Sieg SC4 thoughts and experience?

[Ethan D]

Congratulations man! Dennis had informed me a few hours back but I have to run things buy my wife who is still at work. If all goes well ill call around tomorrow.
Did you get any accessories?

 

[Ethan D]

What other stores did you try?

 

[Nomad]

Ethan,

I did document the process. Nothing fancy. Here are some pictures of the process I took. I have a LMS 8x16 and a G0704. I modified the hand-wheel as well from excessive rubbing. Again another minor issue. Overall the project was a success. However I did need to do quite a bit of lapping. Overall it helped a bit.

-Max

 

[dennisa49]

Hello All,
I have ordered a H & F AL51G (9X20). I bought it at the previous sale price ($1,150)
As this includes all of the attachments, it was a price I could live with.
More than happy to complete the mods required, no problems with the lighter
cuts required. I don't believe the difference in machines will disadvantage me in the hobbies I want to pursue.
I will let you know how this machine performs.
Regards,
Dennis

 

[Nomad]

Phil,

Thanks for the tip.

-Max

 

[///]

Hi Ethan,
I tried all stores. Perth has no stock, Adelaide only has the floor demo model, Melbourne and Sydney never got back to me.

Edit: oh, the only accessory I ordered is the faceplate, but the steadies are also discounted.

 

[Ethan D]

Thanks for that Max. I'll keep a note of this for future reference! Nice job by the way

Have fun with your AL51 Dennis! Looking forward to your updates! and seeing chips!

Thanks for that Simon! I'll try Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane tomorrow because MY WIFE SAND ITS ALL OK FOR ME TO BUY MY NEW TOY
Knowing my luck there won't be any left haha
Yeh I have put the faceplate and steadies in my cart. I also want a 4 jaw but they only have the one for the C3. Is that adaptable?

 

[///]

I also want a 4 jaw but they only have the one for the C3. Is that adaptable?

Mate, are you gonna be glad you asked!

I have the C3 4-jaw from Carbatec.
The bad news, it is only 100mm.
The good news? Well, it has a backplate to adapt it to the C3 spindle register of 55mm.
If we remove that backplate, then, according to this page at Ausee, we will find a 72mm register. This means it will be a direct fit on the C4!
Will update when I whiz the backplate off mine and measure it.
EDIT: Bingo it measures 72mm!

Unfortunately, the C6 chuck(125mm) from Carbatec will not fit the C4 without making/buying a suitable backplate ($30 from Ausee, plus freight)

 

[///]

Proof woohoo1
If you're unable to inspect yourself, ask them check the chuck is 100mm as they don't give the size on their site.

 

[Ethan D]

Thanks for that Simon, I appreciate you help.
Today I called them to make my order and was told to email it to them so they can provide a shipping quote. I did so, but there was no response so hopefully tomorrow I hear from them.
My order consist of the lathe, 11 peice cutting tools to get me started, collet chuck, both steadies, face plate, live centers and I'll add the 100mm four jaw chuck. And a swivel deburing tool.
Everything is so cheap! It still worked out less than the lathes normal price! Hehe

 

[///]

Nice order there Ethan!
Which store are you getting the quote from?
I was told today that after my order, there are two still in stock, I don't know if that is Australia wide or just at the Call centre in Brisbane.
Mine hasn't shipped yet, still waiting for the bank transfer to clear.

Nice price on the collet chuck, when I bought mine for the C3 they were quite pricey so I purchased an ER32 version from Arc Eurotrade in the UK, freight was high but from memory it still arrived here cheaper than the standard Carbatec price. No collets included though, the 19 collet set from CTC fixed that.

I notice Arc has new ER40 collet chucks to fit the C4... hmmmm, looks like I'll be spending more money!
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/Catalogue/Collets/ER-Lathe-Collet-Chucks

Like your 11 piece tool set, Carbatec threw in a 6peice tool set when I bought the C3 a decade ago, I had no joy with them and ended up buying a heap of HSS stock to grind my own.
Maybe I was expecting too much from them and was a bit rough on them, I don't know. I probably should try them again as I haven't touched them since.

 

[Philjoe5]

Ethan,
You'll soon be making chips. The collet chuck was a good choice. I have the ER-32 chuck and it's very well made. You can turn a large diameter shaft (say 3/8") to 1/8" diameter in steps and not lose your datum

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Ethan D]

Hi Simon, I got the quote from Brisbane. Apparently they are the only ones with them. Yeh the block said yesterday that he had 2 left so I was quick to move haha
Yeh the collet chuck is an amazing price! I'm cheering about that!
After reading your comment this morning I removed the cutters from my order. I found a 7pcs indexable carbide set for around $60 us. So ill buy that now haha.
I would love to learn to grind my own cutters but I won't have the time once I get my lathe haha

 

[Ethan D]

Hi Phill,

That's great to here! I'm excited for this entire order and for making chips haha

 

[///]

I would love to learn to grind my own cutters but I won't have the time once I get my lathe haha

I had no idea what I was doing back in the beginning either, but I decided to give it a go anyway as I had read that good HSS tools can leave a better finish and take more punishment (carbide doesn't like interrupted cuts, like flycutting, turning hex stock etc)
I looked at a few guides about tool grinding and tried it free-hand on my bench grinder.
I was very happy with the results and have never looked back.
The only insert tooling I have is an internal and external threading kit with ISO metric(60°) and imperial(55°)inserts, tho I am expanding my insert tooling, I've just ordered a boring bar from CTC.

 

[Ethan D]

I guess it's all about learning ay! I have read the same about HSS, but unfortunately I haven't experienced much turning as this is just a hobby, and during my boilermaking apprentice I didn't get to touch the lathe or mill.
In the next couple of weeks I'll buy some HSS stock and see how I go! Haha. Google will help me haha

I got a nice email after work informing me that my order is being processed! I better clean up my bench this weekend haha. I have very limited space as my wife and I are in a granny flat whilst we are saving for a house "garage" lol
Does CTC have good prices?

 

[Philjoe5]

If you're referring to CTC Tools, their prices for gear cutters are great, usually NMT $150 USD for a set of 8. Indexable turning tools and inserts are priced OK and the quality of the the ones I've purchased has been very good.

Cheers,
Phil

 

[Ethan D]

Thanks for that Phil. I'll look into them

 

[Ethan D]

Guess what arrived at work today! Hehe

 

[///]

Guess what arrived at work today! Hehe

Woohoo! Nice!
Mine shipped on the 8th, but it has to travel over 4000 kilometres so I'm not expecting to see it until next week

Sorry, haven't checked in for a while, yes CTC prices are good. As Phil says some things are more competitive than others. Funny he uses gear cutters as an example, as there is a set in my recent order!