chinese lathes, are they any good

sharpsguy

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I was considerng buying a house of tools 12x36 lathe or a busy bee tool lathe. Has any one bought on or used one? Are they total crap, or will they give you decent performance? The price seems fairly reasonable compared to a Le blond or southebend stuff. No comparison in quality, but better than nothing? Any body got an opinion?
 
Look for a Taiwanese Lathe, they are much better and not much more in price. A good quality lathe would be good also. IMO most of Busy Bee stuff is poor quality.
 
These have been discussed on machinists' boards. Mixed reviews about the lower priced oriental machines, ranging from boat anchor on up. Know of two serious smiths who use KBC "Grip" brand machines, and are satisfied. Know an aircraft mechanic who was satisfied with a Smithy brand 12x36, AFTER he had done some reworking. Don't know about House of Tools lathes. These machines seem to be manufactured in different quality levels, depending on the importer, and what standards they demand. BB lathes look cheap, compared to a SB. All things being equal, I would rather have a nice used SB, SM, etc. rather than one of these imports. The catch is finding a nice used SB or other machine. I, too am in a market for a lathe, and am pondering the same things that you are. Something to consider is that the use a lathe gets in gunsmithing is pretty light compared to an industrial situation. Of course, the machine must be capable of work to fine tolerances if precision barrel fitting is to be done. A headstock bore large enough for any barrel to be passed through is preferable, as is enough c. to c. distance to allow a barrel to be turned. I too would be interested in the opinions of anyone who has used one of these machines. Or, if anyone knows of a decent machine for sale in central Ontario.
 
I have a Taiwanese "Microweilly" that I purchased from a company that supplies machines to machine shops. I am happy with it. I looked for a long time for a good used higher quality machine.
 
I have an older American lath (Atlas) which has given me good service and its runs true.I still use it for basic turning. However even though it was a low mileage unit I found it a pain to thread with as it required that the gears be changed manually in the headstock.
I then bought a Busy Bee Model B441 which I have been very happy with.This was back when Busy Bee bragged that their equipment was made in Taiwan--NOT China.
Now they, like their competitors buy their machine tools in China. Its similar to rifle scopes. If you want the best gear you don't buy Chinese however for a lot of applications the lower quality scope or lath will work fine.
Gunsmithing is not a trade that will put a heavy strain on a lath.As long as the lath arrives with true bedways and virtually no runout in the headstock you are good to go.These laths would not stand up to a dedicated machine shop application or production machining but for gunsmiths they are fine.
We don't have House of Tools out in the Maritimes but I was in one of their stores in Calgary this summer.I wasn't impressed with the laths I saw on the floor at this time.
My Busy Bee I like well enough but looking at their current offerings
if I buy another off shore lath I would consider a 1340-G 0r 1440-G from KBC Tools. (WWW.KBCTools.com) A nice jump in quality.They are often on sale for -%15-%20 so don't panic at the list price.
I would recommend you get a lath with a D1-4 spindle on the headstock. The thread on type chucks are less than satisfactory.
 
As it happens, KBC has a sale on right now. I have examined - but not run - one of their Grip lathes, and it <looked> better than a BB. BB has a new model 12" lathe at an attractive price out now that they say is suitable for gunsmithing. Although it has a decent spindle bore, it has a rather short c. to c. Unfortunately it does not have a quick change gearbox, and lacks a threading dial, so it would be awkward to use for threadcutting, and could not be recommended for the purpose. At one BB I visited, they had a threaded piece of steel with a lathe, presumably to show what the lathe could do. Don't know if it was the operator, or the lathe, but the quality of the work was enough to make me lose interest in that particular machine very quickly. Something to consider if buying a used machine is that hobby machinists will pay a premium for smaller machines, that are easier to transport and install. This drives prices up a bit. Larger machines may be less expensive in comparison, and everything else being equal, bigger can be better. Just get a professional to move the lathe, to avoid risk of injury or damage. Had to get a 16" SB with 8' bed moved down a flight of stairs once. Even with a professional, it was a bit scary at times.
 
Most real machine tool suppliers sell a line of decent quality 13-40 and 14-40, Chineze made lathes starting around $5000.00. tHE 12-36 lathes at busy bee, house of tools, KBC are all basically the same, and will work for a lot of hobby gunsmiths.
 
A friend of mine has the same 4x10 mini- lathe as the one used by Varmint AL on his website.He has found it to be very accurate on anything he has used it for. He brought it up from the states 3 yrs ago for just over $600.00 by the time he included the exchange and duty. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if the opportunity arose.

Bearcat
 
I am running a King lathe 12"-36" I think, and its not badly put together, Centers are good and bed runs well.

I looked at the ones at house of tools and the King line of tools is a lot better made then the stuff they had
 
For hobbist gun work the "offshore" lathes are not too bad, as they do not get worked hard. That being said I would not trade me British made Colchester for anything, the accuracy to which the high end Brit, European and US made lathes is hard to step down from.
The boys at Proline Shooters here in Calgary have a nice 14x40 lathe that I know has seen little use for sale. Yup its either Chinese or Taiwanese, I have not looked that closely, but have used it on occasion, and for small gunsmith work its fine.
The only thing that I find CAN be a downside in buying asian is parts can take a long time to get. My 1 mill is Taiwanese and I screwed a drive gear for the power feed 6 months ago and am still waiting. Colchester air freights parts 3 days.
On another note, for tooling , there are some great deals on carbide cutting tools on ebay. I recently picked up a bunch of solid carbide end mill bits and ball nose mill bits for $6.00 US ea, which is a steal! :mrgreen:
 
I have had a BB 13x36 with the gap bed for 25 yr.It is a belt drive, not the gear model. It is an accurate machine as far as I can see anyway. Large enuf. hole in headstock for any gun project. We use the Jap as it's called here (made in Taiwan) mostly for threading and shaft work. Has been trouble free.We also have a 6" Southbend and a Clausing 24"x144" that came from the old GM factory in Regina. We got it for nothing but it cost about $400 to get it out of the building and on our trailer. It is worn but still is true. We made a barrel contouring jig for this one and use it for exterior barrel work as well as ag and ind parts making. I have looked at the new Chinese BB machines and see nothing wrong with them aside from rough casting and poor finish. If I were to get a BB I woud get the gear model for a few extra $. Happy shopping,Mark
Rick. I also get all carbide tools from ebay. I wonder how many of these tools are carried home in lunch pails to be put on ebay???
 
Rick. I also get all carbide tools from ebay. I wonder how many of these tools are carried home in lunch pails to be put on ebay???
Makes a guy wonder , not too much at those prices though. I just got some from a place called Discount Machine, they seem to be a shop as they list several lathe/mills and assorted tooling that would nrrd 1 F n big lunchbox, with lifting eyes attached :mrgreen:
 
Hey Guys,
I bought the 12X36 from House of Tools recently and am very happy with it. My machining experience is limited at best, so you can take what I have to say with a grain of salt! I have been cutting mild steel (1018), 4140, aluminuim (6061) and stainless steel 17-4. Seems to cut the 17-4 really well which I was nervous about before trying it.

I looked around for a used Southbend or simular made in north america type iron, but everything I found at the time was friggin expensive, and well used. The last straw was looking at a supposebly rebuilt SB that was a POS, and they wanted $2500!!!

I think that if the run-out is good, and ways are straight ( and not completly wore out) then it should do the trick. I am able to get .001" tolerence with mine (when I take the time to do so) and I am pretty much a rookie yet.

Shawn
 
chinese lathes

I bought a 12"x36" lathe from house of tools about five years ago and have found it satisfactory except for the motor. The starting points are only tungsten coated, and when the coating wears through these points are either fused together or will not make connection. Should be no big problem but House of Tools is no help at all. They refer me to an electric motor shop who say" Why do they keep sending people to us? We can't get parts for these motors." And neither can anyone else that I have been able to find. But I did get help from a small electric motor shop in Vernon, BC, who supplied me with a set of points that I was able to adapt for the original Chinese motor. But this was after several weeks of down time and frustration.
The machine is fine otherwise and an American motor would solve the problem. Any problem can be solved if you throw enough money at it.
I am not very impressed with anyone from House of Tools
jclayton
 
chinese lathes

I bought a 12"x36" lathe from house of tools about five years ago and have found it satisfactory except for the motor. The starting points are only tungsten coated, and when the coating wears through these points are either fused together or will not make connection. Should be no big problem but House of Tools is no help at all. They refer me to an electric motor shop who say" Why do they keep sending people to us? We can't get parts for these motors." And neither can anyone else that I have been able to find. But I did get help from a small electric motor shop in Vernon, BC, who supplied me with a set of points that I was able to adapt for the original Chinese motor. But this was after several weeks of down time and frustration.
The machine is fine otherwise and an American motor would solve the problem. Any problem can be solved if you throw enough money at it.
I am not very impressed with anyone from House of Tools
jclayton
 
I bought a 12"x36" lathe from house of tools about five years ago and have found it satisfactory except for the motor. The starting points are only tungsten coated, and when the coating wears through these points are either fused together or will not make connection. Should be no big problem but House of Tools is no help at all. They refer me to an electric motor shop who say" Why do they keep sending people to us? We can't get parts for these motors." And neither can anyone else that I have been able to find. But I did get help from a small electric motor shop in Vernon, BC, who supplied me with a set of points that I was able to adapt for the original Chinese motor. But this was after several weeks of down time and frustration.
The machine is fine otherwise and an American motor would solve the problem. Any problem can be solved if you throw enough money at it.
I am not very impressed with anyone from House of Tools
jclayton
 
chinese lathes

I bought a 12"x36" lathe from house of tools about five years ago and have found it satisfactory except for the motor. The starting points are only tungsten coated, and when the coating wears through these points are either fused together or will not make connection. Should be no big problem but House of Tools is no help at all. They refer me to an electric motor shop who say" Why do they keep sending people to us? We can't get parts for these motors." And neither can anyone else that I have been able to find. But I did get help from a small electric motor shop in Vernon, BC, who supplied me with a set of points that I was able to adapt for the original Chinese motor. But this was after several weeks of down time and frustration.
The machine is fine otherwise and an American motor would solve the problem. Any problem can be solved if you throw enough money at it.
I am not very impressed with anyone from House of Tools
jclayton
 
chinese lathes

I bought a 12"x36" lathe from house of tools about five years ago and have found it satisfactory except for the motor. The starting points are only tungsten coated, and when the coating wears through these points are either fused together or will not make connection. Should be no big problem but House of Tools is no help at all. They refer me to an electric motor shop who say" Why do they keep sending people to us? We can't get parts for these motors." And neither can anyone else that I have been able to find. But I did get help from a small electric motor shop in Vernon, BC, who supplied me with a set of points that I was able to adapt for the original Chinese motor. But this was after several weeks of down time and frustration.
The machine is fine otherwise and an American motor would solve the problem. Any problem can be solved if you throw enough money at it.
I am not very impressed with anyone from House of Tools
jclayton
 
chinese lathes

I bought a 12"x36" lathe from house of tools about five years ago and have found it satisfactory except for the motor. The starting points are only tungsten coated, and when the coating wears through these points are either fused together or will not make connection. Should be no big problem but House of Tools is no help at all. They refer me to an electric motor shop who say" Why do they keep sending people to us? We can't get parts for these motors." And neither can anyone else that I have been able to find. But I did get help from a small electric motor shop in Vernon, BC, who supplied me with a set of points that I was able to adapt for the original Chinese motor. But this was after several weeks of down time and frustration.
The machine is fine otherwise and an American motor would solve the problem. Any problem can be solved if you throw enough money at it.
I am not very impressed with anyone from House of Tools
jclayton
 
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