Stevie, although Chinese they are good quality Chinese as I said previously. Also did you use the Zoro/Chromwell list price as most commercial and in the know private buyers will be buying at 50-60% less than list but still a good buy.

Now would you also say that these lathes have Swiss blood in them or are they just badges lathes the same as you get from Warco, Chester, toolco, SPG and hundreds more as they have got Swiss in the name?

Edited By JasonB on 03/05/2020 10:30:35

I agree the tools are unlikely to be Swiss, but suspect the owner isn't Grainger. The brand-name is almost designed to confuse internet searches: 'Swiss Tech' is a clothing maker, and 'Swiss+Tech' may not be the same as 'Swiss-Tech'. The latter is an American manufacturer so called because they use Swiss CNC. Steve's tools may have been made in the USA. Or not!

Unfortunately finding out where stuff is actually made is almost impossible these days. We live in a thoroughly globalised world. Manufacturing is done wherever it makes the most profit. I've given up worrying about it; if a tool does what I want for reasonable cost I'm happy! Looks like Steve has done well; bankrupt stock is an excellent source of good tools.

Dave

Unfortunately due to the current situation, the marketplace may well be flooded with bankrupt stock in the coming months. I dare say there will be lots of new old stock on ebay soon.

I work for a North Yorkshire engineering company and have so far been lucky in keeping my full time design engineering job and working from home. If it was not for the fact that we are supplying machines to support the "Ventilator Challenge UK" things might be very different.

**LINK**

Assuming I still have a job by then, my retirement is April 2022. Who knows what will happen in the months to come though.

Phil

Hmmm. The Zoro / Cromwell pricing is a sore point.

Last I looked Cromwell are nearly double what Zoro charge in some cases, despite being under the same ownership.

David.

Isn't Zoro the retail / small business arm of Cromwell like Farnell has CPC?The difference is things like customer support, long credit terms, traceability paperwork. Some commercial contracts preclude the use of non top range suppliers and pay accordingly.
When I worked for a Defence contractor we were not allowed to use RadioSpares parts to the extent it was not allowed on site at all in case it contaminated the high spec material all of which had full tracking to the side to the hill the ore was mined. The taxpayer footed the bill of course.

That's a great start for any milling machinist. On the other forum I subscribe to, it would rate a "you suck" from the other members.

Some points to remember when using solid carbide cutters. Never touch down on steel with a stationary cutter, you will chip it. Don't drop one, or let it drop on the bed when slackening off the collet, have a wad of paper or cloth to cushion its fall. If one gets accidentally chipped, then it will still cut and can certainly be used for roughing.

Edited By old mart on 03/05/2020 18:31:08

And maybe it's important to remember that the sign of these packages is the sign of the Red Cross, not the flag of Switzerland. So they must be sharp, the ambulance is coming in a hurry if you cut your finger!

Regaeds, Hans

Edited By Versaboss on 04/05/2020 16:02:38

Bill,

You were close. Consider this link for the de-burring tools.

In the trade, Made in Taiwan is referred to as Made in Taiwan… but there is some crossover, as some of the items or components are made in China – PRC, but marketed by some Taiwanese companies as made in Taiwan. A little bit like some stuff was made in Eastern block as well as East Germany and sold as ‘Germany’ by some German companies.

Ketan at ARC