Headstock returns!!!

[Paul.J]

Yes got my headstock back yesterday from Hegner,all very well packed,with new bearings fitted,great.
But when i came to refit it onto the lathe i noticed there was a big ding on the corner of the head with some concrete chips still attached
Now this to me looks to have been an heavy blow,so would this have caused any more damage to the headstock :?:
I did phone Hegner to tell them but they finish at one on a Friday,so i just left a message.
Haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

 

[johnny.t.]

ooh not good, hope it works ok.

 

[colin macdiarmid]

good idea to phone them to report it, but I would possibly take some digi photos and email them to them as well. Just a thought. hope all works out okay

 

[TEP]

I agree, email a photo as proof. Then check the head is working, sound like it has been dropped in their workshop, then just packed for shipment. Sounds like a very helpful company Paul, but you can do without this when it is a new lathe. Hope all goes well when they get back on Monday.

 

[cornucopia]

oh dear- was it damaged in transit or at hegner's workshop?

 

[Paul.J]

Here is a piccy of the damage :shock:

It must have been done Hegners end as it was so well packed,in two boxes,with foam rubber,bubble wrap,and shredded paper round it,and there was no damage to the outer box.

 

[CHJ]

Jeez Paul, not having much luck with that machine,

1. Motor creating extreme noise as supplied (diagnosed by supplier as fan loose and binding on casing), still the same on return from supplier assumed moved again in transit.

2. Tool rest saddle not flat and causing binding when moved across bed, had to be filled flat to function satisfactorily.

3. Headstock spindle vibrating when cutting endgrain. accepted as most likely bearing problems by supplier, evidence of mis-handling damage on return, hopefully vibration has gone.

Having been party to some of the liaison on the above problems I can only commend the response of the supplier as far as customer service but am feeling very embarrassed that I was also party to your initial choice of what I expected to be a well tried and better quality machine.

 

[Paul.J]

CHJ wrote

Jeez Paul, not having much luck with that machine,

It would seem that way Chas :roll:
Had a little play with it earlier on,using the same piece of Beech,and the same vibration is still there

 

[boysie39]

Paul.J, I know how you feel as in my short time I had a few Bummers result of buying cheap and payed the price. But Hegner are not a cheepie and I was considering getting one but changed my mind for a Nova.
I suppose the averages come into it and you were just unlucky, but surely Hegner have a repuation to look after thrir customers and one problem can be overloked if they resolve it , but two or three is in my opinion is too many and you should ask them to replace the lathe with one which is in line with Hegners guarentee of a top class product.
Looking at their Ad. in the Woodturning Mag. of [smooth trouble free running] real lifetime ownership value in design and manufacture it looks to me you have a very strong case of either a replacement lathe or a refund. I dont know if you have a consumer affairs omsbudsman over there but I would put my case to Hegner and if things are not to your satisfaction contact consumer affairs and let Hegner know you are going down this road.







regards Eugene

 

[Blister]

Paul

isn't it time for the sale of goods act ? to kick in

you have given them to opportunity to sort it out / put it right

this they have failed to do !

and sent it back damaged
:?

give them a ring and demand a replacment , after all its your money invested and they are not cheap :?

 

[Paul.J]

Thanks Eugene/Alun.
It does seem i have "copt a bad un!!"
I also had problems with the inverter when i first had it,but again this was sorted out quickly.
Hegner have been good i feel,and have done all they can,but i do feel i am now at the end of the line with this lathe.
I do hope it is just a one off,as other Hegner owners don't seem to be getting the same sort of problems i am having and am glad that Roger,from Hegner did confirm the faults when he came up.
I did mention the VBs to him and he said he would take the Hegner back with a good deal on the VB,but this would be one BIG step for me to go down this route,which i am very tempted to do,especially after having a little play on Georges VB,and might not get the opportunity to do it again.
Plus the fact that SWMBO has given me the go ahead to get one.
Decision time :roll:

 

[PowerTool]

Plus the fact that SWMBO has given me the go ahead to get one.
Decision time :roll:

Hell,what are you waiting for ? It might have taken me almost a nanosecond to make my mind up :wink:
(I'm only short of the space and the money,otherwise I'd get one as well.. )

Andrew

 

[cornucopia]

Plus the fact that SWMBO has given me the go ahead to get one.
Decision time :roll:

Hell,what are you waiting for ? It might have taken me almost a nanosecond to make my mind up :wink:
(I'm only short of the space and the money,otherwise I'd get one as well.. )

Andrew

sometimes what looks to be a "no brainer" can actually go much deeper- i commened paul for taking his time over a very big step and an important decision.

 

[CHJ]

Paul, I don't think "A Good Deal" on a VB is all that generous considering you seem to have a pup.

As Cornucopia says, the VB is a very big step, you have to consider the ability to house it, move it if necessary in the future, and above all do you actually need something that massive.

I would be inclined to visit some other members here or suppliers like 'Toolpost' with machines in the cost bracket between the Hegner and the VB before making any decision.

 

[TEP]

Paul, I don't think "A Good Deal" on a VB is all that generous considering you seem to have a pup.

As Cornucopia says, the VB is a very big step, you have to consider the ability to house it, move it if necessary in the future, and above all do you actually need something that massive.

I would be inclined to visit some other members here or suppliers like 'Toolpost' with machines in the cost bracket between the Hegner and the VB before making any decision.

I'm with Chas on this Paul. The VB step really needs thinking about, and not possibly a knee jerk reaction to your disappointment with the state of the Hegner. To which I think you are entitled, but would it not be better to go the route of getting a new replacement for the moment. Especially if you liked the Hegner to start with.

Just my 2p's for what it's worth. Hope it goes right for you in the end mate.

 

[Bodrighy]

I alsom would be more inclined to go for something like the Wivamac that Allan (Blister) pointed out recently. Although the VB is truly a beautiful machine, unkless you are thinking of turning really ginormous pieces or going pro is the outlay worth it?
Just my impression.

pete

 

[boysie39]

Hiya Paul, A VB is a massive decision, to my way of thinking it's not a hobbiest's lathe it's for the pro turner. But if some one wants to have one why not. To a lot of people I would think it would be their ultimate goal.As with cars you you want the top of the range model, even if your only doing 10k per year.
As others have pointed out there are very good lathes which will do as the VB will as long as your not putting half a tree on it . But take your time sort out the Hegner problem.You could buy a top class lathe for what you would have to give hegner with your own lathe.So while the haggling is going on and you have the all clear get your self turning as quick as you can .Unless they swap a VB for the trouble and hassle you have had with the 20 I would go for the Jugleur. REgards Boysie.
PS If I were buying a lathe today it would noy be a HDB200XL no matter what services you are getting from them it's a problem lathe they should take it back and replace it or refund. Good luck

 

[Paul.J]

Thanks for all your thoughts re the VB.
To be honest i have been considering the VB for a while,but those questions keep coming back into me head that you have all hi-lited.
I have been in touch with members and asking for advice about their lathes including the Wivamac,Vicmarc,and even Blisters Statesman :shock: and have asked a couple of our pros about the VB.
So i think i have been doing my research.Just gotta make my mind up.
The Hegner i was very happy with when i was doing bowls and smaller items,but now that i have progressed, i think :roll: i do now know what types of turnng i enjoy the most,which is bowls and now hollow forms,which is where the Hegner was not up to the job,well mine wasn't :roll:
George has been really helpful with measurements and piccys of his VB so i could make sure that it would fit in my shop,even though i would have to sell my table saw,again :roll:
I also don't want to start having the same problems in a few years time with another lathe mentioned above,as this will be my only chance to get the VB,and hopefully trouble free turning

 

[Blister]

Thanks for all your thoughts re the VB.
To be honest i have been considering the VB for a while,but those questions keep coming back into me head that you have all hi-lited.
I have been in touch with members and asking for advice about their lathes including the Wivamac,Vicmarc,and even Blisters Statesman :shock: and have asked a couple of our pros about the VB.
So i think i have been doing my research.Just gotta make my mind up.
The Hegner i was very happy with when i was doing bowls and smaller items,but now that i have progressed, i think :roll: i do now know what types of turnng i enjoy the most,which is bowls and now hollow forms,which is where the Hegner was not up to the job,well mine wasn't :roll:
George has been really helpful with measurements and piccys of his VB so i could make sure that it would fit in my shop,even though i would have to sell my table saw,again :roll:
I also don't want to start having the same problems in a few years time with another lathe mentioned above,as this will be my only chance to get the VB,and hopefully trouble free turning

Paul , all I can say is GO FOR IT !!!!!!

as you say a once in a lifetime chance :shock: :shock:

and dont forget to get a good deal of them price wise to compensate for all your agg !!!! :?

 

[SVB]

Without knowing what type of turning you most enjoy I think it is difficult to really offer 100% reliable advice.

The only observation / thought I have is that the hegner is mainly a spindle turning lathe that has the ability to swing the head and do larger stuff. The VB is really a bowlturner that, with all the bits added on, can do spindle stuff. I would suggest you have a go on someones VB and do a bit of spindle work on it. A lovely lathe but a lot of effort for spindles.

They are really different products for different purposes. I don't mean to imply either is in any way bad, just different.

Whilst we all enjoy spending others money, the VB does not seem the obvious improvement from a hegner (Vicmarc 300, Oneway etc do for £5k+) but the VB is a lovely lathe for the faceplate stuff.

Well, my 2p worth!

Hope you get the Hegner situation sorted (at the very least I would hope there was some sort of apologetic gesture of some kind to you from Hegner) and have fun thinking of the replacement if you elect to go down that route.

Simon.