There are many factors you have to take into consideration when looking to buy a metal lathe as you don’t want to be spending a large amount of money on the wrong product.
Here are some of the questions that you should keep in mind when choosing a lathe:
- What size lathe do you need?
- How much power does the lathe have?
- Is the lathe durable?
- Belt pulley or variable control?
- Warranty and customer service
What size lathe do you need?
This depends entirely on what you plan on using it for and the size of your project. If you plan on doing anything that is smaller than 7×14 inches in diameter, then you should probably buy a mini metal lathe.
Don’t try to buy a smaller sized machine to save money as when it comes to reselling, the value will drop tremendously. Buy big so that you have room for growth.
How much power does the lathe have?
Lathes can range from small machines with 0.5 HP to big machines with 800 HP.
If you plan on using it for smaller, lighter tasks that require less than 2 HP worth of torque, then you should buy a smaller benchtop unit.
If you plan on working on bigger projects such as stainless-steel alloys then a larger unit will be needed.
Is the lathe durable?
Big machines are normally made with heavier and thicker materials so wear and tear is at a minimum. However, they are extremely heavy and expensive.
Benchtop lathes are much lighter and compact, but they are more prone to wear and tear.
Try both machines and have a feel of them to find out what they are like. You can also have a look at all of the additional features as well.
Belt pulley or variable control?
Lathes can either be manual belt driven or have a variable speed. As you could assume, the manual machines have buttons and levers you have to operate. It is cheaper but they are slower to work with.
Variable speed models are able to operate at much faster rates all the whilst keeping the precision thanks to the knob that controls the speed.
Warranty and customer service
Whenever you buy something as expensive as a lathe, you would expect to have some form of reasonable warranty alongside a good customer service experience. If the machine were to break at any time, you’d want to be able to speak to someone that could help.
If you would like to find out more about our own range of products, head over to www.toolfrance.com or give us a call on 02476 619267.
