Official Luthiers Forum!

Have any of you guys played with a Unimat 1 Classic? (http://
www.thecooltool.com/index_e.php)

If so... opinions?

It looks pretty cool and is probably a nice tool to have for modeling work. Check the specs. Its dimensions are pretty small and its movements are very limited.

What would you be using it for?

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

I used to have a Unimat machine-30 years ago.basically the same functions as the current one.
It is really small-not much I can see using it for guitar work-more for model makers.
I did use it to make bridge pins,end pins and stuff like that
I also had the mini table saw attachment for it which was good for making bindings and rossete logs.

I'd mostly be doing hobby stuff with wood and plastic, perhaps some
aluminum. I'd like to try my hand at building a small stirling engine, but I
don't think it can handle brass from what I've read.

I wish I had the dough to buy a nice Sherline lathe and mill, but I don't. I'm
still hunting around on eBay for something better.

I have a couple of recommendations. For less than the price of the Sherlines, you can get something bigger and more useful. There are a number of dealers that stock various mini mills and lathes, but I'll provide the links to one -- Wholesale Tool, whom I have done business with many times, and whom I can recommend. Here's a page showing a selection of the mini lathes they offer. And here's another link to one of their mini mills. Unlike the Unimats, these machines are big enough to be useful for a number of different types of work. The milling machine, in particular, is large enough to be useful for a variety of tasks in lutherie.

Crafstman used to make a small table top lathe that was about as big as the yellow and red ones you see in the above link. I had a friend who picked one up at a yard sale for next to nothing. It was very well made, and a helluva find. If you ever run across something like that, snag it!

Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live

How about
this lathe?

Know anything about it?

That is a very popular lathe for the home hobbyist. Check out the 7x12 Yahoo Group for more info and feedback about it. (You'll have to join the group before you can read the posts.)

I have a 9x20, which is similar in many ways. It's a nice little tool for what it does.

Best,

Michael
Michael McBroom39075.4219444444

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live