Harbor Freight just opened a new retail store up here. Naturally I had to check it out. For $569 they had a nice looking little metal working lathe, about the right size for HO work. It was all real iron castings, no plastic.
Anyone know anything about it? It looked cool, but then Harbor Freight doesn't have the greatest reputation for quality tools.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Why not just Google "Harbor Freight Lathe Reviews" and see what people have to say?
Andre
andrechapelonWhy not just Google "Harbor Freight Lathe Reviews" and see what people have to say?
I very much agree with Andre. You can evaluate the 116 reviews on the HF site, supplemented by google search and what anyone here might know. A key question might be alternatives; e.g., does MicroMark offer one?
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-x-10-inch-precision-mini-lathe-93212.html
When I retired and we moved I decided to add some features to the garage and have since found all the items handy. I love the online reviews. Note that anything with a 3 of 5 rating tends to have as many problem reviews as above average ones, so be wary. I concluded that in many cases the brand nowdays means little regarding quality. For example, long ago a Craftsman tool I suspect had some commonality in engineering and quality control, similar to another Craftsman tool. Kinda like Buick has an engineering group that likely minimizes engineering quality issues across its products.
I purchased a Craftsman bench drill press, a Craftsman bench bandsaw, a Porter Cable bench grinder and a Harbor Freight bench sander. But it was based heavily on the individual product. The Craftsman items, for example, had very different reviews for different size drill presses and bandsaws. So if I had wanted another size it was highly likely that I would have chosen another brand. I suspect this is even more true for Harbor Freight items. I think both vendors just slap their name on something available and that there is too little engineering / quality / quality control commonality. Just my two cents.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I know a solo motorcycle mechanic with one in his shop. I will ask. I wish they had taught me the lathe is shop class instead of making a stupid candle holder out sheet metal and aviation snips.
I have 2 friends that also have South Bend lathes in their shops. They are monstrosities as far as being space hogs. Nor are they light weight. Maybe if you are building live steam engines, you should go South Bend.
If you decide to go HF wait for one of their 20% off coupons.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Judging by my own experience with Harbor Freight Tool products, I would have to conclude that the majority of the negative reviews come from people who simply don't know how to use the tool. Yes, I've found one or two real stinkers but these were usually extremely inexpensive or even free promotional items. I would also have to admit that some items do get damaged in shipping but that's a different issue.
I have purchased HFT hand tools, power tools, pneumatic tools and many other miscellaneous products. Most all have performed to, or even better than, my expectations. A perfect example was an HFT drywall shooter I purchased for $29 when we put an addition on our house. At first, the unit was a dud as it just chewed up the unhardended Phillips driver bits that came with the unit. My Dad went out and bought a DeWalt drywall shooter at a price he would not divulge. Meanwhile, I had gone to the local hardware store and picked up some properly hardened Phillips bits (another $2). With a replacement bit installed, the HFT drywall shooter actually became the favorite as it was lighter and required less effort than the DeWalt unit while doing every bit as good a job.
Although never seeming to be within my budget, I have looked longingly at the various small bench lathes that HFT has offered over the years and all appeared to be serviceable tools. So, as long as you don't expect the current HFT lathe to perform as well as the previously mentioned South Bend models, you already know how to correctly operate a lathe, and you'll only be turning small parts in softer materials, you'll probably be perfectly satisfied. However, if you've never operated a lathe and you try to turn a stainless steel salad bowl, you probably won't be too happy.
Hornblower
BigDaddyI know a solo motorcycle mechanic with one in his shop
I was wrong it is an Atlas 1950's lathe. He said he has about $600 in it. Since I was wrong about the brand, I may be wrong in thinking it is as small as the HF but it defintely isn't as big as one of those 6 or 8 foot So. Bends.
Just my 2 cents worth...
I have a Sherline 4400 lathe and 2000 vertical mill. Having these in my little shop has made it so easy to take a different approach on MANY a project. You get spoiled fast when you learn you can turn (or mill) a piece to precision fit rather than file and hope. I love being able to make a flywheel that fills up every bit of space allowable inside a locomotive shell.
I read the reviews as mentioned above on the HF machine. I've looked at it in person too. The finish is a little crude, but for that price, that would be expected. The far majority of the users say they would recommend it to a friend. It was mentioned that there are things that need to be done to get the machine to work with precision, but that's doable if you take the time and learn. I can tell just by looking at it, it will be way more rigid that my Sherlines. I dare say if i didn't have them already, I'd definately look into these HF ones.
I also learned fast that a lathe only does so much, and will make you want a mill.
the only big problem with the 10 inch bed is if you want to drill/bore somthing its short for a job of any size i have a jetBD-920n(sad to say they no longer make it)and some times its a bit to short if it were me i'd shell out the extra for the 16 inch model. i do own a HF mini mill and i'm happy with it its solid built so i would think the lathe is ok too.
ps just checked they no longer offer the 14 and 16 inch model, the 12 is the same price as the 10 so i would get that.
I have serveral Harbor Freight machines in my tool shop. They are all smaller machines, a belt sander, carbide tool sharpener and a 2 hp drill press. All are over 10 years old and have performed well. Most of their "bigger" machinery aren't robust enough for commercial use, but should be fine for home/hobbiest use. Don't expect the quality and accuracy of a 2 to 3,000 dollar precision lathe for $600.00 I build close tolerance gauging, and small parts. My lathe is a 50 year old 10 x 36 Clausing Colchester. My newest machine is a 12 year old Bridgeport mill, the oldest in a 1947 Doall band saw. Quality machinery lasts forever.
Look at the Micro-Mark line of tools
RAOR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
BroadwayLionLook at the Micro-Mark line of tools
Now we are talking $900 for a different Chinese lathe. If you do a google search of micro mark lathe, the second hit is "I wish I didn't buy a Micro Mark Lathe" That doesn't seem promising.
I read it on the Internet, it must be true
I would suggest you join the Chaski forum. WWW.chaski.org
They have threads for metal working, and building live steam engines that you run on. I am an active member there, and recall people have said with the HF lathe that you get what you pay for. It isn't a bad starter lathe, but the tooling (cutters, holders, etc.) will usually cost as much as the machine in the end. However, it is always better than nothing.
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
http://www.mini-lathe.com/Default.htm
Harold
I was looking at HF lathe and mini mill. It was recommended to me to get a Micro Mark mini mill. What I found on internet is there is one company in China making all the affordable mini mills, HF,micro-mark and grizzly.
There are YouTube videos that show you how to improve a HF mini mill or lathe.
Check out The Little Machine Shop.com They discuss lathes...
http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_category.php?category=1271799306
Mini Mills:
http://littlemachineshop.com/info/minimill_compare.php
Hope this helps.
Thomas
Thought I'd mention that I've had a Sherline mill and lathe for a good many years. So far, I haven't run into them being too small for my model work (HO).
There are a whole bunch of accessories for the line.
And I can pick them up and put them away on a shelf.
Ed