ANMEC BL330E 13” X 30” Gear Head Lathe and Using it the First Time to Fix Itself

Bringing it into the Shop and setting it up. Then a small plastic part broke so I used the lathe to make a new part.
The Lathe was ordered online from www.toolots.com
Total cost for the Lathe, cabinets, coolant pump, Three and Four Jaw Chucks as well as a small tool box containing various small tools, an oil can, outside jaws for the three jaw chuck and all the change gears for Metric and Imperial threading was $3000 including Motor Freight with a lift gate.
From time of ordering to delivery was 3 Weeks (21 days).
My questions regarding order status were answered within 48 hours from both the vendor, Toolots.com as well as the shipper, The Custom Company.
After a full day running the machine I couldn’t be happier with its quality, finish and performance.
#anmec
#bl330E
#thecustomcompanies
#toolots

[@fenchelteefee]

Congrats to your purchase and yes, its a nice one. Hope it will serve you well. Also great vid!

[@crazyhank99]

Great review. Thanks for all the info.

[@compassprecision]

Nice video. Really good editing throughout.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

Thanks a bunch!

[@jamesbell8749]

Papas', Cool video. I bought a China 13 x 40 lathe from KBC Tools in Michigan. Nice piece of machinery. Went to change the toolpost and found ci dust in the slot in the cross slide. Looked in the headstock and saw filings in the bottom of same. I completely dismantled my lathe, de-burred every gear, shaft, keyway etc., with a wire wheel on a grinder. Cleaned parts with Mineral Spirits, blow dry with air, and clean re-assembly procedures. Also replaced a couple bearings. I am confident it will last a long time now. Fun Project if a guy is up to it. A shame they make many fine parts, and assemble a machine like these, but are not so concerned about how they are assembled. Guess That is why I did not pay 25,000 for a new, small, Clausing, if they even make them any more.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

I pulled the gear box cover off and it was spotless with clean oil. I fully expect to get into it further in the future. First I am trying to get a parts list from the vendor.

[@junkmannoparts9696]

Hi Jim i bought one just like yours same stand no drawers . My first impression of it was looks really nice well made for the price . Also mine make the same gear noise ,one thing i did was greased the change gears it did nothing for the gear box noise but i think it helped with change gear noise . I'm going to build a quick change box for it . just a beginner but 40 year mechanic

[@papasfixitshop7982]

The noise is in the gearbox but it’s changing so I’m not going to worry about it for now. I get what you mean, I retired three years ago after working as a mechanic fifty years.

[@junkmannoparts9696]

@@papasfixitshop7982 I know what you mean anyhow have fun with your new toy and hope to see more of your videos

[@dermotkelly2971]

Looks a nice lathe

[@joeybobbie1]

Hey Jim, Congratulations on the new Lathe. I was just looking at buying one and wanted to see how they are on KZbin. How did you like the Shop Fox or Grizzly Lathe you had? I was looking at those also. I really like this one though the best. You can’t beat the price for the size and features. Anyway, I hope you really enjoy the Lathe. I enjoy your Videos.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

I still have the Shop Fox M1049 ind it’s okay, just small. The BL330E is great! Just the zero after sales support is the only issue. Thanks for the comments Kim

[@chadwickg.8012]

How do i hook up the eater pump, green and yellow wire to the ground, but where do the brown and blue go?

[@MRT_H]

Thanks for the video! Definitely helped knowing how tall it was. It's probably a good foot or two too low for me haha. But I can make a riser frame for it pretty easily.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

I’m thinking on that myself, I’m a bit over six feet and low stuff sucks🙂

[@MRT_H]

@@papasfixitshop7982 I'm 6'4" so I feel the pain haha

[@MRT_H]

@@papasfixitshop7982 Wish me luck, I just ordered one!

[@papasfixitshop7982]

MrTurbo458, nice, so far mine is impressive, though I needed to pick up 5/8” tooling after I discovered the difference in rigidity made such an improvement. The biggest shocker to me so far was how good it is at parting with the automatic cross feed. So Best wishes and congratulations on your new Machine. KC

[@MRT_H]

@@papasfixitshop7982 Thanks! I'll probably upgrade to a QC post eventually, but thanks for the advice! Glad to hear it's worth it!

[@silverbullet7434]

Shame its not quick change for threading. How much does it really save by the time it takes to pull gears and rearrange them. Nice looking lathe and be easy to set up with lever collets in 5C .

[@haihoang755]

Papa.Please make a video on how to turn metric thread on this lathe ?

[@BetterThanGold2]

Do you the think it can be used for automotive alloy wheels ?

[@spikeyamir]

Hey Papa, great vid! I was wondering if you still had the diagram you used to wire in the pump. I acquired this lathe from someone that wired it incorrectly and it trips the breaker when I try to run the pump. Do you think you could share the diagram or take pics of how you wired it?

[@papasfixitshop7982]

So I can’t attach a photo to this string but I could send one via email if you contact me at [e-mail]

[@fenchelteefee]

Recently saw a vid, where a lot of fine chips been found in the gearbox. That guy removed all the oil and cleaned the gearbox from the stuff.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

I pulled the cover before I used it and inspected the gear head components. The gears and shafts looked fine though not de-burred well. There was zero debris of any kind in the bottom and the lubricant clean and slightly amber in color. I’ve since run a maintenance cycle on it and there was a small amount of dark ferrous dust in the used oil but no noticeable problems. Dark metal dust likely being cast steel it’s likely the gears de-burring themselves. Thanks for the comments

[@fenchelteefee]

@@papasfixitshop7982 ok, thanks for the comment

[@winchester97dude96]

Did this lathe come with the 4 jaw and 3 jaw? Can’t seem to find any info on how it attaches either, thanks

[@papasfixitshop7982]

It came with a 3 jaw and I added the 4 jaw when I ordered it. The Chuck is mounted with socket head cap screws, and has 3 and 4 bolt patterns on the mounting plate.

[@SM-hy4np]

I have been looking at lathes and am grateful for your tutorial review on this one. I have narrowed it down to this one or a Bolton 12X30 I believe. I have a couple of questions: 1) Are there accessories easy to find for it? I did not see on Toolots page any recommended or suggested accessories like the show for the Bolton brand. (Live center, tail stock drill chuck) 2) Is the the head a Sanou brand? If I get one I would like a 4 jaw as well and as stated above they don't really have any recommendations on the website or in the manual that could find. I have a 4 axis cnc mill that uses the Sanou head.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

Thanks for the question. This lathe uses Morris taper on the head stock and the tail, mt3 and mt4. The Chuck is bolt on so it’s safe to turn in reverse. I ordered the 4 jaw Chuck with the lathe and it’s okay. For the record, Bolton tools and Toolots are the same company. I bought a quick change tool post and mounting it was easy. I’m actually on the road right now or I would get you more specs. If memory serves it’s an MT3 on the tail stock and MT4 on the head. All the other tooling is standard 5/8” so it’s easy to find tooling. In spite of my assorted problems with the lathe I am a big fan and can’t complain. I have a Bolton Mill, and Bolton is just as bad in terms of after support as Toolots so in either case you will be on your own. Hope this helps. KC

[@SM-hy4np]

@@papasfixitshop7982 thanks for the info. I kind of figured support may be a little questionable. I was looking at the Bolton AT320L as I was going to get a mill also like the Bolton ZX32GP along with a lathe. The AT320 and the Grizzly G0791 are the only two that have the spindle bore I want. The Grizzly is priced a little over $7k and I don't want to spend that much. The reason I said I figured that on the support is because right now toolots has a lot of items out of stock and aren't very forthcoming on when it will be in and won't take any orders on out of stock items.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

@@SM-hy4np that’s the exact mill I have, ZX32GP

[@jerryjordan1448]

Great video I'm in the process of getting a larger Lathe I have a grizzly 602 need a larger swing my question how is the performance today

[@papasfixitshop7982]

Currently it’s fantastic.

[@jerryjordan1448]

@@papasfixitshop7982 thanks I didn't no that a gear head was much cheaper of the two I'm happy with my grizzly now im doing projects that needs a larger swing I will be purchasing this lathe do to your videos.

[@papasfixitshop7982]

It’s a great machine, but fair warning, if you buy it from Toolots.com or Bolton Tools, you can expect Zero customer support or replacement parts.

[@SystemsPlanet]

Papa, how did you get it off the truck? Liftgate? How did you pick it up to set it on the stand? Where did you buy it from?

[@papasfixitshop7982]

So I paid $75 extra shipping for a truck with a lift gate. When the truck got here the driver used his pallet Jack to roll the pallet onto the lift gate and lowered it down to my trailer mule. Then we rolled the Jack out and I used the mule to move it into the shop. Once in the shop I used an engine hoist to lift the lathe and attach the base cabinets and position it close to its final position. I was a able to shift it into position by hand and mark the 8 holes in the base cabinets with a sharpie, then shift it over far enough to use a hammer drill to make the holes for the wedge anchors. Then it tipped it slightly to place a piece of 1 1/2” angle iron under each side to hold it just high enough to shift it into position over the anchors and used a pry bar and and a block to lift it and remove the angle iron. Then I tightened all the bolts. I should add that the Lathe is top heavy on the cabinets it came with since they are small so it must be bolted down to keep it from falling. Thanks for the question!

[@papasfixitshop7982]

Oh and I purchased it from www.toolots.com. $3000 with shipping.

[@SystemsPlanet]

@@papasfixitshop7982 Papa, thank you for the very thoughtful and detailed reply. I wish you were my pappy.

[@eduardopena1007]

Dónde se compra un torno así?