Model Forum / General / Models / September 2010

In my case, a Harrison M300 - 6.5" centre height, very good speed range
and threadcutting abilities, reasonable availability of accessories,
D1-4 fitting is easy to find. One of the best improvements over the
Myford is the 1.5" bore through spindle (marvellous, once you have
experienced it you won't want to live without it. A D1-4 collet chuck
and a set of multi-size collets was perhaps the most versatile accessory
I have bought for it; the sizeable number of Dickson toolholders I
needed was financially crippling but worth it.

Very similar in dimensions to the Colchester Master 2500, slightly less
robust but the 3 HP motor is easier to accommodate (through a VFD) than
the 5 HP on the Master.

Weights over 680 kg, was very impressive to watch Chris of Home &
Workshop move it into position by lifting one end by himself!!

I did seriously consider the various oriental imports of similar size,
which I could probably have got cheaper, but I thought I would only wish
I had gone for the real deal.

Still have the S7, and use it a lot - it's perhaps a little more
versatile, and I have made/bought such a lot of bits for it.

David

As a part-way step between the S7 and heavier iron like a Harrison, a
Boxford is usefully bigger (4-1/2 or 5" centre height depending on
era) and a lot more robust - and excellent value fo rmoney compared to
a Myford with heaps of reasonably priced accessories around.

I've personally got a Smart & Brown 1024 which is somewhat smaller in
capacity than the M300, but about twice the weigh and a good deal more
esoteric making accessories hard to come by, but it _is_ a cracking
machine.  

Richard

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: news@netfront.net ---

Hi, long time since I posted so I have to remember how.  "Concensus"
are you mad? we engineers don't even do compromise :-)
My first comment would be that you never grow out of a Myford merely
find occaisional need for a larger machine - I have supplemented mine
with larger machines but still use it a great deal. They are like an
old sweater you have to keep the wife throwing them in the bin.

From the first answers it would seem that everyone has a Harrison,
they are fine lathes but I suspect not that common in California. The
similar Colchester would I suspect be more available under its' other
name on that side of the pond. The first thing I noted with the larger
machines was that if you thought Myford bits were expensive, prepare
for a shock. Particularly if you try to buy OEM, new. Unless you are
much more fortunate than I (fairly easy I suspect) secondhand is hard
to find and can be a bit of a lottery as to its' condition. Many
lathes spring to mind depending on the "increase" you want to achieve.
The most popular seem to be 12" lathes like those already mentioned,
particularly one with a gap bed like the Myford. Of course as the
capacity increases the weight of the lathe rises even more quickly to
achieve adequate stiffness at the increased diameter, so available
room and access is also a key issue. Hardinge,Monarch, DSG etc all
made fine machines but most will have seen a lot of work by now. If a
10" lathe of fairly light build would do the job then the Maximat is a
very fair lathe. Of course if you are not concerned by price then the
larger industraial Schaublin will give you both the capacity and an
even better "feel" than the Myford.

Now to the "wash my mouth out" comment, the import machines round the
12 - 13" range are very popular and have become so for a reason - not
just the cheapness but also the easy availability and reasonably
priced accessories. Buy wisely though they do differ considerably in
quality although all look alike on the surface. I find my 12x36 import
fine as a second larger machine to my Myford but doubt that I could
live with it as an only lathe.

Apologies for stating the obvious but I don't know of a larger size
machine that has the same reputation and user base as the Myford.

Best regards

Keith

Some nice stuff on eBay M300 lathe Item number: 320584978422