Thread: Australian made Wood Lathe

That is not Aussie made. Not saying it isn't a good lathe, others may have opinions in regard to capability.

It look very similar to the H&F W46 which doesn't have swivel head stock.

Hi Damienol,
Sold in Australia, yes, but not in my opinion Australian.
Tough, Woodfast, Omega, Vicmarc, Tanner, Gem, Golding, GVR? are all Aussie, & maybe a few I have forgotten.
I feel the price is to high, anyway.
Take your time, as it is a reasonably big outlay.
These days, a 30 x 3.5 is almost standard for the Spindle.
A Cast Steel Bed is the only way to go.
Camlocks, No.2 Morse Tapers as well.
Variable Speed is almost a must as well.
Sit you Lathe on 2 Rails, as then the Shavings fall through to the floor.
Consider making a Duck Board to Stand On, when Turning.
Once again Shaving fall through the Slats in the Duck Board, therefore you are never standing in the Shavings.
Thatsmy2senceworth.

A lot of lathes like this are all made in China and re-badged to suit who ever is selling them. So you will see them for sale all over the world, different names and colours. They are not bad lathes, in fact they are a good entry lathe for a beginner. The design is fine but often the workmanship will let them down and you might have go around them with a file and knock off the sharp edges etc.

Originally Posted by hughie

A lot of lathes like this are all made in China and re-badged to suit who ever is selling them. So you will see them for sale all over the world, different names and colours. They are not bad lathes, in fact they are a good entry lathe for a beginner. The design is fine but often the workmanship will let them down and you might have go around them with a file and knock off the sharp edges etc.

I agree with Hughie, but "Oils ain't Oils, Sol."

Many of these generic / clone lathes ( & bandsaws) can be very different in specification. Often one variant may have a light duty power system, motor, VFD etc where as another may have better bearings, a more refined finish (deburring etc), or a power system capable of a longer duty cycle - all quite transparent to the prospective buyer who is usually placing a significant weight in their purchasing decision on price.

I took particular notice of this when purchasing a Woodfast BS500 a while back. Very different specification between importers and what was on display was not what was advertised in the promo flyers and images on the packing. At least I could physically see one.

Damienol,

If you can get to a stocking dealer with lathes on the floor, looking carefully and operating the tool rest and banjo, and working the tail stock on one, two, and five thousand dollar machines will tell you a lot.

If they can be run, even without turning something, that will tell you how convenient they are to operate and how noisy they are.

If you are buying a lathe as a gift, you might be better served by sending a card saying: we will go lathe shopping after Christmas and I will go $$$ toward a lathe of your choice.

In the last 8 years I have gone from starting with a Chinese 7 X 12 inch metal lathe, to Delta 12 X 36 with bent sheet metal bed and pot metal head stock, to made in Germany Hegner, 350mm X 1000mm, to 20 year old 20 inch swing short bed Woodfast. The designed and built in AU Woodfast is the best one. I do bowls, so I like lots of swing.

I would venture that the first lathe any turner buys is a starter lathe unless they have been around turning and used a bunch of different ones.

Below is mine, outside just as I dragged it home and put it together, and in place inside. Woodfast made a bunch of variations of the old green ones that are as good or better than any new ones.

Originally Posted by Paul39

Damienol,

If you can get to a stocking dealer with lathes on the floor, looking carefully and operating the tool rest and banjo, and working the tail stock on one, two, and five thousand dollar machines will tell you a lot.

If they can be run, even without turning something, that will tell you how convenient they are to operate and how noisy they are.

If you are buying a lathe as a gift, you might be better served by sending a card saying: we will go lathe shopping after Christmas and I will go $$$ toward a lathe of your choice.

In the last 8 years I have gone from starting with a Chinese 7 X 12 inch metal lathe, to Delta 12 X 36 with bent sheet metal bed and pot metal head stock, to made in Germany Hegner, 350mm X 1000mm, to 20 year old 20 inch swing short bed Woodfast. The designed and built in AU Woodfast is the best one. I do bowls, so I like lots of swing.

I would venture that the first lathe any turner buys is a starter lathe unless they have been around turning and used a bunch of different ones.

Below is mine, outside just as I dragged it home and put it together, and in place inside. Woodfast made a bunch of variations of the old green ones that are as good or better than any new ones.

I agree, in fact if my old Woodfast had been the same model as shown here I would have never sold it. The old lathes of well known brands are very good buys today, as they go for a song so often.

That M33 x 3.5 doesn't seem to be standard.. Every time I look for accessories, they usually come as M30.. So you might have problems sourcing chucks, plates etc for it...

Hi Damienol,
Now, in no way am I having a go at the Photos, it is just the way others do it.
I said about a Duck Board, so have a look at all the shavings on the Floor, that YOU could be standing in.
Then I said about having your Lathe on Rails, so all the Shavings fell through to the floor.
With that Lathe is was not possible, so you have to either clean as you go, or have a really good Dust Extraction System, to take those Shavings away.
Not everybody does it the same, & maybe it is just me, & the way I do things.

Pretty much one of these but with lower specs.
Smaller motor and less swing over bed. Where the legs bolt on is a bit lighter with the bulge missing from the bed that adds strength.
The spindle thread could actually be M30 x 3.5 instead of the M33 stated. The Hafco owners manual used to say M33, but it was in fact M30, so very standard. The Hafco also has 2 pulley speeds which is not mentioned on the Ayao.
How is the headstock re-aligned with the bed once it has been swiveled?

Thanks for all the feedback WWF. This is a great community.

Lets say my budget is $1000 and SWMBO has said I have to get a lathe for Xmas as she has no other present for me, is the Ayao a better choice over the Hafco MC1000 for $700+?

shhhh, SWMBO doesn't need to know about tools costs!

Originally Posted by issatree

Hi Damienol,
Now, in no way am I having a go at the Photos, it is just the way others do it.
I said about a Duck Board, so have a look at all the shavings on the Floor, that YOU could be standing in.
Then I said about having your Lathe on Rails, so all the Shavings fell through to the floor.
With that Lathe is was not possible, so you have to either clean as you go, or have a really good Dust Extraction System, to take those Shavings away.
Not everybody does it the same, & maybe it is just me, & the way I do things.

When the spindle is about belt level and my head hits the rafters I get the grain scoop and wheelbarrow and shovel out the chips.

Some turners are tidier than others.

I agree that any lathe mounted on a shop made support should be constructed so the shaving fall on the floor. Also saves looking for any tool you set on the bench top through all the shavings.

Spindle Adapters:

Vicmarc - Woodturning Lathes, Chucks, Jaws and Accessories -

Chuck Inserts:

Vicmarc - Woodturning Lathes, Chucks, Jaws and Accessories -

NOVA CHUCK INSERT/ADAPTORS

There are enough adapters and inserts made to convert almost any spindle thread to almost any chuck or face plate.

33mm X 3.5 in common in Europe, 30mm X 3.5 and 1 inch X 10 tpi common in AU & NZ, 1 inch X 8 tpi common as dirt in US, 1 1/4 X 8 common for larger lathes in US.

I have Delta 1 X 8, Hegner 33 X 3.5, Woodfast 1 1/4 X 8 lathes.

I got a deal on a barely used Penn State Industries chuck set (https://www.pennstateind.com/store/CSC3000C.html) with 1 X 8 female thread for $50 and bought a $20 PSI 33 X 3.5 to 1X 8 adapter. (https://www.pennstateind.com/store/LA3318.html) It has almost no run out.

Anyone out there have experience with this lathe?