Price of Lathes

[rikrobson]

Yup back at 6 lathe unloaded lathe and down pub by 7. 40 odd mpg in an old audi a6 estate 2.5 tdi

 

[addjunkie]

I have a navara, i tootle along a similar route youve just done collecting uour lathe, i usually get 34/35 to the gallon.

Now ive looked at some modern clone excel lathes couple of years ago, the guy had 12, the i bought my clone 14x40, form the same dealer he had 10. Both lots came out of training schools. At the time i was told that education establishments now change their kit every 5 years....compliance or some ********. None of the machines were particularly abused, all had all the toys dro etc.

 

[rikrobson]

I have a Narnia.....


But it wont come out of the closet

 

[Keith 66]

I have a navara, i tootle along a similar route youve just done collecting uour lathe, i usually get 34/35 to the gallon.

Now ive looked at some modern clone excel lathes couple of years ago, the guy had 12, the i bought my clone 14x40, form the same dealer he had 10. Both lots came out of training schools. At the time i was told that education establishments now change their kit every 5 years....compliance or some ********. None of the machines were particularly abused, all had all the toys dro etc.

We have an Optimum lathe in our school marketed by Excel so probably the same machine, they are badged as made in Germany but are obviously chinese. To be fair its not a bad machine and is a lot better than the warco we used to have at my old place.
Recently i was talking to a D&T consultant during our training updates & he reckoned that most colleges that have far eastern lathes will swop them out for new ones on a 5 year cycle as by then they are pretty worn out & not worth fixing. Common fault was toolpposts snapping off due to heavy cuts being applied.
I suppose its a bit of a lottery you might be lucky & buy one like the one in our school, its now 4 years old & i was the first person to ever turn it on its done about 2 hrs work in the last year. Buy one thats come out of Prospects & it will have been hammered to death!

 

[Wedg1e]

We have an Optimum lathe in our school marketed by Excel so probably the same machine, they are badged as made in Germany but are obviously chinese.

I heard a rumour that Excel were hauled over the coals a few years back for importing far eastern machinery and selling them on with 'Made in England' badges.
Maybe changing England to Germany gets around the rules