Thread: Sydney beginners lathe

Looks like it, s good value Phil ,

3 phase though! A newbie could do a lot cheaper and more appropriate then that

Originally Posted by brainstrust

3 phase though! A newbie could do a lot cheaper and more appropriate then that

Says “240volt50Hz” on the compliance plate in photo

Looks like it has been relisted.

The start/stop button is rated at 500V, but the motor and plug are single phase 240V.

My main concern is the 1/2HP motor, which is a bit low for a lathe of that size.

The other concern is that speed control mechanism, which is OK while it is working but not readily replaced if it fails. Unless you are very handy with re-engineering such things that is a factor to take into account.

The current version of this lathe is the Hare and Forbes WL-18 and that now with a 1HP motor and sells new for about $600. The tools look like they are of no value, although the chuck is worth about $100 secondhand if OK.

I'm not convinced it is worth much more than the listed starting price.

If the speed control mechanism is the same as the H&F WL-18 (which I have) and the many other rebrandings then it costs about $115 to replace the 2 split pulleys and $15 to replace the belt. The rest is just a bent lever. Parts are in stock. Just about to do mine.

I read in the manual that the split pulleys should be regularly lubricated. Most owners don’t read this so the pulleys gum up, the owner gets frustrated and starts prying and hammering at them. As they are made from cast mud they readily break. Like mine.

Arron

Originally Posted by NeilS

My main concern is the 1/2HP motor, which is a bit low for a lathe of that size.

For a beginner's lathe, I think that's fair enough; I'd rather a beginner be easily be able to stall it out than have tools launched across the room.

1/2HP is on the small side once a beginner has grasped the basics, though they'd probably quickly want to upgrade if they got into items with larger diameters, such as platters and larger bowls. It'd be perfectly fine for the average spindle turner though.

The other concern is that speed control mechanism, which is OK while it is working but not readily replaced if it fails. Unless you are very handy with re-engineering such things that is a factor to take into account.

Meh. It's an MC-900 and the MC-xxx (and clones) are pretty much all the same. A bit of work wrangling the pieces apart, but the spares are readily sourced. There's so many MC-900s around that they're a bit like the old Holden Red motors.

The tools look like they are of no value, although the chuck is worth about $100 secondhand if OK.

The Nova midi chucks - and their cheap chaiwanese clones - are pretty bullet-proof in design. Unless someone has taken it apart and whaled on the innards with a hammer, it should clean up quite nicely.

If it is a Nova then most of Teknatool's jaws for a SuperNova will fit. The same isn't necessarily true for the cheap knock-offs.

This is a great chuck for smaller pieces, where you don't need the weight/holding power of a G3/SuperNova.

I'm not convinced it is worth much more than the listed starting price.

By the same token, it's not worth less. That's a fair price for "Buy Now."

Heh. I just noticed another with about the same kit for $250, but with a 'slightly damaged' pulley. Now, that one I'd be wary of...

Originally Posted by NeilS

Looks like it has been relisted.

No, similar, but not the same lathe.

Looking at the above sold lathe I see this offered: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Woodfast....c100013.m1986

Is that the going price for that vintage Woodfast in AU? I thought it a bit high.

Hawker Siddeley makes lathes??? Airplanes I knew of. Interesting history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley