Metal Lathe: Difference between revisions

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An excellent resource for information on the Chinese 9"x2" lathes can be found on Yahoo groups. The file sections include entire manuals, as well as through cleaning procedure, and various modifications and improvements:
An excellent resource for information on the Chinese 9"x2" lathes can be found on Yahoo groups. The file sections include entire manuals, as well as through cleaning procedure, and various modifications and improvements:
[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe/ (main discussion site)] | [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe2/ Extensive file section spill over]
Main discussion site: [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe/] and a second group,  [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe2/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/9x20Lathe2/] for file section spill over.


== Mini metal lathes ==
== Mini metal lathes ==
=== Chinese made ===
=== Chinese made ===
[[Image:9x20.jpg|thumb|450px|left|Mini Metal Lath]][[Image:minilathe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|7x20 Metal Lathe]]Like it's larger counter parts, the Chinese made mine-lathes are all made in the same factory. Many are importing them under various names, but aside from length of the bed, color, nameplate, and tooling included, they are all about the same. They work very well once they are carefully cleaned up and re-assembled, sometimes with new hardware. The readily available 7"x12" size seems to be an excellent size for stem work. The 7"x10" can be just a little too short, but it is also possible to get extended beds for many of these lathes. Pictured bellow is the 7"x12" set up for stem work, with a three jaw, self centering chuck that most of them came with, and a Jacobs chuck that comes with some, and is an option with others:
[[Image:minilathe.jpg|thumb|left|200px|right|7x20 Metal Lathe]]Like it's larger counter parts, the Chinese made mine-lathes are all made in the same factory. Many are importing them under various names, but aside from length of the bed, color, nameplate, and tooling included, they are all about the same. They work very well once they are carefully cleaned up and re-assembled, sometimes with new hardware. The readily available 7"x12" size seems to be an excellent size for stem work. The 7"x10" can be just a little too short, but it is also possible to get extended beds for many of these lathes. Pictured bellow is the 7"x12" set up for stem work, with a three jaw, self centering chuck that most of them came with, and a Jacobs chuck that comes with some, and is an option with others:


=== The Taig ===
=== The Taig ===
The basis for the Taig section of this article was written by [[Tyler Lane]] for his [http://www.tylerlanepipes.com/index.php website], and is used by permission.
The basis for the Taig section of this article was written by [[Tyler Lane]] for his [http://www.tylerlanepipes.com/index.php website], and is used by permission.


I have a Taig, micro metal lathe, and micro it is! For those that are familiar with metal lathes, they would be socked at how small this lathe is. This is it greatest feature and it greatest weakness. Considering the price, this is a wonderful little tool. It is used to turn the tenons on stems to the precise diameter needed for a good fit between stem and stummel. It is also a key tool for doing stem inlay work.
[[Image:taig.jpg|thumb|right|200pxl| Taig Micro Lathe II]]I have a Taig, micro metal lathe, and micro it is! For those that are familiar with metal lathes, they would be socked at how small this lathe is. This is it greatest feature and it greatest weakness. Considering the price, this is a wonderful little tool. It is used to turn the tenons on stems to the precise diameter needed for a good fit between stem and stummel. It is also a key tool for doing stem inlay work.


A full-sized, metal lathe is the pipe makers pipe tool. If you have the funds, and want to skip to "the real deal" a nice metal lathe is the tool of choice. Not only can you turn and drill stummels on it, put you can turn the tenons for your stems as well. This is the main tool I would like to upgrade in my shop. A nice, used Atlas metal lathe from the 1950's or so, can be had for about $500 or $600 bucks, and would replace both my Delta Midi Lathe and my Taig.
A full-sized, metal lathe is the pipe makers pipe tool. If you have the funds, and want to skip to "the real deal" a nice metal lathe is the tool of choice. Not only can you turn and drill stummels on it, put you can turn the tenons for your stems as well. This is the main tool I would like to upgrade in my shop. A nice, used Atlas metal lathe from the 1950's or so, can be had for about $500 or $600 bucks, and would replace both my Delta Midi Lathe and my Taig.