Harbor Freight 7x12 Mini-Lathe

[Dr Stan]

The half nut issue is probably a case of an accountant going "let's see where we can save a couple of cents". The bean counters control manufacturing, not the engineers.

[Vinny]

That bean counter is usually at the buying end not the selling end in this case. You can get very high quality Chinese made tools or lower that HF quality. It depends what, in this case Harbor Freight, spec'd when they ordered it. Also some of the Chinese mfgrs stand by their work. I bought a gear hob from one a number of years ago. Works great. 2-3 years after I bought it I needed to make another but couldn't remember the settings on the mill for it. I sent them a note and had a response within 20 mins with the info I needed. Then as I was setting it up I noticed those same numbers were engraved on the opposite side of the hob that I was looking at!

That's not to say all Chinese tools are good... or bad... and cheap doesn't always mean crappy.

Now all of that said ... I'm usually the first to blame the cheap ass chinese tooling for being pieces of crap and not the company that spec'd them to be that way.

[EdK]

(06-05-2021, 12:43 AM)Highpower Wrote: Where did you file on the side of your saddle? Everything looks factory ground.  

The area with the red paint at the top. I filed just enough to get a good bearing surface for the square piece of steel to make good contact.

Ed

   

[EdK]

The missing half nut issue was at least easy and relatively cheap to solve.

Ed

   

[arvidj]

(06-05-2021, 12:43 AM)Highpower Wrote:

(06-04-2021, 09:32 PM)EdK Wrote: ... My hand drilling skills don't exist ...

Ed

That is why I have a bunch of these now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX7zVyN-pl4

Saved my bacon when I had to drill and tap the small holes in the cast iron base column of my mill to mount the limit switch rail for the power feed I put on the knee. The casting is not exactly flat nor round where I had to attach the brackets. Trying to hold a hand drill perfectly perpendicular in two different axis is not a gene that I possess. I can come close with one or the other but never both.  

Where did you file on the side of your saddle? Everything looks factory ground.  

+1 on the drill guides. Has to drill and tap over a 100 3/8 holes on some angle iron. No way it was not going to fit in the drill press. Got it all done without breaking a bit or a tap.

[EdK]

I've eyed those tap guides for some time now. Maybe it's time I bite the bullet and get one.

Ed

[EdK]

The lathe came with a lead screw cover but it won't fit with the upper half nut installed. I'll take real half nuts over a lead screw cover any day.

Ed

[Highpower]

That is probably why they went to the half-half nut - so they could put a cover over it to please the lawyers. Long sleeves and shirt tails and newbies...

[Highpower]

Ed, I was just wondering if you have (or planning to get) a 21 tooth change gear for the lathe to cut metric threads? Way back when... I had to buy a standard gear blank (Boston Gear?) then bore it to fit and hand file a keyway in it. (Before I owned any broaches.) Of course these days Little Machine Shop has and sells them ready made for about 10 bucks.

Thought it might be better to have one before you need it someday.

If you don't plan on cutting any metric threads, forget I mentioned it.

[EdK]

(06-08-2021, 11:15 PM)Highpower Wrote: Ed, I was just wondering if you have (or planning to get) a 21 tooth change gear for the lathe to cut metric threads?...

Yes, that gear is on my Little Machine Shop shopping list along with a 4-jaw chuck with adapter plate and a few other things.  

Ed