which is the best small milling and lathe machines to buy

can any of the members advise me on warco or chester products for their milling machines and lathes which is the best to buy.

Hi David

Ihave dealt with Warco and Chester, but both my mill and lathe are from Chester, mainly because there are not too far away should i have any problems. Both firms have given me good service over the years, and both offer similar products. I think Chester machines are a bit less expensive, but there tooling is more expensive,so roundabouts,and swings realy! As others will no doubt advise, go for the largest that space and price will allow, but remember that once you have the machines you will also need tooling,wich in the case of the mill could allmost double the cost of the machine itself. If you can manage to get to Harrogate in early May, then you will be able to see all the traders in one place and make a more informed choice. If i was about to spend a fair bit of cash i would realy make the effort to get there,and talk to as many folk as you can to avoid being dissatisfied with what you end up buying Good hunting

Cheers Derek

I can't suggest which machine to buy, or from where, but I agree with Derek about getting the largest you can afford, and have room for. It's a good idea to find someone in to modeling to discuss and guide you if you are unsure, Follow Derek's ideas, and you wont go to far wrong. Ian S C

Take a look at the Seig C3 - Arceurotrade is one stockist, Sieg also have a series of milling machines X1/X2/X3. Pick the biggest you can accomodate!

many thanks for all the replies to what to buy its seems to heading in the direction of warco

Thsi isn't a reply. it's a similar question. I am impressed by the specification of chester's cobra mill but the wattage of the motor seems to imply that fairly robust cuts on any material would be out of the question. if i'm wrong here then i'd be pleased to buy the cobra. Also about the sieg mills: no other supplier of chinese machine tools that i have noticed gives customers the option of a preparation service. Why doesn't arceuro trade provide after-factory care as part of the price? after all, whan you buy a car you don't expect to have to rebuild it as part of the price, do you? do readers have any comments about amadeal's xj12-300 (sounds like a car!) ? However i do take one contributor's point about spebding as much as you can afford which might be rather like saying you only get what you pay for. thanks