Beginners lathe - under £300?

[xraymtb]

I found out today I got a place on an evening class in woodturning so my thoughts about buying a lathe have gone from...'ooh, that might be fun,' to, 'how much can I spend on a lathe without SWMBO making me sleep in the shed'.

I think my budget is going to be up to £300 all in. I have a grinder already so the budget is to cover tools and the lathe (and maybe a chuck - but that can wait a while?).

I had looked at the Perform CCL that everybody seems to say good things about but also notice the Axminster AWVSL1000 that seems to be a better long term option?

I suppose I'm asking, should I spend £160 or £220 or even more (up to £300) as a beginner?

 

[Dave Atkinson]

Hi Mike
I would spend as much as you can afford and you will need a chuck. There's a couple of Woodworking shows in October in the Midlands and Harrogate in November. Be worth a visit if you're not too far away then you can compare and contract. The latest Record Lathe (I think it's the 305) has had some good write ups and it's around your budget level.

Where are you based? I have a set of six tools in a box that I bought when I started out. They're in good condition and will get you started. I used them for 5 years and they've plenty of life in them. After that I upgraded lathe and tools. Let me know if you're interested. I can take a photo at the weekend and email you. I'm away working at the moment.
Cheers Dave

 

[xraymtb]

I had considered going to the Harrogate show in November, its not too far from me in the Scottish Borders and the Scottish show isn't until March.

Is a chuck an essential when starting out or is it a preference? I had noticed that chucks are pricy and would have quite an effect on the amount I could spend on a lathe.

 

[Dave Atkinson]

Hi Mike
This club may be near you (haven't got a map handy)
Scottish Borders Woodturners
Meets at Crailing Village Hall, Crailing, Roxburghshire
4th Thursday of month 7.00pm
Secretary: Bill Turnbull Tel: 01835 862675
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.scottishborderswoodturningclub.co.uk

If you go along they're sure to be able to help out.

I would suggest a chuck is required as it enables you to make all sorts of things. You can get them for under a hundred quid and you may get a deal at the show You will need to ensure that the chuck has the same thread size as your lathe - most manufacturers' chucks can be supplied with an insert to fit.

I don't know of any shops in your area. The nearest one to you is probably G&S Timber at the Alpaca Centre, Penrith, just off the M6. http://www.gs-specialist-timber.co.uk/

Hope that helps.

Cheers Dave

 

[user 5053]

Get the biggest and best lathe you have space for. You can always do small stuff on a big lathe. Probably look to spend over a grand. The Hegner HDB 200 is a superbly built and versatile machine. There is masses of used kit about, so you might want to look down that road.

 

[loz]

Is a chuck an essential when starting out or is it a preference? I had noticed that chucks are pricy and would have quite an effect on the amount I could spend on a lathe.

Mike, Just get a faceplate or woodscrew chuck for now - and save for the scroll chuck at a later date. Both teh above are cheap as chips. Some on here that can cut threads would probably even make their own.

Loz

 

[Bodrighy]

If you buy a lathe new there's a good chance that you would get the face plate and screw free with it anyway. \\\\remember that tho' chucks are really useful there a dozensof ways of turning things without one. Better spending the money on a decent lathe and some tools to start with Look at the CCl and other lathes in this price bracket (sub £200) decent enough lathes and will do most things that you are likely to ask of them for a year or two.

Pete

 

[Dave Atkinson]

Hi - it seems I've fallen foul of a rule about website addresses in my previous posy as it says "report to moderator". Sorry! They were just organisations I thought Mike may find useful - I have no connection with them, nor was I promoting them in any way.

Cheers Dave

 

[Paul.J]

Hello Dave and welcome
Your addresses have been caught by the Spamtrap :?
You will be fine when you get a few more posts under your belt

 

[Dave Atkinson]

Thanks Paul - they're there now - it's a mystery to me. :lol:
Cheers Dave

 

[Bodrighy]

One of the mods probably did it for you. I think it's to prevent any Tom **** & Harry coming on and using the forum as advertising space. You didn't do anything wrong

Pete

 

[mrs. sliver]

I have just had the same decision to make myself Mike. and all the lathes in this price range seem to have similar features and you appear to gain very little by spending £299 on one as opposed to £159 for the CCL, plus this leaves you with money left over for a chuck. Mine just arrived this afternoon and I am pleased with it, though haven't had time to play properly yet. and yes you get a face plate but not a screw.

 

[loz]

I wish my faceplates had flats ( for grips, spanner etc ) on them like that - my Record ones are round at the shaft, and a bugger to get off when tight.

 

[xraymtb]

you appear to gain very little by spending £299 on one as opposed to £159 for the CCL

I looked again at the CCL versus the Axminster AWVSL1000.

The price difference (currently) is £60. For that you appear to get...

1100mm between centres vs 840mm
350mm over the bed vs 280mm
750W motor vs 550W

Plus the headstock is free to be moved along the bed (which I read somewhere was a good feature to have?)

I really don't know if it's worth having these extra's when the CCL is 3/4 of the cost?

 

[Dave Atkinson]

For a more powerful motor, bigger swing over the bed and longer between centres I'd pay the extra £60.
I reckon you'd regret it when you needed that extra "oomph" after you've been turning for a while.
Cheers Dave

 

[loz]

is it not £140 difference ???

 

[Paul.J]

When i was looking at the Perform lathes i phoned Axy up and asked why there was a price difference on the two lathes that looked identical and was told that the Axy ones have better bearings fitted,a better finish on the castings,and just generally an all round better finish.
Whether this was true i don't know not having seen the Axy in the flesh so to speak.
So i went for the cheaper option and bought the CCBL and a Supernova chuck with what i had over.

 

[Bodrighy]

For a more powerful motor, bigger swing over the bed and longer between centres I'd pay the extra £60.
I reckon you'd regret it when you needed that extra "oomph" after you've been turning for a while.
Cheers Dave

In my limited experience, having started with the CCL, by the time you outgrow the limitations of the CCL you are looking at more than the Axminster lathes provide, better speeds, more power, more swing especially. Few of us need the long spindle length often enough to pay out for that. If (as you are likely) you experiment a lot then there will come a time when you will want to be able to do bigger, in the meantime this lathe will be more than adequate IMHO

Pete

 

[xraymtb]

is it not £140 difference ???

The AWVSL1000 I was looking at was only £219 - I have £300 total to spend, hence the £299 comment.

In my limited experience, having started with the CCL, by the time you outgrow the limitations of the CCL you are looking at more than the Axminster lathes provide, better speeds, more power, more swing especially. Few of us need the long spindle length often enough to pay out for that. If (as you are likely) you experiment a lot then there will come a time when you will want to be able to do bigger, in the meantime this lathe will be more than adequate IMHO

But surely, by spending £60 now, I can hold off on needing to buy even bigger and better?

 

[Bodrighy]

The main difference between the CCL and the AWVSL1000. is quality not function. To get a greater power, speed range etc you are talking at least £500+. I have been using a CCL for about 18 months and the things that have become a problem to me are the power, the speed (bottom speed is too fast for heavier unbalanced wood) and the weight. I had to make a stand and bolt it down before I could lose vibration on some of the things that I turn. For many things it's fine and should last for years. Upgrading IMHO should be to something with decent variable speeds from 0-2000+, as heavy as possible and as much swing over the bed as possible and/or the ability to have the headstock at the end of the bed. Personally I don't like working over the side, it always seems top heavy to me. Lathes like the upper end Jets, Wivamarc, Nova etc which cost a lot more.

Pete