....that the continuing frustration with the
Chinese Piece of $hit mini-lathe may be approaching an end.
I'd love to say I found a mug to buy it from me and I went and bought a proper lathe instead, but that would be a lie.
I decided to try and improve the rigidity by fitting a carriage-lock to it. I bought the little locking affair from AMADEAL some while ago (only £12.45 inc. P&P).
I tried to drill a 5mm hole through the carriage on the tailstock side in order to fit the carriage-lock.
The carriage must be made of impenetronium, not one drill bit of mine (including some quality Dormer bits) would get through it. So I have ordered a Tonguestain-Carglide bit to try and do the job another time.
But…. There was already an M6 hole on the other side of the carriage (for mounting a travelling steady). So, I used that M6 hole and popped the 5mm bolt thru that and the little “locking-block” on the underside of the carriage.
I locked the carriage and tried a facing off operation.
Bingo! clean as a whistle. I will pluck up my courage and try a parting off operation soon.
I looked at a BlondiHacks (Quin Dunki) and even on her more up-market "Precision Matthews" lathe she was always using a carriage lock when doing any facing/parting so I think I may be on the right track.