Do you still have the Myford for sale?
Opinions/experience sought...
- Thread starter JerryP
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Terry - Somerset
Established Member
I started with an Axminster AWVSL1000.
Good value for money with a large capacity - the reason why I bought it in the first place.
However quality of castings and finish inevitably suffers. The "variable speed" is actually 10 speed Reeves drive which occasionally gets clogged with dust.
Has since been replaced with a Record Cornet Herald. Better finish, proper variable speed, wider speed range, takes up less space as the bed length is reduced. Overall a much nicer machine to use.
Personal view - buy quality if you are looking to the long term - otherwise accept you will want to change again in a few years. Proper variable speed essential - adjustment takes seconds, not stop the lathe, adjust belts, start again.
Good value for money with a large capacity - the reason why I bought it in the first place.
However quality of castings and finish inevitably suffers. The "variable speed" is actually 10 speed Reeves drive which occasionally gets clogged with dust.
Has since been replaced with a Record Cornet Herald. Better finish, proper variable speed, wider speed range, takes up less space as the bed length is reduced. Overall a much nicer machine to use.
Personal view - buy quality if you are looking to the long term - otherwise accept you will want to change again in a few years. Proper variable speed essential - adjustment takes seconds, not stop the lathe, adjust belts, start again.
Yes!
The lathe is in the For Sale section.
Just found it in the For Sale section...
Sadly, I've just realised that it is vertically driven from below, so needs a dedicated stand - original or non-standard - this is a non-starter for me at the moment as I cannot accommadate another free-standing machine
Does anyone know which Coronet machine this is? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25659299...dCfdONAj8Gs76yb349W9PAPg==|tkp:Bk9SR87soOj2ZA
Colin Hovland
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It looks like it may be the first lathe that Record Power brought out after they bought out the Coronet Tool Company of Derby. Probably 12" swing over bed and 24" between centres.
Tris
What am I doing here?
Looks like the predecessor to the Record DML series
I’ve heard of this type of thing before. Best avoided, they rust from the inside out. Dry silver sand might be better and can be easily removed at a later date?
A better idea I’ve seen, and whole CNC machine beds have been made with it, is “Epoxycrete”. Epoxy and the filler of your choice, normally gravel. Not cheap though.
Patio sand is cheaper than silver sand and very similar; it runs freely. Just make sure the bag has not been punctured and allowed moisture in.
Personally, though, I would avoid round bedbars if I could and stick to cast iron flat bed, even if it costs more.
Just my opinion - avoid Axminster red models unless very cheap.
Try to get a lathe with M33 x 3.5mm spindle and MT2 tapers in headstock and tailstock.
Spindle thread not too important as long as your chosen chuck can be upgraded to M33 (insert or backplate) at a later date when you upgrade your lathe. You will!!
Personally, though, I would avoid round bedbars if I could and stick to cast iron flat bed, even if it costs more.
Just my opinion - avoid Axminster red models unless very cheap.
Try to get a lathe with M33 x 3.5mm spindle and MT2 tapers in headstock and tailstock.
Spindle thread not too important as long as your chosen chuck can be upgraded to M33 (insert or backplate) at a later date when you upgrade your lathe. You will!!
I've got a Myford Mystro Mk2 (early 1990s vintage) which is a bit of a hybrid I guess. It's got square box section for the bed (approx 2 x 2 x 4mm) but everything else is cast. Weighs a ton and even with out of round pieces it doesn't vibrate much on its standard stand. I paid £350 for it so if you see one for sale would give it a look.
GeorgeCass
Member
I had one and I think it was the coronet NR 1 . It was ok but it didn’t have the older and better tapered head bearings . And obviously the solid headstock didn’t revolve . I bought it new probably 35 years ago . It went during a house move
George
Thanks George. That sounds about right actually, I've found an online manual for what appears to be this lathe, and it specifies ball head bearing rather than taper.
Phil Pascoe
Established Member
Older quite small well built machines tended to have better bearings than are fitted to lower end stuff (and possibly some higher end stuff?) now - someone posted that they had a car with smaller wheel bearings than the bearings on an ML8.
GeorgeCass
Member
It was an ok lathe but the bearings were always bloody noisy . I have a older Coronet major again and it feels like it was built as a tank. The bearings are very smooth too. Actually I remember that for the Number 1 a local fab shop got me two new longer bright steel bars I think 1 1/2 inch diam to extend the length for me to turn some tall pillars for a fireplace .
George
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Have finally plumped for a new Coronet Herald from Record Power. Collect from DM Tools tomorrow...
Not sure if I am excited by it, or just plain scared about my choice!
Not sure if I am excited by it, or just plain scared about my choice!
alex robinson
Established Member
Excellent choice. You will forget the sting to the wallet in a few months, but really appreciate the capacity in future! You can make small stuff on a big machine but not big on a small...
simisworkshop
Member
I totally get where you're coming from with the round bar beds—they can feel a bit flimsy compared to the solid cast iron. I’ve worked with both types, and while cast iron definitely gives that extra stability, I’ve found that some round bar lathes, if well-built, can still handle a fair amount of work without too much wobble, especially if you're not going for really heavy or large projects. It’s also worth considering that round bar beds tend to be lighter, so they can be easier to move around if you're tight on space. If you’re upgrading from something like the AW240WL and sticking to smaller to mid-size work, a round bar lathe could do the job just fine, but for bigger pieces, you might want to lean toward the cast iron option for that extra stability.
All things being equal, I should have it set up this weekend, and am off for Christmas after Thursday next week - I’ll be able to let everyone know how I find it 
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