Re: Jet BD-920N Metal lathe questions
Okay...I see a few looked over this thread but no comments so far... Help direct me before I make the purchase. Both the 5" and 6" three jaw chuck heads are well over a $100 dollars each (lathe parts are not cheap just like boat parts) so I don't want to have to buy another after this purchase. I could use the money on other lathe items and boat repair materials... Help!!!
You may have to wait and hope that a pro chimes in ....there seem to be a few of them on board.
My
amateur perspective....(I run an Atlas 10" X 54") is that machine shop tools are a bit like computers....they are reasonably cheap, but once you start "needing" extra software the meter goes into overdrive....ka-ching.
The add-on tooling items are where the real $$$ start to pile up.
I would consider my lathe only moderately fitted-out, and I have at least 8-10 times the cost of the lathe in tooling items....major items have set me back ~ $3 Gs and that is not counting small items like boring bars, tool bits, etc. that are nonetheless an expense.
My milling machine is an even worse ratio.:facepalm:
You need to be very honest with yourself and clearly define your objectives and the class of work that you want to turn out.
Was it Clint Eastwood who said, "a man's got to know his limitations".
If you want to work to close tolerances (+/- a half thou), don't expect to be able to get really low price tooling. You need to buy quality to turn quality.
Don't even look at a chuck that will allow that for less than $200-....and that is the low range.
A 4-jaw chuck is probably the next priority. Some might say buy a 4-jaw before a 3-jaw.
Any chance your chuck has reversible jaws that give you the "two-set" range?
A decent set of collets (3C probably) with drawbar and ancillaries would be next.
For threading, a set of change gears....etc. etc.
It can spin out of control pretty fa$t.
If you just want to play around....do a few rough repairs....+/- 1/128" or so....that kind of thing, there are lots of cheap sources that will allow that.......just be prepared to outgrow the lesser quality at some point.
I was fortunate to have had a master machinist as a pal and mentor.... and his advice was always spend as much as you can on something you need....try to delay buying something you only "want" until you need it....the extra time may allow you to upgrade.
I am assuming you are a beginner...since you are asking the question.
The pros can compensate for a lot of equipment shortcomings. I've never been able to do that well enough.
Expect a few more opinions now that there is one on file....there will be disagreement on my calling +/- a half thou "close tolerance work". They can probably do that while smoking a pipe and reading the newspaper....
And there'll be at least one expert who will laugh at +/- 1/128 on ANY lathe.... "I could do better than that with a drill press and a file".
On an internet forum we're ALL experts.
