Buying my first lathe.
10-20-2004, 07:58 PM
#1
Tech Regular
Thread Starter
Buying my first lathe.
Well,
It was inevitable, the time has come to find myself a decent lathe at a decent price. I will be racing stock for the next year but I might jump into mod after that. I tried searching the forums and I didn't find all that much. Wanting to my own motor maintenance leads me to these questions: What are some of the better lathes that are on the market? What are some things that I should be looking for in a lathe?
If anyone can answer some of these questions, I would really appreciate it
It was inevitable, the time has come to find myself a decent lathe at a decent price. I will be racing stock for the next year but I might jump into mod after that. I tried searching the forums and I didn't find all that much. Wanting to my own motor maintenance leads me to these questions: What are some of the better lathes that are on the market? What are some things that I should be looking for in a lathe?
If anyone can answer some of these questions, I would really appreciate it
10-20-2004, 08:29 PM
#2
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Cheapest and best lathe I've found has been the one by Team Cobra. $110-120, comes with a carbide bit but you can upgrade to a diamond bit. Works really well and is easy to use.
10-20-2004, 09:34 PM
#3
Originally posted by Desolas
Cheapest and best lathe I've found has been the one by Team Cobra. $110-120, comes with a carbide bit but you can upgrade to a diamond bit. Works really well and is easy to use.
Cheapest and best lathe I've found has been the one by Team Cobra. $110-120, comes with a carbide bit but you can upgrade to a diamond bit. Works really well and is easy to use.
10-20-2004, 09:39 PM
#4
Tech Regular
Thread Starter
I will probably get that one unless anyone else has a reccomendation....I was also looking at integy lathes....any input on those...also how much is the diamond bit and do I really need it to get the job done?
10-20-2004, 09:41 PM
#5
u say it isd your first lathe.. it should also be your last.. this is one item u want to get right from the start.. it doesnt pay to buy one.. use it for a while then sell it for a better one.. u want performance and quality from the start... the cobra pro mod lathe is in my opinion the best one u can get.. including mine i can think of many more 10 years old or more, and still cut like new... there worth the money..
10-20-2004, 10:00 PM
#6
Originally posted by burbs
u say it isd your first lathe.. it should also be your last.. this is one item u want to get right from the start.. it doesnt pay to buy one.. use it for a while then sell it for a better one.. u want performance and quality from the start... the cobra pro mod lathe is in my opinion the best one u can get.. including mine i can think of many more 10 years old or more, and still cut like new... there worth the money..
u say it isd your first lathe.. it should also be your last.. this is one item u want to get right from the start.. it doesnt pay to buy one.. use it for a while then sell it for a better one.. u want performance and quality from the start... the cobra pro mod lathe is in my opinion the best one u can get.. including mine i can think of many more 10 years old or more, and still cut like new... there worth the money..
10-20-2004, 10:39 PM
#7
Tech Regular
Thread Starter
awesome...I can't wait to make the right purchase....one time!
10-20-2004, 11:48 PM
#8
I would recomend you start off with carbide cutters, until your an expert at it. Diamond bits are hard but they are brittle and fragile. The bit can be damaged and you will never know by looking at the finish. But it will cut out of round. Carbide bits cut 90% as good, and when taken care of last a long time. They also can be bought for less than 5 bucks at a machinists supply store. I use a diamond bit but I am a professional machinist and know exactly how to care for it. I also use the cobra lathe and am very happy with it. No need for a fancy expensive lathe just for cutting a little piece of copper. Good luck
10-21-2004, 12:03 AM
#9
Tech Adept
hmmm....I was in your position a month ago......I was set on getting a Trinity Tru-Lathe 3 since I can trust their products........however nowhere had anyone recommended it. Hudy was too expensive, but I needed to make this the first and last lathe. So I looked into the Cobra, but you had to get the stock conversion for stock motors. The Trinity can cut both armatures, comes with the v-blocks AND ball-bearings and includes a carbide bit for $159
I live in South Africa and ordered from Towerhobbies...so this thing had to work forever coz sending it back would just hurt the budget and the racing schedule.
So far, nothing wrong with the lathe. What did convince me was the review done by Bryan Balak at www.balakracing.
Check it out.
I live in South Africa and ordered from Towerhobbies...so this thing had to work forever coz sending it back would just hurt the budget and the racing schedule.
So far, nothing wrong with the lathe. What did convince me was the review done by Bryan Balak at www.balakracing.
Check it out.
10-21-2004, 01:33 AM
#10
Get the best you can afford.
Be it you spend $100, $200 or even $300. Few years down the road, that amount will cease to be significant. Not to mention resale values of equipment like lathes are very good compared to kits or electronics etc...
Be it you spend $100, $200 or even $300. Few years down the road, that amount will cease to be significant. Not to mention resale values of equipment like lathes are very good compared to kits or electronics etc...
10-21-2004, 08:12 AM
#11
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I would recomend you start off with carbide cutters, until your an expert at it. Diamond bits are hard but they are brittle and fragile. The bit can be damaged and you will never know by looking at the finish. But it will cut out of round. Carbide bits cut 90% as good, and when taken care of last a long time. They also can be bought for less than 5 bucks at a machinists supply store. I use a diamond bit but I am a professional machinist and know exactly how to care for it. I also use the cobra lathe and am very happy with it. No need for a fancy expensive lathe just for cutting a little piece of copper. Good luck
So I looked into the Cobra, but you had to get the stock conversion for stock motors.
10-21-2004, 08:17 AM
#12
Actually, the visual differences in finish between a diamond and carbide don't mean much. A flawed diamond bit can leave a perfect looking finish but the comm may be out of round. Roundnesss is the most important part of a good cut. Plus, the slightly less smooth finish of a carbide helps brush break in.
10-21-2004, 09:29 AM
#13
Originally posted by SpeediePHATT
I would recomend you start off with carbide cutters, until your an expert at it. Diamond bits are hard but they are brittle and fragile. The bit can be damaged and you will never know by looking at the finish. But it will cut out of round. Carbide bits cut 90% as good, and when taken care of last a long time. They also can be bought for less than 5 bucks at a machinists supply store. I use a diamond bit but I am a professional machinist and know exactly how to care for it. I also use the cobra lathe and am very happy with it. No need for a fancy expensive lathe just for cutting a little piece of copper. Good luck
I would recomend you start off with carbide cutters, until your an expert at it. Diamond bits are hard but they are brittle and fragile. The bit can be damaged and you will never know by looking at the finish. But it will cut out of round. Carbide bits cut 90% as good, and when taken care of last a long time. They also can be bought for less than 5 bucks at a machinists supply store. I use a diamond bit but I am a professional machinist and know exactly how to care for it. I also use the cobra lathe and am very happy with it. No need for a fancy expensive lathe just for cutting a little piece of copper. Good luck
10-21-2004, 09:59 AM
#14
Probably the best way for an RC racer to sharpen his own carbides would be a small diamond file. Harbor freight sells the file for under 10 bucks. Theres a place down the street from my house that sharpens carbide tools. They charge a whole dollar to sharpen them.
Diamond File