The lathe as a modeling tool

Been eyeing these things up for a while (Clisby). Gotta get one...

Murray

Wow, that is cool!!! What did you use to glue plexi together?

Is this lathe expensive? Where did you get it? Easy to use?

Domi,

Woody is using a Clisby lathe (www.clisby.com). They're from Australia. Very tiny, and very much on my 'want' list too...

I've been scanning around the web for other alternatives and haven't found anything that would be comparable for the low $ of these things. They do require an external 12v power supply though...

My birthday's coming soon... now that my leg is broken, I don't really have too much use for that whipper snipper I asked for.... I wonder if it's too late to change my order?

Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Wow, that is cool!!! What did you use to glue plexi together? Is this lathe expensive? Where did you get it? Easy to use?

Cool and a lot of fun!

I glued the plexi together with straight acetone.

No the Clisby was a great deal in my opinion. I bought the lathe & mill combo for about $500 S/H included.

My machines shipped right from the Clisby factory. Mr. Clisby's daughter is in charge of the lathe production and provided excellent communications.

The lathe is small but functions as a full size lathe does. I think it operates easily.

As Murray noted above you will have to provide a 12volt/2-4amp power supply. I'm using a small battery charger as a power source and it works great. Another thing I would like to mention about the 12volt DC motor and lathe in general, it is very quiet. I did all the work you see next to the room my wife was watching TV in. No complaints from the family about noise.

Have you been using the mill much Woody? I'm considering just ordering the lathe, cuz I'm not really sure how much I'd use the mill??

Murray

I knew you'd eventually find something to use your new toy for, Woody The build looks great! Can't wait to see the finished product.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish Have you been using the mill much Woody? I'm considering just ordering the lathe, cuz I'm not really sure how much I'd use the mill?? Murray

Murray,
I've just played around with the mill and have yet to use it for any projects.
I have several ideas of things it will be useful for. I would just order what
you feel like you need.
Where I work we have a machine shop and I enjoy
using the full size machines. I thought it would be nice have a desk top
mill for hobby projects.

Ed,
You know it! Thanks for the encouragement.

By the way I've updated the URL at the start of this thread. It now has pics
of the last steps of the lathe work for this part. Here it is again.
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24894

i have been got the TAIG micro lathe and mill with most of all the tooling its made in the USA and is one of the best engineered for the money. just do a google search for TAIG lathe you will find the website. good luck

oops sorry about my english

That's pretty cool Woody.

I wonder how good this one is from Harbor Freight?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=4019
I am not in the market to buy one but this one seems like a good deal for $209.

They also sell a complete one for $499.99
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44859

Mike