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Hi
I would like to buy a used SYMTEC 150P wood lathe from Gumtree and I was told by a Carbatech salesperson, who I called to buy a faceplate for it, that it is not a good idea, because I can`t get parts any more. Does anyone have experience and can tell me if it is possible to buy parts? Thank you very much.
Welcome to the forum Gabriela. I can’t help with your inquiry but I’m sure members will be along to assist.
Hopefully someone who owns one of these will reply.
All my machines are at least 20 years obsolete.
It depends on how handy you are and the current condition of the lathe,check all casting for damage.
I guess the main thing is stuff missing but faceplates centres and chucks are findable.
Tool rests can be fabricated.
Bearings and drive belts are findable on most lathes from bearing suppliers.
Except the Woodfast variable speed, those belts are made from unobtainium.
H
I suggest you repost this titled ‘info needed on Symtec lathe’ in the woodturning section.
Don't waste your money. Buy a real lathe were never all that good in the first place. Over priced unconventional, dangerous lathe in the wrong hands.
Been gone for at least 20 years and because they were so unconventional the parts won't be all that easy to get made. They didn't have cross slides or conventional tools and were notorious for throwing lumps of wood out of the lathe. Even at demonstrations. I remember seeing it happen in Melbourne. Lucky no one was seriously injured.
Run away from it, save your money and possibly yourself.
Darky
I have a Symtec 1500 and know of several people that have one and are more than happy with it. I use mine in the conventional manner, only used the copy attachment about twice in the 10 years I've had it.
Where Darky got his information from I do not know, I know of no wood lathe that has a cross slide, it does have a banjo and tool rest for conventional use, and as far as being "notorious for throwing lumps of wood out of the lathe", any lathe WILL, if not set up correctly or if the drive or revolving centre isn't inserted into the timber correctly or if the timber splits on the ends.
I know someone who has managed to get what parts were available from Symtec. As Clearout has mentioned, most of the parts used would be standard, any other part can be made or adapted from another lathe. I've actually used a banjo from another lathe to give me Camlocking capability. I've also made an extension for my lathe so that I could turn a standard lamp. if you would like a particular part, tool rest etc. please contact me and I'll see what I can do, having a machine here makes it a lot easier to make parts for. For a chuck, any chuck can be made to fit by purchasing the correct adaptor, I can't remember the thread and pitch at the moment.
Kryn
What is shown with that one, is the copy attachment on the left, with a router attachment on the right. The router attachment utilises a trim router which slides in the big round hole.Quote:
Originally Posted by wm460
It's a bit on the expensive side for what's there, I know someone who picked up one similar for $350 I think it was.
Kryn