Thread: Mc 1100

Hi Shane, welcome aboard,

In regards to your question, I recently saw a MC1100 in a carton that was labelled "Carbatec Mc1100 / H&F WL20". Both major sellers on the same carton. The lathe is made in the same factory and the quality is mostly the same. Just make sure that you get one with a spindle thread that you can easily get attachments for!

Welcome to the obsession Shane!!! I've had an MC900 for about a year and reckon it's pretty good for the price and is much the same as the MC1100. Great beginners lathe with lots of 'standard' specifications which make accesories easy to find. I don't think it matters where you get it, it will still need a little tuning once you get it home. Some of the castings are pretty rough and will need a touch with a file. The sliding pulleys that vary the speed will probably need loosening up and a drop of oil. Not trying to put you off but you get what you pay for. Hope you enjoy using it half as much as I do.

There are some differences in the thread used on the headstock, depending on which brand the lathe is badged under.

However, the decent chucks all seem to use an insert to match the headstock thread to the chuck body, so if you don't already own a non-insert chuck, then this point is pretty irrelevant.

I've got a MC1100 from H&F in Sydney. They regularly sell ex-demo lathes at a good discount (usually soon after major wood shows). Might be worth haunting your local one to see if they do the same.

Cheers,
Andrew

Thanks guys that makes things a little clearer i'll let yous all know what i end up buying.

I'm considering getting the same from H & F so will be keen to here how you go, good luck. The $99 Scroll chuck would be on my list as well or should I consider a better one to suit? ie the Nova?

Anyone have the P-200H Jointer? Is the P-201 a better buy?

Hey Benny,
Yes! go for a Nova. They are good quality chucks and you can get different jaw sets as you gain more experience.

Opinion seems to be that the $99 chucks are about $150 overpriced It makes a very heavy fishing sinker after a few weeks work as the 'steel' is not adequately heat treated & the holes go oval.

A Teknatool Nova or a Vicmark chuck would be a wise investment - and can always be 'upgraded' to a new lathe with a new insert. And there are a heap of specialised jaws for when you need them.

Thanks Guys

The Nova it is.

Shane you will find the spindles on the Hafco (Hare and Forbes) lathes are 1inch 10 tpi which are not very robust but the CarbatecMc110 and 900 has a 30mm x 3.5 thread which when you see it looks more robust and seems to be a more widely used thread with faceplates etc.

I looked at them all for over 6months so take it from me it pays to view them all before you buy and it is like investment advisers go with the one you feel comfortable with. Everone has a different opinion on what is good and and you will find they all say what they have is the best.

Larry