Machine Considering Buying a King 1236ML Looking for Opinions

[Jason Silliker]

I guess it depends on whether or not it's a different lathe a shorter version of the otherwise identical lathe might be more rigid than the longer lathe. Also depends on whether one includes the weight of the stand and the other doesn't. Regardless, I'd bet a 12" lathe would probably be plenty rigid enough for hobby use and certainly more rigid than the equivalent smaller lathe.

The part I was agreeing with was the size difference. The 12/28 is a bench top but Craftex did/do make a similar gear driven 12/36. There's a gentleman that has one for sale in Ontario as of this morning on Kijiji with a mill as well. Package deal for 5000. Little older machines but sees like good price.
I've seen some You tube vids where guys were taking some heavy cuts but not sure of the rake angle. That being said, they might not stand up to long term heavy cuts or heavy use lol. Buddies next video was one of a busted head stock. JK. The King is 710lbs plus whatever the stand weighs. Variable speed would be nice but I'll take the rigidity of the gearhead.

 

[Jason Silliker]

Your machine jack Jason, super nice and very handy.

It comes in handy, just a 15 ton jack or the 20 if needed, a bearing collar on top with toe welded to it and the foot welded to the base. I bolted a teflon block to the to to keep it square to the jack. Great for same buildings as well.

 

[Jason Silliker]

Finished cleaning up the accessories, the 4 jaw never even had the cam lock studs installed yet lol. I ran a dedicated 12/2 wire over & I'm waiting for a 20 amp receptacle. I know it's only 15 amp but if I get a Mill I'd like to run both off the same receptacle and 20 amps will be fine (Lathe is 8.7 Mill is 11. Not that I'd be running both at once, can't run either yet) This way I'm covered & only running wire once. I then welded up L brackets and hung 2-4' LED 5400 lumen lights above the window in the pic, & ran power from an existing switch up to the lights but then seen Princess Auto has 10000 lumen ones on starting today for 44 bucks. They hang from a chain which I wasn't keen on before but these are hard wired & you can daisy chain them. I'll just cut the new feed off where I fed it out the wall & install a receptacle. they have the pull chain but I prefer the switch & that means the whole morning wasn't a waste lol. The brackets won't be a total waste either, they'll be used elsewhere.
Big lathe day.......I actually switched the jaws in the 3 jaw & bored ONE hockey puck to start the feet. That got the lathe dirty so I stopped. The level will be here Sunday. That being said it was a full day of pulling/fishing wire and moving junk in my attic to run said wire. I made a set of retractable stairs to my attic via a winch & cable years ago but it's the best & worst thing I done. Very easy to walk up & store junk but it's also the worst thing, BECAUSE it's easy to walk up and store junk..ugh. Hopefully grab the 10,000 lumen lights tomorrow or Thursday & install them.

 

[Jason Silliker]

If the seller has larger machines, then he will undoubtedly be biased (and probably trying to upsell bigger machines too). Of course bigger and heavier is more rigid. Surprise surprise. But that doesn't mean that a 12" won't still do it with relative ease. In the context of Hobby use, a 12" lathe is still a big lathe. With a decent tool holder and a proper setup, no problem at all using negative rake tools. Is a 14 or 16 better? Absolutely! But even if you have a 16", 20 will be better still. Sooner or later you have to shit or get off the pot. A 12" lathe is a VERY NICE Lathe. With a proper setup, it will easily handle negative rake tools. I'm not budging from that opinion.

About 20% of our members have a 12" lathe. That's a pretty high number. Why not ask them directly! Darn good chance that most of them have tried it and will be able to say if it works or not. Count me as one who has seen it with his own two eyes (I had 2 at the time but I'm a one eyed man ever since my stroke).

Ideally I would've liked a 14/40 but they are few and far between here & space is kind of a concern too. In saying that I think this one will be fine. Everett seem to like his as well.

 

[Susquatch]

I know it's only 15 amp but if I get a Mill I'd like to run both off the same receptacle and 20 amps will be fine (Lathe is 8.7 Mill is 11. Not that I'd be running both at once, can't run either yet) This way I'm covered & only running wire once.

There is one more reason to think it's fine. Although they are rated at 11 and 8.7, the mill will almost never draw the 11 amps except when you push it to the very limit, and the lathe will only see 8.7 when for a few seconds when you spin up the motor. So even if you were able to run them both at once, it's unlikely you would blow a breaker.

 

[Jason Silliker]

There is one more reason to think it's fine. Although they are rated at 11 and 8.7, the mill will almost never draw the 11 amps except when you push it to the very limit, and the lathe will only see 8.7 when for a few seconds when you spin up the motor. So even if you were able to run them both at once, it's unlikely you would blow a breaker.

Yeah those are FLA numbers so it's pretty safe. I also had the 12/2 sitting there so that helped. No issue getting a single plug receptacle but a double wasn't as common. 9 bucks on Amazon & didn't have to leave home lol.

 

[1018Machine]

I guess it depends on whether or not it's a different lathe a shorter version of the otherwise identical lathe might be more rigid than the longer lathe. Also depends on whether one includes the weight of the stand and the other doesn't. Regardless, I'd bet a 12" lathe would probably be plenty rigid enough for hobby use and certainly more rigid than the equivalent smaller lathe.



If the seller has larger machines, then he will undoubtedly be biased (and probably trying to upsell bigger machines too). Of course bigger and heavier is more rigid. Surprise surprise. But that doesn't mean that a 12" won't still do it with relative ease. In the context of Hobby use, a 12" lathe is still a big lathe. With a decent tool holder and a proper setup, no problem at all using negative rake tools. Is a 14 or 16 better? Absolutely! But even if you have a 16", 20 will be better still. Sooner or later you have to shit or get off the pot. A 12" lathe is a VERY NICE Lathe. With a proper setup, it will easily handle negative rake tools. I'm not budging from that opinion.

About 20% of our members have a 12" lathe. That's a pretty high number. Why not ask them directly! Darn good chance that most of them have tried it and will be able to say if it works or not. Count me as one who has seen it with his own two eyes (I had 2 at the time but I'm a one eyed man ever since my stroke).

Well I'm not one to judge! If you've done it then I have to take your word for it. I guess because I've been warned about it I've never tried....perhaps I should, some of that neg Rake stuff can produce beautiful finishes on stainless.

 

[Susquatch]

Well I'm not one to judge! If you've done it then I have to take your word for it. I guess because I've been warned about it I've never tried....perhaps I should, some of that neg Rake stuff can produce beautiful finishes on stainless.

If you want to try it, I'd recommend 5/8 tool holders and tools that use shims/anvils under the inserts. As hard as I have tried, I've never really understood what makes anvils provide such a boost to inserts, but they do generally impart negative rake and they do work.

 

[Jswain]

Sweet lathe! Grew up in westend of Summerside myself.

Love the floor jack lift, might have to steal that idea as I have the 20t that I removed off my shop press....

 

[Susquatch]

It comes in handy, just a 15 ton jack or the 20 if needed, a bearing collar on top with toe welded to it and the foot welded to the base. I bolted a teflon block to the to to keep it square to the jack. Great for same buildings as well.

You are one lucky shit you know. That lathe is prolly the steal of the year!

It seems we forgot the obligatory congrats. In other words,.......

YOU SUCK!!!

I know you posted the jack earlier. Can you also post a photo of this nylon block arrangement? Frankly that business of keeping the lift square to the jack was the only thing I didn't like about it.

Also more details about the bearing. I don't see why that is needed, but you must have had a reason!

So how are you coming along with your first project? Hopefully a lathe height standard!

 

[Jason Silliker]

Sweet lathe! Grew up in westend of Summerside myself.

Love the floor jack lift, might have to steal that idea as I have the 20t that I removed off my shop press....

Awesome. I’m just in Emerald just outside of Kensington 15 minutes from Summerside. Definitely not my idea but I will post some better pictures after. Just Google toe jack all kinds of great ideas there.

 

[Jason Silliker]

You are one lucky shit you know. That lathe is prolly the steal of the year!

It seems we forgot the obligatory congrats. In other words,.......

YOU SUCK!!!

I know you posted the jack earlier. Can you also post a photo of this nylon block arrangement? Frankly that business of keeping the lift square to the jack was the only thing I didn't like about it.

Also more details about the bearing. I don't see why that is needed, but you must have had a reason!

So how are you coming along with your first project? Hopefully a lathe height standard!

I don’t know about the steal of the year, but thanks. It’s a good price in my area as they are very few in between, so I’m happy enough I guess.Yeah I’ll post some pictures when I get a chance. It’s not a bearing. I should’ve said shaft collar. Just a regular shaft collar that fit over the top of the stem of the jack and before I welded it to the toe, I lined up the Allan screw so that you could tighten it onto the top screw on the jack. Only thing you need to be mindful of is the screw can turn a little bit under a load. The Teflon piece was just a piece of half inch that I took a blending disc and contoured it to the bottle jack. As far as it keeping it square I guess it’s more to keep the toe from rubbing up against the body of the jack. If you don’t have something in between it or have the metal toe rubbing right against the jack, the load is going to cause the jack to tilt if that makes sense? I’m horrible at explaining things through writing lol.
I definitely want to do a lathe height standard. Oddly enough I’m usually the first one to jump in and start playing with a new toy but this time I said I want to get everything kind of half ass set up. I have to make some levelling feet and my level is showing up today along with a couple of more tool holders. I’m hoping to get the two new 10,000 lumen lights up tomorrow.
As far as the height standard, I seen a quick and dirty one where somebody just cut a section of round stock that sat on the cross slide, and then would set the tool height off of that probably sufficient for a beginner?

 

[Jason Silliker]

You can see the set screw of the bearing collar on the top of the jack. I just used a shaft collar because that’s what I had but any bushing would do. The Teflon was counterbored to accommodate the nut and the steel “toe” was countersunk to accommodate the countersunk bolts.

 

[Susquatch]

If you don’t have something in between it or have the metal toe rubbing right against the jack, the load is going to cause the jack to tilt if that makes sense? I’m horrible at explaining things through writing lol.

I thought you actually explained it quite well. I just wanted a photo to see how you did it.

I did think you meant a bearing at the top of the Ram, but I can see why you would choose that word.

I definitely want to do a lathe height standard.

I prefer one that sits on the flat way instead of on the cross-slide. If you search the forum for "height standard" or "lathe standard" you will find many nice write-ups of how various members did it. Just pick the one that strikes your fancy.

Here is mine that I made from a big rusty old farm bolt.



The tool is actually a few thou high. But the human finger is so sensitive that such a difference is easily detected. Setting the center height to less than a thou literally takes a few seconds and it's fool proof.

 

[YYCHM]

Thread 'Show us your Tool Height Standard'

Jul 20, 2022

It's time for me to make one, but before I do, I want to see what you guys use.

Craig

• YYCHM
• Replies: 99
• Forum: Tools, Work Holding, Cutters, Bits

• 

 

[Jason Silliker]

I thought you actually explained it quite well. I just wanted a photo to see how you did it.

I did think you meant a bearing at the top of the Ram, but I can see why you would choose that word.



I prefer one that sits on the flat way instead of on the cross-slide. If you search the forum for "height standard" or "lathe standard" you will find many nice write-ups of how various members did it. Just pick the one that strikes your fancy.

Here is mine that I made from a big rusty old farm bolt.

View attachment 58841

The tool is actually a few thou high. But the human finger is so sensitive that such a difference is easily detected. Setting the center height to less than a thou literally takes a few seconds and it's fool proof.

Yup that's what I was thinking.....I'll keep you posted. With a small lathe/cross slide it seemed like it would be more of a pain to use, the bed seems much better.