Change of lathe - advise please

[bobh7]

Hi all
I've been lurking for a couple of years but this is my first post.
I have a coronet major lathe which I've had since I started turning 2 1/2 years ago. Its a great lathe up to a point, I have turned up to 18" bowls on it but find it lacks a little stiffness and finesse at any size over about 12 inches.
I'm also fairly fed up with having to slacken bolts every time I want to alter the position of the tool banjo!
In short I'm wondering whether a change of lathe is in order.

What I would want in a lathe would be
Swiveling headstock - this is vital to me being left handed.
Stiffness - something a little stiffer than my single bar coronet would be good.
Secondhand - I'd much rather buy a good secondhand lathe than a new one at the same price which may not be such good quality.
Budget - about £500 but could be flexible
Any thoughts?

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

Hmmmm..... not an easy one, but then again my experience is relatively limited. I know what you mean by stiffness. Going from the Myford to Record, I have noticed the difference. The Myford was much more solid in construction than the Record lathe. I do like the swivelling headstock though for hollowing. I do a lot of travel mugs, and leaning over the bed bed was a real PITA. I can now do that part standing to one side which helps my poor old back immensely.
In hindsight, perhaps the best bet for me would have been the Axi lathe with variable speed and cast bed, but the Record was just too good a deal to pass up.

Good luck anyhoo

 

[Silverbirch]

A Record CL4 would tick all these boxes, I think. Should be possible to track one down secondhand too.
I used to own one and was very happy with it.
You would also be able to use any 1mt accessories you may have for the Coronet.
Ian

 

[Dalboy]

I have a cl3 and have been happy with it. I did have a problem with a noisey motor but that was sorted very quickly. It may not have the variable speed but that is not a problem

 

[gregmcateer]

I've got a Teknatool Nova dvr 3000 (badged Record here in UK now) and am happy with everything I've done on it - so far up to 24" across

 

[bobh7]

Thanks for the replies so far.
The record cl3/4 doesn't sound a bad idea as it would mean my mt1 fittings would work and it would also have the same spindle thread so faceplates and chuck would go straight on.
That said what are peoples thoughts on the myford mystro? Seems to tick all of my original boxes even though it has a different spindle thread.

 

[dickm]

I'm a Mystro owner mainly because the nose thread and accessories are compatible with the Super 7 metalworking lathe, which can be handy from time to time.

Good points:- reasonable capacity over the bed, potentially very large with the head swivelled. The headstock is massive, so pretty good at damping vibration. if you get the original red painted ones made in the UK, then build quality is good.

Bad points. Bed is only steel tube, though TBH have never found this a problem with it mounted on a very solid bench. Tailstock/headstock alignment in the horizontal plane is not perfect as the fit of the tailstock between the bars allows a fraction of a degree's play. Mine is the 5 speed model and belt changing between pulleys is a total pain because of the small access hatch.
(This last point of course doesn't apply if you have the variable speed motor - there's one waiting on the floor by my Mystro for time to fit it.)
Final bad point is that they are no longer made. RDG, who bought all the rights to Myford, don't have a good reputation within the Myford "community" and basically don't support the Mystro apart from selling off any odd bits they found in the factory.

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Another recommendation for a CL3 / 4 - I've owned a CL4 for around 12 years, it's performance has been faultless and I've turned platters / table tops to over 24" with no vibration issues.

Regards Mick

 

[chipmunk]

You sometimes get second hand lathes for sale here...
http://www.lathes.co.uk/page9.html

I'm not a fan of the long-in-the-tooth Record CL series. So, the Mystro looks a reasonable proposition to me despite its shortcomings detailed above.

The Myford spindle nose thread of 1.125" x 12TPI will be a problem for chucks (limited to perhaps just Versachuck and Sorby Patriot) and will restrict your options but the 2MT accessories are much better IMHO.

HTH
Jon

 

[dickm]

Good point about the limited choice in woodworking chucks for the Mystro nose - that thread is the real positive for me, but would be a downer for anyone without a Myford metal lathe to go with it (and on which to make accessories )

 

[bobh7]

The two things that are pushing me away from the mystro at the moment are the spindle thread and the lack of support.
As I see it at the moment neither of these things would be issues with the records.
Mind you I still haven't mentioned any of this to swmbo! Some delicate negotiations ahead maybe.

 

[dickm]

It slightly grieves me to say it, but your logic about the Mystro (odd thread and absence of support) is dead right. It only works for me because of the relationship with the metalworking lathe (and a masochistic joy in making up thread adaptors etc ).
Out of interest, whereabouts on the West Coast are you? You seem to have been having a lot better summer than us poor easterners! But as someone said to me last week, we didn't have a winter, so we can't really expect a summer!

 

[bobh7]

It slightly grieves me to say it, but your logic about the Mystro (odd thread and absence of support) is dead right. It only works for me because of the relationship with the metalworking lathe (and a masochistic joy in making up thread adaptors etc ).
Out of interest, whereabouts on the West Coast are you? You seem to have been having a lot better summer than us poor easterners! But as someone said to me last week, we didn't have a winter, so we can't really expect a summer!

I'm on the best isle of mull and yes so far we've had a great summer, still plenty of time for it to change yet! As I type the hill just the other side of the valley has disappeared in the cloud and drizzle.