Lathe Buying Advise Please

[mrpercysnodgrass]

Hi all.
I do not do a great deal of turning, mostly replacing knobs, feet and finials but some of what I have to copy is quite fine and delicate. Gillows of Lancaster knobs for example!
Anyway, I am looking to buy a new lathe and would like some guidance if you will.
I do not need to turn anything over 24" ( rarely anything over 6" )
I do hate having to use tools to adjust the tailstock and tool rest.
I hate having to phaff about changing the belt on the pulleys to change the speed.
It will be bench top mounted.
Essentially, maintenance and phaff free, accurate and lovely in all regards.
Budget @ £500
Looking forward to your replies!
Best and Merry Christmas to you all.
Paul.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Top of your range, but
http://www.recordpower.co.uk/product/ca ... peed-lathe
has to be worth a look.

 

[davem62]

For small items the Axminster hobby variable speed http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... the-505021 Is well within budget , but the record comes with 5 year warranty

Regards david

 

[woodpig]

There's also the Jet:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/jet-jwl-1015 ... the-508264

 

[mrpercysnodgrass]

Thank you all for your replies. I have had a look at these three lathes, if I bought the bed extension it would cancel out any small difference between the centres they have and would provide the extra capacity should I need it. The record has by far the more powerful motor which is always useful when turning down a log. The Record also has a five year guarantee which is great. Is there much difference with the build quality? They look to be pretty much the same casting! There is quite a difference in price though, the Axi with bed extension £400. the Jet £510 and the Record £620.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You could also look at a used CL4 for the same sort of money. I don't like them, but they have a lot going for them. You'd then have VS, a larger motor and a decent bed length.

 

[marcros]

there were warning about issues with the jet 1015vs on another forum. 2 or 3 members had had to send theirs back due to the motor of speed controller (i cant recall which). A shame because the previous model, non vs that i have is great.

 

[Keithie]

I'm by no means an expert here, but I have been through the decision process for buying a small vs mini-lathe in the last couple of months.

My approach was, as you have done, to consider the likely maximum diameters and lengths of pieces I wanted to make. If I was only making small stuff then there was no need to pay much more than £200.

I then thought about new vs old machines. Apart from the obvious Jet, Axminster and Record brands there is plenty of other choice in little lathes including draper, clarke, charnwood, gorilla, sheppach, SIP and no doubt many others ...and that just for a new machine. There are lots of perfectly ok looking second hand lathes both in shops (ex-demo) and on ebay/gumtree etc.

Determining actual quality of brand just meant reading a lot of reviews in forums like this and forming one's own opinion. I also found it quite tricky to get past personal bias towards brands and desire for 'another new shiny thing' rather than buying a 'rusty old thing that might be broken'.

I bought a new lathe at the larger end of the small lathe range with an extension bed (so I can try to make legs for side tables) in what I perceived to a mid market brand (Record). Like with lots of purchases, after it's ben unpacked and found to be doingits job properly the slight premium price paid is easily justified as something cheaper might not have worked at all! For the sake of clarity ... I bought my previous lathe for £80 on ebay (old coronet cl with long bars) and it was never any trouble at all.

Good luck !