Thread: Ignorant newbie

Originally Posted by Rombles

I'm in the marked for a lathe (nearly), so have been hunting around. Looking in the sub $1500 range. There are lots of lathes talked about on this forum, but I've never seen this one mentioned..... Woodworm WWWL1443 370mm x 1100mm 750W Variable Speed Wood Lathe | Tools Warehouse

Is this a rebadged version of something else? Is it any good? How would it compare with a Hafco or Carbatec in the similar price range? How do those compare with each other, as well?

It is almost identical to the WL20 from Hare & Forbes, and many other different branded lathes, all coming out of the same factory in China. The only difference I can see is the toolrest / banjo appears to be slightly different to the one on the WL20. I have had my WL20 for a few years now and the only real trouble I have had with it is a failure of the drive pulley on the reeves drive system - I currently have a new pulley on order.

While this is a reasonable lathe for a starter, my honest recommendation is to save up some money and buy something with electronic variable speed drive. The reeves drive (expanding pulley) system on this style of lathe is primitive by today's standards, and will eventually give you trouble - and it really does not give a very good speed "range". Mine is up for sale as soon as I install the new drive pulley and tidy it up a bit, and I have decided to upgrade to a more solid lathe with electronic vsd plus a couple of other features.

The price of the Woodworm isn't bad - it's a bit cheaper than a new WL20. These are a fairly big lathe - do you need something this big ??? You might be able to get a decent mini or midi size lathe with electronic vsd for a similar price. It all depends on what you want to turn. For pens and similar, a smaller lathe is much better suited.

Keen to go big. From what I've seen, something that size with EVS tends to be more like $4K+?

Originally Posted by Rombles

Keen to go big. From what I've seen, something that size with EVS tends to be more like $4K+?

The other option I was considering is the WL46a from Hare & Forbes for about $2.5K (details in link below).
It is about the same size as the WL20 but has EVS plus decent cast iron legs. The WL20 only has very lightweight pressed metal legs and tends to bounce around a lot. I have had to bolt mine down to the concrete floor in the shed to stop it walking around the shed, especially when I start out a job with a bit of unbalanced timber. I would have been happy with the WL46a but my wife convinced me to spend the money on the lathe I really like.

Just a moment...

Hmmm. That does sound better. Does the head turn on that for outboard turning, or is the idea that it is big enough to not need that?

Originally Posted by Rombles

Hmmm. That does sound better. Does the head turn on that for outboard turning, or is the idea that it is big enough to not need that?

Doesn't look like the head swivels on that model. I guess you could always remove the banjo & tailstock and slide the head all the way up to the other end of the bed for outboard turning, but you would need to set up a toolrest on a separate pedestal of some sort.

The swing at 462mm is larger than the WL20 (370mm swing) so you would be able to turn a bowl up to about 900mm in diameter on it anyway. I've never even attempted to do anything this big in the 7 years or so that I've had the WL20. The WL46a would easily handle anything I would ever be likely to turn. The WL20 limits what I can turn on some occasions (mainly some larger wood/resin pieces).

Rombles, there are two main reasons why I would not suggest the lathe you initially proposed in your opening thread.

Firstly the Reeves drive is pretty much past its use by date and with a minimum 500 rpm will make life very interesting if you wish to turn anything heavy that is off balance. My own lathe starts at 50 rpm, which is terrific. The maximum safe starting rpm from my experience with out of balance biggish stuff, is 100 rpm.

The second reason is well known to me as my brother had an almost identical version of this lathe. The cooling intake for the motor is adjacent to the work and when you are sanding and pulling the dust away with some sort of vacuum system, it passes right past the motor and I know from my brother cleaning the fine dust from the cooling fins and such, this is not a great design feature.

Features that are attractive for a first biggish wood turning lathe, in no particular order.

Power, somewhere around 1500W is very desirable; around 1100W is eminently workable for anything you wish to do. 750W or thereabouts is alright and very doable, but I think you would be soon desiring a bit more power.

Cast iron legs which enhances stability is very desirable.

Not sure where in Oz you are located, but in some areas there are secondhand lathes that are reasonably priced and very good value for money, these are generally major cities. if in the sticks then unless you are lucky, pickings are quite slim.

Mick.

I have just listed a Jet 16X42 electronic Variable Speed lathe in Market place.
Its a beaut machine.

Cairns is a fairly sticky bit of the sticks... basically a long way from anywhere! So need to add freight to pretty much anything. There is a Total Tools around the corner, so I had been looking at this..... https://www.totaltools.com.au/121069...mm-bed-wl1100p

Originally Posted by steck

I have just listed a Jet 16X42 electronic Variable Speed lathe in Market place.
Its a beaut machine.

Dammit I just flew home from Melbourne this morning! Don't know that this would fit in carry-on though

I have a WL-46A for sale .asking $1750
Located victoria .

I have the H&F WL46A and would never go to a variable speed that uses the Reeves pulley system as they are never as smooth running and are in need of constant attention over time. Although it doesn't have the same fit and finish as the better brands, mine hasn't failed me yet. The head slides down the bed for outboard turning rather than swiveling. An outboard attachment can be purchased which bolts on to RH leg but I have never had the need for it as the 460mm inboard diameter you can turn is sufficient for me.
I have had mine for about 10 years and back then they were around $1500 and would have been in your current price range.

Rombles, Have tried the local woodies club for a second hand lathe? The other question is how handy are you? I started out on the model your looking at and quickly found its faults ended up locking the head down in one position and fitted a three phase motor and VFD that I picked up cheap and ran it for for 4-5 years before up grading

Originally Posted by hughie

Rombles, Have tried the local woodies club for a second hand lathe? The other question is how handy are you? I started out on the model your looking at and quickly found its faults ended up locking the head down in one position and fitted a three phase motor and VFD that I picked up cheap and ran it for for 4-5 years before up grading

I'm about as handy as 2 left feet. I'll give things a go, but break lots. Haven't sought out any local contacts for 2nd hand, either, yet.

Originally Posted by Vicktria

I have a WL-46A for sale .asking $1750
Located victoria .

Fancy delivering to Cairns?