 5/8". I was looking for a machine with at least a 1.5" bore. I will be replacing a SB 10K lathe or I might just keep both. I would like to get a 5C collet closer for this new lathe but they do not offer one for this model I have contacted them. Here is my big question what would be the best way to go about getting a collet closer setup for this lathe? Can I modify one they make for another model? Should I try to make one from scratch? I have never used a collet closer but it seems it would come in handy many times for me.
Thanks Mike
Michael C
03-20-2007, 12:52 PM
Mike, About the collet closer, if you want to use collets you can always get a 5c collet chuck from Bison for a reasonable sum. If you get the set tru model you can dial in a part to .0001" pretty quick and easy. Be forewarned about Chinese gearhead lathes, they are worlds different than a Southbend, quite a bit of vibration in comparison, at least in few that I have seen running.
Michael C.
gundog
03-20-2007, 04:20 PM
Mike, About the collet closer, if you want to use collets you can always get a 5c collet chuck from Bison for a reasonable sum. If you get the set tru model you can dial in a part to .0001" pretty quick and easy. Be forewarned about Chinese gearhead lathes, they are worlds different than a Southbend, quite a bit of vibration in comparison, at least in few that I have seen running.
Michael C.
Michael,
Looking at the Enco catalog they list a Bison 5C collet chuck and then you need an adapter plate. The adapter plates they list are for a D1-4 and a D-5 and some others this lathe says it has a D1-5 is that the same as a D-5?
Thanks Mike
(Enco page) http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?PMPAGE=337&PARTPG=INLMK3&PMITEM=204-5007
I recall a posting a couple of years ago from somebody who had put rollers on his steady rest -- and discovered it was a really bad idea. Chips, instead of being scraped off, got rolled between the rollers and the work, causing problems.
Never having tried it myself I can't judge, but it's something to think about.
Steve Steven
03-20-2007, 05:27 PM
Making your own collet closer is not hard. I made three, all using a MT5 reducer (EBay, cheap) and a piece of 1 inch IPS pipe. The reducers were not hardened, cut easily. Made up a threaded piece about bore OD threaded ID to suit collets (watch collets, some vary in size) and shrunk fitted and welded onto turned down end of piece of pipe, length to suit spindle. Make a piece to slip over the LH end of spindle, fit Timken NTA-2031 thrust bearings to handwheel against spindle end piece, done!
Steve
Alistair Hosie
03-20-2007, 06:17 PM
You can buy one with a fitted D1-4" backplate here from Chronos.UK for £99 inc del within UK hope this helps Alistair
Bguns
03-20-2007, 06:31 PM
Rollers on steady fingers are great, IF you use a cat head :), or plan on turning rub spot down after roughing out is done. Brass, bronze, plastic, or wood tips can be quite handy depending on job....
ProGunOne
03-20-2007, 08:51 PM
Here's a set of castings/drawings from Metal Lathe to make your own?
http://www.statecollegecentral.com/metallathe/MLA21.html
gundog
03-20-2007, 09:34 PM
ProGunOne,
That is cool I like it thanks for the link.
Mike
flatlander
03-21-2007, 12:11 AM
Mike, there's been quite a lot of discussion about the new Grizzly gunsmithing lathes over on BRCentral's Gunsmithing forum - a couple of the guys over there have already received their new 4003Gs, so you can read their impressions so far.
To date, I haven't read any reviews of the larger of the two Grizz gunsmithing lathes - don't know if that's because they aren't available yet, or because no one really wants a machine with a 16" swing for gunsmithing. I'd like to get my hands on one for a trial run, just to see how it compares to my Jet GH1340W.