lathe for a novice

[dai]

looking for a lathe
thinking maybe summat like this
http://www.warco.co.uk/WM-250-Variable-Speed-Lathe-9DC1EABD7F.aspx

any opinions out there

 

[gavuk]

What do you want to turn?......I chose an old Harrison rather than a newer chinese lathe ...do you have space for a larger machine?

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

Thats a very expensive mini lathe and there's only two differences I can see between the warco and the cheaper versions of the same lathe.

The between centers is 300mm longer ie its 610mm.
The spindle bore is 26mm as opposed to the standard 20mm whhich restricts the stock sized used.

Go for a big boys lathe if space permits?

 

[jackjosh]

Some of the Chinese lathes are pretty good nowadays but i think if you have a bit of space go for a British lathe, Harrison, Colchester, Raglan, Myford etc plus a lot of others. Try www.lathes.co.uk it is a superb website for anything to do with lathes. I am not missing out names I have just named the first four that came to mind, there are more, Boxford, Viceroy, Atlas(USA), Regal(USA) and tbh some of the old Drummond lathes are classics.
Have a look around

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

If space is a problem? take a look at this................distance between centers is 430mm and has the same spindle bore as the warco ie 26mm
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Clarke-CL500M...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2eaa1d0f71

 

[dai]

What do you want to turn?......I chose an old Harrison rather than a newer chinese lathe ...do you have space for a larger machine?

i want to turn odd bits and bobs about the farm

Thats a very expensive mini lathe and there's only two differences I can see between the warco and the cheaper versions of the same lathe.

The between centers is 300mm longer ie its 610mm.
The spindle bore is 26mm as opposed to the standard 20mm whhich restricts the stock sized used.

Go for a big boys lathe if space permits?

theres a cheaper version of that???
space is a little limited,but something could be accomodated if it suits

Some of the Chinese lathes are pretty good nowadays but i think if you have a bit of space go for a British lathe, Harrison, Colchester, Raglan, Myford etc plus a lot of others. Try www.lathes.co.uk it is a superb website for anything to do with lathes. I am not missing out names I have just named the first four that came to mind, there are more, Boxford, Viceroy, Atlas(USA), Regal(USA) and tbh some of the old Drummond lathes are classics.
Have a look around

would wear be a problem on a second hand lathe??

If space is a problem? take a look at this................distance between centers is 430mm and has the same spindle bore as the warco ie 26mm
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Clarke-CL500M...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2eaa1d0f71

i have been warned of them clarkes,looks ideal tho
i've been told they can be very hit n miss

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

i want to turn odd bits and bobs about the farm

Then seriously think of this one,don't know how much these go for in this condition?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Metal-Turning...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1c1d0a519a

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

i have been warned of them clarkes,looks ideal tho
i've been told they can be very hit n miss

Well I don't know about that,but the one I have linked to is their mid range model of Lathe and to be quite honest with you a mini lathe for farm bits and bobs turning is poor lathe to work with.
The mini lathe needs quite a bit doing to it from bog standard and parting off is extremely poor without modification.

 

[scott0031]

I am in agreement with what you have been told. If it's farm bits and bobs you want to do i do have a feeling you will be a bit disappointed with the toy style of lathe. Really depending on what farm equipment you wish to make new parts for, this as I'm sure you know can go to fairly large workpieces. You will probably find you will get frustrated with a toy lathe and end up sending the part to someone with proper equipment.

That thing you link to has a 900 w motor about 1.2 horse so it does not have a lot of poke. It could either be a 2 speed motor or a 2 speed gear box for the head stock. If the former it will lack guts for ripping material down and putting half decent holes through material such as an 1" and up which would be fairly typical for farm work. Although i will say the Warco ranges do have a lot better reputation than the other imported stuff. Warco have been going a long time and i think the machinery is made to their spec rather than being simply bought from an Asian producer as is.

I think to get a machine adequate for your needs you should be looking at something with a min of 2-3 horse and a geared headstock, preferably floor standing more beef and more guts.



The clarke one linked, ( not meaning to undermine George here) they are to be kind, totally atrocious. You can call them a lathe as they look like one but that's as far as it goes. Every time i have the misfortune to go into the local machine mart i often go turn a handle on the display machine, Its just a reminder to myself how anyone can sell such piles of junk and even have the balls to attempt to call it a lathe or even sell it for money in the first place.................... yep the quality is that bad.


If you can stretch to it, look for a half decent second hand proper machine tool. You will at least get a machine that will do what you want.


Kind regards.


Scott

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

I presume you have had one of these Clake lathes,Scott?

I have not but I won't be swayed off a piece of equipment unless its from a time served machinist who's had the chance to operate a particular piece of machine equipment.

 

[nodeward]

unfortunatley i have to agree clarkes are next to useless if you want any real accuracy, most of the modern stuff that is aimed at the home user is similar.
if you talk to any one in the industry (which i am by the way) they will recommend if you are looking for something under a grand then the things to look at are colchester or harrison and if you are struggling for space a myford. i have used them all and are decent machines, there is loads of info out there as well as spare parts and tooling.

 

[gavuk]

I used one 20years ago just out of my time ,i have to say i wasn't impressed,my chief engineer scrapped the old lathe (to his garage to this day!) and replaced it with a clarke,when faced with a similar choice i went old Harrison L5 rather than new....That colchester round head would tick a lot of boxes or any of the old names previously mentioned boxford or harrison to me

 

[scott0031]

I presume you have had one of these Clake lathes,Scott?

I have not but I won't be swayed off a piece of equipment unless its from a time served machinist who's had the chance to operate a particular piece of machine equipment.

George, I kindly ask you to go take a look at my profile if you feel i am not qualified to comment. I will add more images to my galleries if you are still not convinced.

I do not need to use one of those clarkes or the similar build quality version to know if it's good or bad. I can feel the slides/ screws and look at the general quality of machining and the build. They are abysmal. The ones i have inspected have beds/ slides machined like a ploughed field, not hardened and not ground. The screws i have seen on those machines are like very bad bits of studding. The slides and fit up was ermmmmmmmmmmmmmm how can i put it, well would be more accurate made out of lego. What more do you want me to say? Why would i ever want to use one to prove what i already know............. something called experience.

Kind regards,


Scott

 

[stormin]

I presume you have had one of these Clake lathes,Scott?

I have not but I won't be swayed off a piece of equipment unless its from a time served machinist who's had the chance to operate a particular piece of machine equipment.

I don't know Scott or his background but I can vouch for what he says. I'm not a professional machinist myself and nor have I used on of the Clarke machines but I do understand design principals.

The Headstock on the Clark machines has been jacked up above the bed to increase the swing to "impressive levels" unfortunately the bed is still the narrow pattern of a much smaller lathe, unable to take the increased loads and cutting forces involved without twisting. If you look at the majority of lathes, the design is very similar no matter what the scale, centre height above bed is always roughly equal to bed width. You can't go against over two hundred years of design philosophy from some of the worlds greatest machine tool makers.

The problem with the milling head of the machine is again lack of rigidity. Anytime you apply cutting forces to a piece of steel it wants to fight back to an extent and move parts of your machine. If you want to make decent cuts and progress you need a decent piece of solid iron, end of.

The Clarke machine may appear on paper to be impressive but it's cheap for a reason. Very light cuts on the lathe it may be O.K. for and the milling head is probably best reserved for drill press work.

 

[dai]

Then seriously think of this one,don't know how much these go for in this condition?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Metal-Turning...Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item1c1d0a519a

interesting

how much do we recon it will finish at then??
and what would be its realistic price??

 

[brightspark]

interesting

how much do we recon it will finish at then??
and what would be its realistic price??

if its in good nick and not worn probably fetch up to a grand . looks as though its been painted and no 4 jaw chuck though nice machine if it is in good condition mind

 

[ford34/2]

selling price

last three Students went for £362.56, £1076, £470

 

[dai]

last three Students went for £362.56, £1076, £470

how do you know that?????????????????

 

[hotrodder]

In the advanced search preferences you can select 'completed listings' to see how much similar items made. That Colchester looks very clean, even without a 4 jaw (around £100 - £200 from a used machinery dealer) and no mention of steadies i wouldn't be surprised if it went for a fair bit over a grand- choice of motors will increase it's appeal and it's soooo shiney...

Pretty much all been said about the Clarke but another thing to bear in mind with any small lathe is that the distance between centres can soon all but disappear once you've got a chuck and drill (or large MT drill) in the tailstock...

If you were considering dropping a grand on something like that Warco then it'd be worth looking at a couple of used machinery dealers stocklists. Several Harrison L5 going for 950+VAT for example... http://www.gandmtools.co.uk/cat_leaf.php?id=8305 and 3 of 'em at home and workshop... http://www.homeandworkshop.co.uk/27B016.jpg

To put 'taking a cut' and 'rigidity' into perspective machines like a Colchester student are what, around 700+ kg. Even something like a Myford ml7 is heavier than the Clarke and Warco despite it's smaller swing over bed and tiny spindle bore etc

 

[gavuk]

downside with the early L5 even when have the metric change gears is a lack of reverse,so screw threading is not ideal,having to leave the half nuts closed and winding the chuck back,not sure if the latter norton boxed version is better ,early versions like mine have still got a small through hole through the head, latter ones are bigger ,I think the harrison 140 may be ideal,i'm sure Hareng or Mr Fluffy or Brightspark can add to these comments though,as i think they all have harrisons .....still rather have an L5 than a warco or clarke though.....