Warco vs Chester

Agreed, that's why I posted a rave about ARC **LINK**

Edited By petro1head on 20/01/2017 11:13:53

I can't comment on Chester's after sales not having any dealings with them per se, only on Warco's position. I bought my WM250V-F & the WM 16 mill at the Harrogate exhibition back in 2012 , I was planning to get a Myford S7B that I saw on sale ...for absolutely silly money! but the finance director vetoed that, but, with the surprising comment' why don't you get the Warco mill as well as the Warco lathe for the same money'... ​ needless to say transaction completed. I had to wait approx 6 weeks for new stock to arrive, as quoted at the exhib', anyway it duly arrived, on the agreed date, but it was the wrong machine! a phone call to Warco's aftersales soon remedied the error, they arranged the pickup with the same delivery Co. & duly replaced the machine within the week.
​The new machine arrived within the week, placed on to its stand, &, after a couple of minor tweaks, began to play with it, I soon found a problem with it, the carriage was binding on the frame causing it to stick 1/2 way along it's travel, the rack was misaligned & the pinion gear was binding on the frame casting. after regaining my composure I took some photos & called Warco's again, with the description of my findings & e mailed the photo's for clarification. Warco's listened with patience & said they would get back to me.

Warco returned my call soon after & said to return the machine for replacement from their next batch delivery, due in a couple of weeks. Warco arranged the pickup & delivery of the replacement when the new batch arrived... all at their expense I might add, I have now used these machines since 2012 & taking into account the capabilities of the machines, have been very satisfied with both, I have blown a couple of fuses but that was down to my operations of the lathe... ​ . As for spares, I requested a spare drive belt ... albeit expensive for what it is, which arrived within the week, normal postage, I later requested a spare 1/2 nut, 'just in case' which turned out to be the wrong one. A quick call to their spares dept.. & it was soon sorted, have to admit I had to e mail copy of the parts drawing highlighting the correct part, & this was replaced by return of post.

​From my experience I can thoroughly commend Warco on their after sales / spares dept. responses to my problems & would have no hesitation in suggesting that anyone looking for value for money 'Chinese' equipment to consider Warco's range ... usual disclaimer.

​George.

Edited By mechman48 on 20/01/2017 11:51:45

I have been very critical of Chester but I think Tony has made a very good move setting up a Customer Support team and they should receive credit for that.

Alan.

Hi, I've had three machines from Chester, first one was in 1997 and the last one was in 2015. I have never had any issues at all with them. I don't claim that I have a preference between Chester and Warco, as I have purchased tooling from Warco rather than Chester, but not always, it largely depends on price, but also on what their specs were at the time of purchase. I do own a Warco lathe, but that was bought second hand and I rate it's qualities etc. as an equal to my Chester machines.

Regards Nick.

I have never bought a machine from Chester, just a few bits of tooling years ago when they used to have a large stand at shows such as Harrogate.

As for Warco, well my first and last major purchase from them was a 1330 geared head lathe around 12 years ago. While in their showroom, face to face with the boss, I ordered and payed full price for the 1330 lathe.

While there I made a point of warning them not to send me the demo/display lathe we were looking at, or any other demo/display machine they might have elsewhere, only a new machine fresh from its crate. I was assured that I would of course recieve a new machine, but it would be a 5 - 6 week wait for new stock to arrive.

But the lathe was delivered just 2 weeks later, it was quickly offloaded and positioned in my workshop. Before I had time to take a look at the lathe there were two power cuts which lasted six days. My workshop has no windows, so it is pitch black without lights.

Finaly about a week after delivery I managed to take a closer look, and to my horror discovered they had indeed still sent me the 21/2 year old ex demo machine. It was in a terrible mechanical state inside the headstock, and even had a worn bed with patches of corrosion on which sand paper had been used to clean it up. It ran so bad it was unusable, all far worse than the replacement which has already been discussed on this site. What a diabolical thing to do to a customer.

As I said, it was my last purchase from Warco, a shame because I have always liked a lot of their machines, which usually look a bit tidier than some of Chesters equivalents.

Edited By Lathejack on 20/01/2017 19:59:05

Edited By Lathejack on 20/01/2017 20:21:57

Hi John.

In reverse order, thats very interesting about the risers all being different in hole pitching and registers etc. I have only had to make the one which was quite challenging when I had the Boxy as all i could get my hands on as a freeby was a 170mm dia steel profiled small ID ring. Twas a bit too big for it really.

It dosnt however suprise me about the eastern suppliers having no standardisation. It does not mean though Warco or Chester could not spec them up to now, for them to be standardised and start from there.

Have you had 5 VMC's that you have made so many, or just done for others?

Colours:

Controversial as I mentioned. I can only really go off whats happening in industry, since the early to mid 80's I have put in many CNC machine tools and some specialised machines. Solid green in modern machine tools went out in the late 80's early 90's, the last green ones I put in were Wadkin vertical machining centres.

The emphasis is now actually going beyond that of just a kitchen and more to setting up machine shops that look like laboratories. You only needed to visit Mach 16' to see just how much white is offered. Pale greys, blues etc. The leaning towards a bright but not gaudy CLINICAL look is tremendous.

Personally I love white in machines, it makes a workshop a bright place and it encourages me to keep them clean.

From a small machine tools and traing perspective I was able to join a party of students just before Christmas who were attending the Boxford factory by invite. It was interesting to see their manufacturing and refurbishment facility. Their move to Spacious, tidy, bright and clinical is very evident.

Choosing a machine tool for it's colour, are you having a laugh? I will say no more as I might be excommunicated!

Tony

Only ever had one VMC and that one was just passing thru.

These were all done for others, as I mentioned I have a eight foot left over of 6" steel bar from a job and I'm slowly working my way down it looking for projects

As for the colour of Warco vs Chester, and others, well maybe if you are faced with a similar deal from different suppliers for the same machine then colour might just decide it for some. Blue, red and the brighter colours being used on machine tools can make the workshop seem a more pleasant place to be. Acres of dirty battleship grey can look a bit grim and uninviting.

I have always quite liked green machine tools. I remember Warco's 1327 lathes from the 1990's, they were a nice shade of green with a yellow headstock cover, which reminded me of the acres of Rapeseed with its bright yellow blossom and green shoots.....marvellous.

I remember when Myford changed the colour of their VME milling machine to a pale blue and off white combination. They were not best pleased when I commented that it now looked like part of a bathroom suite. Oh well, can't please everybody.

Edited By Lathejack on 21/01/2017 01:10:28

Edited By Lathejack on 21/01/2017 01:12:08

And what's wrong with Classic Battleship Grey????

You are missing the whole point on colour.

Pick one and stick to it.

Blokes only see primary colours, Microsoft default primary colours.

Women see shades and can differentiate between apple white and elderflower white at 56 paces. What they can't see are primary colours, so :-

"Is that a new machine ? "

"No it was over there I have just moved it"

End of story.

Emailed Warco for a spares quote yesterday. Answer within 10 mins advising in in stock.

Can't ask for any more than that

I have had a bad experience dealing with Chester. They asked me to rewrite a manual for them, so I put together a few pages and some questions to help with finishing the job. I also included a note with my time and the cost, so far. I was unable to get a response - not even a 'no thanks', despite the best efforts of the front man I was dealing through.

Just be aware.

Regards, Tim

This chap may want to buy a riser off you John

One from Wayne Grennings workshop, a man who's armchair is seldom used.

Edited By JasonB on 21/01/2017 18:48:15

Nonsense! You know what they say, the only good armchair is a used armchair.

Michael W

.

John would have to put a bag over that white drive unit !!

MichaelG.

Three risers on that Bridgeport John. That should stiffen it up!

I bought a GH universal mill plus various bits of tooling from Warco April last year. I had spent about a year, on and off, comparing models and brands, and building up a spreadsheet to compare features. I trawled websites comparing the quality of service people had received, and the arguments for and against old European/modern Chinese machines.

Having worked in several FE colleges, I knew that many had ‘good old’ machines, but also how poor the condition was of many of them, after 40 or so years in the hands of beginners. At my last college, I was responsible for replacing old Colchester lathes with new ones. The old ones were becoming unreliable and having multiple faults, like an old car, and getting beyond repair. I twice visited Warco at Chiddingfold from South Wales, looking at second-hand machines, and came close to purchasing something each time.

In the end I bought new, and I’m happy with my mill. The electrics (1ph) contains nice contactors made by Siemens with low voltage care of a chinese transformer, all wires numbered. The paintwork is adequate, but chips easily on edges, Warco green, not my preferred colour, but pretty much what I was surrounded with when I worked in industry. The tee slots came filled with a thick brittle black paint (over swarf) that prevented tee nuts sliding until it was scraped away. Perhaps it was to protect the slots during shipping? No heavy anti-rust treatment (cosmoline to US), so it was easy to clean up, no corrosion visible.

Several items, including stand, were not available at the time, but were delivered on back orders. Warco updated me as required, by email and phone. Roger Warren was helpful. I bought a vice from Axminster, as Warco didn’t have the size I wanted at the time. Once run in, it’s no noisier in a standard garage than I would expect, especially in lower speeds. I have cut cast iron, mild steel and 1/4” thick gauge plate, and lightly skimmed a case hardened angle plate, all with HSS end mills.

I hope this helps others, who may be unsure (as I was) about an expensive decision.

Bill

I wish both companies would make a better effort to put data on their products on their websites. The one or two little pictures are pathetic and it's not always possible to find complete info elsewhere. They should for example make it very clear which threads can actually be cut with the QCGB without wheel changes rather than the blanket '500 metric and imperial threads' to catch the unwary. While they can't be expected to cater for the complete numbskull there shouldn't be any questions that an experienced engineer knowing what to look for can't find the answer to.
Downloads of proper manuals of course and some other guidance too. How often do we see on this and other forums questions about gearbox oil and a wild variety of answers.

Colour: I have red, 3 shades of green, blue, grey, black, rusty brown in ten shades. The yellow lathe stand I got recently got pained grey pretty quickly 'cos I had some undercoat and just had to get rid of that colour. Pastel shades are more relaxing apparently.