Proxxon Mini Lathe DB-250 - Opinions/assessments/recommendations?

[Hank]

I posted this sort of question on the old forum, so I'll repost my question here:

 

Anyone have or use the Proxxon Mini Lathe DB-250? If so, comments or recommendations, good or bad are requested.

[realworkingsailor]

I've been eyeing that tool myself and am very curious to see what anyone thinks...

 

I know B.E. has one..

 

Andy

[Hank]

Andy,

 

Yea, I've got a Turncrafter Pro Midi Lathe (Penn State Ind.) that I've used for turning masts & spars on PEACOCK and large models, but I would like a small mini lathe for the smaller stuff. The TP lathe is too large for very small masts, yards, etc.

[Bahamas Diver]

I don't really know anything about lathes but for an additional $250 Harbor Freight has a 7 x 10 precision wood and metal mini lathe.  Seems a better deal than the Proxxon tool.  Just a thought.

[realworkingsailor]

For me, price is not an issue, I'm more concerned with the trustworthyness and reliability of online retailers. I've seen proxxon tools available from a retailer I have bought from before.... Like Hank, I am curious about what other people think.

 

Andy

[Landlubber Mike]

I bought mine on eBay a year ago for $110 or so.  It was worth every penny as it made turning the masts on my Badger a breeze.  It's the first lathe I ever worked with, so can't really compare it.

 

Blue Ensign on his Pegasus log has a discussion about the DB250 - he seems to like it, and also bought a bed extension for it which I will probably buy down the road as well.

[realworkingsailor]

Know anyone on this side of the pond that sells bed extensions?

[Hank]

Well, I guess one good report is better than none - I may order one later this month. I'll look around the online Proxxon vendors and see who might be selling a bed extension, as well.

 

Thanks, Mike/Andy.

[samueljr]

Hank

 

Take a look on YouTube. There are a number of videos on the DB250 

 

Looks interesting. I'm in the market (kind of) for a small lathe as well.

 

Sam

[samueljr]

Hank,

 

Forgot to mention it but Proxxon was at the I-HOBBY show in Cleveland last year. They can be reached in your "neck of the woods" -

 

PROX-TECH, Inc

255 Tate Blvd SE

POBox 1909

Hickory, NC 28603

 

phone (828) 326-0326

email: sales@prox-tech.com

www.proxxon.com/us

[tkay11]

There's also a good review at http://shipmodeling.net/vb_forum/thread382-Review---Proxxon-Micro-Lathe.html

 

Tony

[Hank]

Thanks, all - I think I'm about to take the plunge.

[Hank]

Plunge taken!! We'll see how this tool works for turning small stuff.

[JPett]

Ahoy Hank

 

Perhaps you would consider doing a review in a  follow up post.

 

Just a thought

 

Wishing you the best with your new toy either way

[Jaxboat]

All

Great discussion. I would be interested in thoughts about how long the bed needs to be for large masts.

Best

Jaxboat

[Yambo]

I too am looking at a DB 250 in the new year so interested in comments. I noticed some time ago that guraus (Alexandru) has a few proxxon tools showing in the pictures of his scratch build of Victory. Maybe a pm to him to ask for his overall opinion and perhaps respond on this thread.

[Meredith]

The Proxxon FD 150/E is a wood/metal working lathe - fairly newly release I think. And quite a bit more expensive. Its the model I have been considering. I just cant justify the cost of a Sherline. I have had very good service from the Aussie Proxxon importer and happy with the other proxxon tools I have - even if I have nothing really to compare to.

[wefalck]

Attention, the Proxxon FD 150/E doesn't have a leadscrew, so you will not be able to cut threads ! It is what is called a mechanic's lathe. The cross-slide has to repositioned by clamping it to the bed. Which means that the longest piece you can cut is not the bed length between the centers as in other lathes, but only the travel of the top-slide.

 

The good thing is that it has a conus for standerd ER collets, but the capacity of the ER11 collets is rather small at 7 mm. One has to remember though, that ER collets are made for toolholding and not workholding. They don't hold properly, when not using stock that is as long as the collet itself.

 

The backbone, i.e. the bed, seems to be the same extruded profile that is used for the column of their micro-mill.

 

wefalck 

[Hank]

Thanks for the various comments -

 

To J. Pett - I'll keep in mind a follow-up critique of the tool once I've used it for a while.

 

To Jaxboat - I only bought the lathe; a bed extension at this point is not being considered. I have my Midi-Lathe for the longer stuff. I'm not sure at this point what the distance is between centers on the DB-250.

 

To Brian C - I don't buy cheap domestic/foreign crap anymore - if that's your choice, GO FOR IT!! I try now to buy once and buy to last.

 

 

[SaturnV]

The DB250 is very good for small stuff. For spars and masts it has a through bore in the chuck so length is not an issue. It will not pass large diameter dowels though so there is a limit. The motor is strong and variable for its size. I have one with attachments and am quite satisfied with it for turning tiny parts. You will need tiny chisels for it.

 

Richard

Edited July 17, 2013 by SaturnV

[Meredith]

Great info people. That has saved me from making a bad purchase decision!!

[guraus]

Hello all,

 

I also own a Proxxon DB250 wood lathe with several optional attachments I bought a year or so ago. So far I am very happy with it but I can't compare it with anything else as is the only wood lathe I ever had. It proved to be very reliable and powerful for the small jobs I used it for - pictures 3 and 4. Variable speed I find it useful.

The extra stuff I bought for it was a three jaws chuck, a four jaws one, a mandrel which can be installed to replace the live centre so holes can be drilled into the wood and a set of turning chisels - as you can see in the second picture. The lathe came with six collets of different sizes. 

Think someone already mentioned that it has a bore through the head so longer stock can be worked. The diameter of that hole is 10mm. That also I find very useful as allowed me to work closer to the chuck.

The four jaws chuck is made of some kind of hard plastic. Seems pretty solid but if you clamp in it a piece of (square) wood for only a short distance (say 5mm) so only the tips of the jaws are holding the wood and screw the jaws hard they tend to get out of position. This does not happen if all the jaw surface is in contact with the wood. Other than that works fine.

Another thing I found out is that the wood lathe is only as good as the chisels you have. Before buying the Proxxon set I used to use some regular chisels (shorter) and they didn't do a good job - for me a chisel was a chisel but turns out that not all are made equal... So consider in the price of the lathe at least a good set of chisels (if you don't have one) otherwise you will be disappointed.

As in my build I didn't get to making masts yet - only small posts to support the decks I can't express any opinion about turning long masts.

 

Hope this information helps and if you have any questions I can try to answer them.

Thank you,

 

Alexandru

 

[Hank]

Alexandru,

 

Thanks for the informative comments & picutres. I will certainly consider new chisels - mine are standard size and probably would not work well with this smaller lathe.

 

Your posts look very well turned!

[Hank]

Unbelievable!!! Arrived almost overnight - of course, I'll have to wait until I'm back at the workshop on Sun. to open the box.

 

The Admiral has set strict regulations governing modeling tools & supplies - she states that the beatings will continue until compliance is 100% 

[Hank]

OK, so I've set it up and have some comments, etc.:

 

1) It was missing one of the two chuck keys, so I've written the U.S. distrib. (Prox-Tech, Hickory, NC) for a replacement. Not a major problem, just an inconvenience.

 

2) I do like the fact that you can use stock that is longer than the lathe is designed for since the headstock is tubular and the stock will just stick out the left end of the machine.

 

3) I'm not too keen on the assortment of collets - I could not find one that worked with 5/16" dia. stock.

 

4) Tool rest - cast aluminum or pot metal - will need to have a s/s (stainless steel) surface added (as I did on my Turncrafter Pro Mini-lathe rest) - the surface is not that hard and already tends to hang the chisel up as you move it along. I'm thinking of asking my machinist/modeler associate Ken fix up a new tool rest constructed out of brass/stainless.

 

Overall the lathe seems to run ok, has plenty of power - it's the incidentals that are rather irksome.

 

I did complete the Spencer mast for my Anchor Hoy the other night and am now working on the bowsprite on my Turncrafter Pro Mini Lathe since the length was more than the Proxxon could handle. I could have done one end and then the other, but this works out ok.

 

I did purchase the 5 chisel set, but it is still in transit, so I'm using sandpaper and one of my regular size small chisels until they arrive.

 

Alexandru - the 3 and 4 chucks - give me a bit more info on them if you can. I may purchase one of them, as well.

[Hank]

Well, it appears I didn't thoroughly check my drawing and the Spencer Mast is NOT correct. My system of double dimensioning (real/scale) needed to be checked for errors and this mast had errors which transferred to the mast in the lathe - yada, yada - REDO!!!! The bowsprit (done on my midi-lathe) is complete and correct.

 

OK, the Proxxon lathe is now in Ken's hands and he's going to either replace the tool rest with a steel one or fabricate a s/s face for the orig. tool rest. I expect he will also go over the entire tool (as is his practice) and make adjustments or call me and ask questions as to this or that. So, in a week or so, I'll get the lathe back in tip-top shape ready to roll again.

 

Tonight I ordered a 4 jaw chuck from Proxxon - I had trouble from the git-go on centering the stock. This problem I hope will now be eliminated as a source of irritation on my part.

 

So, this next week will be spent figuring bulkheads with calculator and notepad for the Anchor Hoy.

[dafi]

I did not see the hint yet, but apparently one can buy another bed and add to the length.

 

As I have it too, I can tell that the Proxxon 27028 Drill chuck with spindle is a good addition, as it allows to make great centered holes into round materials.

 

Daniel

[Hank]

I haven't seen any mention of a bed extension, but who knows? I may wait a while on that and try to learn the basics of this tool once it is back in the shop.

 

I would tend to agree with your comment re. the drill chuck/spindle for drilling centered holes - a good ability to have.

[tkay11]

Hank: Blue Ensign had the idea of buying the spare part that is the bed (part no PRO000160) and making it as an extension. If you look at the back of the lathe's manual you'll see the part. The link to his post in his Pegasus build is here.

 

Tony

[realworkingsailor]

Hank, if you don't mind me asking, from whom did you purchase your lathe.... Online retailer or direct from

Proxxon USA?

 

Andy