I love to use lathes, but in my job, we only have a very tiny one (I’m a watchmaker), so there is no use for my flashlights.
I want one really bad, but I don’t have the place and money for a big Weiler or so. So please do not say “Get a 25 year old Weiler, it will be better than THAT” - I know that. But these things are goddamn big and heavy. I live in the 2nd floor (for the yankees: 3rd floor) and the stairway upwards is not that big.
All I want to do ist a bit of working with Aluminum. No copper, no steel, maybe a bit brass and bronce, but that should be no problem.
Maximum 30mm diameter. Mostly around 20mm (stuffing the hole under LEDs in cheap flashlights).
And… making threads. That is maybe one of the most important things that I want to make with that.
So i’ve searched the web and something catched my eye:
The Optimum “OPTIturn TU 1503V” - Maybe better known as “Optimum 140 x 250 Vario”
It costs around 830€ (1037,5:money_mouth_face: - and that’s the ABSOLUTE maximum. There will be so many expenses on good tools for it (carbide rotary chisels, good lamp, oil, etc.), so I want to keep the costs for the machine down to that.
Yes, I know that this machine won’t last long as a Weiler, but it hasn’t to. In some years I will hopefull have a nicer place with more space for a big machine.
And yes, I know that the gearing mechanism of the cheap lathes are made of plastic. Whenever I used a lathe, I did not take off more than 0,5mm - I don’t like that so much, which is good for a small machine.
What do you say?
Please only machines that are available in Germany
Cellar - Keller, 1st floor/ground floor - Erdgeschoß, 1st floor (=2nd in US) - erster Stock, attic - Dachboden.
I.e. only 1st floor/ground floor are labeled differently. No idea why.
Couldn’t of picked it better mate.
You simply can not go wrong with the Vario brand of lathes.
Excellently built machines that out perform their competition.
As an example, a Sieg C1 has a 150W motor, Vario’s model in the same size has a 450W.
When you compare a Vario to others side by side, even Siegs look like toys, quickly made slapped together toys.
My recommendation would be to get the 180X300 model.
I searched the web yesterday and found “MY” machine:
The “Holzmann ED 400 FD”
It’s nearly similar to the Optimum 180x300 - which “PaulorNuthn” alreads mentioned.
It’s bigger that the ones I mentioned in the first post and has a through hole of 21mm - so perfect for the 20mm material I want to use often.
The motor is 450W, which is OK.
Before I use it, I will take this apart and clean it up, break all edges (where needed) and build it back together, with lubrification of course.
