Kozo's Shay

[Daniel Stanley]

Hi all,

Man it looks like you all are very busy already...
I too have got Kozo's book on the Shay and am almost ready to get my first lathe and Milling machine.
I will be doing the opposite of everyone else it seams, and that is to scale down to "G" scale (45mm).
Once I've completed that one, I will build one in 7.5 "gauge.
any comments on the Grizzly.com lathe and mills ?

Hope you all are having fun.... ;D
Daniel

[Jamie Harris]

Hey Daniel, I can comment on the Grizzly tools since I have owned some of them. My first metalworking tools were a brand new Grizzly mini lathe and mini mill. Some people will curse at me for saying this but I think the mini lathe is just a toy.

It is very possible to take one and make it a good machine through a series of upgrades and some aftermarket parts but I really wanted a machine that was solid, and could be used to make parts of a larger size than the Grizzly could do. That being said, if you like to take something and learn all about it, then tinker with it forever, then the mini lathe might be what you want. There are enough accessories now to outfit it just like a larger lathe. I had fun learning about and working with my mini lathe but it just wasn't useful enough for me. I ended up selling the mini lathe and buying a really nice 9" south bend lathe and could not be happier with it.

The mini mill on the other hand is an excellent alternative to a larger benchtop mill or a fullsize Bridgeport. It does have it's quirks and issues but it is still a good machine. There are also lots of websites with mini mill upgrades. I still have mine and am about to add a 3 axis DRO to it.

Please email me if you want to talk more or have specific questions about Grizzly stuff.

I hope this is helpful,
Jamie

[Bill Holland]

I have to 2nd Jamies Comments almost word for word.
My first lathe is the Micromark 7x14 mini lathe. Made in the same factory as the grizzley lathe.
The lathe is not rigid, I can make it flex with my pinky, the tail stock flex, and is off in all 3 axis' I think.

I still have the mini lathe, however I also bought a 9" South Bend lathe that I am currently rebuilding. The difference is so great that it almost makes one collapse in sadness that they are no longer made. If you want a chinese lathe, dont get one smaller than a 12".

AS for the Mill. I have the harbor freight Micro mill. IT works great with in it's capacity, It says it will not do 1/2" drilling and end milling, and I Can tell you that it WONT do 1/2", I tried. Got lucky too.
Its an excellent mill for 269$ I got for it on sale. IF you need the extra capacity, I would go for the mini mill. Unlike the lathes, the Mills seam to be good.
Sieg in China by the way makes all the mini lathes and mills, micro mills for everyone that sells em.

Now since your doing Gauge 1, perhaps you should look at Taig and Sherline, for their machines. Made in USA and High quality. Just small.
If you ever have plans on doing bigger stuff, then get bigger tools.

[Ironhorse]

Thank you Jamie and Bill for real good advice.
The lathe size I was looking at was the 9" by 19" for $750.00 and the bigger mill for $998.00,so I think I am on the right track..LOL
Bigger is always better anyway. I will look around some more and I hope to make a wize choice.

Thanks again,
Daniel

[Bill Holland]

9x19/20 Lathes are better than the mini lathes, but I was able to find my used South bend 9" for 475$ and it is much more rigid even.
South Bends are cast from semi steel, 50% steel, 50% grey iron, so they are very rigid.
Chinese lathes are all grey iron.
However with that said, if you cant find a South Bend lathe used, one of those 9x20 lathes will suffice. Jan-Eric uses a 9x20 Chinese lathe to build some wonderful models, here is his web page.
www.sci.fi/~animato/3003/