I started with a TAIG, American made mini lathe. I, like you, was wanting to learn. I had had read good things about it and it is a good little lathe. But that is exactly what it is a little lathe. It does not have thread cutting. Again, I had read it could be added. After my experience I would highly recommend getting one with thread cutting right out of the box. SOme of the good mini lathes don't have it.

I have learned a lot on that lathe, making small parts, turning unobtainable brass and some other things for the home and car.

I later bought an old Sabastian, with gears I have to change. Had to put a motor on it, but, it cuts threads, both standard and metric.

I am still learning, ALOT of learning to do!!!

I like having the small quick to set up lathe for small quicl operations and the bigger one for other stuff.

These guys on this forum have been more than helpful and will undoubtably help out. I am sure I will be asking more questions this spring once I get my shed/shop rearranged.

Let us know what ya get and post a pic. SOme of us love tools almost as much as guns!!

Merwin

Real,Real hard to beat a South Bend. I also have a 9 that is great and just bought a 10 also.ZGreat machines keep them clean (common sense) a little oil and you great grand kids will have fun. Whitey

Irish I just bought a H10 24" between centers.Beatifull bed etc.Just needs to be restored. (been sitting forever) 
That is why I might sell my 9. as the 10 has about 1 and1/2 hole and that might come in handy.Going to convert the Electric to use 3 PH variable speed.so will have 3 step pullies and varaiable in each. Hope it works. I would not trade it for 10 of those other. Whitey

A lot of good advice here.

My two cents would be to buy the largest lathe (within reason) that you have the space for. Weight is a significant factor in a lathe or mill. I would also encourage anyone looking for a lathe or mill to hunt around for an older light-industrial machine. You are simply going to get much, and I mean much, more for your money in such a machine. 

While one can not argue with a South Bend, the Clausing 6300 series lathes are also very good, and there were many in Junior High and High School shops. For Gunsmithing, general hobby, and shop/farm maintenance I would look for a South Bend or Clausing 10" or 12" x 36 to 48," but remain open to serendipity. If you find anything that isn't a South Bend or Clausing, but looks promising, make sure the ways are hardened. Most bed wear occurs close to the headstock, and a machine without hardened ways will often have a noticeable dip there.

Expecting to find a good servicable lathe with some tooling and accessories for between $500 and $1500 is not at all unreasonable.

MM

Irish I live about 125 miles east of Denver Colo just off I-70.
No I will have 220 power.Have a friend who is really into this kind of stuff. And he will do the set up for me. He done it to his His old favorit lathe and loves it. and runs it from 4 to 6 hrs a day.
I know there is a lot of great old lathes out there and at diffrent times I have proably owned some of them. As to me Machines are like old guns if possible you have to save them. Just make sure the ways etc are great and go to work. Most of them just have years of crud sticking on it. And contray to some of the Imports I have never had a problem finding parts. Or making a new one. And most parts needed was from someones being stupid and not from wear.
Like has been said by others find a lathe that will do the job for you that is as big and heavy as you can handle.Then give it the most important care you can usualy cleaning and 
  (OIL)   Last but not least try to get someone who knows a little about machines to help you find the right one.Whitey

To all members as I said I might sell my 9" model A. I have had several emails etc. But if I do sell it will be to the one who asked first etc.
BUT what I can assume is there is a demand for good used machines. As I do run into them from time to time. Let me know your wants and if anything comes up I will put you in contact with the seller. I would be happy to help other gun nuts.
PS please do not ask me for any of those imported MINI machines. I want nothing to do with them. At 72 I get enough head problems Whitey

Whitey,
i agree about the mini's over 30 years of running machinery for a living they are ok for some one who has never run a real lathe to earn a living. but when you know what a southbend or a colchester and even a real bridgeport will do you never look back.
an old friend bought a grizzly about 8 years ago, and it was a minute piece of junk. had to fix it constantly.
pulleys not lined uip right, spindle bearing junk, table was a joke.
buy good or you will waste your money.
irish

There is a lot of good advice here. I do recommend the purchase of a large enough machine initially rather than buying a small "trainer" lathe. When you upgrade, and you will, you will have to repurchase most of the accessories over again. It is quite easy to spend as much in tooling as the initial purchase, so in my opinion, spend it once.

Generally anything fron a 9" South Bend up is adequate for gunsmithing, but I would prefer a Heavy Ten as a minimum. In my opinion, a 12" or 13" lathe is about the ideal size for the home and gunsmith shop. A minimum of 24" between centers, 36" is better. 

Do take the length of the headstock into consideration, as some are too long for a normal barrel to pass through.

I prefer American made machines, and good used are available. The argument has been hashed and rehashed and will never be settled, but there is some very good information on the linked site on inspecting a used lathe and milling machine as well as just what a "worn" lathe is capable of. Some machinist web sites make much of tuning and rebuilding a lathe to four & five decimal place accuracy when, in fact, it might not really be necessary.

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