New lathe options

Hi all.

After my plans were scuppered for the workshop 6 months ago due to a lying cheating s**g of an EX, the house is finally being sold I'm going to be moving up to Yorkshire from Kent soon and setting up the workshop again (took 6 months out to regain my sanity etc)

I currently have a little old Clarke 300 mini lathe but want to replace it with something a bit more capable.

Few requirements for the new one as follows.

Must be easy ish to move (counts out the old colchester etc as way too heavy although I would love one)

Must have a powered crossfeed.

Separate leadscrew and powerfeed drive

Minimum 5" chuck 6" preferred

Preferably come with a stand

Ideally at least 1kw (brushless would be better)

So far on the list are:

Chester DB10VS 700mm bed @ £2260 Inc stand

Warco WM280V 700mm bed @ £2995 plus stand

Amadeal AMABL290VF 700mm bed @ £2395 plus stand.

Chester seems the better deal as it has the stand already but not sure on the motor, it says on the website 1200w but in the manual it's only 750w and doesn't say if its brushless.

The other 2 are definitely brushless

Did look at the Seig but it's smaller with only 100mm chuck and 500mm bed

Any other suggestions to look at or insight if you have one of the above would be greatly appreciated.

Moving it has to be easy as I'm going to be renting a house for the first year then looking at buying something, don't want to have to get company's in to do it otherwise a bantam/student it would be.

Rob

Edited By Rob Wheatley on 11/01/2022 22:32:26

Hi Rob,

The DB10VS has a centre height of 125mm and MT4 spindle. The 290VF has a centre height of 140mm and MT5 spindle so a larger bore. I have a 290 lathe and it has worked well for a decade. I do like the larger spindle bore. I had a couple of friends helping me when we moved the lathe into my workshop, we removed chuck, top-slide and tailstock before moving the lathe.

Thor

The Warco is three phase with inverter not brushless so should be a better bet. their 290 is also 3 phase with inverter.

The Chester does not have a separate feed shaft unlike the other two and is a smaller lathe so would expect it to cost the least. It is the same capacity as a warco 250.

I don't think Amadeal tend to supply a 4-jaw, faceplate or steadies with their machines so add in teh cost of those as Warco and Chester do

moving up to Yorkshire from Kent soon and setting up the workshop again (took 6 months out to regain my sanity etc)

I currently have a little old Clarke 300 mini lathe but want to replace it with something a bit more capable.

Ad you are clearly not s new starter, I might suggest keeping your eyes open for a good second hand lathe that fits the bill.

Mine, shall we say, cost far less than any of those new items you are considering. It took me a while to find a good one at the right price, but I was not in a hurry.

No not new to it but not a veteran either lol.

Thought about a used one but they tend to be the older brushed motors or 3 phase, there are a lot of myford's about but we'll used and old fashioned.

The Chester is definitely separate leadscrew and feed shafts looking at the picture on the website but it is the smaller of the 3.

Warco never seem to have stock of any machines, had the same when I was looking at milling machines, always out of stock!

Jason you are correct, amadeal don't include steadies or 4 jaw chucks but they do a 160mm 4 jaw for £185, the steadies are £40 each and backplate is £45 so not mega, with a stand at £290 it's about the same price as the warco without a stand but does have the bigger spindle bore.

Thor, is it the amadeal 290 you have? Looked at the Warco one but £3995 is a bit too much.

Yes sorry you are right on the chester, it's the same size DB11 as the 280 that does not have the separate shaft.

The brushless motor on the 290 is a new thing so I don't think you will find many that have used them, it would be interesting to know if it has just one belt position or hi/lo like the Warco. I also think the Amadeal has D-13or4 spindle so easy chuck changing

No Rob, I bought mine from a Norwegian dealer who gets lathes and milling machines from HBM in the Netherlands, and it is 10 years old

Thor

I think there is a better supply of lathes up north so wait until you are settled whatever temptations you see locally. I'd say a nice Boxford AUD fits the bill. You should also see what the new workshop looks like as you might find a place with a double garage next to the road with easy access for a Hiab wielding delivery lorry for a Colchester Triumph.

If you did decide to look for a secondhand machine, a Warco BH600, BH900, Chester Craftsman or Engineers ToolRoom BL12 -24 would fit your requirements, for PCF, and separate power shaft, from the Norton gearbox..

They are gap bed machines, with hardened Vee bedways, and 5 MT bore Spindle, ( 3MT ejector Tail;stock. ).

The Warcos, used to be available in Imperial or Metric form.

The ETR BL12 -24 was basically Metric, but dual dialled. It was supplied with 3 and 4 jaw chucks,Faceplate and fixed and travelling Steadies.

The Craftsman is still available from new.. A Faceplate is not included, but is available, as an extra, I believe.

Being belt drive, they tend to be a little quieter than gear head machines, with 1.5 or 2 hp single phase motors...

They are all, basically the same generic Taiwanese machine in different paint jobs and slight differences in basic specification and accessories.

Normally, supplied with a stand. containing two cupboards.

I have had my BL12-24 (Supplied with VFD ) since 2003 and so far have found almost nothing beyond its capability, probably, I am the limiting factor.

Howard

Most users seem to be well satisfied with them, so do not come on the market too often..

Hi all.

Just an update on this thread.

I'm all moved up north and settled in the new house now, so finally placed an order for my new lathe.

Spoke to the very helpful people at Warco and I have just ordered a WM290V 🙂 I was looking at the WM280V but by the time I had added a stand and DRO it wasn't far off the price of the WM290V, that has the DRO factory fitted and comes with the stand, well its now just a waiting game for delivery, 5 to 7 days apparently.

I was surprised that it is a new (just out) model that now comes fitted with 160mm taperlock chucks instead of the bolt on ones, added a QCTP and a couple of additional holders to the order so it was £4200 in total 😵‍💫

Now I just have to make space for it lol.

Hi Rob,

Congratulations with you new lathe. The taperlock chucks you mention, is that what many call Camlock?

Thor

Hi Thor.

Yes it is Camlock, D1-4 version as I have just looked it up, sales guy said taperlock !