MIlling Machines & Lathes

i wouldn't bother with a 3 in 1 mainly because i dont need 3 in 1. has anyone ever htought of putting a drill bit inside the lathe and using that as a drill instead of a seperate drill press? i dont know about mill's but i wouldn't need one anyhow, and i owuld just spend 199 on a lathe (woody has one of those) and not much more

Take a look at this page. I haven't used a lathe since High School and that was in wood shop. This might help though.
-Spencer

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82710

QUOTE: Originally posted by mattfixit14813 Any one have recomendations??? I have some $$ coming and am itching to get both or a combo machine like a Smithy. I can spend somewhere in the ballpark of 1200 bucks.

What will you be using them for? I have the Clisby mill and lathe. I also have the MicroMark variable speed drill press. They suit my needs nicely, but I'm only using them for modeling. I looked at them all before I made my mind up, Proxxon, Sherline, Enco, Unimat, and MicroLux to name a few. As a side note the Clisby is made by the same fellow who designed the Sherline tools.

MOdeling will be the prime use.........

Well I don't pretend to know what the best small mill, lathe, drill, or combo machine but the Clisby tools do what I need. They are rather small and you must supply your own 12volt power supply but I'm having great luck turning plexiglass and styrene. The Microlux variable speed drill press is an awesome machine. I not only use mine for drilling but also put my dremel sanding drums in it to use for edge sanding. They sell a machine table that allows the drill press to function as a milling machine also. I hope this has been of some help.

Woody,

Where can I find these?

Thx,

Matt

I have - and like very much - a 30-year-old Unimat SL, which can be converted from a lathe to a drill press. On the hunch that it's going to give up the ghost before much longer I've been watching the catalogs and thinking of buying a more modern replacement. The big machine sold by MicoMart looks good (automatic feed, etc.), but is huge and pretty expensive. ModelExpo and Lee Valley sell a lathe made in the USA by a company called Taig; it's small, supported by a wide range of accessories, and reasonably priced, but it looks to me like it might be a little weak for metal work. If I were to buy a lathe today it would probably be a Sherline. That firm has been around for a long time, has a fine reputation, and makes about every conceivable accessory. Sherline lathes aren't cheap, but I've never heard of anybody being seriously disastisfied with one.

QUOTE: Originally posted by mattfixit14813 Woody, Where can I find these? Thx, Matt

Here is the main site in Australia http://www.clisby.com.au/index.html If you go to the links page you'll see Cyberbound for US sales, which is who I purchased mine through. I would have provided that link but the site is down for maintenance. Brice the owner is a real nice guy and there is a Yahoo Group for Clisby owners that he has.

Ohhh and they're priced better than the Sherline

Hi mattfixit1483
It's true the Clisbys might be cheaper than the Sherlines but I have met the people from Sherline on many occasions and their machines are first rate, they stand behind everything they sell and I don't know how important it is to you but they are made in the U.S.A. Cost should not always be the only deciding factor.
gbritnell

The Sherline are fabulous machines. They were also designed by Mr. Clisby and are quite similar to the Clisby line. It all boils down to what your need is.

Thanks for the help guys!!!

aw i ned a lathe, but little finances!!! im looking in the neiborhood of 1-200 canadian bucks, preferably a 4" metal lathe, only need up to 8 inches for the bed, dont need the drill chuck for the tailstock, and i need it to be lightweight, suggestions?

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 aw i ned a lathe, but little finances!!! im looking in the neiborhood of 1-200 canadian bucks, preferably a 4" metal lathe, only need up to 8 inches for the bed, dont need the drill chuck for the tailstock, and i need it to be lightweight, suggestions?

You won't have many options in that price range. These might be a bit too small for your 4" needs but check this site out. http://www.clisby.com.au/index.html

i didn't mean i needed to lathe something 4 inches wide, i menat something like 2 inches wide, cheap, cheap, good quality, etc.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 1337 i didn't mean i needed to lathe something 4 inches wide, i menat something like 2 inches wide, cheap, cheap, good quality, etc.

Sounds like the Clisby is just what you need.





I love mine and it works great.

I don't have a Clisby yet, but am planning to get one soon. I've looked around quite a bit and it's hard to find anything that's comparably priced. I think Woody made a good choice and I suspect that he and I would use it for very similar things. All the feedback I've seen is that they're a quality product. The only reason I'd consider getting something else is if I wanted to turn larger parts for R/C or other household things. That's a long-shot for me, so I've made up my mind to order the Clisby (just need a little extra dough now...)

Oh, and by-the-way, I think they've increased their prices in the last couple of months. They're still a good deal, but they were a GREAT deal before the price hike. (personal opinion of course...)

Murray

no, always 199 usd