Looking for some guidance from those 'in the know' !

[Jenx]

Hi all...
I wonder if you could possibly help me a bit...
I'll give you a brief outline ----

My Dad lives down near Exeter - I'm up in Aberdeenshire, so I don't see him too often. He's a relatively 'senior fella' now at 76, but still very active. He's a fairly accomplished Carver, and enjoys that immensly.

I'd sent down a couple of bowls for my mum, and he decided he'd obtain a lathe and have a bit of fun and learning in the world of turning.
He got me to get him this BERLAN thing from e-bay from Germany....
and asked me to go down and help him 'get started' as it were, which i did just recently.
Now, I'm not the world's most experienced turner... as you'll perhaps know, but have been amongst machinery and engineering all of my working life, and this 'thing' he's got is extremely 'crude', and in my view its actually bordering on Dangerous, especially in the way the twin hollow-box section bed is actually painted, - thus leading to 'interesting' movements of the saddle, and the saddle/toolrest assembly itself is a disaster waiting to happen.
This worrys me.
It worrys me so much that I will take my Perform CCSL to him and give him it, at the first opportunity I can.

That will leave me needing to replace it..... I could go for another Perform, and that does seem a good option, but I have been 'drawn' to the Fox F46-719 (Poolwood Machinery etc.. ) as per .....

, which on reading, seems to be good value.
( Especially when i 'factor in' either a drive down to Devon, or sending the CCSL by courier and the costs associated with either. )

Has anyone used, or got such an animal, and anything good , bad or otherwise to say about it ?

We've not got a mammoth budget available for this to all come together... and I'm always aware that one tends to get what one pays for.. this does look from pictures, to be a half decent lump of iron etc...
£275 delivered, doesn't sound too bad !.

I should add that I dont believe my abilities warrant an upgrade.. its more borne out of a wish to keep my old fella's fingers attached to his hands, that I'll have to part with my little CCSL,
Can anyone advise on the Fox ?

many thanks....
as always,


Alun 8)

 

[Paul.J]

Alun.
Take a look Here
HTH.

 

[jonbikebod]

Hi Alun,
I have one of these and I am very happy with it. I should qualify that by saying it is my first lathe but I have used my friends perform lathe and their really is no comparison. The fox is all heavy cast iron including the legs. This makes it very resistant to vibration. At least as important the Fox has a continuously rated 750 watt motor. The perform’s motor isn’t continuously rated and very lacking in power particularly at higher speeds. Both machines have an articulated toolrest mount. Personally I find these fussy to move and not as solid as a more conventional ‘single’mount. The fox is still better than the perform and I use mine when the work is too big to swing over the bed.
When mine arrived one set of legs had been broken in transit. The importers were very good in getting another set to me quickly.
For quality and capacity the Fox equates more closely to the Axminster M950 but the fox is cheaper and has cast iron legs. This was my conclusion 18 months ago and I have had no reason to change that view.
I hope this helps,
Jon.

 

[Bodrighy]

I have been daydreaming as well and looking at these. Rutland have the next version up cheap. (£320 with postage) It has a 1 1/2 hp motor. Advantage as well having the motor where it is. On the Perform it's a dust trap. I started looking at the min lathes as the Jet mini is almost the same spec. as the Perform size etc but more expensive . The Fox sells in France under the Delta label and seems quite popular on their forums. Certainly outstrips all other comparably priced lathes I have found so faR.

Pete

P.S. Nicer colour than the perform as well and the head slides up the bed which can be useful.

 

[Jenx]

Thanks Gents, I think I'm even more keen on it now !
Appreciate the help, cheers !

Its maybe a month or so off yet... but I can envisage 'taking the plunge' and going for it.

As I mentioned, the main priority in the whole exercise is to get the Perform that I have now, down to my dad, and get him off that horrible £40 Berlan monstrosity, before he does himself an 'injustice' with it.

Thanks again all 8)