Small metal Lathes / IE 350 to 50W machines

[bikepete]

...an example = milling down a 40mmx100mm round solid bar of mild steel to 35mmx100mm, then cutting a round pocket in the center at one end ?

If this is a typical size job then IMO and if you have room you would be better off with something bigger than a C3. Just looked on Arc Euro and it only weighs 40 kg.

The job is within its size spec (I think - swing over cross-slide is not given) so you should be able to do it via loads of small cuts but the speed and sheer pleasure of doing the same job on say 400kg of secondhand proper industrial lathe is in a different league.

Something like a secondhand Boxford should cost much the same money and be a gazillion times stronger and more rigid. Loads on ebay, Gumtree, etc., choose one with all the tooling. May be a bit worn but for me, I'd live with that rather than try turning big lumps of steel on a wet noodle of a 40 kg machine. Info at e.g.

Boxford Lathes

IMO of course but the extra power and weight of a 'proper' lathe (and there are plenty of others apart from Boxford) is well worth the effort to get one moved...

Personally I'd get a three phase machine and power it on an inverter (smoother, gives you variable speed) but there are plenty of single phase motor Boxfords around if this isn't something you don't fancy tackling straight away.

If you've no space not an option perhaps but worth considering IMO.

Oh and interrupted cuts on square stock will show up the difference even more - don't think taking 40mm square steel to round on a C3 would be much fun (but would admit I've never owned one - but I did have a Myford for a while and that was bad enough - get heavier than that too for 40mm steel!)

[dudz]

If you've no space not an option perhaps but worth considering

I have bags of space, just built myself a huge workshop just deep pockets and short arms. I will keep looking for bigger used machines.

[Swarfing]

Completely agree Pete but Dudz's in France so he may struggle to find a Boxford over there.? I'd suggest you look out for an Ex-school or collage lathe has they tend to be cheap and suitable for new users has they are designed with learners in mind. They also have loads of tooling with them.

You should be able to pick yourself up a reasonable ex workshop lathe for a good price. Check out Leboncoin.fr, make sure you have screw cutting ability and make sure it comes with all the appropriate change wheels etc. I have a Vernier TV 280 (pain in PITA spindle) which is a very good machine. Make sure you have a typical nose fitting as well so that you get chuck back plates etc easily not like me.

[dudz]

You should be able to pick yourself up a reasonable ex workshop lathe for a good price. Check out Leboncoin.fr, make sure you have screw cutting ability and make sure it comes with all the appropriate change wheels etc. I have a Vernier TV 280 (pain in PITA spindle) which is a very good machine. Make sure you have a typical nose fitting as well so that you get chuck back plates etc easily not like me.

Yep, I look on Leboncoin every day. But they seems to sell their used lathes for 100 euros per kilo ! . I will keep looking though thx

[Swarfing]

Check out models made by FAM that are popular over your side of the waters as well.

[dudz]

Tour a metaux VERNIER Équipements Industriels Ardèche - leboncoin.fr

Example

[Swarfing]

That would be fantastic but has the same crappy spindle nose fitment as mine which is an A1-4 (direct nose). Chucks are impossible to find at a reasonable cost. But if you can get it for the right price then you could factor that in. Good things about it is the middle bit is a scrap bin with a coolant pump under neath. You would need two VFD's to run it and that would cost you another £150ish to add. Ask him what the lowest he would take for it and mention the problem of obtaining chucks and upgrading it to run on a single supply?