I have a really bad hankering for a Colchester gap bed student/mascot or similar lathe....someting that was built to last. (Not to bothered about age,
but something with screw cutting and a decent bed would be nice!)
There are a couple of fairly average examples on ebay, but they seem to be slightly overly priced....
Where is the best place to get a used and working colchester lathe from?
[Edited on 10/4/08 by tegwin]
the Colchester is always quite pricey due to it actually being a very good lathe and makes smaller modern ones look like toys. I used one years ago
for building engineering models and it was a damn fine machine, so easy to use and I preferred it to the bigger lathes in the workshop, I'd love
one in my garage
Yes, I learned to turn on them....that and some similarly british vertical mills.....I want one of those in my garage as well
I have had good service from gandmtools.co.uk
Regards
Hugh
I got my Colchester Student for £200 about 10 years ago. It then cost me around £100 to ship it from a school to home - don't underestimate how
much these things weigh! 
My lathe is a few Kg heavier than my Locost...
Shipping would be a mission, but im fairly sure the colchester lathes split into three/four parts...
Not that it will make it any lighter, but still....
That website has given me the gimees really badly...
I could spend a small fortune on there!
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
I used one years ago for building engineering models and it was a damn fine machine, so easy to use and I preferred it to the bigger lathes in the workshop, I'd love one in my garage
Oh, by the way, have a look on lathes.co.uk for information on almost any lathe- A 'student' short bed is 790kg!
Hugh
Oddly enough, i aws thinking eactly that last night, and watched a harrison go for £1500 on ebay.
- As you say, they do seam exensive on there.
- Obvously they are very expensive new, and potentially last forever.
- But still, im not bidding £1500 on a unknown vintage lathe ive not even seen, based on about three grainy images!
Unfortuantly for me the days of school throwing out tonnes of good equipent for buttons was a few years ago now, and some of them are even starting to
replace bit now ive lest school.
Daniel
quote:
Originally posted by hughpinder
Oh, by the way, have a look on lathes.co.uk for information on almost any lathe...
I know a man that could sort you out with one
only trouble is he's up here (east of edinburgh) but he does collect and deliver all over the uk
I can get his number if you like ?
The colchesters do split into a few parts, but each of them are extremely heavy, especially the headstock.
The official lifting technique is to move the tailstock to the end of the bed, screw a very large lifting eye into the centre of the bed, and lift it
as one unit. Fine if you've got an engine hoist that can lift 550Kg at full stretch!
Not quite Scotland but a bit closer....I have just been to see a bloke (with a tyre changing machine to change my tyres!) and he has a couple of ex-school lathes. I remember them been at the school I went to and they were always stood in a corner of the workshop, never used. If you want his details, U2U me. He may even consider delivering for a price.
the guy I know, knows a man with a big hiab lorry 
I guess if you took the lathe appart....bed, headstock, sadle, base bit.....you could use an engine crane to lift the parts onto a suitable trailer,
or into back of car....
Still a big ol weight to shift...
Im not even going to consider taking it up the garden to the workshop....i think it will end up stopping in the garage....
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
I used one years ago for building engineering models and it was a damn fine machine, so easy to use and I preferred it to the bigger lathes in the workshop, I'd love one in my garage
were you the one with the little steam engine?
Keep your eye on this site, it quite often throws up real bargains. harrison lathes are worth considering too, L5, L5A and even the L6 are a nice size
for home use, although as said, are not lightweight. They also have an induction hardened bed, so tend to last for ever.
http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/latest.html
Al.
[Edited on 10/4/08 by Wadders]
mcred1 I am in Edinburgh and if there really is the chance of a good lathe cheap I am interested. Currently I have an antique and well used wartime
Myford 4.5" good for little bits in ally or nylon but not up to big bits of steel.
Caber
Widen your search.
Bought my Boxford off the bay of decay and had it delivered on a pallet.
Pay decent money on an old well known make and avoid being tempted by machine mart rubbish.
See previous thread
Lathe thread
quote:
Originally posted by caber
mcred1 I am in Edinburgh and if there really is the chance of a good lathe cheap I am interested. Currently I have an antique and well used wartime Myford 4.5" good for little bits in ally or nylon but not up to big bits of steel.
Caber
I bought my boxford off a dealer who advertised in the model maker mag last autumn for £100 cos it had a 3 phase motor.
They require a compact single phase motor to fit in the space available cost another £70.
Pallet delivery was £50 and they delivered right into the middle of the garage floor and I walked it into position.
Beware the cost of tools I've spent another £150 on drills, jacobs chucks, boring bars etc.
Could not live without it now.
bit late, but I've got the number for the guy I was on about above ^^^^
u2u me if you want it