Thread: Is this a good lathe?

Thanks Ronin

I was referring to the Lathe Peter listed, but committed the big mistake of neglecting to thoroughly check the specs. Low speed is too high.

Take Jim Carroll's suggestion about the Woodfast to heart. They are a good lathe and Woodfast has a good reputation.

Cub
Gas weld also sell a version of the MC90 I think this is a much better choice
Mine is 3 years old and I have not killed it yet
Regards
Bowl-basher

There seems to be some odd comments in this thread.

Jim - a knowledgeable renowned woodworker (yes he is also a retailer), has recommended a Woodfast - which is a very good brand and is actually cheaper than the one that someone is suggesting in a sale/clearance situation.

What is better buying off someone who will help setup, provide advice (ongoing) or beat down someone who is going out of business - hopefully to get to the price Jim has offered in the frst place for a better lathe?

The other option is - if you dont want to buy off Jim try another woodfast dealer to check out what price they are offering teh better lathe for.

Just seems like an obvious choice to me - buy a better lathe cheaper or argue to get an inferior lathe down to its price.

Hope that helps

Cheers

Originally Posted by

For the last time the lathes you have been looking at are crap. Comprendez?

Jees Robo.

You getting soft as you get older?

Why don't you say what you realy think?

No I guess not. Your supposed to maintain the standards.

Cheers Tim

Okay, I went down to gasweld leichardt this morning, and I got a little disappointed to be honest.

They only had an MC1100 left.

They were asking $560 reduced from $695. Apparently this was "cost price". Store clerk would not budge, so I bought some other nicknacks instead of buying a lathe.

I reflect on this as slight "reverse" tyrekicking. I called on friday and the clerk told me they had plenty of lathes on hand.When I got there there was only one....well they could of sold heaps of lathes on saturday.....but I'm a tad skeptical.

it didn't faze me from haggling for what was there, though.

$560 just isn't *that* good a deal to beleive it was the "stock price" as the clerk suggested/insisted, especially when Hare and Forbes are selling them for $599....It doesn't seem likely that their markup would only be $135 for something so large and taking up much floor space.

I did not buy it because it's 1100mm.......fairly large for what I want to do and the limitations of my workspace. I wanted the 900mm....I did not need the imposing stand for either lathe. I needed compulsion to buy the 1100mm that would offset the reasons that I would not want to purchase it.

So instead I bought some other knicknacks.

Still on the hunt for a lathe

I might just give in and buy a woodfast

i've heard good things about the woodfast. For the money if i was buying a lathe now it's the one i'd get. Well made and well priced.

I was wondering can you buy extension beds for the Carbatec mini range or are there other places that sell extension bed lathes that are universal.
Thanks in advance cub

Cub,

The ledacraft variant of the MC1018 has an extension bed



The carbatec mini (MC1018) should be the exact same thing

i have got quite the choice should i go with A the ledacraft extension bed and the mini carbatec
B the gaswled 1000mm lathe for $210
or C The ledacraft with extension bed

G`day buy the woodfast you can`t go wrong i have had mine for six or seven years.

(Woodfast 280s short bed)

Mick

Hi.
I have the Woodfast M305 and one of the main reasons I chose it over others is the ease of speed change, switch off - flip the cover open - loosen the tension then move the belt for the required speed re tension close the cover good to go in 30 seconds or less.

Keith

Originally Posted by Taffsmania

Hi.
I have the Woodfast M305 and one of the main reasons I chose it over others is the ease of speed change, switch off - flip the cover open - loosen the tension then move the belt for the required speed re tension close the cover good to go in 30 seconds or less.

I have the woodfast with an extension bed. I don't even bother to loosen and retension the belt when I change speeds.

I have had a few problems with it mainly from being too hamfisted. I broke the locking cam on the tailstock in the first 3 days and so I made a stronger replacement, and the indexer locking pin sheared after about 3 months but that could be because I kept locking it in place and restarting it without unlocking it.

Despite these problems it is a great little lathe and perfect for what I need, mainly tool handles and the occasional small bowl.

Hi guys,

when looking at wood lathes, price is of secondary importance, the main thing to look for is if it is built like a brick shythouse or not, if it is,as in your pic indicates so light that if you put a sail on it it would fly, then give it a miss my Friend! My lathe I built myself out of a couple of bits of tram line, heavy headstock,heavy tailstock, all sitting on very heavy Yellow box supports being 800mm in Dia each! All this adds up to no vibration, so if you cant build your own then go for something that is cast iron and difficult for you to lift, then bolt it to a heavy timber bench. This combination turns out sweet stuff no stress.