PM1236 Unboxing Setup and leveling

[@zumbazumba1]

I bought same looking lathe but in green color -after all they are all made in china just rebranded . It came with poorly written manual and 0 assembly instructions.I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this video !

[@Armedlegally]

I'm so happy I got my PM-1440 all together about 8 years ago. All I had to do is pick a spot and level it and hook up 220.

[@johndebrular979]

I have a Grizzly G4003 and I just rec'd this PM 1236 lathe from PM. They may have made in the same place but this one is much better. I got the one with the DRO, Cast Iron base & leveling pads.

[@BeachsideHank]

07:58- I bought an 1127VFD from them as a scratch and dent special. Matt gave me a good discount and the dings were relatively minor like your door issue. Came with a DRO and Q.C. toolpost system, I've been very happy with it.

[@ginox4884]

With respect: What you used was an engine hoist - not a cherry picker. Your video is very helpful - I have a very similar lathe, of which I just took delivery. Like you, I used an engine hoist to move the lathe into position - which is not rocket science, but it is absolutely non-trivial! I have been scratching my head about the start-up sequence (as it is not documented as a step-by-step list in the, otherwise pretty useful, manual provided). Thank you very much for posting your installation and clever thoughts. Best wishes, GinoX

[@kazierkreations9382]

Sorry the Midwestern gets me all the time, yes it's a engine hoist, or as some people from rural towns in the Midwest say cherry picker (don't know why, but yes my grandfather and my dad always refered to a engine hoist as such) haha

[@jmbstudio6873]

@@kazierkreations9382 Cherry picker is the accepted slang amongst those who have a clue. I live in Cali and call it a cherry picker all the time. People know what it is. Only insecure small little people need you to speak correctly so their superior existence can accept that which they do not understand. In other words...Gino is an inferior human, dont cater to him...or in slang speak...dont feed the trolls.

[@keithmonarch447]

Hello Kazier, on September 27th I'm from Michigan and drove to Precision Matthew's b4 I committed to the new updated PM1130 😀 with a VFD, and the installed DRO system. I've been in machinery for 44yrs and mine is going into the basement. Wanted something big enough to handle, in the hobby style. Also the spindle is 1 1/2" should cover my bases.

[@kazierkreations9382]

Great machines! Hope you enjoy yours!

[@keithmonarch447]

@@kazierkreations9382 Good day from Keith. Since you assembled your Lathe. What's your impression about this Lathe? You know this 12" swing and 36" bed. It's up a few steps, and I consider it as a JOB machine shop version. May I ask, what 😳 will you using Lathe for?? Also thanks talking with me...

[@kazierkreations9382]

@@keithmonarch447 right now, small things, it's been quite a few years since I ran a lathe, so I'm just getting back into it. A few small jobs have come up, but my first major project is making a 3 stage air cylinder for a power draw bar for the g0704

[@keithmonarch447]

@@kazierkreations9382 My personal experience, I worked for a company who was involved with jet engines and you had to be certified to machine the fuel devices and did overhauling. It was my last career and ran mostly on Lathes and Bridge Ports. Today the Inserts have come down in costs. I'd suggest 😉 and learn which versions work on different steel, stainless, aluminum. The HSS blanks are a slight challenge to grind them. For your health, wear good masks when grinding them by hand. Keep me posted on your progress. Because I placed my Lathe in the basement, as the seasons get cold, bearings won't do well 😕, so hopefully your Lathe is located in a environment that won't get cold. Good luck 👍 friend.

[@kazierkreations9382]

@@keithmonarch447 thank you! And yes, my equipment is in a semi heated garage, so I should not see an issue with temps in there. Thanks for chatting with me as well, always amazing to see who watches these videos, as sometimes it feels I'm just talking to myself like a crazy person. Thanks again for talking with me, and yes, SAFETY FIRST, I work in a industry that takes it very seriously, so I can't stress enough about safety and equipment, maybe it will have to be a future video

[@cramersclassics]

Mine just arrived! Great video.

[@Iamtherodlight1453.]

So awesome.

[@sherwoodranger]

If you are going to run cuts on bar to check the machine then do not hold one end in the chuck run the bar between centres

[@shadow7423]

That’s exactly the lathe I bought except it is a rebranded model. I used an engine hoist as well.

[@shadow7423]

The base stand is not cast iron. It came with a 2 axis DRO. And it doesn’t have a hatch on the side, but has a cover that comes off. Coolant unit can only be accessed at the rear. It came all assembled and all I had was plug it in.

[@SunsetWingman]

Did you put nuts and washers on the bottom of the cabinet so that you can actually level it, or just put the cabinet directly on the hockey pucks?

[@kazierkreations9382]

I used the PM hockey pucks and just used the instructions, there are nuts and washers on it on a bolt you tighten or loosen to bring it up or down, it's easy, but also how you level

[@michaelsfabwork2985]

Great video I am looking to get a lathe and this will help me set me ne up if I go with that brand. Take care and stay safe.

[@melgross]

The base is heavy welded sheet steel, which can also be heavy, though not as heavy as Cast iron. You can tell by looking at it. I don’t know why you think it’s cast iron. It’s obviously not.

[@kazierkreations9382]

The base is cast iron, the door is steel, but trust me, it's cast iron, and heavy... You can buy the sheet metal base, but I paid the extra and it's cast iron. In another lathe video coming soon, I'll show you, looking at the video now I can see where it might be confusing.

[@melgross]

@@kazierkreations9382 I went to their site to check. The cast iron base has no door, the sheet steel base does. There are other differences as well.

[@kazierkreations9382]

@@melgross if I could send you the picture inside the stand legs, it's clearly cast iron, there is sheet metal over the cast iron front that looks like it's wrapping around, but yes the legs I got were cast iron, if you want to reach out to Precison Matthews directly, than I would suggest you do so, I don't work for them or have any affiliation.

[@Arckivio]

I was thinking the same as you but, if you look at 3.52 where he has the door open, you can clearly see typical rough Chinese cast iron above the ventilation slots.

[@caseyroman58]

Regarding set-up; I seem to recall an old video from Keith Fenner who, after rebuilding an older Taiwanese lsthe,

[@deepwaterescue4u]

A clip nut would work for the pannel

[@umahunter]

I'm looking at the same lathe how are you liking it so far any pros come any problems ??? And after using it a bit would you buy it again ??? Thanks for any help 👍👍👍

[@kazierkreations9382]

So far I'm impressed, only things I would consider a "con" is not having variable speed control, but for what you get, I have had no problems, cut everything I've thrown at it so far. The change gears cover a good array for each set, so if your looking to make threads try to stick with what you gear your machine to or you will be swapping things often. Also a side con as well, if your trying to get a good clean finish pass at a small feed rate, and you just swapped to the larger gear set for some threads, you will have to change gear it down if you want a fine finish. I do have to say though for 90% of what I'm using it for, I have had no problems and no need to swap gears out. Also having put my own scales on it, very simple, but I would do the main scale first before blocking access to the back, that was interesting to put the scale on perfectly reaching over the slide, but do-able. Good luck with your search!

[@ronsreadyornotshop]

start cap is 2 micro farads @ 450 volts

[@billmower4165]

Any chance you can make a shortend version, I fell asleep three fuckin times. Thanks

[@rustyshackleford928]

Hi Kazier, I just found your channel. That is a great looking machine. I have a Birmingham 12x36 almost identical and it is a beast. Those PMs are super nice. How do you like it so far and how do you like that little digipass level? Thanks New subby!

[@kazierkreations9382]

The Level is probably the most fanciest piece of equipment I own, it is expensive new, but I got mine used. Great overall

[@benjaminc1816]

I’ve just ordered the equivalent to this lathe from a uk distributor, how have you found it since you got it?

[@kazierkreations9382]

I don't know how to describe how happy I am with this machine, it puts out more than enough power for any material I have thrown at it and I use it every chance I get. Well worth it.

[@jasonbell5905]

Cast iron base? Really , that’s impressive for an import

[@arkydmax9952]

Was the lathe locked down tight to the table top? Because if you tightened it up all the way before you leveled the lathe you had the twist locked into it, and is why after 2 days your numbers changed as the bind either displaced paint, or took that much time for the cast iron to show its deformation from induced stress, also you have to make sure the bottom of the lathe feet was completely clean you’d be surprised how much grief one can get from a wood splinter or even dirt between the lathe and the table top… hope this helps!!!

[@kazierkreations9382]

Thanks for the info, after it "settled" I don't have any more twist, I checked again last week and it's the same as before. But good info to share, makes sense!

[@kenjohn6056]

Check the tail stock alignment.

[@elray2446]

Funny your the first person to know that. 🤣🤣🤣

[@kazierkreations9382]

Yeah I did, i didn't think to film that, probably should have.

[@billbeevers6864]

How are you gonna adjust rear leveling bolts if you don't need rear access to the machine ?

[@thebotformalityknownasdale2564]

Oh never thought of that duh

[@kazierkreations9382]

Right through the middle and from the side, it was easy

[@johndebrular979]

Main reason for access to the rear is to be able to access the electrical panel.

[@foxden1219]

What engine hoist did you use?

[@kazierkreations9382]

Just the standard Harbor Freight one, I believe it's a 2 Ton

[@Mike61259]

You can see many details that indicate that it is not a new machine.

[@larrybud]

Like what?