I am seriously considering getting myself a lathe. Something like a Colchester student mk2.... Only issue is all the ones that look half decent are miles away...

Anyone know of any companies who can collect and deliver such a thing without breaking it? Any idea how much it might cost?

Appart from the obious stuff like grumbly gearboxes and massive play in the slides, is there anything in particular I should be looking at in a used machine?



Also, a lot of the bigger lathes are 3ph... the one I am liking has a 3hp 3phase motor.... If I buy a digital inverter, will this work properly, or is it better to get something with a 1ph motor to start with?

I bought my Colchester Student from Southampton, 250 miles from home. Borrowed
a horse trailer and a 750kg engine crane and collected it myself. Wasn't too bad to
move.

My dad got a lathe from work when the old apprentice school closed 35 years ago. That came with a 3-phase motor, but it was no great difficulty to get hold of a single phase one that would fit and simply replace it. You'll only need 3-phase if you need a motor over a certain power (and I can't remember what that is at the moment).

my harrison had a 3phase 3hp motor when i got it. just took the 3phase motor off and put a single phase 3hp motor on that run at the same speed.

[Edited on 9/9/2011 by ashg]

Search under machiney movers or hiab lorry hire. There are lots of companies doing this but obviously it'll be cheaper if you pick one near you or near the lathe location to get the lowest cost.

I used H.E. some time ago to shift a big cylindrical grinder but they were local and had an appropriate size waggon.


LINKY

I got a firm in a nearby town to shift my Student Mk1 - cost me £100, and it was well worth it. Big lorry, Hiab crane, heavy-duty roller skates to move it into my garage, plus years of experience. All it needed was a bit of extra muscle from me & my son.

Very glad I didn't attempt it by myself...

Afterthought - it's well worth getting an experienced firm to do the job - mine knew exactly where to put the strop and set up the lathe to get perfect balance when lifting.


[Edited on 15/9/11 by David Jenkins]