Warco GH600 user opinons sought

I am mulling over changing my Super 7B for a Warco GH600 & would be interested in the current opinions of users of these machines. There was a quite extensive thread on here in 2019 ( https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=142769 ) where the opinions were predominantly positive, but there is little else around - a couple of YouTube posters is about it.

These machines seem to be available from several European sellers (Bernado Profi 600G, Pauilmot PM3700 as examples ) and the manufacturer would possibly be CJ Machinery. ( http://cjmachine.net/ProductsShow.asp?Probid=1707 ). Weiss do make gear head machines, but they appear to be different to the CJ machine (different spindle speeds & gearchange arrangements). YouTube videos about the Bernado & Paulimot machines noted above also appear to be largely positive. There do not appear to be any other UK sellers of Chinese gearhead machines of this size (250 - 280 swing) other than Warco.

Reasons for considering a swap are mainly to get power cross feed on a native Metric machine with a screwcutting gearbox. I can work in either Metric or Imperial, but prefer Metric & the majority of threads I wish to cut are Metric ( a bit of a pain on the S7B, though I do have the Metric kit for it). I would like power cross feed to reduce discomfort in my right hand following surgery on it last year - it sort-of works, but gets uncomfortable during longer periods of use. A bonus here is power long feed becomes independant of the leadscrew. The spindle drive & control arrangements are very similar to the various Harriosn lathes I have used since starting work (L5, 140, M300 & VS330), so would take no re-learning.

Disadvantages of the GH600 appear to be the bolt-on chucks - a bit of a pain to change chucks & only a shallow parallel spigot for location ? - and an incomplete range of Imperial threads available as supplied. The Imperial threads bit probably isn't an issue, but Sod's Law usually dictates that first need to cut an Imperial thread would be one that can't be set.

I don't want to go down the ex-industrial route - it would be a choice of staying as I am with the Myford or changing for a new machine. I am looking for a tool to use with minimal fettling, not another project with high spares & accessory prices. I have owned the Myford for around 25 years & it is in good order, with minimal wear & comprehensively equipped. In an ideal world would keep it in addition to the GH600 (if I go that route) but, unfortunately, don't have the space to do so. And I don't want to go for a machine with a much larger footprint - the GH600 isn't much bigger overall than the S7B, so would slot in to the space the Myford currently occupies.

I did consider getting a similar capacity varaiable speed model with power crossfeed (Warco, Chester or Amadeal), but really don't want a closed source, no name, no information available "brushless" drive & the inverter drive models are about the same cost (when a stand is added) as the GH600 - plus they don't have a screwcutting gearbox. Easier to add an Rocketronics ELS solution maybe - a valid alternative solution to a screwcutting gearbox - but that is getting into the "another project" scenario.

Sorry for the ramble, any feedback that would help sway my decision one way or the other will be welcome.

Nigel B.

When I wanted to upgrade from my Myford super 7 I lusted after all the usual subjects but ended up with a Warco 290V, a pile of c*** in places but once I replaced the rubbish change gears with an electronic leadscrew it's actually hard to beat, accurate and very quiet, the geared head Chinese offerings seem to be noisy??? Just my opinion.

Tony

Due diligence. this site

If you added an electronic leadscrew that would deal with your threading problem, and you could easily add power cross feed. No need to buy a new lathe at all.

Of course you could also go the whole hog, once you have steppers on both leadscrews then you have the CNC option as well.

I really like mine - chosen for more-or-less the same reasons as you outline above.

I discarded the capscrews for the chucks and use studs with nuts - whilst it is slightly more of a fiddle to fit nuts than simply screw a chuck on, having a 'reverse' capability is one of those things that one finds uses for once you have it;

..and like so many manual things, one's body and brain soon 'remember' the action after a while and it becomes less of a trial..

Also the register (on mine) is a creditable fit which means that once the chuck is located on it, it only takes pressure from the side of one's thumb to stop it falling off until the first nut is started (- by which I mean that one doesn't have to support the full weight of it whilst starting the nuts).

There are some gaps in the Imperial threads, I don't use them much so haven't analysed the possibilities, but the 'box is driven by (supplied) translation gears in a train on studs on a banjo, so I think if you can't find an approximation by mixing/matching/juggling some of the gears and internal ratios, I don't think it would be to hard to lash-up a couple of phenolic gears - they are Mod.1 - at least that is my plan if I ever get stumped..

I originally thought it would be the thread cutting capability that I'd find to be the best thing about the 'box, but as far as day to day lathework goes, it is of course having a decent range of selectable finefeeds - what a revelation.. ..well, it was to me, anyway..

Although feed actuation is independent of screw-cutting, the functions 'share' a shaft, i.e. drive is by sliding key in a slot in the leadscrew, not a dedicated shaft of it's own.

I think in more general terms, as a size-for-size replacement for a 7, and where size is a limiting factor, it'd be hard to beat - it is nice to use, quick, clean, convenient, and I like the controls.

Pictures of legend plates and gear train in my album 'GH600', if you want to know anything further just ask..

my lathe has a bolt on chuck, it makes life a lot easier if you make a block of wood that just fits between the bed and the chuck, ten when you've entered the studs into their holes you have both hands free rather than having to support a chuck with your right hand and fiddle with the nuts with your left

I have owned my GH600 since May 2019. having changed from a 280V that did its own thing on when it would start and stop. No regrets .First job was to check the oil having heard horror stories of casting dust etc in the gear boxes. Nothing nasty at all in either gear box . Second job was to make some replacement handles. It still lacks the silky smooth feel that my Super 7 had but is is pretty good, I have had no reason to adjust anything but I did replace the chuck fastening with studs and nuts. Much easier to use and a very simple ,cheap, and quick mod. Having a good range of power feeds and spindle speeds together with larger spindle bore than the Myford has made it a very pleasant machine to use

Brian

Apologies for the late reply & thanks to all who responded.

My Google search didn't turn up the posts that Dave's site search did - didn't think to use the site facilty !

The positive opinions of users are encouraging. In an ideal world I would go and have a play with one, but Warco are currently 230 (ish) miles South and are in the process of moving even further away from me. Along with the other (dwindling) list of suppliers they don't appear to attend shows any more, so that option is out as well. It would be helpful if they made the machine manuals available to download (Chester do) and if the website descriptions were more thorough and include more pictures - I can't think that an industrial supplier would fail to mention the spindle nose details, for example.

The ELS / CNC route isn't one I am too keen on. I can see the advantages but, apart from the "another project" aspect mentioned initially , I spent 46 years working with CNC machinery for a living & rather enjoy the challenge of working on manual machines in my own time. I have a Denford Triac in the "projects" already & feel I would rather put time into that than building an ELS lathe from scratch. And the GH600 probably wouldn't be the best starting point for such a project - no point paying for a feed gearbox & power feed apron if they were not going to be used ?

Brian's comment about "lacking the silky smooth feel of his S7" is one of the remaining nagging doubts, though. While they have their detractors and limitations, I also find that my well set up S7 is a pleasure to use - a hobby isn't just about the end result, but the experience of getting there ?.

Nigel B.

Nigel,

Grizzly, in the US almost certainly sell, or have sold, what is basically the same, or at the least a very similar machine. If you can identify it in their range then you can download their manual from their site.

Phil

The 125mm spindle flange has a 'standard' 95mm register with three- and four-hole bolt circles on a 108mm pcd., so a wide range of chucks and fittings will go straight on..

..you have mail.

Edited By DiogenesII on 08/07/2023 08:06:16

Nigel

Please don't read too much into my "Silky Smooth" comment . A GH600 is still very good. I made some new handles simply to match the ones I had fitted to my VMC mill. The dials are vast improvement over the ones fitted to a 280V where a bent strip to provide the friction. The GH600system gives dials that are easy to set and which retain their setting . The supplied chucks were well made , although their operation improved drastically after some lubrication ,

If you are within easy reach of Silverstone send me PM and come and have a play,

Brian

Just to let you know that you can download the manual for the GH600 from Warco. I did a search for Warco GH600 manual and it gave a link (also at the bottom of the left menu on the warco site for the lathe).

If the gear head versions are as good as the previous belt head versions, you should be quite satisfied.

Just over twenty years with a belt driven machine have shown no major problems (noisy tumbler gears at the outset, and some of my own making ) possibly helped by having VFD.

Howard

Nigel, I have sent you a PM

Brian

Phil & Brian,

Please accept my apologies for not replying to you posts sooner.

Grizzly manuals are a step up from most others but, unfortunately, I have not been able to identify if they ever sold a version of this machine. Their current line-up doesn't have one & searching for "discontinued Grizzly lathes" didn't come up with anything either. Their model numbering system seems a bit random, with model numbers not seeming to be logical in any way I can see. Their total number of manuals online is over 4000 - searching for those prefixed "G" as most lathes appear to be gets this down to just over 1000. But the first "G" mode listed (G0440) l is a dust extractor & one 4 numbers higher is a 10" table saw !

Brian - thank you for your kind offer. I live in Huddersfield so, unfortunately, you are still quite a way south.

Graham - well spotted ! DiogenesII kindly sent me a copy of that manual (and supplied more information as well - much appreciated, Paul )

I have decided to take the plunge & will update in due course.

Nigel B.