which woodworking lathe is best?

[ryanjohn_5]

im am a recent graduate from a craft degree course, i am working part time as a design technology technician/ wood-shop technician is a secondary/ high school. I am also starting up my own woodworking business making a variety of work including sculptural pieces and kitchenware.

Im looking to buy a good woodworking lathe, I have used a few different lathes while at uni, a wadkin and a victory - i have been given the chance to buy either of these - 600 pounds for the wadkin or 700 pounds for the victory - unfortunately my budged is 500 pound so i cant really afford either of these. - also neither of these lathes have electronic variable speed - you have to change the pulleys on them to change the speed.

so i have been considering some other new lathes:

http://www.sipuk.co.uk/tools/info_SIP01490.html

and

http://www.tooldirect.co.uk/product/sch ... nc_vat.htm

when taking into account delivery they are nearly the same price - one has slightly large dimensions the other has clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation (i dont really know what this would be used for)

anyway which lathe is best?

or should i spend a bit more and buy this one:

http://www.tooldirect.co.uk/product/sch ... _lathe.htm

and i have also now found this one:

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/sp-1 ... d-240v.asp

- which is draper, who i have heard are quite good?

or is it worth it to really push it a buy the wadkin from uni?

or do you know of any other better lathes on a 500 pounds budget?

i know its a long one, thanks for your help!



adding more info - i am not too fussed about electronic speed control, so far i am guessing no 1 rates any of the lathes i have suggested. i had heard that axeminster were best avoided?

any thoughts on record power

http://www.recordpower.co.uk/index.php? ... 47&seq=318

i think i would rather buy a new lathe as it will come with a warranty

 

[loz]

All I can say is avoid the draper

 

[kasandrich]

For £500 you are not going to get a brand new all singing lathe with electronic speed control.

£2500 should do it.

So, its down to compromise. Buy secondhand, (still wont get you a top lathe) do you really need electronic speed control? I have an Axminster M950 which I bought s/h on ebay for £200, someone else on here bought similar recently. The M950 gives you mechanical speed control with a lever. Or a new one is £457

 

[dennisk]

Hey Ryan. Which Wadkin are you looking at ? After a bit of work I have got a BL150 up and going with electronic speed control and it is a tank. Well built and smooth running. 500 pounds seems to be fair, as I now have about 1200 $ canadian in mine and after looking at something comparable, I would have had to spend at least double or more. You should good access to bits and pieces as well.