SPG Tools

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

I'm close to pulling the trigger on a new lathe and have been looking at those which SPG Tools offer. They seem very good value for money compared to alternative offerings, so just wondering if anyone has an experience of buying from them and if the quality is similar to those from other sellers.

Gordon

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

I bought their basic mini lathe, after deciding/realising that the Super Adept that I’d been given wasn’t a good machine for teaching yourself on. I’ve yet to turn anything ‘real’ but I’ve spent quite a few hours reducing off-cuts to swarf/chips, just to get a feel for the thing, and the different basic operations (turning, facing, boring) with varying degrees of success. It’s fun, if a little unnerving at first. My rational was that it’s cheap, but essentially the same machine as other bigger brands sell so there must be a decent-ish unit in there!?!? I picked mine up at last year’s Harrogate exhibition so got it at the show price, and spent the saving on a few tools at the JB cutting tools stand.

It’s my first lathe and in that context it seems a good purchase, I guess the real test will be when I actually try to turn some components…

[MalcParticipant @malc]

Hi Gordon, SPG is local to me. I bought my first mini lathe from them and found Simon to be very helpful and obliging. Price was the main reason for my buying from them at the time and being local was another consideration. I have bought a few other bits from them since and have always found them reasonably priced. I have no connection with SPG apart from being a satisfied customer. All the best, Malc.

[Brian Rice 1Participant @brianrice1]

Posted by Malc Wilson on 04/02/2015 19:12:16:

Hi Gordon, SPG is local to me. I bought my first mini lathe from them and found Simon to be very helpful and obliging. Price was the main reason for my buying from them at the time and being local was another consideration. I have bought a few other bits from them since and have always found them reasonably priced. I have no connection with SPG apart from being a satisfied customer. All the best, Malc.

How local Malc?I live local to SPG went to order my mini lathe from them and found Simon very helpful the only reason I did not buy from him was the fact it was going to take 2to3 weeks for delivery and after being messed about with from anther firm I was getting very inpatient so went to Amadeal next day free delivery at a good price.

[MalcParticipant @malc]

Hi Brian, I am on the "Asda" side of town. Malc.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

If anyone else is, like me, thinking of having a look at the spgtools website, I found that my security software prevented access, as it is a "known malicious website".

Pro Bono Publico?

[dave greenhamParticipant @davegreenham19379]

Hi Gordon.

like Brian, I'm local to SPG ( 18 miles ) and I have bought machines from Simon. As Brian says. Simon is vey helpful and friendly. The machines are very reasonably priced and ready to run when you get it. Like many machines available SPGs are the same, just a different name and colour . I've never had any bother with them. the only thing I've found. Is, if your going over to him, it's best to ring first as he's in and out quite a bit. Usual disclaimer. Just a satisfied customer.

dave

[Brian Rice 1Participant @brianrice1]

Posted by Malc Wilson on 04/02/2015 22:17:52:

Hi Brian, I am on the "Asda" side of town. Malc.

Hi Malc earl shilton

[Brian Rice 1Participant @brianrice1]

Make sure you are getting a lathe with a 4 inch chuck not all do

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

Thanks for that chaps, very helpful. I'll go and see them just as soon as I've got time. I was considering buying a milling machine at the same time and when I mentioned this to the chap who answered the phone, he said a bit of a discount would be possible.

What a great forum this is – helpful info just for the asking!

Gordon

[Brian Rice 1Participant @brianrice1]

Think hard that extra inch makes a big difference one more thing with the lathe make sure it's the 14 inch bed there are a lot of 12 inch about which look like a bargain, if you are going for a mini mill also make sure it is belt drive not gears(people have had a lot of trouble with the gear driven mill very noisy gears tend to brake)all so go for the R8 spindle there is always good second hand tooling at good prices on the net. I am not trying to steer you in any way but also have a look at ArkEuroTrade in Leicester sometimes have some good deals on hope this is help full.

[MikeParticipant @mike89748]

My security software (Norton) won't let me access the SPG Tools website, suggesting it is "malicious." I'm reasonably sure it isn't, but has anyone else had this problem?

[MalcParticipant @malc]

Hi Mike, I tried the websit last night after Robbo's posting, and it was fine! Malc.

[MalcParticipant @malc]

Hi Mike, I tried the websit last night after Robbo's posting, and it was fine!  By the way, Brian, I will try to send you a PM.  I say "try" as I've never done it before.  Malc

 

Edited By Malc Wilson on 05/02/2015 09:17:16

[Roger Provins 2Participant @rogerprovins2]

No problem with the website here. Probably a Norton thing – bit of a virus itself at times

 

Roger

Edited By Roger Provins 2 on 05/02/2015 09:49:24

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

but none of you put in link

And it seems to be in Hinkley which is somewhere north of Watford so I probably need a visa and some injections before visisting.

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

Brian, the lathe I'm looking at is this one – Chuck supplied is 125mm and I'll leave you to decide length of the bed. I've done a lot of reading about mini-mills and I'll probably be getting this one. I'll almost certainly get the MT3 spindle version, as I already have a set of ER32 collets and an MT3 chuck for them. I was looking at ARC Euro when I found SPG – similar tools at better prices.

Thanks to all for the help and suggestions, I'll post anew when I've made my purchase.

Gordon

[Brian Rice 1Participant @brianrice1]

Posted by Bazyle on 05/02/2015 13:16:07:

but none of you put in link

And it seems to be in Hinkley which is somewhere north of Watford so I probably need a visa and some injections before visisting.

You would not get past boarder control until you can spell Hinckley correctly

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> You would not get past boarder control until you can spell Hinckley correctly

They might lodger complaint!

Neil

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I see what you mean.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

On the 4" chuck issue, I have a 4" chuck on a backplate, Personally I prefer this as it means you can access cheaper standard chucks (3, 4 jaw and ER and faceplate) and still fit a 4 inch chuck on a backplate. My 4" chuck is a Zither and was both reasonably affordable and of good quality and accuracy, almost certainly better than one provided with the lathe as t would ad a fair bit to the price.

The faceplate on a standard mini-lathe has much better space for fixings.

My backplate is quite thick (about 1/2&quot, but could easily be turned down to 8mm thick so there's not much lost space.

Neil

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Hello Gordon.

The SPG lathe you are considering is one of the now common 10 inch swing by 22 between centres machines offered by just about all of the well known suppliers.

Despite its much lower price it does in fact have a slightly higher spec than the others. As well as having powered cross and longitudinal feeds, as do most of the others, it also has an improved quick change gearbox wth nine selectable feed rates as opposed to just three, so that means less time spent swapping over change wheels. One other advantage is that it has a quick release type headstock spindle flange, but the spindle bore is a little smaller at 21mm while on other versions it is 26mm.

The SPG machine also uses a traditional type of tumbler reverse mechanism for the leadscrew, similar to that used on Boxford and Myford lathes. SPG have been selling this machine for quite a few years, but more recently Chester Machine Tools have introduced it with a choice of an enclosed or open type quick change gearbox. I think Chester call it the DB10V Super.

If I remember correctly, the much lower priced SPG version does not include fixed and traveling steadies, or an independent four jaw chuck and possibly a face plate. But even paying for these separately still leaves a usefull saving.

For the past few years I have been thinking of downsizing a bit, and it is this lathe that I have been considering on and off. SPG did briefly offer a long bed version of it with 30 inches between centres, but I didn't fancy that one.

If you decide to go ahead and get one it would be interesting to hear how you get on with it. Generally, all the 10 x 22 imported lathes are pretty good model engineering machines.

 

Edited By Lathejack on 05/02/2015 21:44:29

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