To sell or not lathe tooling

[Kpaige]

Ok so some of you hepled me iut with my mini lathe. I was able to identify the quick attach tool. This is the deal these are highly expensive, very nice but hard to buy. This is a Swiss made Tripan watch makers tooling. I can get a good quick attach setup or use the old dchool set up with a few new holders and not have to spend a ton
My little craftsman 109 serves what I need right now so thoughts? There is a couple selling right now for over 300

 

[larry_g]

My suggestion is to hold on to it for a bit. Your very new to lathe tooling and operation. If after a year you have the experience to answer your own question then move it along. If you get into a situation where it may just the right tool then you can thank me then. In my personal experience I had a job come in that required micro work and I was able to adapt an old tool from a small lathe to my bigger lathe and get the job done.

On edit, remember this is just your FIRST lathe. Others will follow.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[zkling]

My advice? Sell both and get a real lathe.

 

[scooternut]

Im totally new but a few weeks ahead of you with a 7x chinese mini. I'm getting what I need out of it, and that is just learning basic operations. I have been really happy with the quick change tool post and numerous acc from Little machine shop. I bought one of the more expensive options. This gave me a bunch f things to learn beyond just turning and facing, including parting, boring, and knurling. You can buy a lot of beginner tooling stuff for that 300. And, lets face it, do you want to shell out high end bucks for matching extra tools to attach? then it no longer becomes a "quick change" operation for you. I say sell, but, it's your piece. Good luck with it.

 

[royesses]

Im totally new but a few weeks ahead of you with a 7x chinese mini. I'm getting what I need out of it, and that is just learning basic operations. I have been really happy with the quick change tool post and numerous acc from Little machine shop. I bought one of the more expensive options. This gave me a bunch f things to learn beyond just turning and facing, including parting, boring, and knurling. You can buy a lot of beginner tooling stuff for that 300. And, lets face it, do you want to shell out high end bucks for matching extra tools to attach? then it no longer becomes a "quick change" operation for you. I say sell, but, it's your piece. Good luck with it.

+1. I'd sell that for $300 and buy a Tormach 0xa QCTP from LMS.

 

[spongerich]

If you can get $300, take the money and run to A2Z CNC. They make a very nice quick change mini Aloris style tool post that you can buy for $100 with a couple of holders. I had one on my South Bend 10K for a while.. it was really too small, but would be perfect for a 6" lathe. They're very nicely made and from the USA too.

But... ZKLING's advice is really good advice. The 109 is a frustrating little *******. Even the slightly larger Atlas 618 is a huge step up in capability. Decent 109's sell for indecent money on eBay... often enough to buy a 618.

 

[Adam.C]

Sell!

 

[Kpaige]

Thanks
I put it up for sale. It is very nice but not what I need. And will get possibly one mentioned above.
I do have the original which works ok till I decide.
I realize the flaws and short falls of the 109 and new this going into it. Was trying to learn on an ild american lathe for a fare $$. Plus if I can make do on this for awhile I should be spoiled with a SB or similar! This lathe is just for me to get my feet wet. It was a good deal and is in very good true shape.
I really currently only fab up small mild pieces. But we will see!

 

[Adam.C]

If nothing else, these low power, soft lathes force you to learn to grind and hone cutters.

My advice remains; as you buy tooling, buy quality, second hand if you have to. When you upgrade your lathe, you will have good tooling.

 

[Kpaige]

Adam
I 100 percent agree with you.

 

[scooternut]

Adam mentioned grinding cutters. Learning how to grind my own bits has been a mentally rewarding experience. I watched all the youtube vids and gave it a go after some practice on some key stock. I'll have to confess to a grin when my first HSS blank cut very nicely, far better than the cemented carbide piece that came with it. I highly recommend learning to grind your own. I've been making knives which helped me tremendously with feel at the grinder.

 

[spongerich]

I realize the flaws and short falls of the 109 and new this going into it. Was trying to learn on an ild american lathe for a fare $$

The trouble with trying to learn on a 109 is that it's very hard to know if your technique is lacking, or if the machine just isn't up to the task. I had one as a first lathe and gave up on it pretty quickly. I wouldn't bother putting any steel in it at all. Aluminum, brass, plastic are doable if you take light cuts. In my humble opinion, the biggest problem with them is the lack of dials on the cross slide and compound. They use an oddball pitch, so each turn of the handle results in something like .0435" of infeed, so to get any sort of accuracy, you'll need to setup an indicator to measure your travel.

Since you already own her, you'd might as well give it a shot, but just be prepared to be frustrated and keep in mind that lathe work isn't as hard as it's going to seem.

One thing I'd definitely advise before starting is to check the spindle runout... the spindles on the 109 are notoriously flimsy and easily bent. I've had 3 or 4 of them come through my shop and they all needed straightening.

 

[Kpaige]

I will be making my own tools.
I should say I am very capable and have been at fab work since I was in JR high in the early 80's. I just like input from others and respect it.
I will say I have already ran steel in this lathe actually it's a steel motorsysle stem. Had no issues what so ever. But it does take awhile and you have to have a very light hand.
I can see how the dail markings are a big deal but I have never had them so I can't miss them. I am very use to small tweaks and measuring etc. Most of my fab work I have done with a band saw, drill press, sanders, die grinders and files. I have spent days making an item you all could have made in 30 min on a lathe. Stupid maybe but it is a test of patients and will for me!!!