Speaking of cheap hobby lathes...

[mmagliaro]

How come the Harbor Freight 7x12 lathe is actually $70 cheaper than the their 7x10 model?  From what I can see, the
machines are identical except for a 2" longer bed capacity on the 7x12.

I looked at the motors, chucks, speeds, etc.  I get the feeling there must be some "trick" I don't see, like the
gears in the gearbox, or some other component, that is better on the 7x10 model.

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-x-12-inch-precision-mini-lathe-93799.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-x-10-inch-precision-mini-lathe-93212.html

[Chris333]

I dunno.

I had a roof leak on my house. Got it fixed. Small stain in the bathroom ceiling. Ceiling is those 12x12 Armstrong tiles. Go to Lowes.com and they are only $1.04 each. Go to the store and they are $2.80 each? Look down and a box of 10 is $28. On the bottom shelf a box of 40 is only $41. Same exact tiles. 4 boxes of 10 would be $112 for the same 40 tiles that cost only $41.

 

[rodsup9000]

Max,
  Maybe they sell a lot more of the 12". Supply and demand = cheaper because of volume maybe.


 I have one of the 12" that is was new, tore down for a few years to do a CNC conversion. That and a HF minimill have been on my to finish list for awhile. Just need to take the time and get them done. Oh yea, before I can do that I need to install the new DRO glass scale on the Bridgeport.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Or currency fluctuations when the latest shipment of one of them was ordered.

[Maletrain]

These days, there seems to be little correlation between price and quality.  And a lot of numerical "noise" in the pricing of individual items.  I think even the mainline marketers have been bitten by the eBay attitude.

[pjm20]

Max,
  Maybe they sell a lot more of the 12". Supply and demand = cheaper because of volume maybe.


 I have one of the 12" that is was new, tore down for a few years to do a CNC conversion. That and a HF minimill have been on my to finish list for awhile. Just need to take the time and get them done. Oh yea, before I can do that I need to install the new DRO glass scale on the Bridgeport.

This is off topic, in true Railwire fashion, but how do you like the HF lathe and minimill so far?

[rodsup9000]

 

This is off topic, in true Railwire fashion, but how do you like the HF lathe and minimill so far?

 I never used either one of them. As soon as I got them, I tore them down to do the CNC conversion.
I have the Bridgeport with DRO, to do all milling on and have a 14" swing X 48" bed Clausing lathe (with DRO) to do any turning on.

 I do have a HF mill drill (with DRO also) that is at least 15 years old, I used a lot before I got the Bridgeport. It still works well. I have it set up with a tilt table to do angle work. It's like this one  https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-horsepower-heavy-duty-milling-drilling-machine-33686.html     but it has a 2HP motor and the table is about 4"s longer.

[PaulP]

Max with the kind and quality of work I see you do I think you would be disappointed with a HF lathe. Take a look at Sherline stuff. More money and smaller but in a whole different world as far as quality I think. Do some research on HF stuff.  I have read stories of guys needing to rebuild them to get them to do what they wanted and expected them to do.

[peteski]

Max with the kind and quality of work I see you do I think you would be disappointed with a HF lathe. Take a look at Sherline stuff. More money and smaller but in a whole different world as far as quality I think. Do some research on HF stuff.  I have read stories of guys needing to rebuild them to get them to do what they wanted and expected them to do.

I love my Sherline mill and lathe!  And they are so portable too (I have small workbench, and I can put them away when not using them).  The nice thing is that they are very expandable and up-gradable.  I started with a basic lathe over 30 years ago, then keep adding accessories to it (including a mill column). Since Walthers carries Sherline, I could order the accessories through my local hobby shop (and get a discount). That was before online ordering.

[rrjim1]

+1 for the Sherline, they are great little machines very well made with all kinds of quality accessories.  They also carry parts if you ever need any and made in the USA.

[narrowminded]

The Harbor Freight as well as just about every one of the 7" x 10" thru 14", worldwide, are from the same manufacturer.  The variations in brands are mostly in tooling supplied but can also be in the motor and speed control.  The core parts are the exact same from one brand to another and the same in the different bed lengths, with the distance between centers being the only difference (and the lead screw and carriage rack gear length because they go with the bed length).  Here's a comparison chart from Little Machine Shop with some of the popular brands sold in the USA but they're marketed worldwide under countless numbers of brands.  https://littlemachineshop.com/info/business_resources.php?ID=1343147135&CAT=1

If you peruse their site (you should) check compatablity and tips at the end of many listings.  You'll see that Little Machine Shop carries LOTS of tooling for mini machines including Sherline and others but the main reason I went with the Harbor Freight was the crazy number of the C2 and C3 machines made worldwide (base model ID) and the resultant parts and tooling available specifically for them.  Hands down the broadest number of choices.  Conventional, very nice quick change tool posts, a couple of popular collet styles and collet chucks including standard 5c, etc, etc.  Many decent machines are out there but the tooling options and availability, the key to making the machine useful, is the best I could find and it has proven to be useful from day one.

The quality of the basic machine, especially the bedway, spindle trueness, etc is quite good.  Everything about the assembly workmanship can be suspect and is what I redid on mine.  With that completed and the purchase of some key tooling items I'm quite happy with the whole thing, and especially for the money.  It's a very decent machine. 

Go for the 7"x12".  That 2" can be surprisingly useful.  Plus it's cheaper.  

[mmagliaro]

Thank you all, folks.  Yes, I am well aware of the Sherline products, and also Taig, and all the stuff from Little Machine Shop.

The Micro Mark lathe, I believe,  USED to be from the same China manufacturer that all the lower-end Grizzly and Harbor Freight lathes come from.  But now they only carry a more expensive 7x16 model and it does not look like the other 7x10 or 7x12 machines.

I can say this, I'm not unhappy at all with the Seig (China) mill (which I bought through Micro Mark).  I paid under 600 bucks for it, including shipping, back in the 90s, and it's darn good (except for the vertical axis Z motion, which runs on a rack and pinion and is the bane of all lower-end mills).

Harbor Freight also sells an 8x12 that is 250 lbs (vs about 90 for the 7x10 or 7x12 models), and the reviews on HF's site seem to indicate that the 8" version is a whole class better than the 7's - much heavier, more rigid, better made.  Of course, it's also $1000 instead of 600.

[up1950s]

I wish there was a 3 x 6 lathe that cost 400 bucks or less .

[Chris333]

I bought my Taig lathe un-assembled and without a motor. I "found" a brand new motor at work that was the same exact one they sell. And assembling the lathe was pretty easy.

[mmagliaro]

I wish there was a 3 x 6 lathe that cost 400 bucks or less .

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-4-x-6-Micro-Metal-Lathe/G0745?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-7eVoPWk3gIVhgmRCh0z6wpIEAQYASABEgKakvD_BwE

Not quite, but close.  It's a 4x6 for $481

But beware... machines this small have awfully small motors, low torque, and are probably a lot more frustrating than they are worth.  The 7x10 can be had at HF, with their ever-present 20% off coupon for about $450, and if you pick it up at the store, you don't have to pay shipping.  It's hard to justify looking for a smaller, cheaper machine.