LATHE THOUGHTS

[rustmagnet]

Hello all,

My first posting is associated with my NEXT lathe. I have a Chester 920, which I have outgrown (well it has never really been inspiring for a number of reasons I won't bore you with now.
I now need a 10 - 12" lathe - NOT CHINESE OR TAIWANESE OR ANY OTHER ESE!
O

[Uzzy]

Rustmagnet,
It maybe worth a look at the following website:-
homeworkshop.org.uk
Uzzy

[rustmagnet]

many thanks Uzzi,
I seem to have spent the last 2 months there, in my previous message i must have hit the wrong key and away it was posted!!
I was goinig on to say my choice was a Harrison 140 OR 250 OR BOXFORD 280 Anyone with experience any pleases help

thanks

[greasemonkey]

HI Rustmagnet
Try www.homeandworkshop.co.uk or www.gandmtools.com. Both companys have been very polite and helpful when I have spoken to them, no conection not even a customer just impressed.

Andy

[steamjohn248]

Get a half decent english lathe, Harrison, Boxford or Colchester, even it they are three phase a convertor is not that dear. I recently sold a perfectly serviceable Colchester
Triumph (admittedly a round head as opposed to a square head), for £750 with all its goodies.
Second hand Myfords the traditional Model engineers lathe are now to be seen for as low as £700. Or look on E bay there are nearly always lathes on offer.

[Tim Bayliss]

Hello Rustmagnet,
I'd like to throw in my 2 penny worth here.
First please do bore us with the reasons you don't like your 920, it may help prevent others having buyers regrets.
Secondly, don't forget that the lathes you have mentioned are gear head lathes and are innevitably more noisy than a belt head. Not a prob if you have a good size workshop but a real headache if, like me, you have to work in a confined space. Having used many very good quality lathes in the past (before my exile to the Emerald Isle) noise was one of the main reasons I bought a belt head Chester Craftsman. Plenty of capacity but comparatively quiet.
Good luck with your lathe hunt,
Tim

[rustmagnet]

Hello Tim,

Well, I wouldn’t want to put anyone off buying Chinese as a first lathe if like me they weren’t quite sure if they were going to get on with model engineering. These are only my views and I don’t have vast experience and an engineering pedigree.
My reasons for not enjoying using the Chester 920 lathe anymore are due to:-
1. poor quality chucks (the light duty 4 jaw is of a particular poor design )
2. 3 screw gib strip altering of the cross slide makes it very impossible to get a smooth feel over its travel.
3. the saddle play
4. Why should I have to supply a larger pulley belt to engage the higher speeds
5. the method of tool slide alteration with 2 stationary bolts has caused numerous bashed hands
6. 1 ½” of tailstock travel
7. 4 bolting down points would be nicer to fine tweak setup.
8. If you work close to the chuck, the saddle fouls on the splash back – I have taken mine off now.

Maybe it isn’t the fact that it is Chinese, but that you get what you pay for, however in 2002 when I bought mine it was £850 – (now they are more in line with their true worth). Now, I am sure some would say that “quality” is a word that can be easily bandied about by miserable complainers, but I sincerely believe that a second hand English made lathe that has had reasonable use will outlast and out perform a new Chinese lathe with all its test certificates that tell you how good it is.
I must say that even though I have said all this, I still bid £785.00 on ebay for a craftsman lathe a couple of weeks ago in a moment of madness! (noise was a factor, along with the fact it came with suds, collet chuck, etc). They are very good value and you get a lot for your money but after being initially happy with my lathe, the love affair soon faded.. I hope you enjoy using your Craftsman and wish you all the best

rustmagnet

[Tim Bayliss]

Thanks for that, it was interesting, if somewhat shocking to read about all the problems. The 918/920 (similar lathes, diferent colour) would never have been my choice for some of the very reasons you specify but it did have a good write up in one of the mags! Makes ya think don't it.
I do agree with you that a used quality lathe will probably outlive an 'ese' version but there are also some not so good quality ones about. I worked at a government establishment for a couple of years that had a workshop full of ancient Dean, Smith & Grace lathes that were top notch. When they came into money they decided to buy a brand new Triumph. Within the guarantee period the halfnut went (see other threads on this page!) and the head had to be realigned twice while I was there.
But there are probably a lot more good uns than bad uns out there.
Good luck
Tim