Thread: Record Lathe

Timbo,

If you go to the trading post web site you can search the entire country if you want to or just your state.

Trading Post

I've done it and good used wood lathes are like rocking horse !!!!

Good Luck

Jamie.

Thanks for your efforts guys. I have been monitoring the Trading Post for NSW but hadn't searched wider afield. I will keep looking in all states in future. There seem to be a lot more available in states other than NSW.
I will definitely ring about the Technatool in Victoria. Anything in particular I should ask about other than age, model and condition? I have a friend in Melbourne who might be able to inspect for me but I will need to give him plenty of guidelines to work with.

Thanks again

Timbo

Hi Timbo, 1chrome

at the risk of sounding like I am defending my own decision, may I suggest that you not be too quick to write off the capabilities of the $400 chinese lathe - especially if you are a new starter (as I am). I've used mine most weekends since January, doing all sorts of stuff including lidded boxes, bowls, pepper mills and a pair of stools. The only robustness issue I have had is vibration of the whole machine when I had a large chunk of irregular shaped timber. The band saw and an electric chain saw fix that problem. Otherwise I am confident it will be a few years yet before I reach the limit of its capability.

I think the quality of the scroll chuck and the tools you use, plus your level of skill, will influence your turning performance far more than the difference between the $400 lathe and a Woodfast or a whatever.

cheers

Colin

Must say I can support Colin's view.

My old man has a Teknatool and's been turning for more years than I may ever but he was the one who looked at the Hare & Forbes with me. He's even said he's impressed with what I've produced so I guess there's merit in that for the lathe, the tools and the chuck as well coz I'm a relative newcomer to the craft too!

OK - I'll take a little credit but the point remains I've used both machines and while mine does not have indexing in the headstock or quite the same speed capabilities I don't have to stop the lathe to crank the speed up or down either. The cast Iron bed is more than adequate and when it's bolted to the floor it will handle the out of balance issues within a safe margin. If it gets out of hand then I'm the one who's causing it not the lathe!!!

My tuppence anyway

Jamie

Hi guys

After much searching and looking i have found there seems to be two types of lathe the $400 and the $3000 and not too much in between.
I have decided to buy MC 900 from the Woodworkers Den in Brisbane were i got some good advice and service.With a good set of tools and other parts my $1000 buget is within reach
Also i saw the same lathe under the Jet name for $975 so it pays to shop around
So i thank everyone for thier advice and help in this endeavour.

1chrome

Timbo;

You will find one, remember not to just go out and buy anyone do the research before the purchase. As you have done.

Good luck

I have been turning for many years on and off. Started on a homeade lathe that my father constructed many years ago. It was on a farm in south africa and the lathe was powered by a single cylinder Pfafner, watercooled engine. I have done extensive metal turning as I own two German made metal lathes. I do belong to a woodturning club here in Perth. I have found the cameradie and the knowledge pool very helpful. Guess those that don't belong to a club, get some of it here.Glad I found this site.
Back to the question about the first lathe that 1chrome is after. At the club we have a variety of lathes. We have the earlier model woodfast and some of the green Taiwanese/ R.O.C. whatever, lathes. The woodfast 280 in the pictures at the Turnery site, still uses locks on the toolrest height adjustment that are made from a solid piece of metal that looks like a bent beheaded bolt. Most times than not the damn end points upwards when it is tight and messes one around holding the tool. Furthermore the Woodfast lathes at the club need the motor to be loosened to enable one to use a rod to knock out the spurr drive. To change the speed one has to undo two screws, open a plate , undo the motor, change the belt position, tighten the motor, screw the plate back.........? Come on ............who designed this machine...................or did it just happen. I havn't looked at the 280 in real life, quiete frankly I am not interrested, as Ican see from those pictures that some of the original oversights are still around. The price scared me ......about $200 more than the Taiwan lathe and then another $200 plus for a stand. The woodfast motor is 1/2 hp. The Carbatec mc900 has 3/4 hp , the mc1100 has 1 hp. The Taiwanese machine has those fancy clip in/ out levers to adjust the toolrest height and on the tailstock lock as well.
Enough said about the specs. My point is that we use the Taiwanese machines and they get a hammering.....they are doing fine.
The most enjoyable turning that I ever did was on that old homemade petrol powered lathe......that was all I had and all I knew. So hey , it was the best at the time. A lathe is basically ( for bowl turning that is) just a shaft spinning a chuck. The rest are all refinements.
I aggree with Doorstop and others....pay your money, get a machine that you can get accessories for, Taiwanes? R.O.C. or whatever you can afford and spend your money on good tools AND turning lessons. Those good quality tools and turning lessons will still stand you in good stead long after you have replaced your first lathe.
Come to think of it Schumacher didn't start driving in a Formula 1 !
Thats my 2d worth in a hell of a thick book....but paperback tho.
Happy turning.

Guys,

Thanks for all your advice and comments. I, like 1chrome, have concluded that there is little available between $400 and $3000 in price. I will continue to look out for secondhand models, particularly Teknatool, but if I can't find anything will more than likely also purchase one of the many rebadged MC900 or 1100 models. I am hoping to attend the Canberra woodworking show in a couple of weeks time so hope to pick up some more advice and possibly a bargain there. I will be particularly looking for a decent set of chisels and a good chuck at a show special price.

Timbo

I've had the MC900 since November last year - the Total Tools version, bought for a little over $400 at the time.

A few things I've worked out:
* The motor on this version is less than flash. Noise and heat are a problem with extended use (I'm a weekend warrior). The Carbatec version seems to have a better quality, finned motor.
* The stands on all these models are useless - open frame bolt together jobs that are awkward shaped and vibrate themselves to death. Build a good solid bench and bolt it to that.

You'll get a lot more value out of good tools, good sharpening equipment, good sanding gear, a good bandsaw and some nice turning timbers than you will out of a better lathe. Save the bucks, buy the MC900 in one of it's various forms, and concentrate on the other stuff you need to do it right.

If you enjoy it and stick with it, buy a better lathe later and pass the MC900 on to someone else to get them started.

You should have a look at this http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...&threadid=5125 The bargain of the centuary.

Neil