BV25 Lathe?

I've just received my latest MEW (198) - and there is an article by Alan James Aldridge in there about his new (ish) BV25 lathe. I was curioius as to who distributed this lathe in the UK (and what it might cost etc) - but I have not managed to find it after a quick (UK only) Google.

Any idea who sells this is in the UK - or alternatively - what an equivalent model might be from a UK supplier? I'm assuming someone is probably selling exactly the same machine under a different badge/model number.

Regards, Ian T

Edited By IanT on 10/12/2012 14:14:10

Edited By IanT on 10/12/2012 14:14:56

I think Axminster Power Tools used to sell it, they do the BV20 & BV30 so I assume the 25 is between the two sizewise.

J

I cannot find a BV lathe on the Axminster site Jason - they seem to be selling Sieg lathes (any connection?).

Warco do a range of WM250 lathes - are these also similar to the one described I wonder?

Regards,

IanT

I think Axi have phased them out, they were in my 2011 paper catalogue.

Don't take MEW so can't see the lateh but expect they are similar to several others just different paint colour.

J

A mate of mine bought a BV25 from Axminster quite a few years ago, they definitely did sell them.

For what it's worth he's had no trouble with it beyond the gearbox being a bit leaky.

I think they have been superseded. I had a BV20 from Axminster about 10 years back. I found it crude and noisy, it leaked oil from the gearbox and most of the fastenings seemed to be made of cheese. It was cheap, but ultimately it wasn't worth persevering with and I sold it and moved up a bit. I think I remember reading somewhere that it was a Chinese copy of a Russian knock-off. This was not a BV25, but it may help you.

I don't know what a current equivalent will be, but Arc Euro, Warco, Chester et al. all supply similar machines to the same market sector.

Pete

Edit: I've just read that last paragraph back to myself and it's not quite right. The market has moved on over the last decade and the machines available now from the suppliers I mentioned are better than the equivalents in 2002. I have owned equipment bought from Warco and Arc and can recommend you look at both, and I have no reason to suppose Chester is any different.

Edited By Peter Hall on 10/12/2012 20:59:23

I read the article which was quite interesting but all the time I irked that I not heard of the machine before. It seemed to the writer that it was something every one knew. I now know that I am not the only one.

I do think it should have been spotted by the proof reading stage, although if that person/s knew the model it would quite legitimately been missed.

I wasn't particularly waiting for one, but in this issue (198) three came along at the same time! (articles including ER collet spindles that is).

Ian

So no one seems to be selling an equivalent lathe in the UK currently then?

IanT

Would have been nice to get an overall shot of the lathe

Interesting article so far, I was looking for a list of basic dimns. eg centre hight, max dia. swing, hight over cross slide, etc. did I miss it?

I speculate that suchinformation is commercially sensitive, or maybe only given on 'Need to Know' basis.

Ian

Hi,

Iv'e just got MEW198 and looked closely at the photo of the BV25 . The nameplate says BV25A so the BV25 looks more like a generic name.
echinatool have a BV25-2 but their picture shows significant different features.

I think I read MAC-AFRIC above the BV25A and this corresponds with a South African fleabay
http://durban.olx.co.za/bench-lathe-mac-afric-iid-156939750
The logo is the same but the model is BV20BL.

Interesting article but I don't expect to find many in the UK

Bob D

Bob

A neat bit of detective work on your part!

We live in amazing times, a few years ago getting the same information might have taken weeks with snail mail etc.

Ian

When I saw the topslide set at a large taper angle, I could swear that this lathe doesn't reside in GB!

Usually only 'murricans do that stunt; a bad habit going back to the laughable South Bend topslide.
Well maybe South Africans also...

Greetings, Hansrudolf

Have I missed something?

I thought topslide were rotated ro the angle you want to cut, why would it be different in another country, hemisphere, or religion maybe?

Ian

Edited By Ian Phillips on 11/12/2012 13:30:17

We should have known it wasn't in the UK. The shed door is open and there is sun shining in the garden!!

Has the top slide been rotated round to try and keep the lock handle of the 4 way toolbox from being over the workpiece. In the "British Position" for the top slide this toolbox handle will be coming tight with it still over the workpiece (or drill in the tailstock). I suggest thats not the best of positions to have the handle.

Back to that topslide. I don't fancy the way the whole slide is mounted in midair on a centre post. There is a lot of unsupported overhang from the post to the cutting tool with that configuration. The load from the tool is better spread when the cross slide has the locating hole and the underside of the topslide has the register spigot with a big flange to sit flat on the cross slide. The whole assembly becomes much more rigid.

Bob D

Ian, I already feared that I commited a dire crime, but after looking again I'm sure none of the two pictures with the angled topslide show any taper turning. The case of the third one should be self-evident anyway.

Why in some countries, hemispheres or religions people love to set their topslide at 45 degrees (not for taper turning I hasten to add) - just ask them yourself !!!

Greetings, Hansrudolf

Pictures 1 (no work in the chuck) and 3 say nothing relating to toplide angle.

Picture 2 might be that he is going to bore the hole conical.

As to people abroad, I dont know any to ask!

Ian

There are a lot more articles to follow, most are relevant to almost any lathe.

I think the angle of the cross slide is irelevant as it is not doing any turning in either photo and photo 3 is of a vertical slide.

regards David

What's wrong with the top slide being rotated round ?

If it wasn't designed that way they would have welded the bloody thing to the cross slide, not put adjustment bolts in.

I don't run with a top slide, just a massive block of steel to replace it, rigidity is worth more to me than the 5 or 6 times per year I need to do a taper but after I have re fitted to top slide to do one, if it's left on for a couple of jobs it's always turned at an angle to keep it clear of the tailstock.

Sorry lads didn't know it was a southern hemisphere requirement, after I have finished flushing the bog and watching the effluent travel round anti-clockwise [ or is that clockwise ? ] I'll go and put the big block back on.

John S.