I bought a big bore S7 from Myford in 2003 so have lived with it for 21 years now.  At the time it was ~£3500 though I got a stand and had the bed induction hardened which cost extra.

I was dismayed by the level of vibration on the higher speed ranges which made any speed using the smaller driven pulley on the countershaft unusable.  Eventually I fitted a Newton Tesla 3phase package and it solved the problem so I would say don’t even consider buying a single-phase version.   The earth bonding wire on the original motor fractured from the vibration.

The top slide is flimsy and I no longer use it (but have cnc’d the machine so it isn’t needed).  It’s travel is also restricted which limits it for tapers longer than MT2.

Though the bore is advertised as MT4 they don’t (or didn’t) make it plain that it’s shortened MT4 so standard tapers will not fit (though that was only a problem once).  If you’re not thinking of the big bore I think the standard spindle bore is very limiting.

Having to remove the spindle to replace the belt is crazy – few other modern lathes require this.  Good reason to use a link belt.

I bought a metric machine and was puzzled by the graduations on the leadscrew handwheel until I realised that the main leadscrew was imperial 8tpi!  For heaven’s sake!

I don’t know if the instruction book has been updated but the one I got was woeful and didn’t really describe the machine it accompanied.

Not yet a problem on mine but the bed design with rectangular sheers is poor – there’s a reason that most modern lathes have prismatic beds.  Even the Unimat 3 did!  When they produced the 254 so did Myford…

In principle the wide range of accessories is good but actually there isn’t  wide choice of new ones and the secondhand market is dwindling – and the rarity puts the price up. Many of the accessories were introduced to circumvent the lack of a milling machine in the home workshop but that isn’t so much of a problem these days.

The design is (in my view) over complex making it too expensive to produce and Myford’s never bothered to update it, part of the reason they went bust.

Overall I realise that probably it wasn’t really a good buy in retrospect though it has served me well.  I would not buy another when I see the excellent work done with much cheaper machines from China etc.  Knowing what I know now I would probably have bought one of those or a used industrial machine.  The SC4 from APTC or Arc is about 1/3 the price and you can buy a lot of accessories with the difference.

These are just my opinions of course.

On 7 September 2024 at 15:28 JasonB Said:

I would also not want to go back to a non variable speed machine as I’m used to that now and can work much faster with it than swapping belts or gears.

A rather silly comment. The Harrison M300 I used at work and my BV20 at home both use gears and it only takes a second or two to change speeds.

Some very interesting points there indeed.

Eight grand is a LOTTA money for any machine THAT size, no matter who makes it [or indeed where ]. I think I would be looking for quite a bit more meat.

I would expect it to come with two chucks, faceplate, steadies, motor, thread cutting gearbox and hardened bedways. Even the cheapy Chinese offerings come with these , at a much more attractive price.

How many small one-man, and his dog workshops could or would spend that kind of money for a hobby machine ??

While my simple Craftsman lathe might not be Toolroom standard, it is more than able to meet my needs and I suspect, many others, with a bigger bore and easy enough to change gears for thread cutting, no big deal.

I think you may be paying a lot for just a name, and as the Bard said “What,s in a name, ect ect”

Forgot to add, the Cheapy Chinese junk models come with their own stand !

Just saying.

I wish them luck, they may need it.

I have an ML7R, bought new in 1979, and which I have enhanced to a Super 7 spec. minus the gearbox that I never wanted. I have almost every conceivable accessory, both Myford and shop made, that I amassed over the years. I have never owned a far-eastern lathe but if I were to be starting over I have to say it would be a no-brainer, not least because of the costs involved. You will need to weigh the accessories that are readily available for the Myford, over and above the usual chucks and steadies, to allow a far-eastern machine to perform a whole range of operations, from milling, slotting and gear cutting etc. as opposed to buying a machine that will just ‘turn’. Obviously, accessories and attachments can be made for a far-eastern machine to allow it to perform the same operations as are possible with a Myford but I would suggest the proven designs and castings will not be so conveniently available.

On 7 September 2024 at 17:37 Chris Crew Said:

Obviously, accessories and attachments can be made for a far-eastern machine to allow it to perform the same operations as are possible with a Myford but I would suggest the proven designs and castings will not be so conveniently available.

But with the cost difference of a far eastern lathe you could spend the difference on a reasonably sized far eastern mill and a bunch of tooling and still have change. Why struggle to mill etc on a Myford these days when there are more practical alternatives. Infact a 280 has a far larger cross slide if you do want to use it for things like boring.

its funny when the word Myford crops up in a post the usual suspects appear pushing Far Eastern products, its a pity people cant just accept that not everyone wants the same thing. I personally have machines from the USA /france /switzerland and the uk and have never been tempted by anything that had not been used in industry somewhere.

When I first bought a lathe, about 30 years ago, it was of chinese origin.  I looked at all sorts of lathes – too small, too big, too expensive, etc. – to replace it.  I came across the Raglan name and was impressed sufficiently to snap up a Little John when I found one with a QCGB.

It served me well, but I eventually changed it for a very good Raglan 5”.  Less than a grand with lots of extras and I won’t be changing again.  It has both electronic and mechanical speed selection, QCGB and a 1” spindle bore (the tiny spindle bore of many lathes I looked at were ‘deselected’ as an option) along with a power feed shaft and half-nuts (so they don’t get worn away by continual operation).

The only down side of the Raglan, compared with most myfords, is the weight.  Not that I am suggesting it is too heavy!

On 7 September 2024 at 18:45 bernard towers Said:

its funny when the word Myford crops up in a post the usual suspects appear pushing Far Eastern products, its a pity people cant just accept that not everyone wants the same thing….

Stephen asked “I am considering buying a new myford super 7 from myford has any one got any comments good or bad about a new machine?”

I said “The only thing I don’t like about Myford lathes is the price!”  Am I not allowed to mention Myford lathes are expensive and that cheaper alternatives are available?  It is a fact!

I don’t care what Model Engineers buy – only that we understand the options and spend money on whatever we decide suits us.

Dave

It might be worth perusing the adverts on Tony’s site; There’s several possible candidates, including a big bore with DRO and various accessories.
https://store.lathes.co.uk/adverts

Bill

It depends what you want to make and how accurate the roundness of the final items you are wanting to make. Even for your 8k, there won’t be an eastern machine with a spindle that will produce as round of a part as the Myford S7 or the newer version of it. I agree that if you get one, to get the VFD and 3phase motor. You won’t regret the variable speed convenience.

I have tried to by a Hardinge or the Feeler replacement lathes. In NZ seldom do they come up for sale, and if they do are alot more than the 8k you are spending for one that can do thread cutting.

If what you want to make, can be made inside the lathes capabilities, then all is good.

Hobby lathes do not take the size cuts that can be made on a commercial machine, but often have attachments that a commercial lathe does not have, like being able to mill a part  or set up a small drilling or milling fixture etc.

Some even have made a brake plate, that is used when drilling cross holes in a part or milling a feature in a part, and have the milling or drilling head mounted on the cross slide.

Now that I have a mill, can transfer the chuck and part to the mill for the second operation, and back to  the lathe for it’s final parting off or the second turning operation.

Never owned a brand New S7 lathe. But very happy with my one, now that it has the VFD and 3 phase motor.