What’s the best machine to try to start machining and learn on?
Jim C.
This is just my opinion and it's worth what you pay for it. Best lathe to start learning on depends upon the answer to a couple of questions.
1) What you intend to do with the machine. This may be hard to answer when you're starting out. Bushings and small shafts can be done on most any lathe, even small ones, but larger size work will almost require a large enough bed length and swing over the bed. If you have aspirations of doing Ag-Con machinery work then the small bench top lathes won't be a good choice.
2) How many years do you anticipate using this? Not a lot of point in getting an expensive piece of machinery if you're 70, not an issue if you're 25.
3) Are you own a house or renting? Moving a larger lathe isn't terrible but it's not a lot of fun either so if you'll be moving in a few years you may want to limit the lathe to something that weighs under a ton that you can move by yourself.
4) Budget dictates a lot with machinery. All expectations for performance/results have to be balanced against what the budget will allow. Some digging on-line should reveal what your budget will buy you. Often the larger machines are going for a cheaper price than the smaller machines due to footprint, available electric (1 Phase vs. 3 Phase), and weight. Most home shop owners don't have the available space, electric, or ability to transport the new machine. If you have a lot of room and 3 Phase electric you have more choices.
5) How far are you willing to travel for it? Not knowing your location, you may need to travel some distance to be in an area where there are more machines available as some areas didn't have an industrial base or everything went out of business some time ago and all machines were sold off. I had to travel about 300 miles for my surface grinder, less for other machines.
You really need to do some research (reading, videos, etc.) on what constitutes an acceptable or unacceptable lathe in bed wear, bearing condition, and gearing problems. You don't really want a "project", an ad that reads "Simple Repair", or something missing critical tooling that may no longer be available (or expensive). Machinery will also be somewhat priced per the make. A Hardinge HLV-H or a Schaublin is going to be expensive, other lathes like a Monarch will be much less expensive but still a very well made machine. Learn what makes are within your price range.
I'd almost advise NOT getting one of those tiny 7x12 benchtop lathes unless it's for under $100. They aren't very well made, aren't very durable, and have tiny little controls/levers that can be very clumsy to use with average size hands. I sold all my larger machines when I relocated from Chicago but kept the tinker toy lathe because I could move it. I still have it an do occasionally use it for secondary operations (polishing, de-burr) but detest using it. Some of the Chi-Wan machines are ok, some are just **** and you don't need to learn on something while fighting it's limitations.
Southbend is ok for a light duty, hobby level lathe, there are many other brands you may not have heard of but would be a better choice. You can look up unknown brands at the website: lathes.co.uk and get a good assessment of them. I bought a brand I'd never heard of from Germany after doing some reading. You can get something considered a "starter" and upgrade but it won't be worth much when you try to sell it. If it's worn out, it will never be good enough by the time you are ready to do precision or close fit type of work. Also consider what tooling you'd be getting with it. Tooling can be just as expensive (or more) than the machine itself. Read, watch, ask questions.
One more thing, I cannot stress learning safety enough if you've never run machinery. Machines are hard, flesh is soft, and machines don't care what's in the way. Learning safety around machinery is not a casual affair you just pick up, you need to learn where the potential hazards are. An accident is not a matter of IF it's a matter of WHEN and how severe. It can be as simple as a ****** laceration or it can be life changing in severity. Happy hunting
