Jorge Hedges Posted July 28, 2020 Share #1 Posted July 28, 2020 So, the Proxxon mini lathe has arrived... here's my 5am test first impression: Unit is compact, but the feedthrough will definitely help with masts and larger spars Tested it with a 6mm diameter dowel, which will be a small mast; will be reduced to 5mm at bottom of mast and at the top turned down to to 2.5mm diameter. Use the 3-Jax chuck, with the live tailstock (which spins very nicely). Cutting performed with the Proxxon turning tool set, whih performed nicely. My only REAL gripe, however, is the tool rest surface... short, and badly finished, as the tools tend to snag/catch. Will remove from the bed, and polish the same as best as possible. Maybe have a machineshop prepare me a stainless steel unit, wider? That way larger tool passes can be performed. Sanding was a breeze as well with this unit. Alignment as very nice between chick centyer and tailstock. All in all, very satified with the purchase, while the savings go for the Sherline later down the road! A couple of pics follows, so any questions you might have, please feel free to ask! mtaylor, Jolley Roger, Landlubber Mike and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted July 28, 2020 Share #2 Posted July 28, 2020 I started with this lathe years ago on my first build. I really enjoyed it. Ended up selling to upgrade to a Sherline, but it's a great mini lathe for small wood turning. Worked a treat when it came to sanding taper into masts. Jorge Hedges, Canute and mtaylor 3 Quote Mike Current Wooden builds: Amati/Victory Pegasus MS Charles W. Morgan Euromodel La Renommèe Plastic builds: SB2U-1 Vindicator 1/48 Five Star Yaeyama 1/700 Pit Road Asashio and Akashi 1/700 diorama Walrus 1/48 and Albatross 1/700 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/32 Eduard Sikorsky JRS-1 1/72 IJN Notoro 1/700 Akitsu Maru 1/700 Completed builds : Caldercraft Brig Badger Amati Hannah - Ship in Bottle Pit Road Hatsuzakura 1/700 Hasegawa Shimakaze 1:350 F4B-4 and P-6E 1/72 Accurate Miniatures F3F-1/F3F-2 1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat built as FM-1 1/48 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/48 Citroen 2CV 1/24 - Airfix and Tamiya Entex Morgan 3-wheeler 1/16 Terminated build: HMS Lyme (based on Corel Unicorn) On the shelf: Euromodel Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde; Caldercraft Victory; too many plastic ship, plane and car kits Future potential scratch builds: HMS Lyme (from NMM plans); Le Gros Ventre (from Ancre monographs), Dutch ship from Ab Hoving book, HMS Sussex from McCardle book, Philadelphia gunboat (Smithsonian plans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wahka_est Posted July 28, 2020 Share #3 Posted July 28, 2020 Got mine also few weeks ago and im supper impressed with it. It reduces the time for masts and yards, also boosts my quality on them. I dis not use knives for shaping but instead sanding sticks that worked better for me. Only issue is that 4mm piece does not really suit if its too long as it starts to vibrate. Here comes handy that you can put it trough the main socket and partially shape the wood. I recomend. mtaylor and Landlubber Mike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rik Thistle Posted July 28, 2020 Share #4 Posted July 28, 2020 Jorge, I got the same lathe a few weeks ago. Very compact and good for what it is. Agreed, the live centre is very good. A little slop in the tailstock, and my tool rest also had a very rough finish....but a bit of filing and fine emery cloth soon polished it up. All the best, Richard mtaylor, Canute and Landlubber Mike 3 Quote Current build: U.S. Army K51 Radio Truck with K52 Trailer - 1944 - MiniArt - 1:35 Next build: PM Research Crank Shaper - late 1800s - 1:12 Part finished: HMS Flirt (MSE) - 1782 Vanguard Models - 1:64 Finished: Archer anti-tank gun Diorama - 1944 -Tamiya 1:35 : Churchill MkVII tank Diorama - Tamiya - 1:35 - 1944 : Sherman Firefly Tank Diorama - Revell - 1/76 - WWII : Humber MkII Scout Car Diorama - - Revell - 1:76 - WWII : PM Research Drill Press - 1895 - 1:12 : PM Research Milling Machine - late 1800s - 1:12 (est) : Stuart Engineering Lathe - late 1800s - 1:12 (est) : Stuart Beam model steam engine - 1770s onwards - 1:12 (est) : Stuart 10V model steam engine circa 1920s - 1:12 (est) : Lady Eleanor Fifie Circa 1900 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 : Dallas Cutter 1815 - Artesania Latina - 1:50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clogger Posted July 29, 2020 Share #5 Posted July 29, 2020 I found the tool rest too short in width, but also the tightening knob would also get in the way of the cutting tool. I've since replaced the plastic knob supplied with a wingnut arrangement which is much better. RussR, Canute, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussR Posted July 29, 2020 Share #6 Posted July 29, 2020 I just recently bought a Proxxon DB250 and can see the issue with the short tool rest. Nor do I see a simple fix. But for the price I think I can work around it. I could probably solve this problem by buying a Sherline for over a $1000.00 dollars. I'll keep cost benefit in mind. Enjoy your new lathe, I am sure I will enjoy mine. RussR Landlubber Mike, mtaylor, Jorge Hedges and 1 other 4 Quote "Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away" by Robert Fulghum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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