Most lathes that have both of those features will be tool room or training type machines. Many very nice tool room lathes cant do either - EE monarchs for example.
I love my EE, but I keep an old heavy 10 SB around for the short headstock and distance between centers. Most 14" and larger lathes have too long of a headstock. Its assumed that a lathe will have the ability to cut threads, but some dont. Pass on anyting that wont cut threads, and verify that the quick change box has a broad range of fine threads. Lathes with loose change gears for threading are usualy antiques and may not be a good choice, but many are still in use.
The ability to hold small parts and cut fine threads is also important for a gunsmiths lathe. Sooner or later you will need to make some custom screws or pins. The 5C collets is a big benefit in this situation. Its unlikely the gunsmiths shop will turn very many parts over 2" in diameter, so a 10" lathe is big enough, but some lack rigidity.
You really dont need more than 3 HP on the headstock, but its nice to have it. I have the agi machinist course it is very good but the price is to high and i also have a 14 x 40 gunsmith lathe from grizzly, if you buy one beware of picking it up at Springfield the shipping may be less than paying the tax at pickup.
I think about half of the guys have been happy with the Grizzlys- most of them seem to be guys who are getting their first lathe. If you have run a nice lathe before, you will probably be disappointed in all but their top-line gunsmith lathes without doing some work on them. I know a couple of guys who have them and get some chatter in their threading pretty bad. The nice thing about them is that they are basically ready to go as they come but with their built-in limitations.
Grizzly has excellent parts support- better than about anything out there. I ended up replacing my 12x36 Taiwanese lathe with a 14x40 Nardini. I can do everything much better now EXCEPT work through the headstock- I still do it but it created its own set of problems which required some creative tooling to work around.
I feel it was worth it. The 14x40 has quite a large footprint so keep this in mind when you shop. You have to be able to get to the machine on all sides. Try this AGI has 7 x 12 lathes that are also use for milling. If you are planing on use the lathe and mill for other type of work.
This means you will spend more time turning and less time cleaning and maintaining your lathe, not to mention getting all covered in grease. This lathe is standout most noticeably because of its overall size.
It is smaller and lot more lightweight than many of the other lathes on this list. If you are looking for a lathe you can easily transport, this is the one for you. This lathe is a fantastic choice if you are a more experienced gunsmith who is looking for a lathe that can meet all of your specialized needs and more on the flip side, this quality also means that this lathe is not the best choice for beginning gunsmiths. Users report that this lathe works great for machining barrels, but also for working with carbide tooling, counter sinks, and even cobalt drills.
Its base is made of solid cast iron, so you will never have to worry about this lathe rocking or tipping over, and it is for sure built to go the distance. We were extremely impressed with the cooling system on this model, which is essential for effective gunsmith turning, and can often be an issue you encounter with other lathe models. The cooling on this Shop Fox works particularly well when you are turning rust proof materials.
Luckily, when looking for a gunsmith lathe there are only a couple of things most people need to look at. We mentioned this aspect earlier, but it is worth repeating that you really do need to take into account the size of the lathe you are going to need in order to complete your planned gunsmithing projects. Make sure your lathe size is compatible with your shop space and the size of the guns you want to be working on. Speed with lathes is measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM.
The wider RPM range a lathe has, the more versatile it is and the wider range of projects you will be able to work on.
It usually also indicates a more accurate lathe. Lathes are complicated, and not to mention, they look straight up intimidating. If you are new to the gunsmithing game, or even if you have smithed thousands of barrels, you are going to want a lathe that is straightforward and simple to operate.
One of the most defining aspects of a gunsmith lathe is the various additional tools these lathes use in order to secure the gun barrel in place. These lathes are also typically more precise than other kinds of lathes.
Regular lathes, not specifically intended for gunsmithing, may have a little bit more versatility to them than gunsmith lathes. Regular lathes can also be used for wood turning, often times for making bowls and other beautiful decorative pieces that require a lathe to create.
Gunsmiths lathes are really a necessity if you want to machine your own gun barrels. Make sure you invest in a lathe that is the right size for your needs and your workspace, and accurate enough to help you produce the best gun barrels possible. We promise you will not be able to go wrong with any of the products on our list above. Because gunsmithing can be such a complex concept, we have included answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below:. The spider is especially designed for supporting long workpieces that extend through the outboard end of the spindle.
This ensures consistent draw-down alignment every time, even with multiple lathe operators using the machine. Like all Grizzly gunsmithing lathes, the GG comes with a 1-year warranty covering parts and assuring the unit is free from factory defects. Consumables are not covered by the warranty. Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.
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