Buying a Lathe EMCO UNIMAT Pt 3 #54 tubalcain micro lathe

[@harleyghost]

I've enjoyed your videos very much and have one of the 6" craftsman lathes myself. Yes a starter lathe, it was what I could afford for now. Watching your videos has been a lot of help in learning machining. Thank you for all of your time.

[@Wooley689]

Thanks for the informative session. As a kid you would have been the type I would have listened to. So I 've learned something today from watching all three of these.

[@MrRctintin]

So cool to see the Unimat 3 from Emco. That was the first lathe I owned, that my dad bought for me when I was 14, in 1982! I made lots of little parts with that lathe. I had that exact milling head as well! So cool to see it after all these years. I sold it when I was about 18, and bought a Myford ML7.

[@alanjuggler]

Just to echo the other comments, I've really enjoyed all of your videos and they've helped stoke what was an interest but lacking knowledge into knowing enough to ask the right questions and find the answers, often here but also doing my own research elsewhere. Thank you once again - I look forward to what the winter will bring us!

[@astromanism]

Yes I learned a lot, I still use what I learned and now I want to buy a much larger lathe too to work on my inventions. My machine shop instructor was a genius at machining and this was long before CNC machines.

[@T3hJones]

I could listen to you all day talking about lathes!

[@bblakester69]

Ahh, Mr. Pete, you're killing me! Funny guy! I wish I had you as a shop teacher. I went to the wood side of things. Limited experience with metal, but you're rekindling my interest. You are a pleasure to learn from! Thanks, Blake.

[@mrpete222]

Glad I amused you--keep watching

[@joeestes8114]

Hi Mr pete, it was after considering this video and a few others I decided to purchase my causing lathe. Its exactly like yours, it was purchased by a friends grandfather who bought it new and certainly took very good care of it. Thanks again for making these videos, the information is invaluable because there's literally no other information out there!:)

[@mrpete222]

👍👍👍

[@IlluminatedWhiteGuy]

Your videos are some of the best out there! Sharing your broad range of knowledge is an admirable service to the world! You present the information accurately with just the right amount of semi twisted humor to make learning entertaining. You sound like James Stewart from the old classic movies too...lol Thanks for all the great videos.

[@helipilot727]

I cancelled my cable tv. I just watch your videos. Much better value and more entertaining. Also, full of sound advice. Buy it while you're still young enough to enjoy it. I'll pass that one on to my wife.

[@mrpete222]

Tom Stock THANKS

[@BuickDoc]

In your first video in this series, on the Atlas, you mentioned that the feed speeds were too high for a smooth finish. Thank you for that comment! I have been frustrated for years with my inability to get a smooth finish. As an hobbyist, I was blaming myself for lack of knowledge on how to do it! Thanks again!

[@Birender100]

Thankyou very much Mr. Lyle Peterson for kind Advice. This is very useful and treasured. I hope to see many more discussion from you in the future. All the very best for your future endeavours.

[@mustie1]

thanks, been looking for a while at them on craigs list, now I know how to kick the tires on one,,

[@aryesegal1988]

As usual, thank you very much, Mr. Pete. Always a pleasure hearing your thoughts and opinions! :)

[@specialks1953]

It's funny, I keep hearing a hint of Jimmy Stewart in your voice. I enjoyed the subject matter as well as your observations.

[@blakeshepherd7934]

I'M looking for an inexpensive lathe that can go through the hardest of metals that I can use for projects up to 12in length that is very accurate and precise. Do you have any recommendations

[@archer1232]

I'm seventeen and i just got my first Atlas lathe. By the way love the videos Tubalcain.

[@aintgonnahappen]

Love this dude. Haha. Funny, entertaining and a hell of a teacher. What's not to like? Better than any show on TV for me.

[@mrpete222]

Thanks you

[@aintgonnahappen]

mrpete222 Very welcome Mrpete. Great teachers are hard to come by. Funny thing, I dont even own a dang metal lathe but I find your teachings helpful nonetheless. It makes me want to get into it for sure. Right now I am teaching myself to weld and I have a woodworking shop. Metalworking has always fascinated me.

[@bedeone]

Thanks for making these videos. Good information from someone with a lot of experience, and some life lessons to go along with that.

[@rcp916]

Oh ya also my wife and I JUST YESTERDAY talked exactly about me starting a tool/slush fund! So far I have $700 and I've seen Atlas lathes hovering anywhere between $800-$1000 so I'm pretty excited to say the least! Thanks again for your videos

[@ChrisJB84]

Thank you for this video. I am currently a welder but I have always wanted to learn how to run a lathe and a mill. But the local community college has closed down there machining program!!! So I have been watching all of your videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

[@rcp916]

My local community college also shut down their machining dept as well about 10 years ago. My J.C. said that due to the closing of a nearby AFB, that their wasn't a big enough demand for machining education. Fortunately I have taken all the engine reconditioning classes in my early 20's so I'm comfortable around Mic's and machines. What I do plan on doing is purchasing a used Atlas and your vids on how to run em and just learn that way in my garage.

[@gerardopenya]

I love the comments about the use of the money... I find a South Bend lathe on sale about 3000 dollars. Sadly can't post here the link to see what you think about it... Thank you very much for your time and experience on every second of your videos.

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

Excellent tips! I'll share this with that guy that was thinking about that little Chinese lathe; hopefully steer him in a better path.

[@aramrez]

Thanks a lot for another great video. I really enjoyed your talk about the economics of purchasing machines and tools for your hobby. I purchased a chinese lathe a few years ago because a couldn't afford a better lathe, nevertheless I hope I'll be able to purchase a nice lathe in the years to come, your video provides a lot of good reasons to have a well equipped shop. Looking forward to see the next video.

[@mrpete222]

All machines were disassembled. The column on the mill weighs about 800 lbs. You could move the entire earth with pry bars if you only had a fulcrum.

[@wyattoneable]

Great info as usual. I'm watching my local craigs list for a lathe and these videos are a great resorce.

[@mrmatt2525able]

oh yeah and my school just go two brand new international lathes and i asked my wood work and metal teacher where can i get one on of those old one? he dident know, but the school go brand new ones never been used before, but the old ones where clausing i think, nice video too

[@365sojourner]

You would have fit right in at my high school shop. All the fun I ever had in class was in metals and machine shop.

[@mcdaniel01]

Mr Pette really love your posts very educational, as i am a full time machinist i wish they had a program on television because people have lost touch with this trade because of all the CNC STUFF. But i have to disagree a little i have 5 lathes one is a Leblond 1986 , monarch 1942, lodge & shipley 1940,Southbend 1940, and i Guarantee you either one the monarch or lodge, southbend would eat these newer lathes lunch. Including my Leblond lathe,

[@Xtinnoker]

Great job Mr Pete, Love your videos.

[@jimman1992]

Thanks for the videos! I really enjoy learning!

[@jamesminor3833]

I really enjoy your videos. I bought an atlas/ craftsman lathe in the early 70"s with many items of tooling and a tool post grinder. Now I would like to get a mill. I would really like to talk shop sometime.

[@oldhippy1017]

I used one of these when I was a clockmaker. Big enough to handle Longcase parts including the centre wheels and the barrels.

[@take1u2]

Thanks Great Video. I'm getting an entry level Atlas 37" 101 for around 500 with tooling. Now I know what to check for when scoping it out. PS you references to crack and whatnot are hilarious.

[@brushycreeklures]

would you do a class on how to set up a lathe and mill after you buy one i just bought a lathe and mill and would like to know your way of setting them up thanks

[@clockguy2]

@ahz123 Unimat 3 is highly regarded. The older ones have a lot of flex in the rods used as the ways.

[@andregross7420]

I wish I had the tooling like you do, maybe when I get a job I will be able to afford it. Chers

[@paulster22ify]

Mr Cain you are awesome!

[@drxrad]

Thank you for your videos. I've learned allot from you. I've done some foundry work and I'm taking on lathe work now. I'm looking for a milling machine. How about the same for milling machines horizontal versus vertical.

[@countrycraftsman5110]

My main hobby is wood working. I came home from work one day to find a new blender on the kitchen counter. What is that i said. "Its a new router don't worry about it" yes dear.

[@ja7085]

Can you do a similar video on tips for buying a milling machine?

[@astromanism]

I can tell you from experience, they are fine but I wouldn't use one for production work. Research and Development and small runs they are fine. I am going to purchase a Jet 13 inch soon. Everyone that I have talked to says they are great. The only thing that I don't like about it is the spindle speed is very fast.

[@wither8]

Definitely a help, sir. I wish that enco was still available for my apartment dang :[ Thanks for taking the time to make these

[@mrpete222]

+wither8 I wish I still had it to use for small jobs

[@IBWatchinUrVids]

A sad story. I found someone selling a South Bend 10k. The pictures showed a very pretty lathe. I met with the seller today to look at the machine. He said he did not have 3 phase 220vAC at his house, so I brought a friend to help make sure the machine would go through the motions manually. I arrived to find the lathe, loosely draped with a tarp, outside, in the snow. Frozen to the core (it was -18 Fahrenheit today), the saddle did move using the lead screw, but he bed ways had gained some significant rust, and had evidence of some accidents. The three jaw chuck had gone from a nice shine visible in the pictures to a sad shade of orange. I could not get the quick change gear mechanism to move. He did have a three and four jaw chuck, live and dead center, and a handful of miscellaneous tooling, but it was all rough, at best. The compound assembly was missing entirely. I left the machine there, with a heavy heart, the price he had asked was $1600. There's not much in the north central region of the US in the way of industrial machines. Were I in the market for some farm equipment, I'd be buried to my eyebrows in prospective purchases. Do I offer $500, and suffer through the restoration (if possible), or do I save up for one of these piece of @#$! import lathes?

[@mrpete222]

Do not buy it. It is scrap worth $50

[@IBWatchinUrVids]

mrpete222 If it were from any other source, I'd question the decision. I'll go with your word, and sleep easier tonight. Sad to see a nice machine turned to scrap for the lack of a bit of care. I know the 10k wasn't the heaviest model, but it's still a pretty machine.

[@mrpete222]

IBWatchinUrVids I have seen other people store machines outside. It ruins them.

[@IBWatchinUrVids]

mrpete222 I've read your responses in the voice I've heard so many times in your videos. That may be weird, but I can live with that. The great Tubalcain has spoken directly to me, and I shall heed his advice ;) Thank you sir, for all you do, and I look forward to your next videos. Since I have your attention, please do a video on press fits, and the variety of fits between. :)

[@mrpete222]

Pretty good if you do not buy the low end ones.

[@clockguy2]

I have the Long bed Sherline and it seems to be always too small in terms of swing over the bed. My Harbor freight 7" X 10" is always too short to use a drill in the tailstock.

[@moltenaluminium]

Hey Tubalcain, I'm in the market for a used milling machine. I found an older Bridgeport but now I have to figure out how to transport the thing. How did you manage to get all of your equipment into your shop? I have a basement shop like most people.

[@rcp916]

You had me cracking up,when you said "I know its gonna be a battle with your wife cause they want a new chair and an ottoman or something crazy like that and you want a lathe" So how do you suggest checking the bed ways close to the headstock for that swayback wear you're talking about,or would it be obviously noticeable?

[@sdomermpc1]

pls upload videos on different casting process like slush , die , permanent mould, centrifugal. As video book for manufacturing process and machine tools . Thanks .

[@Twig113ifyd]

what did you use for the electric motor on your atlas? i am looking to add a variable speed electric drive to my smithy. as you said, change gears are a hassle and a time consuming nuisance.

[@GnosisMan50]

Tubalcain, what are your thoughts on Chinese made machines?

[@jeffpittel6926]

Emco makes a pretty good lathe for home hobby use (plus you can get the milling attachment for them). It's no Hardinge, but they are capable of surprisingly accurate work. I'd stick with the 8", 10" and 11" sizes.

[@tharlowXY]

That purple radio is groovy... but what's it doing sitting on the lathe bed?! Naughty!

[@Swanny383]

I have an Atlas from 1941, given to me by a x-Father inlaw, It has been a good machine and served me well, I can't complain mutch it is "tierd", but has served me well. Honestly I do love the idea of good old fashion USA iron, but in my price range, a nice South Bend, Clausing/Leblond, at least any thing decent is not going to happen, Ultimatly in the next few weeks I will probably go China (Grizzly G4003) for a newer/tighter and bigger lathe, yes I hate to say it. but whats a guy to do?

[@RunDmc454]

Hi love your videos you've helped me alot I was wondering if you knew anything about the mk2? I have one in mint condition and I'm looking to trade up

[@pbgd3]

Where are your stairs? Through a kitchen? By a backdoor? Even 800 is quite a bit for some kitchen floors for instance. Easiest I've ever helped with had outdoor stairs where the entire mill can be lowered down into the well outside the basement door. Otherwise you're talking full disassembly into head, ram, table, column etc. And then I would normally recommend building a ramp and using a winch of some nature to lower the load down the stairs.

[@ahz123]

Thanks for the videos, Lyle. Did you ever think that you'd have thousands of students whom you would never meet?

[@SkazaTV]

Hello! What would you say is good price for this emco lathe? I was looking at emco 3 and sl.

[@utahprepper8925]

I love your style sir! I remember it well, the machine shop in my high school. I did not take that course of education although I wish I had. I have several friends who are missing fingers, have huge bald spots where their long hair got caught in the lathe and tore out pieces of scalp, and one buddy who has only one eye. There was a lot of pot smoking in my high school back then. I wonder if these things are related? I did make an excellent living as an electrician though, which was the course I took.

[@mrpete222]

+Dave Skowron Thanks for watching--drugs & machinery-no no

[@Niekomojo]

DO you think this thing could handle working with titanium everyday?? (If not, What lathe do you recommend for titanium)

[@GeofDumas]

buy a dozen 1/2" 3' (or more) steel round stock at lowes/home depot. You can move pretty much anything across them

[@Twig113ifyd]

thanks, i will start looking for an old mig welder. i just need to stop with the gears

[@Ritalie]

So I heard they got rid of all "Shop Class" for schools? I am not sure if that actually happened. I attended a school that was in a farm town, and so the entire school was run by farmers, and the shop teacher was a cattle farmer. The shop was extremely dangerous, no guards on anything. The table saw had no riving knife, or guard on it and had a huge 3 phase motor, and we used it free hand with no guide, for ripping plywood sheets. I recall a huge metal lathe, but nobody used it. They never taught people about using the metal lathe, but they allowed you to use all the tools at any time. I would often spend the whole day in the metal shop, and nobody cared. The school didn't exactly follow proper protocols (I won't name the school). Only one guy who was restoring his 1954 Chevy truck, he tried using the metal lathe. I recall that we both kind of laughed, because he was trying to thread a large 1" shaft, but he had no idea how to run the lathe, and the shop teacher literally never once talked to us about using the lathe - we were entirely on our own, no instruction whatsoever! haha. My feeling is, that lathe didn't get a lot of use, despite the whole shop having access to it. Because cattle farmers are so busy with farming, the metal shop was mainly geared toward raising cows, and most of the students had cows. If they do still have that lathe, and if shop class doesn't exist anymore, there should be a lot of school lathes for sale?

[@mrpete222]

😄😄

[@joebloe9901]

I,d like to see you do a video on "Things to do when BUILDING a lathe".. I have been researching my butt off and I get my steel and parts from a steel recycle place. Improvising and fabricating is very time consuming and I often have to build parts 2 or even 3 times to get them right. I love your videos and you have inspired me. I poured my first 2lbs. aluminum flywheel yesterday and I am excited to spin it on my home-built lathe which is almost completed. My girlfriend is not very thrilled about my whimsical lathe project......she has a list of other things to spend my money on.....I better make her something pretty with it, do you have any ideas?...LOL

[@mrpete222]

Sorry, I have never built a lathe. Cannot imagine making something on a lathe a woman would want???

[@joebloe9901]

The only thing that I can come up with is a ring.......Not sure if I want to go there.

[@1frankmolina]

Give her the lathe then, you could buy her tooling for her birthday great idea.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing.

[@mrpete222]

+ELSDP-45 thanks for watching

[@joemmams5785]

took a look at a 25 yr.old China lathe today I wouldn't pay $20 for...horrible!so thanks for showing folks what to look for and HOW to look for in a lathe

[@hbracerx]

Kind of fortuitous you posted the link to this video. I'm considering selling off my South Bend 9" for a Clausing clone 14". I hate the thought of selling my old american iron for something made offshore but having something a bit more up to date and capable might be nice. It was used in a shop but not full production work and I know the man who ran it.

[@mrpete222]

👍👍

[@ErnieNoa3]

Have to like your comments! :)

[@juanfcollao9349]

I kind of like your lathe !!, are you selling it ? I'm interested if the price is right. Something else, I live in Bogota', Colombia

[@outsidescrewball]

You can ramble....I will listen, love my clausing also

[@paultrimble9390]

Mr Pete do you still have unimat 3

[@mrpete222]

No

[@Rustaholic777]

How about a free one? Several years ago I got a call from a friend and he asked if i wanted a metal lathe. FREE he said. Save it from the scrap yard he said,,,,, I hooked up my flat bed trailer and made it there in record time. When I got it home I was checking it out. It is a very old LeBlond. I didn't find the serial number so I got on the LeBlond web site and clicked on Live Chat. As I was discribing the lathe the guy told me it would probably have a serial number starting with A or B.

[@MrGunPilot]

Excellent

[@mrpete222]

GunPilot Thanks for watching.

[@joelori]

Got my first lathe today. The chair and ottoman will just have to wait.

[@mrpete222]

lol

[@expatconn7242]

great great vids..... when will you sell your Clausing please let me know...looking for , Clausing model5914 Lathe ...what do you think of myford10 lathes

[@mrpete222]

anthony marasco Never used a myford, but they seem excellent

[@expatconn7242]

i found a atlas for $900 how can i send you pix

[@mrpete222]

anthony marasco [e-mail]

[@BCLSundayFunday]

Thank You!

[@gdeisig]

Bought my 12 inch atlas from my high school for $400 dollars back in 2006ish. It looked hardly used. (there wasn't a metal working shop when I was there). So this lathe was just collecting dust in the corner. Looks just like your craftsman, but has the belts and motor under the stand. It has an odd ball model number of 12700...?

[@mrpete222]

Good buy!

[@ShuffleSk8Ter]

Love your vids but you really didn't get to the brass tacks on what to check for or how to check for wear etc..on buying a used lathe.... I would like to see an addendum to these 3 videos and explain/show exactly how to check for wear etc... again Love your videos keep going tublecane! Lawrence

[@joaovaladares9398]

How much does one of these How much does sending the shipment to Brazil cost him?

[@petercallaghan4718]

Mike Walton in the USA is making some very effective tools for these lathes which he demonstrates on his channel (search under Mike Walton). He is very enterprising.

[@joebloe9901]

I want to ask you what the pitch of a lead screw is? I have tried to use "all-thread" in building my lathe but it is way too slow to hand crank. I am making a half nut but I would like to purchase a proper lead screw before I do that.. Also do you have any videos on lathe chucks and why I would want a self-centering one? Wouldn't an independent chuck do everything? I have a centering chuck but now I am maybe regretting buying it? Thanks.

[@mrpete222]

Yes--a 4 jaw chuck does everything-get one. Do not listen to your GF--buy what you like. The lead screw is 8 tpi

[@georgespangler1517]

I can take a micrometer and caliper down all 5 lathes and it is excacally the same,,not bad for 60 years and a lathe that so many call inferior

[@mrpete222]

👍👍👍

[@TNBen60]

You should take comfort in the fact that you live so far away from me. Otherwise you would constantly have to run me off with big heavy wrenches. Thanks for your videos as we have a South Bend 9 C in the family and I have recently decided to learn how to use it. And I linger over long on the Bridgeport mill ads in the area. Thanks again.

[@nascarfan241108]

how much for the emco thing

[@charlieblack4516]

Do you still have that Unimat lathe? If so do you want to sell it?

[@mrpete222]

long gone

[@Hoboinaboxdestroyer]

And some people think nothing of spending that kind of money, on vehicles and tobacco and... and uh, COCAINE! So uh... SPLURGE a little and get what you want while you're still young. I could listen to this guy talk all day long about anything. x)

[@mrpete222]

@jrMachinist Yes. Its $550 plus shipping. The wooden box is not included. [e-mail] pete

[@mrpete222]

I just looked at the motor & there absolutely no labels or markings on it. I scavanged it off of a CHEMTRON WC-10V wire feeder--mig welder.

[@jamesprice647]

Hello, i have the Unimat -SL and i just love it, i was told the model i have was used By Rolex in their earlier days, that is why a used one goes for good money, i want to ad stepper motors for the different axis, heard of any thing about the up grade or does anyone know, Thank You, Jp

[@mrpete222]

Sorry, no-have not

[@sickandtiredofcomplaining6574]

I want that

[@mrpete222]

Yes

[@Rustaholic777]

The guy said in their musium they had the oldest LeBlond lathe known to exist, Lot 4, No 2 Well, I went downstairs and cleaned up the tailstock end of the bed and found my serial number. Mine is Lot 2, No 4 That is the 14th one they built. 1891 Now they have the second oldest one known to exist in there musium.

[@ClownWhisper]

50 $50,000 for a truck my Lord I bought a repoed house for $32,000 and it was an absolutely perfect pristine shape other than it needed a garage door and some electrical repair in the basement. Oh and it had some plumbing repair in the basement to do and the bank paid for everything. I never thought I'd get a house this cheap out in the country. $50,000 for a vehicle? 10 years of won't be worth anything. I bought one new vehicle in my entire life and regretted it never did it again I always look for a good deal on a used vehicle after that. When I was younger I used to lay brick a terrible terrible hard job that paid very very well. I work with a spoiled rich kid that shouldn't have been on the wall with us but he was best friends with the owner son. I think you know where I'm going with this. At any rate the sun Got a Brand New Formula Firebird for his graduation and the year later he wanted a Callaway Corvette canary yellow. He needed an extra $3,000 for the down payment and didn't know how he was going to save that money before it was sold. I immediately ran to the bank on my lunch hour shove $3,000 and a pen in his hand and had him sign over his brand new Formula Firebird to me for $3,000 and he did it LOL what a fool So I got a brand new car barely broken I think it had 32 thousand miles on it for only $3,000. People have to try and shop for Value not for Prestige

[@mrmatt2525able]

seen one of those for 1000 dollars at princess auto hen a year later it is 600$

[@georgespangler1517]

I like the atlas flat ways,,have 5 atlas lathes and none show any way wear,,,I think the v-ways would wear much faster then flat..

[@Fixinthatupvideos]

T=up

[@browncarp]

For school surplus tools you can check out govdeals (dot) com. You can search by zip code and find things in your area. There is a Logan lathe on there now. Some schools have live auctions and some have sealed bid auctions also.

[@Wooley689]

The real problem with schools dropping shop class is that they put sports first and want all kids to be Doctors or lawyers and such. Public school systems have been dropping the ball for years and offer very little for the majority of kids. Now-a-days kids just want it all handed to them for free and want to start at the top. What a rude awakening for many when parents quit supporting them. Sorry, just hate hearing another shop class folds.

[@ahz123]

Unimats are highly regarded by the 'small lathe' community.

[@willf5768]

If your not going to use it I would be interested in it.😁

[@mrpete222]

I sold it years ago

[@willf5768]

mrpete222 Never hurts to ask.😁

[@slodial]

That voice, sounds like a cross between Skip Carey of the atlanta braves and Paul harvey. Maybe you can end one of your videos with "now for the rest of the story".