Opinion poll: Micromark mini lathe

[OddOne]

I'm seriously considering buying the 7x14 minilathe from Micromark. However, at $575 (+ freight) it's one of the most expensive of the benchtop lathes.

Does anyone here have one, and what do you think of it? Is it worth the $ compared to smaller but cheaper units like the $399 7x12 from Cummins?

oO

 

[gadget_lover]

I lookd at the 7x12 from Cummins and thought it was a nice alternative to the 7x10.

The mini-lathe.com site has some info about the Micromark. I'd look there.
http://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/Versions/Micro-Mark.htm


Daniel

 

[OddOne]

Already been all through that site. I'd kinda like to get more personal opinions though. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

oO

 

[Zman]

Sorry this isn't feedback on the Micromark, but it is another benchtop lathe to take a look at...

Desktop lathe

The price starts very low, and you can option it up quite a bit...

 

[gadget_lover]

[ QUOTE ]
I'd kinda like to get more personal opinions though

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, Oddone, I figured you did. The problem is that I don't know who's had one. I did see the Cummins 7x12 and wish I'd bought that instead of the HF. More accessories are included and the extra length is realllly nice.

The micromark site says the bed is beafier than the 7x10 and 7x12, but it also says the tailstock is compatible with the HF and Grizzly 7x10. Im'n not sure what to make of that. The concept appears to be that the underside of the bed is reinforced.

Good luck, and let us know how nice it is.

Daniel

 

[Chop]

The real advantage is that the micro mark is a true inch machine. The others are metric machines that have been converted to inch measurements via the dials. Each increment on the dials of the metric machines is actually a hair shy of being an actual 1/1000th of an inch. It really makes it a PITA when you're trying to reproduce something from a drawing. I hate doing calculations.

I almost got the micro mark, but at $300, the Homier was almost half the price. Now that the Homier is no longer available, I think that the smaller difference in prices between the micro mark and the others would have led me to the micro mark.

 

[gadget_lover]

I also find it a PITA to have to calculate, but the count on the 'metric measured in thousandths' is pretty close. I always check the final dimensions with a caliper or depth guage anyway. For rough calulations, one full turn = .040, so if you need to do remove .200 while facing, you'd just count 40, 80 120 160 200 Bingo! Believe me, if I can do it in my head anyone can.


If you are going to upgrade to a DRO anyway, the $129 kit from little machine shop
( http://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=2222 ) gives you .050 threads. This fits the 7x10,12 or 14 models (per the site).

I've installed the DRO on the topslide, but not the crossslide, so at the moment I have .040 per turn on one and .050 on the other. Now that really sucks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I guess the real reason for this post is just to say that the "true inch" is nice but not essential. You get used to the other.

Daniel