Thread: Titan TL250V metal lathe -- user experiences sought

Originally Posted by Hornetb

If you come across Ausino Engineering Supplies or Liw818 via Ebay in your search for Optimum gear, please take my advice and keep looking. Do not deal with this guy.

If buying a chinese machine customer service is absolutely essential and you wont get it from this guy

Many thanks for the tip!

From reading various articles on the web, I'm prepared for there to be at least some minor issues with Chinese lathes, and expect to have to deal with those myself to some extent, but I will definitely avoid anyone who doesn't want to know you once the deal has been done.

I'm not inclined to buy a new lathe from an eBay trader; I want to deal with someone with a walk-in shop and a good reputation.

I have dealt with my local Hare & Forbes shop for years and never had any hassles with them, and that does weigh in their favour.

I'm a long way from Paramount Browns but I haven't heard any really bad stories about them ... as yet.

I intend to travel up to Titan Industries and talk to the people there and get an idea of who I'd be dealing with if I decide that way.

I'm still trying to find more local info on Optimum.

Good idea to visit Titan. They should be able to show you a lathe to assess. If not, then I would be concerned.

Paramounts are OK to deal with, but any spares will have to come from overseas, from my experience. IE, they don't carry any.

Even H&F may have to get them in. The Adelaide equivalent of H&F (General tools) are quite good to deal with/no complaints.

Even though I've dealt with Ozmestore on small stuff and no problem, I'm with you on Ebay - it's a lot of money, and it makes me nervous.

You're doing the right thing by not rushing in.

Good hunting.

Rob

There is a dealer for Optimum Maschinen in Logan, but I'm afraid the name escapes me for now. There is also a dealer in Melbourne who advertises Optimum on Gumtree and ebay. I emailed the Optimum factory some time and they were more than happy to assist with parts. The dealer I bought it from as well as the dealer in Logan are both happy to order any parts needed. The factory should be able to identify the Australian dealers. Optimum aren't a very common or popular choice, price I think is the drawback. As far as parts and service are concerned you really can't do better than Hafco, if they don't have the part in stock they will get it in (very quickly), even for superseded models. Unfortunately some of their machines are well below par (AL-250 for one), but at least you can see and touch rather than just look at pictures as is the case on ebay, gumtree, etc, and hope for the best.

Originally Posted by th62

There is a dealer for Optimum Maschinen in Logan, but I'm afraid the name escapes me for now. There is also a dealer in Melbourne who advertises Optimum on Gumtree and ebay.

Thanks. I suspect that the VIC dealer may be Ausino Engineering Supplies of Ivanhoe East that I was warned about earlier regarding zero customer support.

I emailed the Optimum factory some time and they were more than happy to assist with parts. The dealer I bought it from as well as the dealer in Logan are both happy to order any parts needed. The factory should be able to identify the Australian dealers. Optimum aren't a very common or popular choice, price I think is the drawback.

I have requested info via the Optimum website as to distributor/dealers in Oz. Awaiting their response.

As far as parts and service are concerned you really can't do better than Hafco, if they don't have the part in stock they will get it in (very quickly), even for superseded models. Unfortunately some of their machines are well below par (AL-250 for one), but at least you can see and touch rather than just look at pictures as is the case on ebay, gumtree, etc, and hope for the best.

Those are all very valid points. Thanks again.

Just to throw a spanner in the the works, and those who know me here will know i normally throw this in straight up, but what about a used machine? Get looking for a Hercus 260, there are plenty of happy users on this forum alone. I know that you may not know what to look for in a used machine, but being in Sydney maybe a trip to see Mal might be a good start?
My only new metalworking machine purchases have been very much a disappointment, a HM50 mill from H&F, and a not quite so bad BS5S bandsaw. Both have been moved on for older, better machines.
http://australianmetalworkinghobbyis...te=common/home

Ew

Originally Posted by gtc

Thanks. I suspect that the VIC dealer may be Ausino Engineering Supplies of Ivanhoe East that I was warned about earlier regarding zero customer support.

That's the guy, sells on gumtree too.

I know you said that you may be prepared to deal with minor issues on the Chinese machines, but just be aware that sometimes they are MAJOR issues. And that is where you need to have someone who is fair and honest to deal with.

Best of luck.

Originally Posted by Ueee

Just to throw a spanner in the the works, and those who know me here will know i normally throw this in straight up, but what about a used machine? Get looking for a Hercus 260, there are plenty of happy users on this forum alone. I know that you may not know what to look for in a used machine, but being in Sydney maybe a trip to see Mal might be a good start?
My only new metalworking machine purchases have been very much a disappointment, a HM50 mill from H&F, and a not quite so bad BS5S bandsaw. Both have been moved on for older, better machines.
http://australianmetalworkinghobbyis...te=common/home

Ew

I had given some thought to used machines but, as you say, I lack experience and thus confidence when it comes to buying used lathes. (If it's a used car I'm looking at, I know what I'm doing after many years of experience buying and working on them.)

Nonetheless, at this stage of the game I'm happy to talk to Mal. Whereabouts in Sydney is he located?

Edit: Found his address at Colyton.

Originally Posted by Hornetb

That's the guy, sells on gumtree too.

I know you said that you may be prepared to deal with minor issues on the Chinese machines, but just be aware that sometimes they are MAJOR issues. And that is where you need to have someone who is fair and honest to deal with.

Best of luck.

Thanks. It's the major issues that I am serioulsy trying to avoid.

Funny thing about machinery, lathes in particular: one camp will tell you ‘quality’ brands like Hercus are the only way to go and that 'budget' Chinese lathes are rubbish; indeed, most will say anything Chinese is rubbish. On the other hand the ‘budget’ lathe camp will tell you that quality lathes require too much work for a newbie and really aren’t worth the money -.This argument been done to death on this forum; unfortunately, emotive arguments like this do nothing to help the newbie. I lean toward ‘budget’ lathes personally simply because they’re cheap and easy to find and parts are easily sourced. I’ve had five lathes, only one (AL-250) was a disappointment and needed a bit of work to bring it up to scratch. Money wise it only cost me $25 for a new capacitor, the remaining problems were rectified with a little fiddling, by no stretch of the imagination would I call these 'Major' problems - just annoying. Make no mistake budget lathes are very capable machines (even the AL-250) and every bit as capable of producing quality results as one of the ‘quality’ brands: clock makers, gunsmiths, model makers and the like use either - dependant on preference. It’s all a matter of personal preference and the size of your wallet. I would suggest a small second hand budget lathe as a starter (9 x 20 or similar), this will give you an idea of what everyone is talking about for a start. The learning curve you endure using your lathe and how you perceive it’s capabilities and the results you achieve, as measured against your requirements, will stand you in good stead for choosing your ‘forever’ lathe (‘forever’? yeah right), be that ‘quality’ or budget’. On resale, you should lose next to nothing - you could possibly even make money.

Originally Posted by th62

I would suggest a small second hand budget lathe as a starter (9 x 20 or similar), this will give you an idea of what everyone is talking about for a start. The learning curve you endure using your lathe and how you perceive it’s capabilities and the results you achieve, as measured against your requirements, will stand you in good stead for choosing your ‘forever’ lathe (‘forever’? yeah right), be that ‘quality’ or budget’. On resale, you should lose next to nothing - you could possibly even make money.

Thanks for the advice.

As I mentioned a bit earlier, I'm not confident about buying a second hand lathe. I guess if somebody gave me one I wouldn't knock it back, but I am leery of potentially buying somebody else's problems. I figure that a if I purchase a new one from a reputable supplier and it has significant problems, then I can take it back for a fix/replacement/refund under warranty.

I have noticed that some used lathes do tend to retain their value on the market and don't seem to hang around long once advertised.

Originally Posted by th62

Funny thing about machinery, lathes in particular: one camp will tell you ‘quality’ brands like Hercus are the only way to go and that 'budget' Chinese lathes are rubbish; indeed, most will say anything Chinese is rubbish. On the other hand the ‘budget’ lathe camp will tell you that quality lathes require
too much work for a newbie and really aren’t worth the money -.This argument been done to death on this forum

Hence I did not bring it up straight away. Let's face it, if you are keen this will probably not be your last lathe. Something small and 240v should always sell well later on. Keep in mind it took me a good 6 years to outgrow my first lathe.

Ew

Originally Posted by gtc

I have requested info via the Optimum website as to distributor/dealers in Oz. Awaiting their response.

Optimum Maschinen Germany has replied, as follows:

Many thanks for your inquiry and for your interest in our range.

We are sorry to inform you that we have no partner in Australia. If you want we could do the business only directly with you. In that case the payment must be 100% in advance.

Under the following link you can download our latest catalogues. Please select your need and send us your detailed inquiry with item codes and quantities.

Attached you will find our company profile. Please fill in and send back to us. Such information will help us to anticipate possibilities of collaboration and to customize offers for you.

Because we have no partner in Australia we cannot offer service on location. If there occurs any problem to a machine we can help you by phone or e-mail and by sending necessary spareparts. All reparation works you have to do yourself.

http://www.optimum-machines.com/downloads/catalogue/index.html

Originally Posted by gtc

Optimum Maschinen Germany has replied, as follows:



http://www.optimum-machines.com/downloads/catalogue/index.html

LOL. So what are these Optimum lathes on Ebay?

Rob

Originally Posted by nearnexus

LOL. So what are these Optimum lathes on Ebay?

Good question. Perhaps an agency deal has been discontinued and they're running down stock on hand? Think I'll put that question back to them.

This one:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Optimum-D...item4d1e6b59cf

... is from the eBay seller with an adverse comment here about after sales support, however, with Optimum themselves saying "Because we have no partner in Australia we cannot offer service on location." I guess it's not really surprising.

And I must say that, despite the badging, the unit in the eBay ad I linked to looks suspiciously Chinese to me.