Welcome Derek, I'm sure you will find lots to inspire and help you on here.

Brian

Hi Derek, welcome to the forum. I don't agree with your comment that " Myford super 7 sounds about the best bet ". It can be a good machine if you buy a good second hand or a refurbished machine but they don't come cheap. For me they are not value for money. Also used machines can be in poor condition (as can other second hand lathes) and still be relatively expensive to purchase and more cost to bring them up to a good standard. Keep an open mind when making your choice of machine and don't restrict yourself to a Myford. If you are considering second hand British made machines think about Boxford, Harrison, Colchester, etc. The same comments, regarding condition, apply but if you get a good one they are worth it and in my humble opinion better than a Myford. Also don't discount the new Chinese machines. Plenty of choice of UK suppliers with good after sales support, well specked, plenty of tooling and very competitively priced. At the end of the day it is all down to how much you want to spend, space available and what you want to use it for.

Hope this gives you something to think about.

Good luck,

Alan.

As a somewhat hasty purchaser of an ML7 I can whole-heartedly concur with Alan and Ian's comments.

I think I more or less got away with it but I think my money would have gone further with a more open mind.

As they say other makes of lathe are available.

HTH

Jon

You can buy a new Myford if you have the money, a big bore headstock and variable speed drive are available. Many useful accessories were and still are available for the Myford. It was possible to have a Myford as your only machine. Today the Chinese have upped their game, and you can buy a lathe and milling machine and tool up both for the cost of a new Myford. I chose the Myford option 17 years ago and it was a close run choice which was partly swayed by a very good Myford coming up at a good price. Today I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Chinese machine but I would choose my supplier carefully rather than hunt the rock bottom price. Supplier support in the unlikely event of a problem can make all the difference to the ownership experience. If you choose a preowned machine you are very much on your own once you have purchased,if it is a private sale.

Mike

I sold my ML7 because: 2MT Headstock bore was often too small;, (later models overcame this limitation) did not like how it shook when I used the Rodney milling attachment.

Thirteen years ago, the price of a new Super 7, (ca £8K) with Norton box , Chucks, and Steadies made me feel faint, and could not be justified. The successor is a larger Chinese lathe with MT5 spindle, hardened bed, Chucks, Steadies, and a retro fitted British VFD came to £2K. It weighs 300Kg and will swing 12 over the bed, and 18" in the gap(Not yet used)

Like any machine, it is not perfect, but it has done all that I have asked of it, so far, despite my carelessness.

From what I read, small Chinese lathes are not tolerant of abuse, and Model Engineers tend to achieve things that the designers of the machines never envisaged.

You can do small work on a big lathe, but not the other way round.

FWIW, my advice would be to choose a lathe which is larger, and heavier (more rigid) than you initially think that you will need. The extra outlay will buy a lot of peace of mind and confidence. If you can find a British lathe in good condition, go for it. If not, do look at more recent larger and heavier Chinese machines. My preference for changing speeds would be belt or gear head rather than original equipment variable speed drives. BUT that is just my prejudice, although I continue to be happy with my British retrofit VFD.

Howard