Looking for a Lathe but no idea where to start.

[Shinobiwan]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Gives me plenty look at and I'm getting a clearer picture of what I'll be needing to do the parts I want.

The suggestion to DIY from scratch isn't feasible for me. Even converting an old lathe would be a big commitment in time and I wouldn't want to stretch any further than that. I'm definitely more interested in making parts than what makes the parts.

Seems that 70mm bore is indeed quite ambitious so I'll likely have to scale back the size of the parts to 50mm which seems more doable.

I'm not in a position to buy yet so I'm window shopping at the moment trying to get as much info as I can so I don't end up buying shite that doesn't do what I want.

Would these be able to handle what I have in mind?

Harrison 140 Gap Bed Centre Lathe , Very good condition | eBay

HARRISON M300 CENTRE LATHE WITH DRO £2250+ VAT | eBay

Problem is the 3 phase electrics, I could buy an inverter but you need a beefy 230v supply to start with and I'm not sure a 16amp socket will handle it.

I might be happier with an easy life and go straight with a 230v model which would likely mean waiting around for something on ebay or maybe buying new.

Warco GH1232 Metalworking Gear Head Lathe | Buy Warco GH-1232 Lathes

Buy Axminster CQ6230A-2/910 Metal Turning Lathe from Axminster, fast delivery for the UK

[Clive S]

Just for clarification you was asking for 70mm dia turning space that could be done by a lot of lathes even a ml7 the 70mm bore that is being mentioned is through the head stock ie if you want to put a long bar through. Even quite a big lathe would not give you a 70mm bore the normal size for a bore would be about 20mm-30mm

[Shinobiwan]

Just for clarification you was asking for 70mm dia turning space that could be done by a lot of lathes even a ml7 the 70mm bore that is being mentioned is through the head stock ie if you want to put a long bar through. Even quite a big lathe would not give you a 70mm bore the normal size for a bore would be about 20mm-30mm

I was wondering about that. I thought it was a case of opening up the jaws in the chuck and as long as you've got the capacity then you'd tighten it down and away you go but then bore was mentioned and I thought what do I know, I'll go with that.

So you don't need this thing sitting in the bore of the chuck unless your feeding your bar through? Is that correct?

[Clive S]

Spot on Good luck ...Clive

[Swarfing]

You don't necessarily need to scale back the parts if you don't need to fit the part down the bore of the headstock.If not long lengths then you can fit them between centres(headstock and tailstock), use fixed and traveling steadies. You do have to keep in mind the swing of the lathe (centre height of chuck to the top of the bed). You could have a chuck with a 70mm bore if you have space to swing it but chances are you won't get a lathe with a headstock that can take 70mm. Not to fit in your workshop anyway.

[John S]

Ant,
check your PM's

[irving2008]

dont understand need for 70mm bore.... need 70mm chuck capacity and 200mm+ between centres but that part could easily be turned on a minilathe... unless i missed something...