I'm thinking about getting a lathe and don't have a ton of space.
What's the smallest lathe size you would consider adequate for doing occational barrel work?

Thanks
Zak

Zak,
You need a milling machine to do octagon barrels not a lathe. You can do it on a lathe with a milling attachment but it is not the way to go.

Chic

Zak---

Could that be "occasional" barrel work?

9 x 36 is usually considered minimum but you can use a 9 x 24 IF the spindle bore is over an inch in diameter.

You should have a quick change gear box and means to thread.

For many, many years the South Bend Heavy 10 and the Clausing 12x36 vary speed were the "standard" lathe for gunsmiths. Logan, Atlas, Powermatic, Rockwell/Delta and others made lathes suitable. For the last 25 years there have been a blizzard of import machines that are very usuable and some are actually VERY good machines. The Nardini, Cadillac, MSC, Select, and many others are fine lathes.

Hello Zac

The most important point in a lathe is the diameter of the hole through the main spindle. Anything less than 42mm or 1.5" and you are on to a hiding to nothing.

Once you have found one that has that, you will probably have a bed that allows you to work 1m or 40" between centres - so that's the second important bit.

Last point - it must be able to cut metric and imperial threads.

cheers edi

Sorry guys, my ability to spell occasionally (that's better) escapes me.

Thanks
Zak

Zak, add in my ability to read, lol.

Chic

Zak,
Where in Washington are you. There is a used South Bend that a gunsmith friend of mine has. This one is relatively easy to move. It is a belt drive and he is in poor health and will be selling it. He used it from fitting barrels for over 30 years. I wish I had the room for it but already have one. Email me if you wish.

Chic

Chic,
Email sent thanks.
Zak

Zak,

It is better to get a good lathe and make it fit, then get something too small, because it fits your space. I'll agree with the others, you should look at a 12X36 - 13X40 with 1 3/8" - 1 1/2" bore. It will take most barrels you through at it, and you can use 5C collets. The footprint really isn't that much larger then for a smaller lathe, you need clearence for yourself to work, and room around the headstock, and tailstock.

I'm also in the market for a lathe, my constraint is budget. I'm considering one of Grizzlies new 11X26's w/ 1" spindle bore, it isn't exactly what I want and will only be good for ~75% of the work I want to do, but for $1200, there is much more likelyhood of me getting one sooner then later, and it will still proove useful when I get a 13X40 later.

Anyhow, some basics, for a new import, factor in at least the cost of the lathe for additional tooling, assuming you don't have any, you should factor $2-3k for additional chucks, collets, bits, cutters, metrology, etc. The nice thing about tooling is you can add it gradually. If you get too small of a lathe to start with, you're stuck with it's limitations.

Also remember that the lathe itself is the smaller investment. You will probably spend 2 to 4 times the lathes cost on tooling.
Ray

Go to www.alleysupply.com and check out the
BDB-1340.

As long as we're on the subject of lathes, I know a guy with a Myford 7 for sale. He want's $1000 CDN for it. Comes with some tooling. Is this a good deal? Can you still get parts/accessories for these lathes? Thanks - Dan

Hello Dan - A Myford will do virtually everything you need to do on a firearm - except barrels! The factory in England is still cranking them out so spares are no problem.

Which model is it and does it have thread cutting ability?

The price is a bit on the high side by our standards here - but it depends on what you are getting with it in terms of accessories and tools.

More details - more details.

I've just about worn out my first Myford - it is strictly for roughing and grinding only - the second one is reserved for accurate work, while the 12" x 36" (1.5" spindle bore) handles the heavy stuff.

I've also got a 1900s Pittler (I think) that I want to rebuild specifically to do barrel work.

cheers edi

ZAK,
I just went through this whole process. I am an amateur self educated gunsmith. I bought a Grizzly lathe 12x36". The spindle bore is 1 7/16". It comes with a 3 and 4 jaw chuck, quick change tool post, steady rest, live center, dead center, chuck, face plate and tools - turning, threading, and boring.==> $2000.
I paid $30 to rent a trailer and $150 to get an engine crane so I can move it around the basement as needed, and installed the lathe. I spent an additional $500-1000 on extra tooling, some lathe related but mostly gunsmithing. Since February have made multiple tools for blueprinting actions and have done about 10 barrel jobs accuracy testing for most barrels reveal .5 minute groups.
The way I see it, for $3000 you can have a new lathe, be up and running in no time, and produce a quality rifles/barrels. I've already have done years worth (if relying on someone elso to do the work) of experimentation in several months. The possibilities are endless!

Lightnin
I bought just the lathe you mentioned. It was recommended by Cliff LaBounty. He is the owner of LaBounty Precision reboring and is a barrel specialist. Cliff said that the belt drive eliminates the bad harmonics that you can get on occasion from the cheap Chinese gears.

It has served me well. I bought a retired gunsmiths reamers and head space gauges along with a ton of milling machine cutters and misc stuff for $1,000 and was off and running, well trotting or walking is a better term.

Customstox,
I have ordered the BDB-1340 and am awaiting delivery. They are warehoused in Auburn, WA so it will only be about 6 days. I know a local gunsmith here in Prescott that uses one and he likes it real well. For $2939.00 delivered to your door in the lower 48 I don't see how a person could possibly go wrong. Now the education continues at an accelerated pace. Jim

I have a 3 in 1 machine, that does .0001 easy. It's quick, nice, uses 1/2 tools, mills, drills, comes with all the extras. My ONLY complaint is you have to jump through hoops to get a 4 jaw on it.

It's PERFECT for am amature gunsmith www.grizzly.com

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?Product_ID=12059&&User_ID=1979741&St=7892&St2=-51653130&St3=-65079479&DS_ID=1

Hi Edi. The lathe is a Myford 7, not the Super. He has all the Myford tooling (in the original boxes, I don't think this lathe was used much) with it, an extra set of gearing, a new steady rest, and a 3 jaw and a 4 jaw chuck. $1000 CDN is about $650 US. Yes, he says you can cut threads with it. - Dan

Jeffeoso, can you cut threads on that machine?

Hi DanB - At that price the Myford is a steal. If it has the gears to cut metric threads - even more so.

I have the two Super7's and a Taiwanese 14"x 40" (had to check out the file to remember what its capacity was) that looks similar to that BDB 1340. Most of the time I use the Myford. Less to clean after a job :-).

Cheers edi