Subject: Query: Shoptask experiences?

From: [email-masked] (Scott Griffith, Sun Lumpyware)
Date: 13 Sep 1996 00:14:07 GMT

I'd like to hear from anyone who has some experiences, either pro or
con, with the current Shoptask combination lathe/mill/drill machines.
I'd especially like to hear from anyone who can compare and contrast
them to the Emco, Smithy, and other smallish combo machines.

I'm tired of going bankrupt paying local shops agonizing hourly rates
to crank out trivial chassis and braking system parts for my race car
(which has a voracious appetitie for 'em, it seems). The best thing I
can see about the Shoptask is that it has a decent swing for a smaller
machine. I routinely need to work on brake system components, so a
lathe that can swing up to 10" or so is a must- but I don't have much
room for a 6 foot bed, so the compact size is another must.  Thus- the
Shoptask is the head of the short list. If there are other machines I
should consider, please let me know!

Please respond via email to [email-masked], and I'll summarize in a few
day's time. 

Thanks in advance!

-skod
-- 
Scott Griffith, Sun Microsystems Lumpyware
Nor Cal SAAC/Green Flag Driving Association driving instructor
(and driver, of anything that turns both right and left,
and can pass tech...) Return Path : [email-masked]

---

From: [email-masked] (LWC1220)
Date: 14 Sep 1996 21:02:40 -0400

In article <[email-masked]>, [email-masked]
(Scott Griffith, Sun Lumpyware) writes:

>-

  I bought a shoptask for the same reasons that you mentioned.
My thought is that it will not do what you are wanting to do.
When I bought mine I planned on turning a few brake drums to help pay for
it.
However I found that it turned to fast to do any but the smallest ones.
Then when I modified it to turn slower it turned out that it just was not
heavy enough to do the larger ones.

 While I think that for the most part you get what you pay for there are
several features that I think should be there that are not.
My main gripes are. 

1. No split nut to release the carriage. (Hence you must turn the handle
10 time for 1 inch of movement. SLOW)

2. Reversing the carriage feed direction is a major undertaking. (You must
remove the carrier plate for the reversing gear and add or remove a gear
>from  it)

3. No compound slide  (You must turn the whole table which be rather large
can be impossible to do if you need very much angle)

4. No way to move the mill head up and down.(Often the head is to far away
>from  the table all cures cause loss of rigidity.) 

5. The belts used to drive the lathe are to small.(They often slip on
large diameter work.)

  While the above may make it seem like it is not a good lathe, I think it
is worth what you pay for it as long as you don't try to turn anything
more than 6-8 inches in diameter. In other words just because it can swing
15 inches does not mean that you can turn it. Many of the problems above
can be cured if you have time and sometimes access  to other equipment.
You can probably modify a Smithy compound with a raise block and use it. I
think I could modify the feed reversing and make it easier to use. And
I've modified it to run slower with no slip but at a price.
I use a motorcycle transmission and a chain final drive. However it adds a
certain amount of vibration so does not cut as smooth as I would like. The
half nut is doable but will get very complicated to be done right.

   I have seen pictures of a Smithy lathe that covers many of my
complaints above it is there longer mill-drill (I don't remember the model
number).

                                     Hope this helps
                                          LWC