FOX

FOX MINI LATHE F46-252

Everything in the picture, is in the box!

Electronic Speed Control
Long Tool rest
Short Tool rest
Large face plate
Small face plate
Spindle Drive centre.
Ball race Tailstock centre
Spanner for face plates and Allen Keys.
Tommy bar, taper tapper-out.

Specification

Spindle speeds 750 - 3200 rpm
Distance between centres 13in 330 mm
Turning cap (diameter) 8in 200 mm
Overall length 650 mm (to end of bed)
Motor 250w / 1/3hp (sealed bearings)
Net weight 20 kgs
Packed dimensions 710x335x190
Spindle thread 1in x 8tpi (UNC)
Nose and Tailstock 1MT

£110 collected

Don’t just turn up though I have a relatively small unit stuffed with machinery and wood so I can only hold a small stock of boxed machines. If I’ve got one, fine, otherwise I re-order and they arrive within a week, I phone you, you come visit and of course you see all my other stuff! Large stocks of tools, materials and accessories, everything I use by way of running a woodturning business. All very competetively priced - no shop overheads!


	I am selling from the whole Fox range now at 20% below list. I have spotted however some firms selling cheaper but be careful some are charging up to £20 for delivery.

You need to be careful when buying these lathes, there are a number of different badges out there and a range of prices. There are variations in the speed controllers and some have been reported to be unstable at low speeds. Of the first batch I bought in, the first one was for me, previously I was dealing in the SIP version and there are differences. Both work fine but the Fox seems to be slightly slower and has more torque. The fittings on the Fox are better, the ball ended levers on the toolrest and tailstock are much nicer. The tailstock knob on the SIP was a nasty rubber moulding but this is metal. The SIP had the small 3/4in x 16tpi nose the Fox has a much more substantial 1in 8tpi. but both are bored Morse taper No1. My reason for changing was purely business SIP look down their noses a little businesses like mine Fox don’t but now I find Fox has a range of chucks to fit and a nice catalogue of other machinery including some nicely priced dust extractors.

I have mounted mine on a cheap “workmate” style stand but of the adjustable height variety as the regular ones are too low. I’ve made it to come apart for transport round the shows and I’ve added a safety screen and simple dust extractor. It attracts a lot of interest so now I am holding a modest stock of them.

In the workshop it earns its keep making my range of little things such as bottle stoppers light pulls, paper knives etc. But I also find its excellent for making lathe-tool handles and candlesticks. To be honest however the torque is not enough to use a bowl gouge to full effect on a capacity bowl blank but it is enough to learn how as it will take modest cuts and stall if you have a dig-in.

Nervous beginners I teach, also find it very friendly and non-threatening but by the time they have finished their courses they have usually tried all my professional types of machinery too. When you start out you usually have no idea which type of turning will suit you best. I always then recommend buying something cheap and robust like this. When you then upgrade later it can be to virtually anything but this one is small enough that you don’t need to sell it to reclaim its space.