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smithy or shop task

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88-1175

03-28-2008 05:39:17

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I am going to purchase a new smithy or shoptask 3 in 1 mill drill lathe. Currently I have 220 volt electric and space is not an issue. I wish to perform general maintainance on a quarter scale garden tractor that my son pulls. This will not be used for production work. Some of the jobs that I would like to perform are making a combustion chamber for a one cylinder flat head motor, general clutch maintainance and drive train maintainance. I do have some experience but not with these machines. I like the smithy because it seems to be the most popular. I like the shoptask because of the bridge on the millhead and the increased room between the quill and the lathe chuck. I also like the shoptask due to its power feed on the XY and Z axis. I would like your unbiased opinions on the pros and cons of both machines if anyone is familiar with them. I have personally seen neither one of these machines. The purchase will be a new machine die to the fact that I can not find a used one of either brand.

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flying belgian

03-29-2008 21:06:55

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I have a smithy and I get by but just barely. If I had it to do over I would get 2 used good quality items as others have suggested.

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shawnspeed3

03-29-2008 08:57:11

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I would choose a good used lathe over one of the 3-1 machines . The southbend 9" or 10 " would be hard to beat , and these lathes had milling attachments for them.I do milling on my 16 X60 ,it just takes a little thinking. Re-sleeved my liners for my 730 case gas tractor at a fraction of the cost, just had to make a simple fixture to hold the liners, bore for size of the liners I bought at napa, press them together & hone ....4 for the price of 1...Good luck Shawn

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36 coupe

03-29-2008 05:03:08

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I would favor an older US made machine.Many old tools are sitting idle because they have been pushed aside by new CNC stuff.

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kstractor

03-28-2008 20:41:34

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I worked at a place that bought a smithy made in China for maintenance work it was junk the day it was new. Tolerances were awfull, a handle broke of the first time it was used and it just keeps falling apart.

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wyod

03-28-2008 19:00:32

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I would have to agree with the others... I teach machining at a local community college... one of my students is taking the class because he has a smithy and wanted to learn how to use it... now that he's used "real machines", he wants to sell the smithy and get the real toys. I won't take the time to list all the problems he's told me about, but, suffice it to say that there is no comparison between the smithy and actual machines.

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big jt

03-28-2008 17:10:13

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I would suggest as the others have that if you have the floor space get the individual machines.

I have seen the info on Smithy. Never heard of Shop task. If you are limited to have a 2 in one from the sounds of it the power feed feature of the shoptask makes it the winner. If you want smooth cuts or turnings the only good way to accomplish this is with powerfeed.

One other accessory I would suggest is Digital Read Out (DRO). The second Lathe I bought came with it. I never would have gotten DRO if I bought a new machine (whick I was looking at at the time). After running that lathe a couple of times I was convinced I wouldn't have a machine tool without DRO. New DRO's can be had off e-bay for a lot less money but it is worth something to have someone else put the bars on for you. I put the DRO on my Bridgeport and it is doable just time consuming.

JM2CW

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DiyDave

03-28-2008 15:28:10

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

I have an older smithy mill/drill combo, I am not much of a machinist, though. Mostly gets used to fab shafts for farm machinery, occasionally a bushing or 2. It is china made, and if I were to do it again, I would buy a Grizzley, as they seem to have better made Chinese stuff. They have a mill/lathe that looks just like my Smithy, for a third of the price!

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gun guru

03-28-2008 14:01:05

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

Get a good used Bridgeport milling machine for $2000 and a decent used lathe for $1,500 or so and you will have a way better set of machines then a Smithy, I dont know what a Shoptask is? The Bridgeport will need a Vise, R8 collet set, drill chuck, cutters and drills. The lathe will need a toolholder and carbide lathe tools, (I have *hitload of them) (brazed type) and drills THe Smithy is likely oriental made junk. What does the Smithy cost?

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benny2

03-28-2008 10:36:38

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Neither one areRe: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

Neither one are very good at what they do. Best find a really good used Lathe. Chi/com stuff just dont get it! Check the machine tool form boards on the net. I have seen so MANY complaints about these machines since they came out. Just search "machine tool forums"

Machine Forums Discussions

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benny2

03-28-2008 10:49:18

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Check all the lathes here Re: Neither one areRe:smithy or in reply to benny2, 03-28-2008 10:36:38

Check out all the older used types that may be available here

Almost all lathes made

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ford-s

03-28-2008 08:24:52

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to 88-1175, 03-28-2008 05:39:17

do not use either one to do clutch work,I put in 27 yrs working in a clutch machine shop you can't get a flat enough surface with a lathe.We would get them in with .020-.160 difference between the outer edge and the inner edge.the tolerence is .04-.05 more than that and they will chatter.cw

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Davis SC

03-28-2008 14:54:52

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to ford-s, 03-28-2008 08:24:52

A good lathe should be able to face a 12 inch plate to a flatness of several thousands. Most new lathes have a definite spec to meet on facing flatness.

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Spook

03-29-2008 20:11:24

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Re: smithy or shop task in reply to Davis SC, 03-28-2008 14:54:52

I would say anything more than .002 would be high. If it is .020 or more, something is not stable.

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