Mini-Lathes (Good Investment???????)

[Drew_CarreyAB]

Would it be possible to use a mini lathe to thread the end of a rifle to accept a muzzle break? I guess you could even make breaks of your own design, but my other question directly related to the first would be, do you fit the barrel through the chuck or would you just use a tap and die set? I ask, because I own a T/C Encore and would like to have integral muzzlebreaks on them but at the cost of over $300USD to ship them, get the work done, and ship them back, I'm looking at well over a thousand dollars(A mini-lathe runs about $500)to get the work done, where as I could spend some time and learn a new craft. I dunno, any help or comments would be greatly apreciated. Thanks.

[strut64]

I own a mini lathe. it can do small work but not what your thinking of. It needs to be a much larger more sturdy machiine. for example the head spindle bore needs to be much larger than that of a mini lathe. Save your money and look for a used engine lathe that is being phased out of a vo tech ,school, or business doing some upgrading or some such thing. Be aware that your tooling will also require as much thought and cost. Good luck

[squirrelman]

You will need a bigger machine to do what you have in mind. I have a mini lathe and use it for making small gun parts and for that purpose it is fine.

[BILLY D.]

D: all of the above. Had a friend who had one and he always needed something bigger. Sold the little booger and bought a big machine. He kicked himself every time he looked at the little machine.

Bill

[PaulS]

To cut threads on a barrel you need to have the barrel through the chuck and sticking the muzzle away from the lathe. This leaves the breach end open so you can cut threads without the center getting in the way.
You only need twenty-six to thirty inches between centers and a 2" through hole chuck to do all the gun work you will ever need BUT always - ALWAYS - get more lathe than you think you need. You will find that you can always use a larger more complex lathe. Stay away from combination tools - get a real, gear head, lathe.
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[skeet]

is correct. I still have a good mini lathe(minimat) and for small work it is fine. Made lots of firing pins etc with mine. For 5-700 you can find a good older lathe that will do everything you will need. Tools chucks etc will be extra but you can amortize them over a period of time. Most any good machine shop in your area can do what you need to have done..usually at a reasonable cost. A fellow from Cody and I are having a few bbls threaded right now. We'll have about 35 bucks each in that work.