Re: What is the Best Unimat ? and WHY !
Having both a basic Cowells and 2 Sherlines, I agree.? If you are willing to spend, you can purchase a 3C collet head for Sherline.? You can put 1/2" through the head.? However, on average, Cowells lathes sell in the UK for prices higher than Unimat.? Cowells are not often for sale in the US.? So for US, we are back to Sherline.? No comment about Sherline availibility outside US.
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About
552 ?
On 3/10/2023 10:06 AM, clankennedy2004
via groups.io wrote:
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Show quoted text
SF = Swiss Francs ? How much
is that in UK ? ?
On Friday, 10 March 2023 at 14:33:36 GMT, John Entwistle
via groups.io <jentwistle3@...> wrote:
It’ll be a happy hobbyist who gets that for 611 sf!
On Mar 10, 2023, at 6:46 AM, Jeff R. Allen
<jra@...> wrote:
?
Don't want to make the North Americans jealous,
but check out this beautiful lathe+mill for sale
here in Switzerland!
Jeff
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Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
I would
rewire for that Lathe/Mill!
On 3/10/2023 9:04 AM, Jkle379184 via
groups.io wrote:
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?Do not forget that the
UK and USA motors do not use the same voltage.
?Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Brooks <peter@...>
To: clankennedy2004 <clankennedy2004@...>;
[email protected]
Sent: Fri, Mar 10, 2023 6:45 am
Subject: Re: [Unimat] Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill
Value ?
Commerce being what it is, some folks on ebay are
buying for the specific purpose of stripping machines
down into smaller pieces, and even down to individual
components in some cases.? Some add-on items are
marketed at fairly high prices.
In this case, apart from the lathe and milling
attachment ('drill'), both of which could well be sold
again as separate items, there is also the fine feed
adjuster on the milling attachment, and the power feed
on the lathe. Those could also be split off and sold
as separate items. Two motors as well - the original
concept being that the single motor was removed from
the lathe and fitted to the milling attachment when
required.
Of course a buyer aiming to resell items is also faced
with ebay fees, so there will be a finite price point
at which the item becomes unprofitable for them.
It doesn't look as if this listing includes any other
accessories - sometimes subsequent photos in a listing
will show extra parts, lathe chucks (there are 3 and 4
jaw), drill chucks, face plates and dogs, centres,
collet holders and collets, indexing heads, milling
table, cutters, the list goes on.? Although probably
more expensive initially it can be better value long
term (depending on what you aim to do) to purchase an
already extensive 'kit' than have to buy the extra
items afterwards (at inflated prices!).
It might be an idea to familiarise yourself with all
the accessories available (there should be adverts or
brochures in the 'files' section of this site). Good
advice as well to look at 'Sold' items on ebay to see
the prices things have sold for.
I'm stating the obvious here but early bidding is
really not a good idea on ebay... most often (but not
always!) the item is won by someone bidding at the
very last minute (which used to be known as
'sniping').? Early bidding tends to just push the
eventual end price up.
You might also want to look at the time that auctions
finish - Sunday evenings are apparently the most
popular, followed I think by Saturday then Friday
evenings.? Something ending at (for instance) 14:30 on
a Monday may get less attention and therefore be
obtainable at a better price.
|
If I'm reading that correctly, and bear in mind I don't speak French at all, the Buy-it-Now price is SF3440. My first visit to Germany, one of of the department stores in Wiesbaden had what I believe was an Emco Maximat 5 for DM1000, which was about $350 at the time. I was there TDY from Turkey, so I was only allowed to cash a check for $25/day, and only there for 3 days, so couldn't get it. By the time I got back there, in 1991, they were still about DM1000, but that was now more than $1000, and having my first two children born there, I was, again, not able to get it. It was 2008 or 2009 before I got the HF Mini-lathe, and 2015 before I found an Atlas TH42 I could afford, and 2021 before I got a Unimat SL-1000. SWMBO bought me a South Bend Heavy 10L in 2018, and my brother bought and delivered a Smithy CB-1220XL in 2020. All but the Atlas still need some work. Trying to get my old GI steel desk dragged out into the living room, and I'll be using it as a workbench out there, since I lost the former garage. Unimat assembly should go well on that desk. ;)
Right at the moment, I can't afford to buy another lathe that needs some work. SWMBO wants to see more progress on the Heavy 10L...
Bill in OKC
William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
Aphorisms to live by: Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement.? SEMPER GUMBY!
Expect in one hand, expectorate in the other. See which one gets full first.
On Friday, March 10, 2023 at 09:07:04 AM CST, clankennedy2004 via groups.io <clankennedy2004@...> wrote:
SF = Swiss Francs ? How much is that in UK ? ?
On Friday, 10 March 2023 at 14:33:36 GMT, John Entwistle via groups.io <jentwistle3@...> wrote:
It’ll be a happy hobbyist who gets that for 611 sf!
On Mar 10, 2023, at 6:46 AM, Jeff R. Allen <jra@...> wrote: ? Don't want to make the North Americans jealous, but check out this beautiful lathe+mill for sale here in Switzerland!
Jeff
|
SF = Swiss Francs ? How much is that in UK ? ?
On Friday, 10 March 2023 at 14:33:36 GMT, John Entwistle via groups.io <jentwistle3@...> wrote:
It’ll be a happy hobbyist who gets that for 611 sf!
On Mar 10, 2023, at 6:46 AM, Jeff R. Allen <jra@...> wrote: ? Don't want to make the North Americans jealous, but check out this beautiful lathe+mill for sale here in Switzerland!
Jeff
|
It’ll be a happy hobbyist who gets that for 611 sf!
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Mar 10, 2023, at 6:46 AM, Jeff R. Allen <jra@...> wrote: ? Don't want to make the North Americans jealous, but check out this beautiful lathe+mill for sale here in Switzerland!
Jeff
|
Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
?Do not forget that the UK and USA motors do not use the same voltage.
?Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Brooks <peter@...>
To: clankennedy2004 <clankennedy2004@...>; [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Mar 10, 2023 6:45 am
Subject: Re: [Unimat] Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
Commerce being what it is, some folks on ebay are buying for the specific purpose of stripping machines down into smaller pieces, and even down to individual components in some cases.? Some add-on items are marketed at fairly high prices.
In this case, apart from the lathe and milling attachment ('drill'), both of which could well be sold again as separate items, there is also the fine feed adjuster on the milling attachment, and the power feed on the lathe. Those could also be split off and sold as separate items. Two motors as well - the original concept being that the single motor was removed from the lathe and fitted to the milling attachment when required.
Of course a buyer aiming to resell items is also faced with ebay fees, so there will be a finite price point at which the item becomes unprofitable for them.
It doesn't look as if this listing includes any other accessories - sometimes subsequent photos in a listing will show extra parts, lathe chucks (there are 3 and 4 jaw), drill chucks, face plates and dogs, centres, collet holders and collets, indexing heads, milling table, cutters, the list goes on.? Although probably more expensive initially it can be better value long term (depending on what you aim to do) to purchase an already extensive 'kit' than have to buy the extra items afterwards (at inflated prices!).
It might be an idea to familiarise yourself with all the accessories available (there should be adverts or brochures in the 'files' section of this site). Good advice as well to look at 'Sold' items on ebay to see the prices things have sold for.
I'm stating the obvious here but early bidding is really not a good idea on ebay... most often (but not always!) the item is won by someone bidding at the very last minute (which used to be known as 'sniping').? Early bidding tends to just push the eventual end price up.
You might also want to look at the time that auctions finish - Sunday evenings are apparently the most popular, followed I think by Saturday then Friday evenings.? Something ending at (for instance) 14:30 on a Monday may get less attention and therefore be obtainable at a better price.
|
Don't want to make the North Americans jealous, but check out this beautiful lathe+mill for sale here in Switzerland!
Jeff
|
Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
Commerce being what it is, some folks on ebay are buying for the specific purpose of stripping machines down into smaller pieces, and even down to individual components in some cases.? Some add-on items are marketed at fairly high prices.
In this case, apart from the lathe and milling attachment ('drill'), both of which could well be sold again as separate items, there is also the fine feed adjuster on the milling attachment, and the power feed on the lathe. Those could also be split off and sold as separate items. Two motors as well - the original concept being that the single motor was removed from the lathe and fitted to the milling attachment when required.
Of course a buyer aiming to resell items is also faced with ebay fees, so there will be a finite price point at which the item becomes unprofitable for them.
It doesn't look as if this listing includes any other accessories - sometimes subsequent photos in a listing will show extra parts, lathe chucks (there are 3 and 4 jaw), drill chucks, face plates and dogs, centres, collet holders and collets, indexing heads, milling table, cutters, the list goes on.? Although probably more expensive initially it can be better value long term (depending on what you aim to do) to purchase an already extensive 'kit' than have to buy the extra items afterwards (at inflated prices!).
It might be an idea to familiarise yourself with all the accessories available (there should be adverts or brochures in the 'files' section of this site). Good advice as well to look at 'Sold' items on ebay to see the prices things have sold for.
I'm stating the obvious here but early bidding is really not a good idea on ebay... most often (but not always!) the item is won by someone bidding at the very last minute (which used to be known as 'sniping').? Early bidding tends to just push the eventual end price up.
You might also want to look at the time that auctions finish - Sunday evenings are apparently the most popular, followed I think by Saturday then Friday evenings.? Something ending at (for instance) 14:30 on a Monday may get less attention and therefore be obtainable at a better price.
|
Re: What is the Best Unimat ? and WHY !
Take a look at? equipment and
possibilities of the Unimat PC/Basic, expandable to CNC machine,
it was at her times far ahead of the competition and the last Emco
small machine manufactured exclusively in Austria, while the later
built 4/5 were already produced
abroad.http://www.lathes.co.uk/emco/page7.html
Regards. Lui
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Re: What is the Best Unimat ? and WHY !
The Unimat 3 is the best of the bunch in my opinion. It's more rigid than the SL and it has a slightly bigger spindle, with the more common M14x1 thread.?
That said, it isn't the best micro lathe of all. That title falls to the Cowells 90ME with the Sherline coming a close second.
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Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
I would have jumped at the opportunity to restore this particular lathe at this price. Unfortunately,?I am not in the UK.??
Regards, Andy On Thu, Mar 9, 2023 at 4:05?PM clankennedy2004 via <clankennedy2004= [email protected]> wrote:
Hey guys, Have any of you noticed the Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill on E-Bay ? Its in need of some TLC / restoration but overall looks like a reasonable small lathe ! I'm wondering what you all think its worth ? Guesses on what its final sale value may be ? I won't be bidding as its already over my budget but just trying to get a grip on the Unimat market. Seems a bit overpriced IMHO for what you get :/ Unsure if posting links is allowed but I hope so. Cheers and Kind Regards, Paul
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Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
Hi
Gang:
As a
practical machinist this looks like an OK deal. Sure it has
some surface rust, but it looks like a solid machine. Perhaps
not a light and flexible as a SL, but two motors and a fixed
drill / mill head.
Of
course it is more than a day to the final price.
Carl.
On 3/9/2023 4:41 PM, John Hutnick
wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Go to Ebay advanced, search for "unimat" in sold, sort maybe with
highest price and go down.? Whatever seems to be the selling price
range is the "Value".? What changes hands privately, garage sales,
Craigslist, and any other sales, are not the public value.? Think
of Ebay as the stock market, and there is a market price.
As far as what you showed, it is a rusty piece of junk in my
opinion.? I do not understand why prices are bid high, but ...
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Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
Whether something is "worth it" is really up to you.? Of course, only you know your needs, your budget, and whether or not you have done any homework on the market prices or the features versus other machines, vintage or not..
Regarding market prices, you said "seems a bit overpriced for what you get."? "Overpriced" tends to usually be a more subjective term than an objective one.? That's one of the nice things about eBay.? It shows what the "market" thinks.? And the "market" sets what the current value is.
But if you are looking for a small hobby size setup, the Unimat 3 lathe (and especially with the optional powered vertical head) is pretty respectable setup in my opinion.
If you are considering one, I suggest you peruse what these things have actually been selling for on eBay.? Just go to "advanced" search, enter "unimat 3", and then have it sort by "Price + Shipping highest first."? That will tend to put the complete machines at the top.? You might be surprised what they are selling.? Even for just the basic lathe.
Charles E. "Chuck" Kinzer
On Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 01:05:12 PM PST, clankennedy2004 via groups.io <clankennedy2004@...> wrote:
Hey guys, Have any of you noticed the Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill on E-Bay ? Its in need of some TLC / restoration but overall looks like a reasonable small lathe ! I'm wondering what you all think its worth ? Guesses on what its final sale value may be ? I won't be bidding as its already over my budget but just trying to get a grip on the Unimat market. Seems a bit overpriced IMHO for what you get :/ Unsure if posting links is allowed but I hope so. Cheers and Kind Regards, Paul
|
Re: Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
Go to Ebay advanced, search for "unimat" in sold, sort maybe with highest price and go down.? Whatever seems to be the selling price range is the "Value".? What changes hands privately, garage sales, Craigslist, and any other sales, are not the public value.? Think of Ebay as the stock market, and there is a market price.
As far as what you showed, it is a rusty piece of junk in my opinion.? I do not understand why prices are bid high, but ...
|
Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill Value ?
Hey guys, Have any of you noticed the Unimat 3 Combined Lathe and Drill on E-Bay ? Its in need of some TLC / restoration but overall looks like a reasonable small lathe ! I'm wondering what you all think its worth ? Guesses on what its final sale value may be ? I won't be bidding as its already over my budget but just trying to get a grip on the Unimat market. Seems a bit overpriced IMHO for what you get :/ Unsure if posting links is allowed but I hope so. Cheers and Kind Regards, Paul
|
Re: What is the Best Unimat ? and WHY !
I have had both, the SL1000 and the DB200.
They are both good,very versatile small machine tools. I have preference for the DB200 because being cast iron, it has more mass.
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Re: Rustoleum Green Hammered
They don't ship to the States.
I will check with a local Automotive parts shop that mixes paint to see if they can mix a Hammertone, if not then it's gonna be grey.
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Re: What is the Best Unimat ? and WHY !
The DB/SL is a very handy and adaptable machine, giving you more than just a lathe. The versatility is built in, not added as an afterthought. Then you can re-configure it to do many other jobs. But, it lacks rigidity and capacity when turning.
The U3 is better for turning, but only as versatile as a conventional lathe. The U4 is just a variant on the U3 - not significantly different in machining capacity or performance.
The PC is not much use today, as the electronics and computer requirements are very obsolete, but the Basic looks to be a solid machine, and has places provided to attach stepper motors and other components for NC use. I'm hoping that, with modern stepper motors it can become a useful NC machine.
In all cases a weak point is the motor - better replaced by modern permanent magnet types which pack more power into a smaller space with less heat and noise. There are plenty around for the DB/SL and U3, but for the PC/Basic it is more difficult due to the small size of the original motor. It would also be necessary to replace the speed control electronics, but that would be no bad thing.
So it's back to horses for courses. If you only have space for one machine get a DB/SL. If you only want turning, get a U3. If you want a more complicated life get a Basic, or a PC, strip off the stepper motors and find a better motor for it.
I have been in, or am in the middle of, all three situations.
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I was playing with the numbers a while ago and came to the conclusion that driving with a 24t gear on the spindle would open up lots of possibilities to extend the range of metric threads. Can't remember the details now. Also with minor mods to the change wheel plate shown it could handle compound gears, which would also open up the possibilities. Having said that, I bought a gear plate for my U3 and I've never use it.
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Carl
Bill in OKC too
John Entwistle
Unimat Matt
OldToolmaker