Myford alternative

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

I have yet to find any problems in using a Myford if you use the correct tooling and speeds.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Bogs,I think the Myford stays as is for the same reason as British motorbikes, cars, and most of the rest of the engineering industry. I last visited the UK in 1984, and went window shopping in Sheffield, and ind a large store selling engineering tools, a shop assistant, when he found I came from New Zealand said to me how he had worked for one of the larger tool manufacturers until they moved to the Far East, you won’t find much here made in England, he was almost in tears. Ian S C

[BogstandardParticipant @bogstandard]

Ian,

 

I am not trying to push far eastern stuff at all. Boxford, Harrison, Colchester etc can all be purchased a lot cheaper than the Myford, and they are much better specced.

 

My gripe is that why has the Myford got such a following ?

 

For some people it is the holy grail, and they seem to spend their life trying to attain the ownership of one. Why?

 

Maybe it is the ‘boast factor’, or they have money to waste, as they certainly won’t machine any better than my lathe costing maybe a third of the price of the Myford.

 

They are certainly no better wearing than other machines, as I have seen some right ragbag examples, which to put right, would cost as much as a couple of brand new, better specced far eastern units.

 

It was good in it’s day, when people didn’t own a milling machine, and all sorts of gizmos were thought up to get around that problem. But in this day and age, where a mill is almost a required posession in the modern workshop, that sort of thing is no longer required. It works out a lot cheaper to buy a basic mill than to upgrade a lathe in time, effort and cost to do the same or even a lesser job.

How many vertical slides are sitting under benches gathering dust?

 

Bogs

[StirlingSingleParticipant @stirlingsingle]

Hello,

 

You can pick up Myfords at Classic Motorcycle shows etc, I have seen very nice machines fully tooled with cabinets for £500. I expect if you had cash you could negotiate!!

The Myford is nice but it is not very rigid and this is a problem when working on bigger items like 5″ G Wheels and Cylinders. I often wish for a Harrison, but the shed would almost certainly colapse!!

 

Regards

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

No Bogs nor am I, the first lathe that took  my fancy back in 1986 was a Russian lathe, but  I chose Taiwanese, I looked at British, but the cheapest new was a Myford at 3 times the price. Harrison and Colchester, and even Boxford, all second hand, at least twice the price. The Eastern machines that we get here seem to be top quality, I suppose we are nearer to the market, and the buyers go to China to pick out their machenery. Also the Govt is trying to work a free trade with China. There are lots of Myfords about, I know of at least 4 near my place, including my sisters father in law how has a Tri lever Myford, I suggested to my nephew that he should do his best to see that hes the one who inherits it, its had very little use.

Stirling, where do they nick them from? A Harrison would proberbly hold your shed up, might stop it blowing away. 

You can for some things make do, A mate has an old lathe(Pratt I think), its got 24″ chucks, used it to clean out the ring grooves on his full size Lanz Bulldog tractor. And I some times use my Super Adept— the big and the small.  Ian S C

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hey Bogs

Would I be right in thinking that you are less than enthusiastic about Myfords ?

 From a look at some of your pics you have certainly demonstrated that your choice of machine works for you – but maybe there are factors other than “boast” or “money to waste” that affect other folks choice?

 I’m a “Hobby Engineer” who has picked up a bit over the years but has a lot left to learn – I’m certainly not in your league! First let me admit – I am a Myford user. First ML4 then ML10 then Super 7B – all obtained second-hand. Why then does the brand work for me?

Here are a few factors (in no particular order) :-

1.        Capacity caters for all areas that interest me – bigger would not be better. 

2.        Quality of construction – runs smoothly, quietly and produces accurate results.

3.        Parts are readily available if required.

4.        Advice and information freely available from Myford.

5.        Large resource of articles in the modelling press detailing modifications and accessories.

6.         Large range of OEM and other accessories available

7.        Readily available range of accessories on the second-hand market.

8.        Size of machine suited to my workshop

9.        Weight of machine makes installation and movement possible (just for me).

10.      Good residual value

11.      Refurbishment available from the manufacturer.

12.      Interchangeability of accessories between (many) models in the range

So am I boastful about my lathe? – no but I am very happy with it and I get real pleasure each time I use it. Have I wasted my money? Well I don’t consider money spent on things that give me pleasure a waste. Most people need to consider how much they spend, especially on their hobbies, and yes I would like a Lorch or a Schaublin but the chance of that occurring is remote.

Just relax and enjoy using what you’ve got! (and do keep posting even if controversial!)

All the best

Norman

Edited By NJH on 01/08/2010 11:57:55

Edited By NJH on 01/08/2010 12:00:00

[BogstandardParticipant @bogstandard]

Norman,

 

Far from it, I too have refurbished and owned an early Myford, and done a lot of repairs on others, and I can tell you now, they wear out just as much as any other machine.

 

I am a great believer in value for money, and as far as I am concerned, Myford and all their extras are very far from it, and I can’t see why it still has a cult status for such a very low spec machine that has to have excessive amounts spent on it to get it to the same spec as a machine costing a great deal less.

 

You have amassed a fairly large list in your post, but in all fairness, most of that is also applicable to other machines as well, except the ‘large range of OEM and other accessories available’, mainly due to other machines having them already fitted, and I would hate to think how much a refurbish would cost at Myford.

 

One thing I do really hate about Myfords is when some know it all does a write up in a mag, drags a lump of home made gadgetry that fits onto their Myford and starts to ramble on about how they machined up such and such.

That article really has no real relevence to modern day machining, purely because maybe only a handful of people has made such a piece of gadgetry and could follow along, and when you look at what is being done, could most probably done in a tenth of the time using a mill.

 

Now that is the crux of the matter which I have been rambling on about. If Myford would just look at 21st century machinery needs, and cater for it, rather than trying to rest on their laurels, pushing a machine that is basically 60 years old, for extortionate prices.

 

Once that generation of die hard owners is gone, and new owners actually come to their senses and realise that they are way behind in the machining stakes, unless Myford take a good look at what is happening in the model engineering market, they too will disappear down the tubes, like a lot of British engineering has.

 

Of course, I am just one person airing my own personal views, which we are surely allowed to do in this day and age.

 

Whether you agree or disagree with what I have said, you have got to admit, I have raised some very debatable points, which is what a forum is all about.

 

And for that Norman, I thank you for your honesty and candour in your post.

 

Bogs

[Mark Millward 1Participant @markmillward1]

Bogstandard I have sent  you a pm.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

About 8 years ago I wanted a new lathe as we were falling out over the CVA, the ML7 was too small and the TOS SN50 was too big for normal day to day work.

 

To cut a long story short I rang TOS to see if they did a medium sized lathe, Colchester’s were too expensive. They did a 14″ swing by 39″ between centres.

Now TOS whilst being  Czech has a good reputation for machine tools.

 

It came delivered to the door, literally, with every conceivable extra, except taper turning which I didn’t want, 4 chucks, two tailstock chucks, two steadies, spare clutch plates, selector forks and cross slide and top slide nuts as standard. All wired up with footbrake, 2 speed motor etc.

 

It cost £5,420 including VAT, £20 more than a bare bones Myford 254 at the time.

 

Tell me how you can justify that difference ?

 

John S.

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