Chinese lathe opinions?

[johnnyrsa]

Hi Guys

Was wondering if any of you on the forum has ever purchased one of these Chinese made midi lathes and how they performed? It looks like a copy of the Jet Midi lathe but sells for almost half the price of the Jet over here in South Africa. I can't seem to find much info about them on the net. Here's a link to one: http://www.adendorff.co.za/ProductDetails.aspx?id=4300
I am not sure under what brand name they sell over in Aus.

Cheers

[Not enough!!]

Hi Guys

Was wondering if any of you on the forum has ever purchased one of these Chinese made midi lathes and how they performed? It looks like a copy of the Jet Midi lathe but sells for almost half the price of the Jet over here in South Africa. I can't seem to find much info about them on the net. Here's a link to one: http://www.adendorff.co.za/ProductDetails.aspx?id=4300
I am not sure under what brand name they sell over in Aus.

Cheers

Hello, they sell over here under a couple of different names but the one l brought goes by the name of "Oltre", save your money and go for proven name/quality.

Mine stopped working after a month or so, the supplier sent a new control box - quickly, but whilst l was waiting for an electricial to replace the box l brought a "Woodfast" and its great, highly recommended.

Just my 2 bobs worth ( 2 cents worth), l'm sure someone else has probably had more luck than l with the said lathe.

[Evanism]

Everything is made in China....at least the stuff here is. It looks very similar to the Woodfast models: http://www.woodfast.com.au/index.php?p=1_5

Woodfast is fantastic. I had the middy M305 and it was fantastic.

The chaps at WF inspect each lathe before its sent however. They inspect quite a few things, but I do know they check the bed/tailstock to headstock alignment to ensure its spot on.

Perhaps you could do this too before taking delivery?

[Mobyturns]

Check the depth of casting under the tail stock that seats in the bed ways. There have been a few reports on other forums of problems with some of these generic lathes having very little meat in the casting in that area. Apparently the casting either does not seat well and or wears quickly creating tail stock alignment problems.

[johnnyrsa]

Ok I went and checked the mini lathe out and it does actually seem like a well built machine but a little too small for my needs. They also had a bigger heavier duty one on the floor which looks like it would suite my needs perfectly. It is a bit more expensive than the mini lathe but the reviews I found on google are all positive, I'm not sure under what brand this model sells for in Aus but in America it sells at Harbor Freight under the Central Machinery 34706 name. I think I'll rather spend the little extra and get this one instead.
http://www.adendorff.co.za/ProductDetails.aspx?id=539

[Sturdee]

I think I'll rather spend the little extra and get this one instead.
http://www.adendorff.co.za/ProductDetails.aspx?id=539

That lathe is the equivalent of the H & F MC900 lathe which I have been using for a number of years now.

Generally a good lathe but needs some tweaking to get it right. The frame is only pressed metal and is no good without bracing and support. I have mine mounted on a solid bench anchored into the walls of the house and ignored the frame.

I found that the nuts for the banjo, tailstock and headstock regularly work loose and replaced them with nylock nuts.

Don't think you can do outboard turning with this one as the outboard extension for the banjo has too much vibration.

Quite a few others have them as it's a popular beginners lathe and a search here for some mods would be helpful.

I'm happy with mine, as it's set up, and I'm sure you will be happy too. If later you want to upgrade then you can use this one as a dedicated buffing machine.

Peter.

[johnnyrsa]

That lathe is the equivalent of the H & F MC900 lathe which I have been using for a number of years now.

Thats the one! I see it costs about the same over there than it does here, just the Americans who get it at about half what we pay which I think is a bit unfair. Haha

Cheers

[Paul39]

Thats the one! I see it costs about the same over there than it does here, just the Americans who get it at about half what we pay which I think is a bit unfair. Haha Cheers

I have played with the Harbor Freight one in the show room here (not under power) and it seems to be a decent lathe for the money. Here Harbor Freight lathes come in a box and you assemble and do your own quality control and tuning.

The store is quite good about replacing things not right or broken in shipping, but if one has driven a long way to get the tool it is worth the precaution of opening the box and checking to see if anything is broken or missing.

If you cut plywood to fit inside the angles of the sides and back, and screw them to the angles, it will stiffen the stand considerably. A low down shelf with 50 kg of sand or concrete blocks, or dead car batteries, will make it steady.

[Phil Hansen]

If you buy from that company be prepared for a lot of long stories about your incompetency and misuse of their equipment if something goes wrong.
Not at all impressed with them and will never buy from them again.
As they say 'buyer beware'

Phil