Anyone know a source to rent a small lathes?

G37

G37

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I am going to be getting a "not very popular" pistol and I'd like to make a custom steel recoil rod for it.

Does anyone know if it is possible to rent small lathes? (If so where?)

I realize I could probably pay someone to make one, but I'd rather have the flexibility of a day alone with a lathe. I want to make a few in different configs to see what worked and what doesn't (definitely some hobby-fun aspect to it).

Thanks.
 
Tool rental places where you go in to do your project using their tools are still kind of unique. Someplace that would let you rent a small lathe and take it home is unheard of. One good whack in the right circumstances is all that is needed to trash a lathe.

I work in a machine shop and if I need something small done, I give it to a co-worker (g-job) to do in between jobs. My CNC lathe at work has a 400mm dia. chuck. It would crush most small jobs.

Maybe find a jobber shop and ask what they would charge for a simple one off.
 
Busy Bee tools has a mini lathe that would do the trick....

Lathe: $599.00
Learning to be a machinist: countless hours
Self made custom steel recoil rod = Priceless
 
talk to the local high school that still has a metal shop or even collage can usaly get access to there gear during off hours
 
I'll give ya the keys to mine, if you want.........

..... 'cept it looks like you're flying the wrong flag for that to be an easy thing!!
 
Many years ago, I found a machine shop that would rent lathe time during off hours. But I think that was pretty unusual. Also used their welding equipment.
 
Hello, I have used my Taig lathe for a lot of jobs that would cost about $100 or so to do, so, It has proven beneficial to the guy like me who needs it occasionally and does not do a big job, *(I'd stick to about 1 inch solid round pieces to swing, if it's steel), and you can't take 1/8 inch depth of cuts, more like max .010" depth of cut from my experience, the little pulleys just don't have it in them to allow bigger depths of cuts. Also you need an Idler pulley set up to do metal work, with metal work the slower rpm speeds even as low as 40 rpm or less are desireable. As it's set up from Lee Valley(actually you are left scratching your head as to how to set it up in my case, the lathe is designed to be adapted to circumstance). You may be able to adapt it to take the bigger drill press type pulleys from say Crappy Tire, you will pay about $1200 to get the lathe from Lee Valley along with the required accessories for very light metal working, so you may be better off getting a bigger lathe(my dream). I understand from my last visit to Busy Bee they have a lathe of about 8" swing X 20" with a spindle bore of about 1" which may be more suitable, but again you need to spend$ on at least a four Jaw chuck which will set you back. You could always shop around for a used South Bend Bench lathe(really High class old-school lathe like in the old manuals).Happy Easter. Oh, even though you can get the TAIG lathe set up for cnc, it's quite small, so you are still stuck with a small lathe, that can't do more than short pieces, but it's better than nothing.:)

which brings me to my next question, can anyone reccomend a good machinist in the Halifax area, sympathetic to us gunnutz?:confused:
 
Thanks all... I was willing to spend $300'ish (could always use more tools right?)
The night course sounds like a viable option... I will check out BCIT :D as well as the other suggestions.

Thanks all
 
nairbg said:
I'll give ya the keys to mine, if you want.........

..... 'cept it looks like you're flying the wrong flag for that to be an easy thing!!
Click to expand...

I was thinking along the same lines. Perhaps if you could draw up some specs we could have a gunnutz home machineist mail in contest :)
 
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