Having had the need to drill up the centre of a bolt over the weekend (managed eventually with my pillar drill, only slightly off centre) I feel the need for a metalworking lathe coming on.

Nothing big, a model engineering lathe would be ideal (Myford or Boxford are the names in the frame), but they tend to be expensive, although Sealy do some nice small machines at about $2,000, I wonder if they're available here. Something like this http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Metal-Working-Lathe-300mm-Between-Centres-Sealey-SM3002 or this http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Mini-Lathe-Drilling-Machine-Sealey-SM2503

So, any ideas where in BKK I can find small (6" or so, Colchester Bantam size) workshop lathes, preferably used / refurbed (more bang for the buck).

Hi there,

I know that your request is already a bit older, but I have a "small" lathe that I might part of...

(with a bleeding heart because I love it, certainly after all the mod's I added)

It's a 9X20 lathe similar to the ones that are sold by Harbor Freight etc.

(Made in China), thus it has it limits.

Comes complete with stand and additional blocks under the stand to bring it up to "western"

working height.

However, I implemented about all the modifications that are available on the WWW to turn

this lathe into a HQ machine, even added digital readouts to it (currently taken off)

added a QCTP (self made on my mill) with a number of tool holders, and some other gadgets,

replaced the head by a larger one (5" OR 6" not sure anymore), allowing me to deal with larger

parts adding at the same time more stability.

here a link to a manual @ Grizzly.com: http://cdn0.grizzly.com/manuals/g4000_m.pdf

it's the described as a 9X19" but it's the same machine.