New Lathe at Lidl

Having seen this on some of the woodturning sites I visit as I also enjoy that hobby I would tell people to avoid it as they will soon become disappointed with its limitations.

If it is kept just for making handles it may well do someone.

I know, you feel wasted some days don't you?

Brian

Looking at the videos, I'm not sure the Lidl lathe will be a particularly satisfying introduction to wood turning for a newcomer. I'm guessing the tool rest will be made of aluminium. If so, I wouldn't expect it to last too long before it needs smoothing off. Still, at least it will be a relatively easy task.

I think it would be a good starter machine rather than jumping straight to an ML8 or the like.

Will also introduce new people to the incredible unbelievable mess that wood turning generates

I only ever did one job, which lasted 10minutes

Took 2 hours to clean it all up... and I'm not a cleaning up kinda guy

Then I had to go for a shower to get it out of my nose ears and hair

Not a wood turner., but used a homemade, pistol drill powered, lathe to turn a bit of broom handle into a clutch alignment tool alongside the car as it stood on ramps!

Much prefer metal, it doesn't split as easily!

Although I have several LIDL tools, am aware that technical or spares back up may not be available. Witness my 18 volt pistol drill since the batteeries failed. Another job to replace the rechargeable sub C cells, on the Round Tuit!

Howard

Would like to see someone turn something like this on it 11" diameter

Obviously built down to a price [ rather than up to a standard ] so using that mantra its no different to the hobby machines many members on this forum have. so if it does a good enough job within its capabilities then good.

I wonder how long it will be before someone starts posting upgrades for it, and then how long again before someone starts collecting them and creating a dedicated website?

Rod

Still got mine, although not used it for a while

You don't need to give up - just don't buy it if you don't like it?

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Anthony,

There was never any likelihood of me buying it

What I have given-up is any hope of holding an intelligent discussion about its ‘fitness for purpose’.

MichaelG.

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Edit: for the avoidance of doubt ... Here [again] is Lidl’s claim:

• For processing wooden workpieces up to 60cm in length and 25cm in diameter

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/12/2020 09:02:40

I presume it is the "and" that troubles the pedant in you most Michael rather than it being OK for a bit of spindle or bowl turning.

Doesn't your bowl leak a little Derek?

IanT

Hi, I bought a second hand one of the lathes similar to the Black & Decker one shown, at a car boot or an auction, can't remember which, but it was either my skills or the machine it self that was disappointing, it just didn't seem to do what was claimed on the box. I resold it for a song at a car boot sale that one of my sisters did when she sold a lot of her kids toys and things that they no longer wanted. I have however, only done one piece of wood turning with success on my HobbyMatt lathe, although this was only to modify a file handle into a new handle, to include the original ferrule and the shape as best that I could get it, to replace the split and tired one on my "Yankee" drilling machine.

Regards Nick.

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You presume correctly, Jason ... but that is just the top of a long list

The user manual is an amusing read too [sections 6 and 7 cover Safety]

https://www.lidl-service.com/cps/rde/xchg/SID-0CF413CF-2AC794B5/lsp/hs.xsl/product.html?id=3725223509&title=Soustruh+PDM+600+A1&count=1

MichaelG.

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P.S. __ You may think it pedantry, but I spent a good part of my working life drafting and negotiating documents where words like ‘and’ were legally significant.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/12/2020 09:57:02

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 02/12/2020 10:02:13

Just trying to establish if your "intellegent discussion" revolved around wording or actual practical use which is what the rest of us seem to be discussing.

Just like any lathe described as 7 x 14 (minilathe) or 3.5 x 20 (Myford) none will actually turn a cylindrical item of that size as there is the cross slide or in this case the toolrest clamp which gets in the way. I still would not want to try it with a 600mm x approx 175mm dia (assumed max over clamp) lump on it but happy to think it could do say a 240dia x 50mm bowl or 600 x 50dia spindle.

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Consider it established, Jason

I am genuinely concerned about the safety issues
... this is likely to be a casual purchase from a supermarket, by an un-informed user, and they will be ‘guided’ by the advertisement and the instructions.

MichaelG.

Only slightly

Jason that is one thing that metal lathe state the size being able to turn by giving the size over the bed then over the slide, where as wood lathes only give over the bed size