Thread: Much needed advice, HELP!!!!!

A simple question first.

What do you want to turn?

One that you might consider is the DVR from Teknatool...suposse to be top notch...right, Ern?

Firstly think carefuly about what asks.

Secondly the Teknatool lathes are very good. The DVR is a cracker, but a less expensive manual belt change Teknatool may suit you very well. I suggest you talk yo Jim Carrol.

Out of those three the only one I would go near is the Woodfast. But my concern is why you haven't considered a Vicmarc. Why Vicmarc?
1/ They are one of the best lathes in the world, period.
2/ They are made in Australia, unlike any of the others mentioned (except the Stubby).
3/ Re-sale value is good.
Yes, they also attract a decent price but if you don't go for the Electronic Variable Speed option then you can get VL200 for around the same price as the Woodfast. Worth considering.

Disclaimer: Yes I am an agent for Vicmarc. Yes I am biased. No, I am not biased because I am an agent. I am biased because I use them and know they are an excellent lathe.

I don't think any of those lathes can be compared to the MC900/1100 lathes. I have just sold off my MC900 and bought a H&F WL-46 or 387. The difference between the 2 lathes is like chalk and cheese, both in rigidity, capacity, power and speed control. I could go on.

Like you I looked at all 3 of those lathes and in the end decided on the WL46, so far haven't regretted my choice at all.

Speed control on this lathe is far superior to the Woodfast, which needs 6 belt changes to go through the whole speed range, somewhat negating the "electronic speed control".

The Woodfast is a very good lathe and if you decided to go that way Carbatec have a run-out model (the no longer have them in the catalogue) on the floor for $2595, at least it was still there last Friday.

You're welcome to come for a drive and try the WL46

I agree with - what is it going to be used for? I bought a second hand belt-change VL200 as an upgrade from a MC1100 and it's light years ahead on quality, power (same power rating ), vibration or lack thereof, alighnment, etc. Downside is it is not designed for bowls/platters without going outboard...

From my experience, a good quality second hand lathe will be tons better than a cheapie chinese new lathe. Then again, when I started I really didn't want to spend more than about $500 to get going and the MC1100 (also second hand) fit that criteria. It's worth noting that when I upgraded I sold the lathe for not a lot different to what I paid. If I had bought it new I would have lost a lot more.

Hope that was more helpful than useless

Cheers,
Dave

Thanks for the replies folks, you've all been very helpfull

, what do I want to turn?, anything and everything, dont see myself just doing pens or bowls or big platters but a mixture of all.

Ed, I have looked quickly at the teknatool lathes at Carbatec but dont really know much about them.

Artme, another teknatool fan, hhhhhhhhhhhmmmm, something to think about there.

Brendan, I've looked at the vicmarks and until now had them in the same basket as the stubby, something to look at but dont touch, but will consider them too now.

Fred, I read your recent thread with great interest, just might take a drive up to see you

Dave, a second hand lathe would certainly be of interest, never been one to have the latest and newest.

I now have a couple more questions if you folks dont mind.

Is electronic variable speed control something thats a must have or something that just makes things easier and am I asking too much to want a lathe that will do virtually everthing?

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Cheers, Ross.

I

s electronic variable speed control something thats a must have or something that just makes things easier

No its not an absolute necessity, you can turn mind boggling works of art that would rival the work of William Hunter with out one.

But they are a great option to have and have several benefits. I personally love em on all my lathes

and am I asking too much to want a lathe that will do virtually everything?

yeah, probably

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Speed control on this lathe is far superior to the Woodfast, which needs 6 belt changes to go through the whole speed range, somewhat negating the "electronic speed control".

Not wanting to be an advocate for one lathe over another, but couldn't let this go by Big Shed without a comment. The electronic controls on the Woodfasts are European and my experience of them over many years of use is that they are highly reliable. Not sure about some of the other lathes. I expect the Vicmarcs also use top quality elelctronics.

Conceptually the belt changing is an issue, but in practice my experience is that it is infrequent and done quite quickly. I'd change chucks 50 timers to every time I change the the belt. But then, I don't alternate between finials and 500mm platters.

Like most things, we get what we pay for in a lathe. But, it's hard to convince the chancellor of the exchequer that you need to spend all that money, especially when you are just starting up. So most of us can't afford (or allowed) to have what we would really like and have to settle on second best or secondhand. I reckon secondhand quality always wins out over new lower quality at the same price.

BTW - anyone got a secondhand VB36 that they would like to sell?....

.....

Originally Posted by NeilS

Not wanting to be an advocate for one lathe over another, but couldn't let this go by Big Shed without a comment. The electronic controls on the Woodfasts are European and my experience of them over many years of use is that they are highly reliable. Not sure about some of the other lathes. I expect the Vicmarcs also use top quality elelctronics.

Conceptually the belt changing is an issue, but in practice my experience is that it is infrequent and done quite quickly. I'd change chucks 50 timers to every time I change the the belt. But then, I don't alternate between finials and 500mm platters.

Like most things, we get what we pay for in a lathe. But, it's hard to convince the chancellor of the exchequer that you need to spend all that money, especially when you are just starting up. So most of us can't afford (or allowed) to have what we would really like and have to settle on second best or secondhand. I reckon secondhand quality always wins out over new lower quality at the same price.

BTW - anyone got a secondhand VB36 that they would like to sell?....You and I both wish.

.....

Neil has pretty well nailed it I reckon.

Originally Posted by NeilS

.....

Not wanting to be an advocate for one lathe over another, but couldn't let this go by Big Shed without a comment. The electronic controls on the Woodfasts are European and my experience of them over many years of use is that they are highly reliable. Not sure about some of the other lathes. I expect the Vicmarcs also use top quality elelctronics.

Neil, I don't think I decried the quality of Woodfast electronics anywhere in my post, I simply pointed out that it required 6 (six) belt changes to go through the entire range of speeds. To my mind that is a strange design "feature", and that is what I pointed out.
AFAIK the Woodfast lathes come out of China, I would be surprised if they had European electronics, but I take your word for it.
Being European doesn't automatically make it better than Chinese, particularly in the world of electronics. After all we all have a lounge room full of Chinese electronics and most of it seems very reliable. Certainly my "One Hung Lo" Chinese LCD screen is giving excellent service.

Conceptually the belt changing is an issue, but in practice my experience is that it is infrequent and done quite quickly. I'd change chucks 50 timers to every time I change the the belt. But then, I don't alternate between finials and 500mm platters.

Yes, conceptually I have a problem with that. Not only that it requires 6 belt changes, but the belt changes are not very easy either. I know, I did them in the Carbatec showroom..
I do a lot of speed changes when I do my pen turning, I certainly don't drill my blanks at 3000+ RPM, but I do my final polishing at that speed. Having an electronic speed control that allows me to select any speed I want between 0 (Realistically 100) and 3260.

Like most things, we get what we pay for in a lathe. But, it's hard to convince the chancellor of the exchequer that you need to spend all that money, especially when you are just starting up. So most of us can't afford (or allowed) to have what we would really like and have to settle on second best or secondhand. I reckon secondhand quality always wins out over new lower quality at the same price.

Yes, most of the time that is true.

Suffice to say I am happy with my Chinese lathe at the price I paid. Would I have been happier with a $5000 Vicmarc, I'll probably never know.

Originally Posted by Ed Reiss

One that you might consider is the DVR from Teknatool...suposse to be top notch...right, Ern?

Top notch motor.

The castings and machining are Chinese and in the category where you have to fettle to get the machine sorted.

Just a quick update and a big thankyou to all who responded to my plea for help.

I've spent the last 3 or 4 months looking at lathes, reading articles, talking to folks at wood turning demos and watching countless hours of youtube videos so the decision I've finally made hasnt come quickly.

When I started looking my budget was $1000.00 and I thought that would buy a good lathe and chisels and such then I started reading about the lathes at that price and realised the money could be better spent.

The budget then doubled to $2000.00 and I started looking again in that range. The Teknatool lathes looked ok and so did the others in that range but then I figured if I spent two to two and a half thousand I may as well go to three thousand and see whats there in that price range.

Thats when I started looking at the Woodfast, the Jet, the Vicmarks and the Stubby lathes, and got more disillusioned as I went.

I want a lathe to have some fun with, give some pieces away and hell, maybe even make a few dollars. As I'm sure the lathes and machinery you all have and that I have is relative to the available income, I finally came to the conclussion that the line had to be drawn somewhere.

As I said right at the start, if money was unlimited A Stubby or Vicmark would be sitting in my shed, unless I win lotto that aint gonna happen.

The Teknatool lathes, just something about them, not sure what it is but I've decided to pass on them. The Woodfast, if I had the finances right this minute I would have really considered the one at Carbatec in Springvale but again with some chisels its pushing $3000, just more than I want to spend.

Carbatec offered a good deal on the CT-25650 but still with some chisels its pushing $2500.

Thats left me with the Hare and Forbes W387 which after reading a number of articles on this forum and an american forum about the grizzly and laguna clones, I went to H&F this morning and put down a deposit for said lathe and out-rigger accessory. In speaking with one of their staff this morning, Robert, he made mention that there is none in stock at the moment but they will have stock mid july.

So while I've put a deposit on something sight unseen, in reading Freds thread on his purchase, his response on this thread and the conversation I had with another member of this forum, I believe I've made the right decision for me, time will tell I suppose.

Thanks again for all the responses, will post again when the lathe finally arrives.

Cheers, Ross.

Ross, I'm sure you will be happy with this lathe. It took me almost a year to finally take the plunge, mainly because every time I made up my mind H&F didn't have stock. This apparently is the normal situation with this lathe, I was lucky and was able to buy the display model off the floor during their last sale. This allowed me to check it out thoroughly, even though I felt like a bit of a you-know-what standing in a showroom full of people putting dial indicators on shafts etc.

Every one I know of in Australia that has bought one has had to wait for the next shipment to come in.

This either because H&F stock control is RS (probable) or they sell them faster than they bring them in (more likely).

If you want a "look & feel" of this lathe, you know where there is one and my invitation stands.