Duro Lathe?

[L5wolvesf]

I’ve been looking for a lathe for a while but either the price isn’t right or the machine isn’t. I’ll be new to machining so I don’t need a perfect to the .00001th machine. I want/need something to learn on and that can make the smallish parts (for cars and motorcycles mostly) I play with. For me something like an Atlas 610 or similar would be just fine. Size wise that is about what I realistically have room for too. Also, I have the ability to take things apart assess their usefulness AND put them back together. Often the even . . . work.

The lathe pictured below popped up recently and the price is less than $50. Yes I know it is not complete and that is part of my question. But the first one is: Does anyone know anything about them? Or this model in particular – Duro B3052.

It is so incomplete I’m not really sure if it is a metal or wood lathe – it seems to be an in between-is on. I couldn’t find anything here or on Google. One thing that makes me think it is a metal lathe is the company name is the Duro Metal Product Co / Duro Power Tools – which were made in the USA.

I know I’ll have to check out the ways and bearings before flopping down any cash. But my other question is: Are there parts (chucks, tooling, etc) around for it? Or, are the parts from other brands useable?

Thanks for any info you can supply.

 

[txvwnut]

Don't know anything of the quality but that lathe is a wood lathe.

 

[Thumper68]

Yup a wood lathe for sure and other than a motor it is complete.

 

[LXCam]

#3 on the wood lathe here too. But if you can figure out how to turn metal on it and maintain even .100", I'll be insanely impressed.

 

[L5wolvesf]

#3 on the wood lathe here too. But if you can figure out how to turn metal on it and maintain even .100", I'll be insanely impressed.

Ya know . . . when I see pics of some of the smaller metal lathes and the "beefier" wood lathes I do kinda wonder if a wood lathe (modified and upgraded for lack of a better term) could do some things a small metal lathe can do. Like turning Delrin for bushings? I imagine the motor and gearing would need to be upgraded and different tooling of course.

 

[L5wolvesf]

Don't know anything of the quality but that lathe is a wood lathe.

Thank you

Yup a wood lathe for sure and other than a motor it is complete.

Thanks and really, that is complete?

 

[LXCam]

Ya know . . . when I see pics of some of the smaller metal lathes and the "beefier" wood lathes I do kinda wonder if a wood lathe (modified and upgraded for lack of a better term) could do some things a small metal lathe can do. Like turning Delrin for bushings? I imagine the motor and gearing would need to be upgraded and different tooling of course.

If you could find a solution to holding the tool dead set on a measurement you bet you could cut soft materials. But for wood all you have on hand is the steady rest to lay your cutter across.

 

[crguy]

If you couldn't even tell that's a wood lathe instead of a metal lathe, I'd say you're nowhere near ready to buy a metal lathe.

 

[larry_g]

If you couldn't even tell that's a wood lathe instead of a metal lathe, I'd say you're nowhere near ready to buy a metal lathe.

I was once where you are now, totally ignorant of machine tools. I knew what they could do and wanted that skill. The best thing I did was take a night class at the local community college and learned the terminology and capabilities of what the basic machine tools could do, a bit of material science, and how to measure. I suggest that you pursue something similar and save a lot of money and frustration. Find out if there is a hobbyist in the area that would take you in. Ask your friends and coworkers you will find some that quietly make chips.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Roberts210]

I've got one just like it. Like they say, it's a wood lathe.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I was once where you are now, totally ignorant of machine tools. I knew what they could do and wanted that skill. The best thing I did was take a night class at the local community college and learned the terminology and capabilities of what the basic machine tools could do, a bit of material science, and how to measure. I suggest that you pursue something similar and save a lot of money and frustration. Find out if there is a hobbyist in the area that would take you in. Ask your friends and coworkers you will find some that quietly make chips.

lg
no neat sig line

Yep, we all start somewhere. YouTube is full of knowledge. You want to start machining, watch some Abom79 on Youtube. He is much above your paygrade, and mine too most of the time, but as you watch you put the pieces together and start to see the big picture of the puzzle. From there you will see other machinists on youtube and then you get sucked down the rabbit hole and watch videos all night while you do your reports on the computer...oh yea, I need to get back to that. (Watching AvE right now.)

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Here's something to get you started....https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/tls/6133634236.html

Not the best, not the worst. It's clean enough, ready to turn metal. Something like this and if you want to upgrade one day, you can get all/most of your money back.

 

[pepi]

If you couldn't even tell that's a wood lathe instead of a metal lathe, I'd say you're nowhere near ready to buy a metal lathe.

Too say the least, how about the tolerance requirement? "perfect to the .00001th machine."

Even more laughable. ROTFLMAO

That's a prefect example of too much self esteem with no means.


Greg

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Why you guys bustin balls? What's the view like from way up there on your horse?

How about helpin a dude out that actually wants to play in the shop.

 

[L5wolvesf]

I was once where you are now, totally ignorant of machine tools. I knew what they could do and wanted that skill. The best thing I did was take a night class at the local community college and learned the terminology and capabilities of what the basic machine tools could do, a bit of material science, and how to measure. I suggest that you pursue something similar and save a lot of money and frustration. Find out if there is a hobbyist in the area that would take you in. Ask your friends and coworkers you will find some that quietly make chips.

lg
no neat sig line

I learned to weld at a local community college, but of the 2 closest (50 miles) only one has something that might involve lathes/mills - Gunsmith courses. I shoot from time to time but I'm not interested enough to go through the whole gunsmith thing. Also, the times and time required conflict with work. I knew a few older guys in the area who did machine work but they are gone now.

I learn best by doing and having a book or two to refer to. I do have the Ford Shop Theory book and want something specifically geared toward lathe/mill operation.

Thank you for the positive input.
Larry

 

[L5wolvesf]

I've got one just like it. Like they say, it's a wood lathe.

Good to know, I hadn't heard of Duro before.

 

[L5wolvesf]

Yep, we all start somewhere. YouTube is full of knowledge. You want to start machining, watch some Abom79 on Youtube. He is much above your paygrade, and mine too most of the time, but as you watch you put the pieces together and start to see the big picture of the puzzle. From there you will see other machinists on youtube and then you get sucked down the rabbit hole and watch videos all night while you do your reports on the computer...oh yea, I need to get back to that. (Watching AvE right now.)

Here's something to get you started....https://lasvegas.craigslist.org/tls/6133634236.html

Not the best, not the worst. It's clean enough, ready to turn metal. Something like this and if you want to upgrade one day, you can get all/most of your money back.

Yeah, I'm a raw rookie when it comes to machining, but I can and have learned things over the years. I have a load of YT vids bookmarked of several guys that have been mentioned here - a guy named Cain(?) is one of them. I'll check out Abom79 too.

The lathe you posted is like what I've been looking at but I look more around the Phoenix area via a CL search/notification. That's how the Duro pooped up. Similar Jets seem to go for a bit less from what I've seen.

Thank you for the positive input.

 

[L5wolvesf]

Why you guys bustin balls? What's the view like from way up there on your horse?

How about helpin a dude out that actually wants to play in the shop.

Thanks, they just don't seem to have anything positive to offer so I'll ignore them. I'm ex-SoCal BTW from West LA area.

 

[stioc]

https://tucson.craigslist.org/tls/6135786634.html

That's the closest I could find for under $700 that didn't look like it was a total project. You'll be hard pressed to find a decent metal lathe for under $500. Harbor Freight carries a small 7x14 though I personally purchased a new 9x20 from Grizzly for about $1300 with enough tooling to be productive right away. I'm very happy with it for its size http://www.grizzly.com/products/9-x-19-Bench-Lathe/G4000. Though, ideally, the bigger the better.