Thread: GMC Wood lathe

Originally Posted by smidsy

I had a look at the GMC lathe at bunnings and while I don't really know what I'm looking at I did notice that the bed is only steel tubing and not cast - is this normal for cheaper lathes? Would this be an issue if the lathe has a secure base?

It is normal for the cheap end of lathes, I have a mid range lathe, a Record and it has tubes.
I should think that once bolted down there wont be much movement, unless you have a realy unbalanced turning blank.

Originally Posted by smidsy

On the specs the GMC states a "swing" of 178mm - I know this has something to do with the diameter of the work it will accomodate, does that spec mean that the lathe will conceivably work timber double that size?

Correct!

Originally Posted by smidsy

Once I get the lathe I would obviously need some chisels, but what else would I need?

Timber is alway good.

Sorry couldnt resist.
Not much else, just get too and make some dust, and have fun, its all about haveing fun.
When its not fun any more its time to stop.
I bought a cheap lathe last year and went tropo for the first couple of months, but now I rarely touch it, I prefer makeing cabinets.

One more thing, dont expect too much from a lathe that only costs $100.

Cheers, Allan

HI Smidsy
I decided last chrissy that I wanted to finally try turning, so had my lovely wife get me the $99 Bunnings GMC Lathe. I am still using it... but only until I get my Nova DVR.!!
It is true.. you get what you pay for, and the GMC is extremely light in it's build - ie the headstock flexes quite dramatically in all directions, even though I have it well secured on a heavy timber stand.
Having said that, I have been able to turn some quite good stuff on it.
What you will find is that even more important than the lathe itself is the tools you use & the techniques used.
I quickly realised I needed a decent chuck (I lean toward bowls etc), a good basic set of tools (roughing gouge, bowl gouge, detail gouge, parting tool, scraper), a means to get & keep those tools SHARP!
By all means start with a cheap set of tools, but invest in sharpening gear (razor sharp cheap tools still cut, just not as long as better quality tools).
I attended a local Adult education wood turning course in Feb - the best thing I could have done... given me the basics on tool techniques, sharpening etc.
I am still turning Burls etc on my GMC, but there are some horrible rattles coming from the headstock (motor / bearings) - but I reckon I git my $99 worth.
Hope you enjoy the turning experience as I am!

Have a couple of pics of a few items I made on the GMC in the photos thread.

Good Luck

Peter - Happyinsydney

Smidsy

Do yourself a favour and stay away from those designs. Take it from a woodturner of 50+ years....they have nothing that makes for a safe lathe. Besides getting chucks and MT accessories to fit is a no no.

I note Carbatec has their MC900, with cast headstock and bed, swivel head, variable speed, MT2 spindle and tailstock, drive spur, live centre, face plate, 300 mm swing, 900 mm between centres, 30mm x 3.5 thread etc etc for $319.
Their chinese scroll chuck is $139
The combo of the above is on offer for $399
Their set of 6 HSS turning tools is $99

This will set you up to enjoy fairly serious woodturning for years to come.
Only ingedients you'll still need is wood and good tuition.

I will not turn on one of those $99 designs. I have seen wood fly off in my life and I assure you that those '$99 items' are dangerous. Sorry but I cannot call them lathes.

Getting back to the above $399 plus tools package........about the only other hobby that you can start and persue for for many years at that price is keeping silk worms........and only if you have your own mulberry tree.

The $99 items are impulse buy items because of the low price. Unfortunately they are made cheap and I can assure you that they have put more people off woodturning than anything else. They have a use: Put a disk of MDF on the face plate and use it as a cheap and nasty disk sander.

There are heaps of them covered in dust unused in sheds, at garage sales and even the garbage tip.

If you are serious about woodturning, do yourself a favour and get safe equipment.

Regards
Joe

I have just recently bought an MC 900 lathe from Timbecon the same as the one from Carbatec. It is all that Joe has said. I know that for the turning I am likely to do that this will see me out for many years, unless I get more serious about turning. I lean more toward furniture making. To date I have made several Pens because it is a novelty and I will use it to enhance my furnitue where needed.
However I agree with Joe those GMC things are dangerous and I do accept that some people have had and will continue to have good use from them however think about what it is that the lathe is doing and how close you are standing to that fast turning timber. I equate it to buying $20 tyres for your family car, they will do the job but how safely?
I am not bashing GMC some of thier tools are fine. I have a GMC wet grinder for sharpening my lathe chisels and hand chisels. This tool serves the purpose and the worst that can happen from it is that it won't work. I just think that the lathe is too dangerous to risk your saftey with.
Regards Vasco

The answer to "What else do I need" should include:

1) face shield
2) some sort of dust control, whether dust collector, or quality facemask.
3) some sort of tuition, from books, videos, or your local woodturning club.

I'm very similar to "HappyInSydney" - my wife also bought me a cheap $100 lathe for Christmas before last, and I've been able to produce 88 things so far that I'm satisfied with.

My situation was that I'd never used a lathe before, so wanted to minimise my outlay, as I didn't know if I'd enjoy it. Others on this board would suggest attending a woodturning club, and/or getting lessons rather than buying a lathe, and if I didn't commute 6 hours a day I would have gone that route.

However, if you know you like turning, I'd say take Gatiep's advice, as the $100 lathes *are* cheap-n-nasty. I'm seriously looking at the MC100 this WW show, but this time I feel I'll be able to appreciate the extra quality, having used my chinese cheapy for a while.

Cheers,
Andrew

Smidsy,

I bought one of those GMC lathes when I was first starting out and got the sh*ts so badly with the whole thing that I nearly chucked it in. It has no guts and you can stop it with your bare hand. Changing speeds is a pain in the ar*se and mine just did not run true which made it impossible to accurately rechuck bowls etc. I bought a Supanova chuck to go with it which didn't help the thing in the slightest. I bolted mine to a solid bench and it still moved. The bench didn't the lathe did. I then went and bought the MC900 from Carbatec, as Gatiep suggests. The difference was chalk and cheese. I have since turned bowls to 14" diameter out of really rough blanks. They are solid and true and IMHO a really good piece of kit for the price. I think the GMC is the path to frustration and annoyance. Save the extra and get the MC900.

Dan

P.S Don't think me anti GMC I have several GMC tools, can't afford better, but HATED the lathe.

Joe was saying Carbatec are doing the MC900 for $319 - which Carbatec or is this a mis print as the Perth Website is showing a price of $379

Cheers
Smidsy

Oddly enough I only just bought a GMC $99 lathe less than a week ago. Two days ago I had to take it back to get a piece replaced. The tool rest (of all things) broke. Near as i can figure it broke with the gouge i was using bit into the blank (camphor laurel which is so soft it shouldnt break anything) forced the gouge downwards into the tool rest, and pushed my arm outwards. Hello sore elbow.

I've had the tool three days and its been replaced once.

I wonder how long a life it has? At any rate the 30 day replacement guarantee is the only reason I purchased it.

I've been having a few bad turns on it, thinking either "is it the wood?" or "is it me?" - Now after reading this i'm thinking "its the machine"

I think i'll be taking it back to bunnings and taking that $99 to carbatec (along with another $300) and grabbing a new lathe.

Hare & Forbes are also selling their 900mm lathe for $319

So who and where are Hare & Forbes - do they have an outlet in Perth?
Cheers
Smidsy

Smidsey,
The perth number is
PERTH
Ph: (08) 9479 6066
Fax: (08) 9479 6055
or on the net at
http://www.hareandforbes.com.au/index.html
Never used them myself or even been there but it might be worth at looksy.
Regards Vasco

M-R, trust me it's you , just be thankful that it was the rest that broke, get some lessons quick before you really hurt yourself! :eek:

Just checked out the Hare & Forbes website - that lathe from what I can tell looks pretty much the same as the MC900. $20 cheaper (that's nothing) with a 1hp engine although not an induction engine if that means anything.
If I end up spending that much I will probably check it out, although from the unanimous talk I've heard here I think I would rather spend the extra $20 at Carbatec for the MC900 - although everything is down to finance so I may end up having to take a chance on the GMC rather than wait 6 months.
Cheers
Smidsy

Even if you do go for the GMC for 6 months, you could always try and sell it off for $50 or so, or it could be used as a disc sander.

Stinky.