Warco lathe

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Warco lathe

I am just about to buy a new toy but I am no expert on lathes. I have decided it will be a warco but not sure what is the best.

The 918 lathe

Or WMT 300 lathe

Are there any experts out there that can give me any advice?

 

[Jasonb]

The milling heads on the combined machines are not that rigid or accurate, they also get in the way, I would go for the 918 with a vertical slide, a Myford vertival slide would be better as it is slotted for T nuts rather than the vice on the more expencuive Warco one, thats what I used on my Emco until I bought an X3 mill.

You could ask on this forum. And as I have said the 918 is available from several other sources in a different paint colour.

Jason

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Hi Jason thanks for your quick reply

I was looking at the WMT 300 without the milling head. (I thought the milling head looked a bit silly)

Not knowing a lot about lathes I thought the 5-inch chuck may be of more use than the 4 inch on the 918. I realise there is no four jaw chuck with it but I can save up for one of those.

I always get excited about new toys and I hate waiting. I can afford the 918 in three weeks and the WMT 300 in five weeks.

or there may be this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....MEBI:IT&viewitem=&item=150144491507&rd=1&rd=1

 

[gog]

I worked as a centre lathe turner for over 40 years, in which time used most models and makes.
I am really not sure that you can buy a lathe from a picture, they vary a great deal in comfort and ease of use and in my humble opinion you need to stand in front of one to get the feel.
Just curious, why do you want a lathe?

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

I want a lathe as I spend a lot of time in my shed making things, just thought one might come in handy. It won’t get a lot of use. Have used a Myford many years ago.

 

[Jasonb]

The Boxford is a much better quality machine than any of the Chianese stuff and at that price a bit of a bargain, you can find out more about it here.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/boxford/index.html

I'd still go for the 918, you will soon get fed up with traversing the carrage by the lead screw if you go for the 300. I manage with a 100mm 3-jaw and 150mm 4-jaw.

You could try making one of these

Off to my shed now to do some work on the Traction Engine.

Jason

 

[gog]

The lathe is the usual entry point into the world of engineering and it's easier to do milling on a lathe than to turn on a mill.
Have fun with whatever you purchase.

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Getting the Warco 918 lathe, next thing what cutting tools will I need to get started?

 

[Trazor]

Getting the Warco 918 lathe, next thing what cutting tools will I need to get started?

Get a good quality set of high speed steel bits, and you will also need one of these.......

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Already have the bench grinder

Do these look ok?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RDG-10MM-HSS-...ryZ64819QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[gog]

The trick is to very quickly learn how to sharpen hss tool steel, then you can make your own tools as required, it's not easy and takes a lot of practice.

The problem with buying sets of tools is that there will be some in there you never use.

Apart from the grinder mentioned, you will need measuring tools mics, veriner etc, also drill bits, again learn how to sharpen fairly quickly.

Unless you are going in for long runs or very hard materials I would steer clear of carbide tooling, good quality stuff is very expensive and you need a green wheel to sharpen for the minimium of results.

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

I have already got the measuring tools mics, veriner etc, also lots of dormer drill bits. I have always been ok at sharpening drills so the tools should be easy. I just love anything with a plug on the end of it.

 

[Trazor]

Already have the bench grinder

Do these look ok?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RDG-10MM-HSS-...QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem[/QUOTE]

Ignore the word Myford in that listing.
Myford make very good lathes, not hss tool bits.

This link will help as regards sharpening, and various other aspects of tool bits

http://metalworking.majosoft.com/html/lathe_tool_bits.html

Scroll to the bottom of the above listing for more interesting lathe tips.

 

[Jasonb]

I tend to use brazed carbide tipped tools for general work, HSS when I need a special profile and a few replaceable tip tools. As has been said the sets will have some you don't use so singles will be a better bet.

Other useful things

-Tailstock die holder easier and quicker than setting up for screwcutting
-Dial test indicator & magnetic stand for setting work true in the 4 jaw
-Quick change tool post, easier than faffing about with bits of packing
-Boring bar, the indexable ones are quite good or Warcos double ended set will be fine
- live center if it only comes with two dead centers

Get any other items as you need them and depending on what you want to make.

Also worth getting this book, a bit dated but it has all you need to know

Here are a few other tooling suppliers
http://www.chronos.ltd.uk/
http://www.greenwood-tools.co.uk/index.html
http://www.arceurotrade.co.uk/
http://www.rdgtools.co.uk/
http://www.jlindustrial.co.uk/cgi/insrhm?ukepcode=HER40 go to virtual catalogue.

Jason

 

[Bodgeit and scarper ltd]

Thanks for your help everyone, excellent forum.