H&f wl 38 wood lathe

[nz_carver]

Ok I'm thinking of spending the cash and I only Wana spend around $1000
I'm looking at the wl38 from h&f from what I know it's like the dvr
But cheaper the thing I don't like is the stand but he'll I can fix that
Here's the specs

Model WL-38 WOOD LATHE

Electronic Variable Speed

Features

• Electronic variable speed (420-2100rpm) with a digital screen
• Swivel head - ideal for large bowl turning up to 508mm
• 965mm between centres
• Full cast iron head and bed
• 1.5kW / 2hp 240V motor
• 2MT, 30 x 3.5mm spindle
• Hollow tailstock - 2MT
• Includes bowl turning attachment & stand

Standard Accessories

• Bowl Turning Attachment
• Stand
• Faceplate
• Drive & Live Centres
• Tool rest

I was looking at cougar but the money I save I can do a upgrade on my bandsaw

Just Wana know if any one has one what they think of them

[Pat]

Gone off the little yellow peril?

[WOODbTURNER]

NZ,

I think there were previous posts on this lathe

[nz_carver]

$3000 for old yellow
Or $1000 for blue buster

[bellyup]

For me, I'd be worried that the minimum speed is 420 rpm - too fast for the kind of rough lumps I'd put on it.
Must say those Cougar lathes look ok - designed by Vicmarc I believe.

[Big Shed]

For a few hundred dollars more you can buy the WL46, EVS down to about 100RPM, head slides to the other end of the bed for outboard turning, outboard attachment $89 extra, stand is superb, can't fault mine. YMMV.

[wheelinround]

Getting rid of the benches eh Dave :U

[bowl-basher]

The 'H&F looks ok but this is streets ahead:D:D:D
Regards
Bowl-Basher

[wheelinround]

The 'H&F looks ok but this is streets ahead:D:D:D
Regards
Bowl-Basher

Time you splurged on a dusty BB :U

[hughie]

well it all boils down to price, if you get it cheap enough then its a good deal. :U The only reservation I would have is the 420 rpm as bottom speed. But if you play around with the pulleys a lower speed can obtained I would think.

[jchappo]

I've got the WL38 Dave, and I find it OK.
That's the lathe Darrell was demonstrating my steadyrest on at the WWW show.
He also uses the OTGA multi-centre jig on it with platters up to about 600mm!
He has beefed up the stand with ply panels.

[Robomanic]

I've got the WL38 Dave, and I find it OK.
That's the lathe Darrell was demonstrating my steadyrest on at the WWW show.
He also uses the OTGA multi-centre jig on it with platters up to about 600mm!
He has beefed up the stand with ply panels.

Any chance you have some pics of the ply improvements?

[wheelinround]

I only have photos of the back of it it has a tray section under as well as a floor and 3 sections across the bottom section for storage. Darrell uses the plastic tubs or those plastic slide compartments.

[Paul39]

The 'H&F looks ok but this is streets ahead:D:D:D
Regards
Bowl-Basher

BB,

What is yours? Looks nice.

[Robomanic]

I only have photos of the back of it it has a tray section under as well as a floor and 3 sections across the bottom section for storage. Darrell uses the plastic tubs or those plastic slide compartments.

Thanks wheelin'

[Paul39]

For me, I'd be worried that the minimum speed is 420 rpm - too fast for the kind of rough lumps I'd put on it.

My Hegner 175, 350mm swing has a minimum of 800 RPM. A few times with maximum size, rough, out of balance chunks, things got a bit tense, one time with a not well secured blank, it came out and up, broke two florescent tubes and came down hitting my wrist. I had a good bruise and several cuts on the hand.

If you are buying or band sawing your bowl blanks more or less round, I think the 420 RPM will be fine. If you use max size out of balance rough chunks, with care you will still be OK.

If you stiffen up the lathe stand with a stout shelf down low and put weight on it - concrete blocks, buckets of gravel, cast iron engine heads, that will keep the lathe from jumping around.

Securely mount the funny blanks to a faceplate, use the tail center nice and tight, start the lathe standing to the side. Remove the out of balance parts first and get the blank more or less round.

If you use a chuck, make a recess or spigot, remove the blank and mount in the chuck, further remove chunks sticking out, still using the tail center.

By now most of the unbalance is removed and you can proceed. Make another recess or spigot if you need to turn the blank, and finish roughing.

[bowl-basher]

BB,

What is yours? Looks nice.
Hi Paul
Mine is a Cougar from Trend but I have put a bed extension on the front as an outboard attachment . this gives me 840 over the bed, fully EVS with 2 ranges that are so easy to change (as you an see I love the beast:D)
Bowl-Basher

[Sawdust Maker]

That's a good idea BB :2tsup:

what did you use to raise the post height?

[bowl-basher]

That's a good idea BB :2tsup:

what did you use to raise the post height?

50mm solid steel machined to fit the banjo and bored to take the tool rest. I have a 350mm tool rest that I get no chatter on the end.
I am usually home if any one wants to check it out
Regards
Bowl-Basher

[Byc]

I have this lathe only under a different name. Compare the specs and see if the price difference is worth it. It is better to spend it now then to complain later that you didn't spend it.
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