bench top metal lathe

[f4 plt]

first thanks to those that helped me locate a belt for my Lathemaster. I think I found one.

That said there are other issues or concerns with my Lathemaster 8x 14 design. Changing speeds is a b..... etc
so I am looking for a new one and one can easily gert confused with the many out there pro and con.

My wants, an 8x 14 through 8x 20 easily changeable speeds ( may be a DC motor is best ) Easily changeable headstock chuck, MT2 tailstock arbor, at least 3/4 hp . Metal gears and finished quality control.
Good operating manual ( The lathe master one may be in english words but not sentences or understanding it is worthless)

Customer support that will be around

I am also looking at a bench top mil

I primarily have been turning projects in brass and alum with a little work with steel. Nothing really big or exotic.

The ones I am considering are the Little Machine shop ( rebranded Seig) The Weiss from Dropro, and perhaps the Grizzly although it is out of stock until May

Who has what and what would they change?

 

[f4 plt]

Thanks to all the lookers, was hoping someone had some opinions on a replacement for my lathe master.

If I were younger and or had more room, a friend is unloading a complete machine shop of older US made large lathes and a milling machine

In summary: I will know in the next day or so if I have the right belt. I have what we think will work coming from The Little Machine Shop, great people and my next lathe will most likely come from them.

Lathemaster is out of business that lathe is out of production and no one, that I have found is selling parts for it. Yes, the Grizzly lathe is close but in talking with them not close enough.

The construction of the Lathemaster is basically good, the belt system and changing them is poor. Additionally with the belts off I have noticed significant slop in the main drive spindle ( connecting the drive fully to the headstock chuck. I can move it up and down and side to side over 1/16 of an inch. When turning it is fairly true. That said I have had the lathe for ten years and these are the first issues I have had.

Again thanks to all that helped in the "great belt search"

 

[WhoWhatNow]

What is your budget?

Precision Matthews has a pretty good reputation for import lathes. I am looking at getting one of their 12" models. The smallest they sell is a 10":

http://www.precisionmatthews.com/shop/pm-1022v-pm-1030v/

 

[f4 plt]

What is your budget?

Precision Matthews has a pretty good reputation for import lathes. I am looking at getting one of their 12" models. The smallest they sell is a 10":

http://www.precisionmatthews.com/shop/pm-1022v-pm-1030v/

As mentioned, the Precision Matthews is one of the three that I'm now focusing on. Looking for quality, service, company that is going to be around AND a manual written in English not just using English word and vague statements. As said the manual for the Lathemaster was worthless and that was validated by several U-Tube videos .... I didn't produce them