Anyone have hands-on experience with the new Sieg CO mini-lathe? I’m
thinking of getting one and would like to know more about its
limitations/strengths. Harbor Freight has one, product #95012 for
about US$250.
Edward
Take a look at H.F. model 44859-1VGA. The same machine is available
elsewhere and EBay, maybe with a different brand name. They’re known
as Homier lathes, for the maker. The one you mention looks pretty OK,
but it has one major drawback that will drive you nuts. It has no
screwfeed except for that crank on the lower right side. On the model
above, there’s a wheel that moves the carriage anywhere quickly and
easily, plus it has automatic longitudinal feed. On the smaller
machine you need to turn that crank 1000 times to get anywhere, and
you’re dependant on that for your finish on long work. I’ve done it,
it’s not the end of the world, and it looks like a nice little
machine. But if you want drawbacks, that’s it.
Edward,
Anyone have hands-on experience with the new Sieg CO mini-lathe?
I looked up the Seig mini on Harbor Freight but could find no
accessories for it. Based on reponses in earlier threads concerning
this type of Chinese lathe there will be quality, accuracy, and setup
issues but if there is not a substantial line of accessory tooling I
would avoid it for sure. In particular, to make a lathe even
moderately useful, you need a collet system, four jaw scroll chuck,
and three and/or four jaw independent chucks.
Another overlooked feature of the smaller lathes is the gib system
used. A gib is an adjustable face on the carriage or cross slide
which, when set properly, removes all play perpendicular to the
direction of travel but still allows free movement. Some machines use
a brass gib held in place - and adjusted by - three or four set
screws and are usually time consuming/frustrating in getting adjusted
properly.
Sherline has a very neat system using a tapered plastic(?) gib which
is adjusted by loosening a single allen set screw and it is
incredibly quick and easy to adjust.
The basic Sherline is more than twice the money but I think it would
be more useful to you and the tooling plus manufacturer support and
inexpensive parts replacement, not to mention “out of the box”
functionality, would make it far, far, superior to the Seig Mini.
Just my opinion, of course.
Les Brown
L.F.Brown Goldwork
For extensive on the Chinese mini lathes see:
for tooling see:
These machines are ( mostly ?) made by Seig different vendors have a
wide range of prices. There is a lot of info on the first site.
jesse