Hell everyone,
My wife’s uncle just gave me a metal lathe. I pretty much figured out where I’m to put in in the house…woodshop, but never used one. I’ve only used a wood lathe and spent a few hours fiddle-diddling on it with inexpensive wood.
Anyone have exp. on one o’ these puppies? Straight forward>?or a little tricky.
upiper71
I’ve used a little tiny metal lathe, in the past. I really got a kick out of it.
I’ve never used a wood lathe, though, so I couldn’t give you any kind of comparative analysis. I will say this: I am not at all mechanically inclined. I have trouble gluing popsicle sticks together. I used a (admittedly small) metal lathe.
Just don’t try to turn any metals that the bit isn’t meant to turn. If the metal is too hard for it, you could mess something up.
I’m rather disappointed with this post. But I’m sure someone a little more knowledgeable will answer you. 
That experienced person is not me, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
The metal lathe I used was pretty simple for what I was doing (fooling around doing some small spindle turning, and modifying bits for machining use). Things like spindle turning I imagine aren’t too tricky, but when it comes to doing boring and reaming and the such (which I have nadda experience with) I suppose things get a whole lot trickier. So I suppose it all depends on what you plan on doing with it.
I used to do a lot of work on metal lathes. Some big machines too. They are a lot of fun. Just make sure you take things slow at first. Get to know how the gears work with one another.
If the lathe is spinning fast and you engage the gear to turn the feed screw that moves the saddle that holds the cutting tool. It can feed into your work very fast and something will give. Wear a face-mask.
I have been shopping for a used lathe for a while now. Every good deal is picked up before I can get it.
Enjoy
Hey Douglas, Thanks. Apparently, there are one or two parts missing for it but it’s name on it is..Delta Rockwell, it is green in color, and don’t know whether it is the original paint, but who cares right, it’s free! 
Thanks again..
There is metal lathe-specific knowledge you need to acquire…general lathe operation, appropriate cutting speeds, safe set-ups. There are some basic overviews on the internet, school books on machinist theory are a great source & available at your library, and courses at a local community college are probably the best educational source of all…many instructors will let you work on personal projects if they involve the machining principles they want you to learn. Internet forums, like Practical Machinist, are very helpful too…especially if you have any Delta specific problems. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask…some of us have been kicking metal lathes in the nads for 30 years & are still lucid enough to almost provide a coherent answer.
Machine Tool Technology, McCarthy-Smith, ISBN 67-21722
http://www.americanmachinetools.com/how_to_use_a_lathe.htm (great info, slow download)
http://www.lathes.co.uk/page13.html
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi
Hey John, Thanks for the tips, and links… now I know I really slept in workshop school, I decided to go into the Electrical Engineering trade instead.
I’m sure between your tips, links, info. and giudance from a few friends that I’ll be stepping into the passengers’ seat for a while on the lathe, but at least I’ve got the safety gear to go with it.
upiper71
upiper71,what length is the metal work lathe, 
it will need to be mounted on a good sturdy bench, thats if it has no metal cabinet which they are usually mounted on,go to the library and get some books on useing a metal work lathe, you can make pipes on a matel work lathe, but I find working on a wood work lathe much better, for one,you can work much quicker, & faster, and also acheive a better finish on the wood, with having a higher speed on a wood work lathe than that of a engineering lathe, 
I know, some of today’s more mordern metal work lathes have higher speeds around 2000-3000rpm max,where the older engineering lathe’s, work with speeds of 1450rpm max, the wood work lathe’s have speeds between 2000rpm & 3500rpm, 
and when trained in wood turning with chisels,wood work can be done much quicker and with just as much accuracy than wood turned on a metal work lathe, but everyone to there own,still a nice thing to be given,all the best
with your new lathe, reedman.
Well, I haven’t received delivery of the lathe yet. It won’t be until another month or month and-a-half before I do so. When I do howver, I’ll be sure to reply here to advise of the length and dynamics of the setup. Like I posted earlier, it has one or two parts missing to it, so I’ll have to see what their worth before I can make it more operator-friendly.
I’m not a lathe expert or anything, I’m still a learner.
Hi Daryl,
Before you begin, be sure the safety side is covered… wear a facemask (Douglas also mentioned this). With regard to general operation tips: slower turning speeds the better for the most part, watch your cutting position with regard to the turning axis… too low and the piece may “catch” and be thrown from the headstock, don’t feed cutter too quickly into piece or you may “catch” as above or you will push your metal in the headstock causing score marks which will require a great deal of sanding/buffing to remove, keep cutting tools sharp, be weary of sharp edges on cut metal surface (can slice you easily).
As I said these are general tips but I hope this helps.
Cheers,
CJ
Thanks Chris. Perhaps, you could fancy me with a short tour whenever time bides you?
Daryl
No problem Daryl.
Cheers,
Chris