Lathe suggestions?

[routercnc]

Thanks John, Rob that's useful feedback.

I'll have a look at the model engineer website as well.

John, I thought that the thread dial indicator rotated around and told you when to engage the feed to start in the same place? If the lathe is metric with metric leadscrew wouldn't this make the indicator OK for metric thread cutting? Never done this so am not sure. Can you expand on that ?

Rob,
Thanks for the link. If these machines are all generic re-brands then I have no issues buying from Warco - previous experiences of their customer service were excellent, and I like their prices.

Edit - just gone to the Weiss website and their model names are all WMxxx (Weiss Machinery). In the Warco catalogue they are also WMxx which I assumed was Warco Machines but clearly not.

Thanks

[njhussey]

I've got the WARCO 1322 gear head lathe in Metric and the indicator works OK on thread cutting for me so see no reason why it wouldn't on the smaller lathe? their customer service is good, had to use it a couple of times although it can be quite hard getting hold of them sometimes but then they're a small company.

[routercnc]

Cheers Neal that's good to know.

[mekanik]

My only advice really is make sure you get one with a separate drive shaft for the saddle and cross slide. you are better of saving wear on the leadscrew so you can produce accurate screw threads.
Regards
Mike

[magicniner]

Go for the largest through capacity, swing and length that fits your budget which is still suitable for the projects you currently have in mind, with consideration for the fact that a cunning machinist can always do jobs which are too large for the spindle through capacity over the bed, if he has the length to work with.
Keep in mind that to "fully tool" a lathe can easily involve greater expenditure than the initial machine purchase price ;-)
Regards,
Nick

[Noplace]

Since we are on the topic of lathes anyone familiar with this company http://www.epple.co.uk/turning-machi...8n1qlvv0irj5b5 ? I found one local company which deals with them and might get a lathe in the future and want to know if this is a good brand?

[magicniner]

"Epple UK, are the exclusive UK stockists and distributors for Epple Maschinen – Germany"

I've never heard of them but I've never seen poor German engineering equipment so I can't see you going wrong if they are entirely manufactured in Germany.

- Nick

[cropwell]

These Epple machines look like Chinese machines (could they be German copies of Chinese machinery)

[JohnHaine]

Looking at the website the machines look the same as the generic Sieg / Weiss products from China. Not necessarily any the worse for that but probably not made entirely or even partly in Germany. Similar machines also available (though much more limited range) from Arc Eurotrade who have an excellent reputation.

[routercnc]

Yes these are imported by Warco from China. When I was researching these I compared the spec to Arc / Sieg and Chester and these were slightly better spec for the same money. I’ve been pleased with it over the years but that hasn’t stopped me tinkering!