kgstakes

I don't have a way to measure the backlash so here is a video of the cross slide and the longitudinal rack-and-pinion. Hope this answers your question. Video (20).mov

The taig lathe the way it operates with wheels in front is what I’m accustomed to with my bigger lathe. It’s true probably can’t cut threads without modification but I’ll be turning mostly wood and sometimes metal with the lathe. Threads if needed I can cut a different way with dies and taps. Every tool will have advantages and disadvantages, it just comes down to what you like with the machine and what you want to do with it. Best thing I can tell anyone looking for a tool, look at all of them study them see what the advantages and disadvantages are and pick the best one for your needs. Don’t go off of what other people say, they may have a strong opinion about one tool that may or may not be right for you. It all comes down to what you’re going to do with that tool and will it do the job you want it to do. That’s what matters most.

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Yes it was a package deal. I bought 1017#2 Starter Set #2 (see Taig website) then I added most of the accessories they offer. I chose Taig basically for main reason, all the controls (wheels) were in "front and center", which is what I'm used to. Didn't like the hand wheel at the end of the bed like Sherline lathes. Sure I could of gotten use to it. Another reason was of course price. I bought the lathe and the "starter set" plus some other accessories for about the same price as a Sherline lathe base price would cost. I'm having fun with this lathe finding out just what it will and will not do (not much it can't do) and I find it is a very enjoyable machine to work with. Hope this answers most of your questions and as for the 'extras' I bought the picture below shows most if not all I have for the Taig lathe.

The work you do is amazing!! I’ve done some crazy modeling before but I’m not sure I would have the patience ( or eye sight🤪) to do all the rigging you’ve done. Great job!!!

After looking at all your pictures, it makes me want to get back in the shop and continue my build of this model. Great job !! If mine comes out half and good as yours, I will be happy. I'm thinking I will leave off the walls when I do all the outside "bracing" so that the interior is visible. I do have all those walls made up but will put them to the side so people know that they can be "installed" on the model. Which in reality, they can not unless some of the bracing can be removed. All in all, very nice looking model. You did a great job!!!

TK1 yeah that’s basically what I wanted was a place to store a project ( protect it) and have some tools at hand. Thank you for your input greatly appreciated.

Doing some more practicing on the taig lathe this afternoon/evening. I’ll be turning mostly wood on my lathe and I was seeing just how small I could go and this is where I stopped. That’s good enough for anything I want to do with this lathe. I’m sure I could go more with metal but with wood I thought this was pretty darn good. Love this lathe!! Here’s a picture of how small I got.

Just been messing with my taig lathe today getting a feel for how small I can turn things. Here’s a couple examples of what I’ve been doing. Practice practice, there’s a stool and a chair that has lots of turning to be done (1/12th scale) so before I tackle them I’m practicing turning on the lathe.

I’m in Cheney west of Wichita

I've been doing some designing on a "portable" "workstation", something that can be taken off the wall (using french cleats to fasten to wall), and be either stored in a closet or taken to my woodshop where my hobby room is. Some place to build a model but still be in the house at night (more or less with family). But have all or most of my tools, paints, brushes, knives, etc. and still be able to close it up (with model inside) and place some where out of the way if need. I'll probably build it out of 1/2" cabinet grade plywood or maybe 3/4" with an oak veneer. Stain and finish so it will look like a wall cabinet but like I said before with a french cleat, you can take it down really easy if needed. Here are some drawings. Sorry the freebie program won't let me share the drawings (can save but not share) so I took pictures of them on my phone. Sorry if they’re bad.

Welcome you will find lots of talented people on this forum that is more than happy to help you out in any way they can.

Your modeling is incredible in my book very nice work in deed!! Great job!!

Oh yeah nice to be back working on a model. Been a long time coming. Thank you for the comments

Well after many months of recuperating from hand injury and moving to another state, I’m back in the hobby room. Did I little building on the riverboat but mainly just get everything out, organized, and to see what’s next. Hopefully I can continue posting on a regular basis and complete this model and then on to the next one.

Been thinking about a “tool box” to carry tools and models back and forth. Guess what? Nah just get it to the shop and start building on the riverboat that I’ve not touched since my hand accident back in January. Between moving (Nevada to Kansas) and starting a new job, setting up the wood shop and just life in general, I might get back to modeling this weekend. As for the tool box, still in the making but not a priority as I thought I needed. Thanks for the input and sometime down the road I may build something but for now I keep looking at the riverboat and yeah just need to get back at it. I’ll start posting on my build log in a few days till then you all keep up the great work that each and everyone one of you do!!

I’ve seen a lot of them on line for tool storage and they’re great, but no place to store a model in progress. I’ll take ideas from them and build a model “case” that stores tools and an area ( on top ) that could store a larger item. When I get it built I’ll post a picture thanks to everyone for helping with ideas.

GGibson, You made the comment that I would out grow the box I posted above. Just wanted to show you all what I've done in the past and my modeling bench that I've had for years. It's a craftsman workbench with all drawers. Works good, but as time has gone by, I have found myself working or wanting I to work at is a desk of some type with just a few tools to do small modeling projects. No need for larger tools, power tools, just something that I could carry back and forth to the shop where my hobby shop is located. Anyway, here are a picture of my workbench and the small box that the rolltop desk is sitting in front of worked but still not really what I was looking for. Then I built (see video) and that works for the most part but no storage for a model in progress to keep safe. Still thinking and wondering what to buy or build. Keep ideas coming if you have something to share. Thanks again for all who commented. First order of retrievability.mov

You have a picture of what you use?

As far as out growing it. No, I have an office in the shop that is my miniature workshop with the rest of my modeling tools. This would be for taking to the house and have a few tools and materials to do a portion of a model or "build sub assemblies" for a larger model. Would use this just for ..... building things that don't need all my power tools or even for that matter, all my hand tools. Just enough tools and materials to do an evening or two in the house with the family. Instead of being completely out of the house and in my woodshop building a model. I'm looking for something that would not only store some tools but when I'm done for the night or day, I can put every thing in a safe place and keep what I'm modeling all in one place. (hope that sounds right) What I really would like is a Gerstner tool chest, but with a deeper top compartment so I could pack everything up and put the model I'm working on in the top of the chest. But all or most all of them have a 3" deep top compartment and for most of what I would like to build would not fit. I don't just build ships, (like most of us probably) I build HO scale structures, dollhouse furniture, and railroad cars, etc. and most of those things including a ship all be it a subassembly, I don't believe will fit in the top compartment. I know an HO scale structure will not fit (which would be most of my building in the house). Any ideas of what to use? I have thought of just drawing up something that would work for me but thought maybe just maybe there is something already out there that would "fit the bill" and not have to recreate the wheel sorta speak. Thank you to everyone that has responded, greatly appreciated. Keep the ideas coming. Might take all the ideas and take parts from each one and build something that maybe everyone could use in their modeling.

I'd like to know how many of you (if any) have this product?? Is it junk? Worth getting? Reason I ask is there are times when I want to build in the house without going out to the wood shop. Plus coming in late at night our dog wakes the whole house up. Let me know what you all think of this product.

I’ll be watching the progress on this one for sure be interesting to see how you build everything

That’s what I was afraid of. That I would need a new 3 jaw. Wold like a 4 jaw and since I’m buying a chuck any way, might as well be a 4 jaw and then see if I really need a 3 jaw down the road since this 3 jaw will do some of the things I want to do. Thanks for your help

Have another question on my lathe is this Chuck original to the lathe when you bought it way back when? From the looks of it the jaws are not reversible, correct?? Turning small pieces next to this chick scares me a bit because you can’t get right up to the point of contact with the piece you’re working on and the chuck (hope that sounds right). On my taig lathe even though the jaws are big you can turn pretty close to them, unlike the atlas. Any ideas (other than buy a new chuck. 4 jaws would be nice but want a small one for the turning I do is really small turning. Thank you everyone for your comments on this Chuck

I’ve read they are made out of cast zamac. What ever that is. There are light in weight and I read they break pretty easy or chip teeth pretty easy if you don’t take care of them.

Good morning!! i was just cleaning out the drawers of my atlas lathe and I found these gears. Looks like never been used. The top one (picture with just gears) looks to me to be metric? It says 40 M6 ?? The others have numbers like 3251 56 I’m assuming these are gears for threading. Let me know please. Also have a face plate (nothing else -dog etc). Course have the Chuck key for three jaw Chuck. Anyway thought I would share my finds today.