Sieg SC4 thoughts and experience?

[Ethan D]

Hi All,

I have been looking at small lathes for a while now and so far my favourite seams to be the sc4 with its power cross feed ability.

So my question is, do any of you have pros and cons about this little machine? Or any suggestions?

Thanks
Ethan

 

[///]

I have no direct experience, but this is the lathe I will be upgrading to based on my needs and the very positive reviews I have read on the interweb.
There is a pro's and con's list here : http://homeshopmachinist.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/pros-cons-of-sieg-c4-lathe.html
And the above author's first test : http://homeshopmachinist.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/test-chips-with-c4-lathe.html
For a lathe of this size, I don't think there is anything better?

 

[Ethan D]

Hi Simon,

Thank for those link! They were very helpful. I totally agree with what you said, this little lathe seams to be the best out there for function vs size vs price.

So far this place in Victoria seams to have a good little deal for the sc4, DRO conversion kit, and quick change tool post.

http://www.ausee.com.au/shop/item.aspx?itemid=252

Are you upgrading anytime soon?

 

[///]

Hi Ethan, as far as I am aware, Ausee is the only stockist in Australia for the SC4, and it's the longbed version (510mm instead of 410mm). Carbatec have the C4, which is identical as far as I know(tho standard 410mm), but it is more expensive. They did have the C4 on special last month for $1668, but I was unable to get to my local store.

From what I have read, the DRO's aren't worth the extra expense. I had the option for them when I bought my C3, but after a quick test of one with them fitted, decided my money was better spent on an aftermarket option. I never got around to it, but have all the gear for getting TouchDRO installed. Just need to find the time.

I did buy the same QCTP, it works but not well. One from A2Z CNC or an 0XA from little machine shop would have been a much better choice, had I been aware of them at the time, and cheaper in the case of the A2Z version.

 

[Wizard69]

Hi All,



I have been looking at small lathes for a while now and so far my favourite seams to be the sc4 with its power cross feed ability.



So my question is, do any of you have pros and cons about this little machine? Or any suggestions?



Thanks

Ethan

I have no experience with this lathe but certainly would of considered it year ago when I purchased my 9x20. A big selling point would be the powered cross feed and the chuck mounting arrangement.

The lack of a powered cross feed on the 9x20 is a real pain especially if you have worked with commercial lathes at places of employment. Of course these days you can easily deal with that by using a motor and a bit of electronics, still the lack of a mechanical cross feed is a serious problem on many small lathes. As for the chuck, let's just say I'm not a big fan of screw on solutions which again I have on the 9x20. The security of a bolted on chuck just does it for me and running in reverse is never a problem.

All of that being said if I ever purchase another lathe I would likely go larger.

 

[///]

Sorry Ethan, I forgot to link to Bob Ackert's excellent supplement to the user manual for the C4/SC4, a goldmine of info:

http://www.fenichel.net/papers/Bob Ackert's SIEG SC4 Manual.pdf

There's also a massive thread here : http://www.usinages.com/tours/tour-sieg-sc4-t36043.html
It is in French, but google translate does a reasonable job of it

 

[dennisa49]

Good day Ethan,
Following on from my post re the small lathes, I believe I will go down the H & F AL51G road. The Sieg looks great and the power crossfeed would be great to
have as well.
I did buy a Sieg mill from Ausee last week, delivered on time, as advertised. They were easy to deal with, accurate delivery etc.
The lathe is simply outside my price frame. Hope it all goes well,
Regards
Dennis

 

[Philjoe5]

Ethan,
I bought the Sieg C4 lathe a few months ago. I bought the Little Machine Shop version in the US. It's the 3rd import lathe I've owned. I started with a 9x20, then a 10x22 and finally the 8x16. It is by far the best overall lathe of the three with the 10x22 close 2nd but the 9x20 a distant 3rd. This lathe is accurate and precise out of the crate. The selling point for me was the ER-32 pass through collet chuck. It's very accurate and for the money it is a good value.

The controls work well and the autofeed engagement is positive. It does not cause the carriage to "jump" back when engaged which occurs with many of the import lathes that clamp the half nuts on the leadscrew.

I've made valves and cages for an IC engine which requires accuracy and precision. Those valves will be tested when I get this engine finished in a month or so.

But all other parts I've made with the lathe meanwhile have finished out nicely.

I'd also get the QCTP - it works well.

Good luck

Cheers,
Phil

 

[///]

Phil, it's so nice to hear from someone that has owned both the C4 and a 9x20.
I had been considering a version of the 9x20 available here in Oz but had decided the SC4 was the one in this size class for me. Your feedback reinforces my decision, many thanks.

I already have lots of tooling for the C3, including an ER32 collet chuck. Hopefully easy to machine backplates and spacers will allow me to use all this gear on the C4.

 

[Ethan D]

Thanks for all the thought and information guys! Muchly appreciated.

Thanks for your small review Phil. I think I'll be getting the sc4 from ausee after hearing positive feedback about it. From reading its specs the machine had already tempted me, so a positive review was all I needed to be convinced. Do you have DRO fitted to yours?

Simon, are you still planning on getting one also? I'll be waiting a few weeks, untill I settle into my new job, so hopefully around Feb I'll make my purchase.

 

[Philjoe5]

Ethan,
No DRO on mine but the carriage has a zero resettable calibrated handwheel in 0.020" increments. Little Machine Shop doesn't offer a DRO option, though some other vendors do. Good luck with your machine whatever it may be.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[///]

Hi Ethan, yes it is definitely my next lathe. While a lathe bigger than the C4 would be nice, it won't happen until I move into a new house with more space.

As for when? It would have happened last month if I was able to get to Carbatec when they were on special. I'm in no rush as I have the C3, so if they're ever on special again at either Carbatec or Ausee, I'll be on it like a fly to sh..!
It looks like Carbatec are discontinuing it as it is listed as "limited stocks. No backorders" so it may be possible to sweet talk them into the sale price.
http://www.carbatec.com.au/carba-tec-c4-metalworking-lathe_c19802

 

[Wizard69]

Hi Ethan, yes it is definitely my next lathe. While a lathe bigger than the C4 would be nice, it won't happen until I move into a new house with more space.

As for when? It would have happened last month if I was able to get to Carbatec when they were on special. I'm in no rush as I have the C3, so if they're ever on special again at either Carbatec or Ausee, I'll be on it like a fly to sh..!
It looks like Carbatec are discontinuing it as it is listed as "limited stocks. No backorders" so it may be possible to sweet talk them into the sale price.
http://www.carbatec.com.au/carba-tec-c4-metalworking-lathe_c19802

Maybe Sieg has new models coming. I know the latest advertisement from Grizzly seems to imply that some of the machines from Sieg are getting overhauled. I don't have the magazine in front of me right now but if I remember correctly one mill is getting a new part number and there are other machines apparently getting minor revs by March 2015.

 

[Ethan D]

Hi Ethan, yes it is definitely my next lathe. While a lathe bigger than the C4 would be nice, it won't happen until I move into a new house with more space.

As for when? It would have happened last month if I was able to get to Carbatec when they were on special. I'm in no rush as I have the C3, so if they're ever on special again at either Carbatec or Ausee, I'll be on it like a fly to sh..!
It looks like Carbatec are discontinuing it as it is listed as "limited stocks. No backorders" so it may be possible to sweet talk them into the sale price.
http://www.carbatec.com.au/carba-tec-c4-metalworking-lathe_c19802

Oh ok. That's understandable. I wish I saw Carbatec's special! Haha. When I'm ready I'll speak to carbatec and see if I can sweet talk a nice deal. If not I'll just go to ausee. I'm just trying to finish of my mill conversion and then I'll be ready to order a new year brings a new toy hehe

 

[Ethan D]

Maybe Sieg has new models coming. I know the latest advertisement from Grizzly seems to imply that some of the machines from Sieg are getting overhauled. I don't have the magazine in front of me right now but if I remember correctly one mill is getting a new part number and there are other machines apparently getting minor revs by March 2015.

That's interesting. I wish it was earlier for any possible releases.

 

[Nomad]

Ethan,

I've owned the LMS 8x16 for awhile now. First lathe. It's great OOTB. One of the cons that I've seen elsewhere on the web is that the Compound Slide will not stay true throughout the total travel. It will wobble back and forth while turning the handle. You can adjust the Gibs and the backlash screw. With that said it just was not getting dialed in enough for me. As well while turning unless you lock the compound down to the gib, it will come come off the axis of travel by quite a bit. That's taking a half - inch CRS (.600 and some change) stock and going down to around .500 in one pass. So I suppose that is a good cut and a lot of force. I have temporarily solved the issue by drilling out a piece of brass stock and press fitting it into the underside of the compound. Overall a great first lathe and I would purchase it again.

-Max

 

[Ethan D]

Ethan,

I've owned the LMS 8x16 for awhile now. First lathe. It's great OOTB. One of the cons that I've seen elsewhere on the web is that the Compound Slide will not stay true throughout the total travel. It will wobble back and forth while turning the handle. You can adjust the Gibs and the backlash screw. With that said it just was not getting dialed in enough for me. As well while turning unless you lock the compound down to the gib, it will come come off the axis of travel by quite a bit. That's taking a half - inch CRS (.600 and some change) stock and going down to around .500 in one pass. So I suppose that is a good cut and a lot of force. I have temporarily solved the issue by drilling out a piece of brass stock and press fitting it into the underside of the compound. Overall a great first lathe and I would purchase it again.

-Max

Hi Max,

Thanks for your reply and input on this topic! Much appreciated!
Do you have any pictures off the brass stock that was fitted? Has this resolved the issue?

Cheers
Ethan

 

[Philjoe5]

I would suggest that taking a depth of cut of 0.050" in a steel bar, even free machining steel, will shake something loose on a lathe of this size. When used within its limits the compound and crosslide with appropriately adjusted gibs will cut a bar 7" long x 1" diameter true to within 0.001" over its length.

I know this because one of the first tests for any new lathe is a check of tailstock alignment. I was able to get the variation of diameter on a 7" test bar below 0.001" taking cuts of 0.010" on this lathe. I'd say cuts of 0.025" in steel or greater are beyond this lathes capacity. I'm not saying you can't do it, but if you make it a practice you'll knock something loose sooner rather than later.

I've owned a Grizzly 10 x 22 lathe weighing twice as much as the 8 x14 and my maximum cuts are 0.030". But in 7 years of constant use I've had to adjust the crosslide and compound gibs once and it cuts as true today as the day I bought it.

Good luck with your new lathe

Cheers,
Phil

 

[dennisa49]

Hello Ethan, check your PM's.
regards
Dennis

 

[///]

Well.... I've done it.
I've just purchased a C4.
Carbatec have their larger lathes on sale as they are now discontinued. I was told they are getting out of the metalwork side of their business.

The C4 is currently listed on their website for $1501, but the Brisbane store is the only one with stock that got back to me. They quoted $1450 inc gst, which makes it pretty much the same price as the local 9x20 (AL51G from Hafco), so I'm pretty happy with Carbatec's clearance price Thm:

Before committing, I contacted Ausee for their best price but there was no shift from the advertised $1799, so no competition.