Lathe choice at £1000

[tsh2]

I'm currently learning to turn with a borrowed AW240WL which is temporarily in my garage, and pondering what to buy for myself as a long term investment. I had started to think that an AW355WL might be a sensible choice, but looking at Axminster's professional range I am starting to think that if I'm hoping to be using this lathe for the next 30 years I don't want to be replacing the motor too many times, and maybe there are some features which are going to be worth paying a little bit extra for. Looking for a benchtop machine (I think), but not short of space.

So far my 'must have' list looks like this:

• M33 Spindle (will eventually be buying hardware in EU)
• Induction, 750W or more, VFD
• Multiple speed ratios
• Reverse

New or nearly new - what should I be looking for or avoiding? What do people value or regret after upgrading to this price range? 333mm between centres seems a little bit limiting, but I'm not sure I really want to spend close to £2000 which is what Axminster are asking for their larger semi-pro model.

The forum helpfully provided this outgrown my lathe thread, which had escaped my earlier searches.

 

[Sideways]

I'm not sure £1,000 will get you a new lathe that'll last you 30 years.
Take your time and watch ebay etc to learn 2nd hand pricing.
I've seen vicmark lathes come up which are fine lathes.
Simon Hope sells the KSD range of lathes made in Taiwan (?) and those look a nice lathe if you ever came across a used one. Double your budget new.

 

[alex robinson]

I would say a swivel head is essential (as I did in that other thread!)

£1000 is a difficult budget - too low for high end stuff new, a lot to spend on hobby grade.

If you don't mind second hand, but lightly used, there are a few good things out there. VFD may be difficult. A Nova 1624 at £650, but you could try offering nearer £500. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1152107332573343/

I have heard nice things about poolewood and it is £650: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/535731652139862/

Or a very nice looking graduate with a factory fitted variable speed? https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/487538360463636/
No swivel, but at least you get an outboard.

The M33 also means second hand stuff is much harder. You can get chicks made with different spindle sizes, or something like a versachuck with a removable backplate (never had one, but various people on here are passionate about them).

 

[Terry - Somerset]

If you are in the early hobby stages I would not be too concerned about the next 30 years - it is the next 5 years during which you will become much clearer

• how much you want to turn - occasional, often, all the time
• what you want to turn large (bowls), small (pens), long (stair spindles) etc

A few years ago I changed from an Axminster AWVSL1000 to a Record Coronet Herald. Will turn a similar diameter but between centres is much less. I now have proper variable speed with 3 speed ranges and it is clear the whole machine is finished to a higher standard - particularly castings.

No implied criticism of Axminster - I bought a cheap machine when I started the hobby and it did a good job. But after 7 years I had a much better idea what I wanted.

 

[tsh2]

Certainly open to 2nd hand, although I hadn't considered looking on facebook! Based on the lathe I'm using at the moment, the Axminster hobby lathes are clearly built to a price and I'm a bit dubious about how nicely they would work for small things (which I have not really tried yet). I don't think i will be making stair spindles (unless its for a repair!), maybe lamps and candlesticks though.

 

[Deadeye]

You can get chicks made with different spindle sizes

Must be a Poole thing

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, I thought the same.

 

[Sachakins]

Coronet herald, would give years of fun for hobbyist. Also there is a bed extension available, adding about 400mm to spindle turning length.

 

[JohnerH]

Single or 3 phase?

I'm of the opinion of buying something that would last 30 years is the best policy.

Buy cheap, buy twice.

But again, I'm wadkin buyest.

 

[tsh2]

Probably single phase, but could manage 16A I think.

Have to admit, the Twister FU-180 looks like it might be a good choice if its a reliable machine...

 

[Sideways]

If you buy something modern and decent, it will have a 3 phase AC motor and a proper VFD for electronic speed control as standard. It will have a moveable belt giving a few ranges as well so that you don't lose all the torque at low speed.
The upside is all that will run off a 16A single phase socket and there won't be a big current surge whenever you start the motor. Depending on how much power it has and how hard you push it, it may even run reliably off a 13A plug.

That is very different to some DIY toy fitted with a brush motor and cheap lighting dimmer type speed control.

 

[SimonStevensCanes]

if you're just learning now, I definitely don't think you want to be thinking about the next 30 years, maybe 3. You don't know what you like yet. You may think that it's all about bowls, but you may get hooked on small boxes, or Christmas decorations, or spinning tops. Buy something decent second hand and hold on to the rest of the money. In 3-5 years when you know more about what your needs are you'll probably make a profit selling your 2nd hand buy.

 

[graham88]

Must be a Poole thing

Lived in Poole my whole life, can confirm this to be true.

 

[RonnieI]

If you find one I can recommend the Myford Mystro 2. Turns about 14" over the bed but has a swivel head so you can turn about 23" outboard (I've modified mine so can go up to 36" although not done anything that big yet). The original VFD on mine died so I fitted a matched 2hp motor and VFD from Newton Tesla that copes really well. Picked it up off marketplace for £300 a couple of years ago.

 

[alex robinson]

If you find one I can recommend the Myford Mystro 2. Turns about 14" over the bed but has a swivel head so you can turn about 23" outboard (I've modified mine so can go up to 36" although not done anything that big yet). The original VFD on mine died so I fitted a matched 2hp motor and VFD from Newton Tesla that copes really well. Picked it up off marketplace for £300 a couple of years ago.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2231795913862348/

£475 but comes with chuck etc. No electronic variable speed, but you would have a fair bit of budget left to get one fitted if it was a deal breaker!

 

[alex robinson]

If you would consider old heavy cast iron, it is clearly the season for good deals.


Denford viceroy bowl lathe at £350:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13519423...gcasv-DSI6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Union graduate currently £250:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40525242...gcasv-DSI6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

A graduate at buy it now for £350:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12667425...gcasv-DSI6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

If you tidied any of these up and fitted a VFD you would be likely to make money, even if you changed your mind in a few years

 

[Vulcan]

What about this one?

https://www.awgb.co.uk/awgbforum/index.php/topic,7341.0.html

 

[graduate_owner]

This might not be what you are looking for but -

I have a graduate. Really solid, cast iron, well built. No variable speed (but it soon will be) and changing speeds is a bit of a faff, but build to last.

I also have a denford viceroy, again solid and built to last. Fabricated steel headstock etc rather than cast iron but I haven't had any issues with that. I put a 3 phase motor and VFD on it so I have variable speed, plus the original 4 step pulley system.

I prefer the banjo mechanism on the graduate, but I prefer the outboard arrangement on the viceroy. The graduate is 1 1.2 x 6tpi threaded, 3MT headstock, 2MT tailstock. The viceroy is 1 1/2 x 8 3MT headstock and 3MT tailstock. One big plus regarding the graduate is the outboard thread is also 1 1/2 x 6 (left hand) and chucks are available that fit both sides (Mine is Axminster Evolution). The outboard thread on the viceroy is 1 1/4 x 9 tpi - good luck finding a chuck to fit that!!

So, which is better Well I do really like both but the graduate would be the one I would keep if I had to choose, because of the outboard thread. There was a graduate long bed on facebook marketplace recently for around £450.

I did get the offer of a Wadkin RS10 for £500. 7ft 6" between centres, 20" diameter swing, and 32" if the gap bed is used. But I thought I have enough lathes, and would I ever make use of the extra sizes? Plus the cost of yet another chuck. and the sheer size of the brute (11 ft long). I hope I don't regret passing it up.

Some things to think about perhaps?

K

 

[alex robinson]

What about this one?

https://www.awgb.co.uk/awgbforum/index.php/topic,7341.0.html

That actually appears to be a very close fit to what the OP was asking for. Such behaviour is very out of keeping for this sort of thread!

 

[tsh2]

I bought the MC1200F, just collected it, assembled and threw in a 50cmx20cm ash log from the firewood pile as a quick test. I'm starting to think I bought almost exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for all the suggestions.