Hello - and which lathe please?

[novice]

Hello all

There was a family trip today to Westonbirt where all had a fine time. Even the mother in law!

At the Bristol woodturner's tent a V pleasant chap told me not to buy a lathe for £180 from a local store, (wife said hurrah), but to find a wood turning club and visit a bit before spending £1,000 on a decent lathe, (wife said boo).

Here's the thing, at the show I bought a piece of Yew for £1-90 and a barometer mechanism for £12. Using my bench drill and 'Pound shop' circular bits, and then dangerous hand sanding antics with the project jammed on the drill I have produced a very presentable item.

My question:

Is a sub 200 quid lathe 'rubbish' because it is or because it doesn't compare to a more expensive machine? I would appreaciate advice about sub £200 lathes and rank beginnners having a go.

Thanks,

Steve.

 

[Argee]

My question:

Is a sub 200 quid lathe 'rubbish' because it is or because it doesn't compare to a more expensive machine? I would appreaciate advice about sub £200 lathes and rank beginnners haing a go.

Naturally, a sub-£200 lathe will not:

• be as powerful
  be as smooth
  be as long-lasting
  be as enjoyable to use

as a more expensive machine, but there are degrees to all of this.

I started on a really poor NuTool single-pole POS lathe "to see if I liked it." It was a real pig to keep set up, the locking levers were utter crap and the whole vibratory experience (now then!) was appalling, but I still liked it, so I knew that I had to get a better lathe.

There are many turners here who have had more success than I on low-spec lathes, but as I was retiring I went for a variable-speed Hegner and it's so different, it's not on the same planet. I'd rather have gone this route than spent loads only to find out that I didn't like it!

Lathes are very similar to cameras, in that you'll find fierce advocates for one brand over another, but the best way to narrow down your choices is - as has been suggested - join a club.

Welcome to the forum, BTW!

Ray.

 

[CHJ]

Welcome to the forum novice, although the advice to do a bit of research etc. before forking out on the first lathe available at your local store is sound a great deal of work can be accomplished on a sub £200 lathe.

Have a look at my Bits and Pieces, everything between the start Sht1 & half way down Sht10 was accomplished on a cheap Perform Lathe from Axminster.

If your budget is limited don't get too set on the high end machines, there are a lot of other expenses involved with turning associated with the tools and sharpening and accessories like chucks that will eat into your cash allowance.

12 months spent playing with a cheaper lathe and mastering its limitations will teach you a lot and allow you to make a far better informed assessment of what you personally need for you turning goals.

 

[TheTiddles]

I have an Elu lathe which is several years older than me, quality is ok and I've produced a lot on it. Some of the cheap machines now look pretty impressive for the money, I'd go to Axminster and have a look at what they've got. Expensive is always better but to get you started on smaller items a cheap machine will probably do it. If you get into it you will very quickly learn what you want and need and then start putting the money away for a cast-iron machine with comupter speed control, till then you should be able to get by on a small lathe.

Aidan

 

[Paul.J]

Hello Steve and welcome.
Glad you enjoyed Westonbirt.
I think most start off with a cheap lathe to start just to see if they can take to turning or even enjoy it when they have been at it for a while.
Quite a few on here have had the Perform lathes from Axminster which i thought was a good solid lathe for the money,but all the other bits and pieces will cost a lot more,but these items you can keep if you do decide to upgrade to a better lathe.
You will find loads of good advice over on the turning section

 

[Rich]

I was fortunate enough to be given an old 2 speed Arundel, I had never turned wood before, though having turned metal for many years I could'nt see much difference.
despite there being only 2 speeds, I have adapted the tools to suit the speeds and I have'nt looked back since, turning is turning whatever the material,you just have to adapt to the situation.

Regards,

Rich.

 

[misterfish]

Don't forget that you don't have to buy a brand new machine - there are decent used machines around.

I bought a second hand Axminster machine using Ebay at well under half the new price and it included a decent turning chuck included in the price.

Of course with most of this type of used machinery you will have to collect it or arrange delivery.

Misterfish

 

[9fingers]

Welcome to the slope!!

When ever I have embarked on a new hobby, I have started gently buying second hand kit.

Two great advantages are that if it does not workout for you and you lose interest then the machinery etc is quite likely to be saleable for roughly what you paid for it. if you had bought new then you would have been hit by the depreciation.
If you do take to the hobby then you can build up a picture of what features you want in a new machine and select at your leisure whilst carrying on the hobby. You can then also watch out for deals on your favoured machine.

I also pick a machine design that has been around awhile. plenty of reviews, most bugs will have been sorted and quite likely a range of aftermarket addons will be available. Also good bargains to be had on the last few of the old model when the new whizzy one comes out.

The same policy has served me well with cars. Even my company car I specified as a 1 year old used model just before facelift was due - far cheaper for me.

Good Luck

Bob

 

[novice]

All

Thank you for the replies and information - it is appreciated.

A couple of you mentioned the Axminster Perform which seems to be a cousin to the Machine Mart CWL20RV. That is interesting because I visited Machine Mart the other day with, (web site founded), ideas about which model I wanted. Having seen the different models my desires were switched to the CWL20RV. Furthermore (!) based on the selling companie's pictures the Perform appears to be better finished than the MM item.

So, assuming a budget of £200 and a fear of second-hand lathes, (because I do know know what is what), would anyone suggest why I might NOT want to buy an Axminster Perform?

Thanks again,

Steve.

 

[PowerTool]

Hi Steve - the Perform lathe is excellent value (I have the CCBL) and I have always found Axminsters aftersales service to be second to none,which is worth something in itself

Andrew

 

[mailee]

Hello Steve and welcome. I like Argee started with the Nu tool lathe and managed with it for a while turning out one or two half decent pieces. I do not do a lot of lathe work but use it occasionally for spindles or knobs that I need for my cabinets. I eventually replaced it with a Record DML36 which although not top quality is worlds away from the old one and much better to use. I picked mine up cheap on the Bay still under warranty for £70. I did buy a quality set of chisels and spent more on these than the lathe but they are worth it. As has been stated I would start small and update later when you know just what you require. :wink:

 

[Richardhw]

I was looking for a CCBL and was dissapointed to find it no longer listed on the Axminster website, I asked Axminster about it and found it had been discontinued But it has been replaced by a lathe from the same factory built to the same spec (in effect the same lathe) but is now in the white range (code no. 700206) a touch under £200. unfortunately I can't find a listing for this either, but they do have stock and i like mine very much. I can't say how good it is cos I'm a complete novice to turning but it's not a load of money to loose as one went on ebay recently for the nearly new price :shock:

 

[novice]

All

Thank you very much for the replies which were very useful. I am now the proud owner of a used Clarke CWL20RV. It fitted my, (made with your help), check list of variable speed, movable head stock and reasonable length. It also had a price which did not alarm my wife too much!

Thanks again,

Steve.

 

[OllyK]

I have a rather old, 7th or 8th hand Myford ML8 lathe wich is very nice and while it does have different speed settings it's a PITA to change it over. Certainly variable speed would be one of the main things I'd be looking for then make sure you bolt the dam thing down so it doesn't move. It takes 3 of us to move the Myford around so it's pretty well rooted!

 

[The Shark]

Hey OllyK,
I too have a ML8 - perhaps we ought to think about starting an owners' club. Do you think it would get as big as the VW beetle one?
I agree with your point about the variable speed, it would be so much easier just to twiddle a knob!

Malc

 

[big soft moose]

I have a rather old, 7th or 8th hand Myford ML8 lathe wich is very nice and while it does have different speed settings it's a PITA to change it over. Certainly variable speed would be one of the main things I'd be looking for then make sure you bolt the dam thing down so it doesn't move. It takes 3 of us to move the Myford around so it's pretty well rooted!

you can get those variable speed adaptors that you plug in between lathe and mains - then you leave the lathe set on the higher speed spindle and vary the speed via the dial on the box.

 

[dickm]

you can get those variable speed adaptors that you plug in between lathe and mains - then you leave the lathe set on the higher speed spindle and vary the speed via the dial on the box.

Yes, but only if you change the motor to 3-phase 240v (unless, of course, it's 3-phase already)

 

[big soft moose]

i'd imagine a motor swap could be possible given the number of people converting graduates etc from 3 to single.

 

[dickm]

i'd imagine a motor swap could be possible given the number of people converting graduates etc from 3 to single.

Yes, it should be quite simple to convert the motor on the ML8, because it sits independently below the headstock. Any foot mounting motor of the right voltage/horsepower would do. With a 3-phase motor and an inverter, you'd have a well made variable speed lathe.
BUT, you'd still have to learn to turn bowls "outboard", and need two chucks or two adaptors to allow for the LH thread on the outboard end.
Probably, at the end of the day, only worthwhile if you are sentimental about solid old British engineering :?