20-01-2014, 05:35 PM
Hi,
It will be interesting Nick to see what lathes are owned by members; if we carry on Mark will have to rename the forum?
Here's my input and I'm not in the least ashamed of my addition; at the moment I own four lathes.
1/ Record Power DML 24" woodturning lathe. Single phase bought for me as a Christmas present over twenty years ago by my lovely Bron and it's still a pleasure to use. I'll keep this lathe.
2/ Clarke CL300M engineering lathe;single phase; another lathe kindly bought for me by Bron as a Christmas present but much more recently. This is a small lathe which I like and dislike in equal measure mostly because I'm used to big industrial type lathes. Not having this lathe long I set to one day turning a small item and slapped roughing cuts on at 60 thou only for the lathe to expire in a cloud of smoke as I destroyed the circuit board and DC motor. Whoops; I should have read the manual first because these lathes only scratch metal taking a maximum recommended cut of ten thou? I've since spent another £200 on this Clarke upgrading to a more powerful servo motor with variable speed and counter-shaft drive scrapping both the original circuit board and motor so now it takes a decent bite. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TYPE OF LATHE BECAUSE OF THE POOR ELECTRICS WHICH ARE COSTLY TO REPLACE!! (£130 for a circuit board). These small lathes are mentioned many times on the web by owners blowing them up and being faced with rip off prices for replacement parts; had I known up front I wouldn't have touched it but now it's a decent little lathe and will be OK for turning small items.
3/ Union Graduate woodturning lathe; these are regarded as the Rolls Royce of woodturning lathes and I've always dreamed of owning one. Bought recently from an academy in Rochdale I subjected it to a comprehensive restoration/upgrade. Top quality Brook 1.1KW inverter rated 3 phase motor coupled up to a new Huanyang VFD; new bearings and drive belt plus other new parts and given a nice machinery enamel paint job in RAL 9001 cream white; this lathe deserves its reputation as it runs beautifully and is a lathe to keep.
4/ Lorch Schmidt (German) precision engineering lathe of exceptional quality this only being bought a few days ago and requiring a restoration although the basics are in excellent condition; this lathe is a very useful size being much bigger than the Clarke but smaller than my previous Colchester Triumph; it runs and could be used as is but I can't accept and use such an untidy lathe but hopefully one to keep once it's sorted. This is now the second Lorch lathe owned by a forum member; David has owned a delightful Lorch watch-makers Lorch Schmidt lathe for quite a while which David has fettled up making it most desirable.
Your Logan looks very tidy indeed Alan D and I bet its a pleasure to own and use.
Your old Pools warhorse will run for years to come Joe but how about treating it to a lick of paint?
Kind regards, Col.
It will be interesting Nick to see what lathes are owned by members; if we carry on Mark will have to rename the forum?
Here's my input and I'm not in the least ashamed of my addition; at the moment I own four lathes.
1/ Record Power DML 24" woodturning lathe. Single phase bought for me as a Christmas present over twenty years ago by my lovely Bron and it's still a pleasure to use. I'll keep this lathe.
2/ Clarke CL300M engineering lathe;single phase; another lathe kindly bought for me by Bron as a Christmas present but much more recently. This is a small lathe which I like and dislike in equal measure mostly because I'm used to big industrial type lathes. Not having this lathe long I set to one day turning a small item and slapped roughing cuts on at 60 thou only for the lathe to expire in a cloud of smoke as I destroyed the circuit board and DC motor. Whoops; I should have read the manual first because these lathes only scratch metal taking a maximum recommended cut of ten thou? I've since spent another £200 on this Clarke upgrading to a more powerful servo motor with variable speed and counter-shaft drive scrapping both the original circuit board and motor so now it takes a decent bite. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TYPE OF LATHE BECAUSE OF THE POOR ELECTRICS WHICH ARE COSTLY TO REPLACE!! (£130 for a circuit board). These small lathes are mentioned many times on the web by owners blowing them up and being faced with rip off prices for replacement parts; had I known up front I wouldn't have touched it but now it's a decent little lathe and will be OK for turning small items.
3/ Union Graduate woodturning lathe; these are regarded as the Rolls Royce of woodturning lathes and I've always dreamed of owning one. Bought recently from an academy in Rochdale I subjected it to a comprehensive restoration/upgrade. Top quality Brook 1.1KW inverter rated 3 phase motor coupled up to a new Huanyang VFD; new bearings and drive belt plus other new parts and given a nice machinery enamel paint job in RAL 9001 cream white; this lathe deserves its reputation as it runs beautifully and is a lathe to keep.
4/ Lorch Schmidt (German) precision engineering lathe of exceptional quality this only being bought a few days ago and requiring a restoration although the basics are in excellent condition; this lathe is a very useful size being much bigger than the Clarke but smaller than my previous Colchester Triumph; it runs and could be used as is but I can't accept and use such an untidy lathe but hopefully one to keep once it's sorted. This is now the second Lorch lathe owned by a forum member; David has owned a delightful Lorch watch-makers Lorch Schmidt lathe for quite a while which David has fettled up making it most desirable.
Your Logan looks very tidy indeed Alan D and I bet its a pleasure to own and use.
Your old Pools warhorse will run for years to come Joe but how about treating it to a lick of paint?
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
