Good Quality Small Lathe

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Yes, I got that from the lathe spec on their website.

> Once the other eastern supplies cotton on to the fact that these small details really add to the looks of the machine, they will gain greater acceptance.

You can already buy a metal handwheel and ball-handle upgrade set for mini-lathes. Not sure they are any more effective than go-faster stripes

Neil

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Thomas Saunders on 25/01/2015 13:25:26:

I got a 24" Sherline lathe just before Christmas.

Tom

.

Is that swing or centre hight ?

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

John,

I would make a guess at that is length, nose to tail

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

I bought a "South Bend" labelled drill press vise from KMS Tools in Canada and it was very clearly of Chinese or possibly Indian parentage. Somebody has obviously bought the rights to the name and is happily cashing in on the resulting US trade. I wasn't disappointed with it once the cream coloured paint had finally dried but there again it was just a vise for the pillar drill. Not sure I'd describe it as a "precision" product – but what would a "precision"drill vise look like?.

A lot of stuff sold in the US seems to have the US flag in it and you hear a lot of patriotic residents talking about how they don't mind paying extra for US-made stuff. Hardly surprising to find sellers allowing you to form the impression their products are US-made when clearly they aren't.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Grizzly have bought the rights to the South Bend name and brand.

[VersabossParticipant @versaboss]

Good quality small lathe?

Afaik this one is still made (and available, if you are not in a hurry):

**LINK**

Regards, HansR.

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

Good feedback from all. There is certainly some quality gear out there. Will post the evidence of the decision made within a few weeks.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

There were clones of Myford Super 7s with large bore spindles available 20 odd years ago in NZ, I was offered one when I was looking for a lathe, I think the name was Colt, and it was made in Taiwan. The basic Colt lathe was quite a bit heavier that the Myford. The bloke who was trying to sell me the lathe was a Myford owner and said that he felt that the Taiwanese machine was the better lathe(I'd already decided that I was getting a bigger lathe).

Ian S C

[Tony JeffreeParticipant @tonyjeffree56510]

Andrew – a good (and cheaper) alternative to the Sherline is of course the Peatol (or Taig if you are in the USA) – http://www.peatol.com

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

Decision made.

Myford Super 7 !

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

Why.

It was twice the price of a NEW Chinese lathe.

Selection Criteria. It is in great condition, very well maintained, in original condition. Has clutch. Large quantity of accessories, Bernhard 4 jaw, tooling – used and new boxed, never used, carbide insert boring bars, parting off and general cutters. I'll not go into more detail but I counted up AUD 1,000 very quickly.

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

Why, the decider.. because this is a product of British engineering artisans. Its got Made In England cast on the back below the gap bed. One cant walk past it and not lay a hand on those shiny handwheels. So the purchase has fulfilled several requirements. Its a machine of good parentage and its had a sheltered life. Its a enduring product of the Empires golden age and will willingly complete tasks as requested. Sounds like a sermon, but buying this gear has a certain feel good factor!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Well done, Andrew

You asked the right question; received a range of good answers; and made an informed decision.

… Looks like a great buy.

MichaelG.

[michael mParticipant @michaelm]

"Decision made.

Myford Super 7 !"

You won't regret it.

"One cant walk past it and not lay a hand on those shiny handwheels."

Yes, same sentiment as posted on a different topic on another thread…

" there's the sheer pleasure of owning a beautifully made piece of precision kit."

Michael

[CotswoldsPhilParticipant @cotswoldsphil]

Hi Andrew,

Looks clean and cared for. Is it a later wide guide model? 1973 onwards, or narrow guide similar to the ML7. Mine is just before the changeover and I have been doing some experimentation making it into wide guide without any machining. I ask because if it is narrow guide I would be interested to know (once you get it installed) what the gap measures between the rear shear and the saddle (both ends).

Small point, the manual shown in the photo is for a ML7R – there are a few differences.

Michael, how are you getting on with your ML7R?

Regards

Phil H

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by CotswoldsPhil on 30/01/2015 16:00:40:

Michael, how are you getting on with your ML7R?

.

Phil,

To my shame, I am still climbing over it to get into the workshop

I'm tinkering with some of the parts, but can't install it until the large wooden box that it's perched on goes to my Son.

Peter was intending to collect the box, but then he got a gig playing piano on a cruise ship.

… It will probably be springtime before I can get on with it.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Michael, you need to get him to change to playing one of these!

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 30/01/2015 18:14:23:

Michael, you need to get him to change to playing one of these!

.

Unfortunately; the acoustics of the box might be rather suspect

… it has a 500cc Honda Single engine in it.

MichaelG.

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

Hi Phil and Michael M. and G

Yes, very well cared for. Have seen so many really abused machines but when I inspected this one, was amazed at the condition of the bed and how firm everything else looked. That was the decider plus the tooling supplied. I recall buying my large Taiwanese machine many years ago, the necessary extras, which barely filled a shoebox set me back over $1,200! I bought it for Son 1, but he's a bit worried now…he's out on a rig off somewhere and emailing for more pics…I keep telling him…wot Myford? Dunno anything about any Myford?!

can you walk me through the measurements, not sure what you mean. Will the serial number advise the date of manufacture and other detail? Good spot with the R suffix on the manual cover, despite the outside grubby appearance, I doubt whether anyone has ever thumbed the pages….who needs to read manuals!

feel free to PM, no doubt Myford owners would be interested to follow the discussions, non Myford people would be groaning…not another long winded dialogue about plurry Myfords!

[CotswoldsPhilParticipant @cotswoldsphil]

Hi Andrew,

Like you I took the best part of a year searching for a good Super 7 at sensible money.

I'm sure the non-Myford members will allow us to continue…for a bit.

Here is a link to the Serial number page on lathes.co.uk – a mine of information.
**LINK**

The change to wide guide ie. the saddle uses both shears, not just the front shear with a narrow guide surface on the rear of the front shear happened at serial number SK1088913 <> August 72

If your machine is before the switch…the gaps I'm interested are the gap(s) (left and right) between the the back of the saddle and the vertical face of the rear shear. I'd expect it to be around 0.5 mm or 0.020 inch in old money.

Neil – Should I start a new thread?

Neil – Are non-Myford owners being tested – the last 2 editions of MEW had ML7 and Super 7 confused?

Regards

Phil H

Edited By CotswoldsPhil on 02/02/2015 11:01:05

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Probably good to have a Myford serial number thread…

How am I supposed to know the difference between a S7 and an ML7 if Myford can't. According to them this is an ML7b:

I rest my case!

Neil

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

This is the ML7R which is a pre power cross feed Super 7 with the ML7 cross and top slide and no clutch, the clutch can be fitted as an upgrade. I think this is the one just made to confuse.

Mike

[CotswoldsPhilParticipant @cotswoldsphil]

Hi Neil

If the main cover was closed you would see ML7R not Super 7 badging

For the avoidance of doubt here is an original ML7; this one has the optional clutch.

Note the very different headstock, but I agree, there is no badging to tell you what it is other than a Myford.

The B suffix indicates a Gearbox is fitted !  So you could have an ML7RB.

Regards

Phil H

 

Edited By CotswoldsPhil on 02/02/2015 15:32:20

[andrew winksParticipant @andrewwinks64215]

G'day Phil

The serial number of this machine is SK 103828 so according to the lathes.co site, it's vintage is 1971-1973. Have I got that correct?

I'll check to check the book to work out what you mean by the "shears"… Sorry, bit slow on the uptake.

Andrew

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The shears are the machined guideways of the bed that the saddle and tailstock run along.

Mike

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