Large Chinese Lathes

[Burdekin]

Is there a Chinese lathe forum? I have no experience with them so can't comment. I would say you can get very good quality Chinese stuff these days as well as the lower end cheaper stuff. There are loads of good old British lathes about but also loads of ones that are worn from years of use. A good condition quality made machine is a joy to use and own. It's hit and miss with lathes though and you really need to inspect them to check them over. All the best and am interested in what you find out about the Chinese machines.

 

[printcom]

Taiwanese manufacture is in a different league to Chinese

I am not doubting that staement, but after fairly extensive research I still can't tell one from the other. Either one copies the others designs or they all buy from the same place and put their own name on them...

 

[addjunkie]

3 years ago I signed the order for a shiney brand new harrison m400 for work, to replace the m300 we had that was 9 years old and had not had a lot of use at all.

As a lathe owner at home I tried them both....and they were not much better than the current chinese clones, of which I now own, but a dam sight more expensive. The m300 for its age was abysmal. But harrisions are no longer uk made anyway.

 

[Carl Wilson]

A week or so ago I did some work on the beast pictured below.

It is a Winho which is Taiwanese. Despite having suffered obvious neglect it was as solid as a rock. I was taking some really big cuts in EN16 like material.

The last picture was taken next to the fixed steady at the end of the bed. You can just about see the headstock. With binoculars.

 

[Rig Pig]

This is a big old beast, UK supplier too.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

A week or so ago I did some work on the beast pictured below.

Would it not fit in your luggage?

 

[Carl Wilson]

Unfortunately not. It must weigh 5 tons.

 

[nickk]

Always wondered why they’re called “oil country”. Are they made by Texan red necks ?

 

[Carl Wilson]

Not sure about that but they are used for machining drill pipe and casing. Maybe that's why.

 

[Hood]

Not sure of the cost, probably quite expensive, but might be worth enquiring about the Tos lathes that Budget Machinery sells.

 

[Carl Wilson]

TOS lathes are excellent. I've used one of those too. Built like a brick shipyards toilet.

 

[Hood]

Only ever used the older ones but from what I have heard they are still as good.
I see Alec has a second hand SN63 in stock, looks nice.
http://www.budgetmachinery.co.uk/newsite/data/bm/lathes/tossn63c1500camlock.htm

 

[Hood]

Looks like they are 15HP main motors though.

 

[sako243]

Have you considered looking at sites like ppauctions and apex auctions etc?

 

[printcom]

TOS lathes are excellent. I've used one of those too. Built like a brick shipyards toilet.

Thanks Chaps, I hadn't considered a TOS lathe, I have just done a little bit of research and it appears that most have nice things to say about them. I will give Budget Machinery a call tomorrow and get some more info and find out if its likely to bankrupt me.

 

[Carl Wilson]

I'm glad my words helped. The TOS lathe I used was on a ship I was on that's since been scrapped. It was a big machine and very good. I think that sadly it was scrapped too. It would have been quite the task to have extracted it from where it was.

 

[printcom]

I'm glad my words helped. It would have been quite the task to have extracted it from where it was.

Yeah, Many years ago I remember being involved in taking onboard a replacement Colchester in Singapore after the cadet crashed it. If memory serves me right it took 5 blokes 2 days to shoehorn it into position. It turned out to be a complete waste of time as when we got back to Flushing they sold the ship.

 

[printcom]

Ouch, I just had the quote for a Trens SN50C, looks like my search for a decent Taiwanese/Chinese lathe will continue. I have no doubt that the quality of the TOS will far exceed that of the oriential stuff and if I had been 20 years younger I might have felt it was viable. But as a part time toy/pocket money earner its too much for my tastes.

 

[Carl Wilson]

That's a shame. You often get big DSG machines through the auction houses. Think Phil Geesin had one a bit ago.

 

[printcom]

Dont get me wrong I am not looking for cheap, I am looking for good value (as it applies to me). Working on the basis that you cant take it with you i had set myself a (what I felt) resonable budget based on quotes from other manufactures. In this case the difference was the cost of a brand new 2 ton mini digger.