Thoughts and Advice on Buying "A Bigger" Lathe

[Hybrid_From_Hell]

Following on from my other thread on running 3 Phase on Single phase re a lathe I have been looking looking looking and looking

I have done a mightly amount of research on invertors vs convertors, delta vs 3 Phase diffewrences, and looked at some possible lathes

I have looked a 3 x colchester students, a M300 short bed and a colchester Bantam, all 3 phase, very very worn from years of use / abuse and not exactly cheap

I was chatting to a friend who said, can't you buy new ?

I am not suggesting for one minute the machine mart china stuff but something maybe better qulaity, that does

have 1,000,000+ hours use on the clock that is all tight n shiney

AND

I can buy fairly big machines (bigger than my trusty Boxford) in single phase which will save circa £300-£500 dependant on inbvertor / convertor route id I buy a s/h 3 Phase

My question is really are they worth buying ?

2 thoughts..

Warco unit : http://www.warco.co.uk/metal-lathes-metalworking-lathe-machine/26-gh1322-gh1330-wm330-lathe.html

a GH1322 model

Also been looking at this from Bailey (who are regarded as top notch stuff on tube benders - what are their lathes like ?)

the PL-1236E maybe with the DRO Option : http://www.baileighindustrial.co.uk/metal-lathe-pl-1236e

not sure about : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-AMAP290V-FF-Lathe-Milling-Machine-Combination-from-Amadeal-/360482941343?pt=UK_BOI_Metalworking_Milling_Welding_Metalworking_Supplies_ET&hash=item53ee75299f thoughts ?

So, for those who know

Second hand Colchester Student / Bantam ? M300 with wear but hunt for one that is better than most and pay possibly MORE than the anove units

and then for a convertor / invertor on top if 3 phase, or is it not complete madness to but new maybe the aboves or something else

Thoughts please !

Nige

[dirtydiesel]

Just keep hunting Nige, I paid £400 for my harrison 12 it has very little wear in it at all.

The 38mm choke is annoying On it though, something close to 50mm would be nice.

[zim]

Just keep hunting Nige, I paid £400 for my harrison 12 it has very little wear in it at all.

The 38mm choke is annoying On it though, something close to 50mm would be nice.

3 phase is also nice, you can vary the speed, have soft start as well as reverse.

G

[Cynic-al]

I would sign up to places like bid spotter, Edward Symmons, Lot Surf etc and watch the industrial auctions, see if anything comes up near you.

Alternatively this single phase with dro might fit what you want

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-cq6230a-2-910-metal-turning-lathe-prod856971/#bottomsection

[Big.Mike]

Noooo!

We have that exact Warco here at work and it's so bad I can't begin..

We struggle finding tools, the tool post moves even when tight and the motor is at best lacklustre... It's so bad that If I was offered it, I wouldn't take it.

If you can find a good old machine I think you'd be better off...

Cheers,

Mike

[Big.Mike]

Oh and Baileigh, Warco and Axminster are all rebadged Chinese stuff...

Seemingly only the Germans make machines now... (and they are expensive)

[Astro_Al]

I echo everything that has been said.

As per my previous comment, why not just swap the motor to a single phase one? Cheap and easy.

Al.