1340 Lathes

[Dennis Ford]

Metal lathes are one of those things that range in price AND quality from fairly low to very high. I don't have experience with any of the models currently sold in that price range. I know you could get a Chinese made lathe in that size for less than half of your budget and then get about half of that back in resale if it did not have the accuracy needed. Putting a metal lathe on a mobile cart may not be a good thing for accuracy if that is what the cart is for.

[Bruce Page]

Kevin, what diameter & length are the bushings and what are your tolerance requirements? Will you be turning ID or OD, or both?
In my opinion, a DRO on a lathe is a waste of good money, money better spent on tooling.

[michael langman]

Kevin, small, accurate work under 2" in size is best done on a tool room lathe like a hardinge, or a monarch lathe. Either of these used in good condition will be better then any imported lathe you could buy.

An engine lathe like you describe, 14x40 would be an engine lathe that is designed to make larger machined parts, but can do small work also, as long as you have the higher RPM capability on the lathe 2-3000 rpm.

The quality of the spindle bearings, and the ways of the lathe being hardened, ground , and scraped are good things to look for.

I have not used the South Bend lathes made in America, but they look like a good lathe in general.