Leadscrew Handwheel for Warco WM180

This topic has 16 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 3 July 2026 at 20:45 by Andy Stopford.

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3 July 2026 at 07:43 #854463
James A
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@jamesalford67616
I have just taken delivery of a new Warco WM180 lathe. Unlike my Flexispeed lathe, the Warco does not have a handwheel on the leadscrew end: just the wheel on the carriage, running on the rack.

Does anyone know whether it is possible to fit a handwheel to these machines?

James.
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3 July 2026 at 07:56 #854466
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
Looking at the pictures on line it looks like a double length nut on the right hand side of the lscrew, perhaps after it’s removed a hand wheel with this feature could be added?. RDG used to do one compatible with myfords and you could make it resettable at the same time.
3 July 2026 at 08:33 #854473
James A
Participant
@jamesalford67616
Good morning, Bernard.

Thank you.

I had wondered about that, but according to the manual, it is an adjusting nut for the leadscrew lash. I imagine that it would be possible to do something, though.

James
3 July 2026 at 09:26 #854474
James A
Participant
@jamesalford67616
I have found a YouTube video of someone adding a handle to the leadscrew.

James
3 July 2026 at 10:16 #854486
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
What extras would a hand wheel on the lead screw provide? As I see it, both the handles would move the carriage (so only a different hand position?).
3 July 2026 at 10:20 #854489
James A
Participant
@jamesalford67616
For me, on other machines, I have found that it gives finer control.

James
3 July 2026 at 10:30 #854495
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
On 3 July 2026 at 09:26 James A Said:

I have found a YouTube video of someone adding a handle to the leadscrew.

James

Was it this one, James ?

.

.

MichaelG.
3 July 2026 at 10:46 #854511
Neil A
Participant
@neila
On Andysmachines website he did a hand wheel for his WM180 lathe. The drawings that he produced may be helpful in making your version.

https://andysmachines.weebly.com/

Neil
3 July 2026 at 10:47 #854515
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
NDIY it gives measurable control over length.
3 July 2026 at 11:18 #854527
alecs
Participant
@alecs
On 3 July 2026 at 10:16 not done it yet Said:

What extras would a hand wheel on the lead screw provide? As I see it, both the handles would move the carriage (so only a different hand position?).

Graduations on the hanwheel a la Myford allow fine control of carriage travel when turning stepped shafts etc and pretty much essential for milling in the lathe.
3 July 2026 at 11:40 #854533
Clive Brown 1
Participant
@clivebrown1
I find a micrometer saddle stop, as fitted to my Boxford, a very useable alternative to a Myford style leadscrew handwheel.
3 July 2026 at 13:24 #854545
bernard towers
Participant
@bernardtowers37738
Bit of a PITA when doing stepped shafts
3 July 2026 at 13:31 #854548
Clive Brown 1
Participant
@clivebrown1
Perhaps no worse than counting turns on a handwheel.
3 July 2026 at 13:39 #854553
James A
Participant
@jamesalford67616
On 3 July 2026 at 10:30 Michael Gilligan Said:

On 3 July 2026 at 09:26 James A Said:

I have found a YouTube video of someone adding a handle to the leadscrew.

James

Was it this one, James ?

.

.

MichaelG.

Thank you, Michael.

Yes, that is it.

James
3 July 2026 at 13:40 #854554
James A
Participant
@jamesalford67616
On 3 July 2026 at 10:46 Neil A Said:

On Andysmachines website he did a hand wheel for his WM180 lathe. The drawings that he produced may be helpful in making your version.

https://andysmachines.weebly.com/

Neil

Thank you.
3 July 2026 at 16:41 #854570
Dave Halford
Participant
@davehalford22513
On 3 July 2026 at 11:18 alecs Said:

On 3 July 2026 at 10:16 not done it yet Said:

What extras would a hand wheel on the lead screw provide? As I see it, both the handles would move the carriage (so only a different hand position?).

Graduations on the hanwheel a la Myford allow fine control of carriage travel when turning stepped shafts etc and pretty much essential for milling in the lathe.

As does the DRO version of this lathe
3 July 2026 at 20:45 #854628
Andy Stopford
Participant
@andystopford50521
+1 for going the DRO route (its handy to have a simple carriage stop to use with it).

Its reasonably simple to fit a glass scale DRO for the Z-axis (bed) on one of these lathes, the cross slide is more difficult, you have to use a magnetic scale, and even then there’s not much room.
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