Chinese Lathes

[Blue HeelerParticipant @blueheeler]

Chinese lathes, let me say up front that I am a self taught backyard metal basher.

I've had my Chinese lathe now for six years (Sieg C6 10×22) and most days I do at least a couple of hours of work on it.

I looked for ages here in Australia for a Myford, Boxford, Southbend and every one that I came across was clapped out and had parts missing and the owners were still asking big $$$ for them.

I spent some time doing some things to the lathe to make it nicer to use. Its accurate, dependable and a joy to use. I know a lot of people are wary of Chinese machinery, but for the price its hard to go past them. Unless you can find an elderly gent getting out of the hobby and are able to purchase a nice used Australian, US or British made lathe, what real choice do we have otherwise if we want to start turning?

I would give my C6 a 5 out of 5 star rating and my Sieg Mini Mill a 4 out of 5 stars.

Here's a link to my Youtube channel showing some mods I did 4 years ago –

 

Edited By Jim Dobson 1 on 08/05/2019 01:27:18

[Blue HeelerParticipant @blueheeler]

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

Hi Jim,

I think a lot of people think that they need this type of lathe or that to fit in or that it will make them a better machinist , unfortunately neither are true ! Sure if someone offers you a boxford or myford etc that you know is in good condition you would be silly to say no wouldn’t you ? I have had three Hare and forbes lathes and two mills – none have given me any real problems and at worst maybe a blown motor capacitor or broken switch .

Added my subs to your channel , looks like some interesting engines on there !

Where in OZ are you ? After seeing the videos on lake conjola i would guess NSW ? Im in Sydney .

Ian

[Blue HeelerParticipant @blueheeler]

G'day Ian,

I've lived at LC for the last 35 years, Thanks for subscribing, appreciated.

My first lathe was an AL50 from H&F that a friend begged off me when he moved out West and I bought the Sieg C6 from H&F.

After around 4 months the motor stopped working in forwards, they overnighted capacitators to me, but it didn't fix the problem. Two day later someone from H&F made the 6+ hour return drive down to LC with a new motor and spent 4+ hours installing it and going completely over the lathe. That's just incredible service.

What lathe and mill do you own now Ian?

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

I had the same lathe ! I recently sold it to my nephew along with my X2 mill so his young bloke can play on it and over the fifteen years i owned it i replaced the motor caps , half nuts , fitted a nvr switch and maybe two belts – not bad for a little Chinese machine that copped some serious punishment !

wow it probably would have been cheaper for them to just send a new motor to you but to spend another four hours going over your lathe is exceptional service ! I have been buying tools from them for 35 yrs and haven’t had to return anything yet !

Last time i was in Conjola was about two years ago and at Christmas time – it was packed out ! I used to have a van at Ulladulla and dropped in to conjola every so often – usually looking for bait . Fantastic part of the Nsw south coast !

Ian

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Well despite having serious faults with my Chinese lathe purchased new around 15 years ago, I really like Chinese lathes. Thank heavens they bother to make all the lathes and other equipment they do, we can now all afford to have a dabble in machine tools, and with all new stuff as well. They make a machine for all circumstances, so if you live in a flat on a tight budget there is a lathe and mill to suit you…great!

Ok, there may still be some faulty or shoddy stuff turning up now and again, but overall I think it's mostly pretty good gear that does its job.

 My Chinese lathe and Taiwanese milling machine now blend in nicely with the British machinery I have in my workshop, all doing what they are supposed to in perfect harmony. 

Edited By Lathejack on 08/05/2019 09:54:01

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I have always hankered after a Myford Super 7b for years but considering the silly money that is asked I never got round to getting one so ended up with a Warco 250V-F lathe & WM16 mill for the price of a super 7b, I bought both at the Harrogate exhib' back in 2012 & cannot really complain about either, any initial issues were promptly dealt with by Warco so it's a thumbs up for their after sales service from me. To quote an old cliché 'you don't get a Rolls Royce for mini price' but for the hobbyist they do what you give 'em to do & as long as you know their capabilities there's nowt wrong with them… you pays your money etc.

George.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Very happy with the SC4.

It's not what you've got it's what you do with it that counts

Neil

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

My workshop is almost entirely Chinese, which confirms my level of customer satisfaction. But if star ratings are being awarded Far Eastern machines face stiff competition. I suggest if one of the Toolroom lathes like a DSG deserves 5*, then a good Boxford, Colchester or similar would get 4*. And, although a Myford Super 7 in top condition is inferior to anything in the Boxford and up class, it is undoubtedly better finished than Chinese hobby machines, and surely deserves 3 stars.

So compared with the best £athes available I'd only give my lathe 2 stars: it's a hobby lathe. That said, despite a few warts, it does everything I want and it was fully 5* value for money.

In my book a 1* lathe would be one too small, badly worn, or missing basic features. Even so, a lot can still be done with them. Any lathe is better than no lathe, which is more than can be said of wives!

Dave

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

…. Any lathe is better than no lathe, which is more than can be said of wives!

Careful Dave; you can quite easily dig yourself into a hole with that one…

George.

[Anonymous]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 08/05/2019 18:01:23:

Any lathe is better than no lathe, which is more than can be said of wives!

Darn right!

Lathes don't get jealous if you've got another one, or more, on the side

Lathes don't moan if you ignore them for a period

Lathes don't complain if they don't get serviced as often as they should

Lathes don't get headaches

Lathes are ready to perform immediately after power on

Lathes don't go on shopping sprees, but love it when you buy accessories

Lathes don't get pregnant

Andrew

[Robin GrahamParticipant @robingraham42208]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 08/05/2019 22:05:49:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 08/05/2019 18:01:23:

 

Any lathe is better than no lathe, which is more than can be said of wives!

Darn right!

Lathes don't get jealous if you've got another one, or more, on the side.

…

Andrew

Cripes. You've never seen how Lola and Huian glare at each other across my workshop Andrew. Lathes,  like ships, are somehow female.

More on topic- I've not had any insurmountable problems with Chinese machine tools, I can turn/mill as close as I need – even unto tenths of a thou. When I was working the main guy in the machine shop had 'his' lathe – which was no doubt a good British one, but he wouldn't let anyone else touch it. He had a relationship with the machine, they got on together and understood each other's quirks,..

Robin.

 

Edited By Robin Graham on 09/05/2019 00:37:00

[Blue HeelerParticipant @blueheeler]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 08/05/2019 16:31:22:

Very happy with the SC4.

It's not what you've got it's what you do with it that counts

Neil

Very true Neil, just think of the level of work that was turned out using treadle lathes in dim lighting conditions. Those blokes would have been delighted with the cheapest of Chinese lathes and a bright light!

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 08/05/2019 18:01:23:

My workshop is almost entirely Chinese, which confirms my level of customer satisfaction.

……..

Dave

Mine is almost entirely UK manufacture (bandsaw is not, but still not chinese, I believe). Does what I need (and likely a lot more) yet cost a good deal less than new chinese (and far less than what I consider as inferior – most myfords). I am very happy with my machines and they should all last me out – and the next user, too!

I don’t have ‘customer satisfaction’ really. The companies have not been trading for nearly 50 years! I bought mine after inspection, so any faults would be down to me – but the machines are of recognised good quality.

[Perko7Participant @perko7]

I would give my C6 a 5 out of 5 star rating

Edited By Jim Dobson 1 on 08/05/2019 01:27:18

I also have a Sieg C6 purchased new from Ausee at Christmas 2016 and have had very few problems and it has done everything asked of it. The only downsides compared with my other lathe (a 1929 3.5" Ideal) are the lack of back-gear, lack of a handwheel on the leadscrew, and lack of lever-locking tailstock but those are relatively minor disadvantages. As a similar self-taught (late in life) swarf-maker I'm more than happy with it.

[Blue HeelerParticipant @blueheeler]

Cheers Perko.

One thing I don't understand with the Chinese lathes is that on most of the belt drive (not sure on the electric drive ones) is that the slowest speed for threading is around 150 rpm. Now I use dies for all of my threading needs for model and toy steam engines so its not an issue for me, but why don't these have a slower possible rpm by adding another two different sized pulleys?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Really depends on which far eastern machine you are buying my variable speed lathe has two belted speed ranges 50-950 and 100-1900, same with my mill which has two gear options.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Jim Dobson 1 on 09/05/2019 07:19:37:

… its not an issue for me, but why don't these have a slower possible rpm by adding another two different sized pulleys?

.

I think it's down to 'cost of manufacturing' vs 'perceived value'

The target market places more value on various other features of the spec.

… Things are made to best fit a price-point.

MichaelG.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by JasonB on 09/05/2019 07:32:07:

Really depends on which far eastern machine you are buying my variable speed lathe has two belted speed ranges 50-950 and 100-1900, same with my mill which has two gear options.

I happen to have a later model of Jason's machine and found its been usefully improved. The speed range is now 30-450 and 150-2500. It's good to have 30rpm available, but 450rpm (good for large diameter work) is too slow for much of what I do. Every silver lining has a cloud – I probably have to change belts more often than Jason!

It's a very curious thing but – despite my lathe being better than Jason's – his machine works faster, produces a better finish, and everything it makes is the right size. Clearly his old lathe makes fewer mistakes than my new one. I'd like to blame my relative failure on the poor quality of my machine. Actually most of my problems are caused by the operator…

Dave

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

Delighted with my latest Chinese lathe ,a GH600 from Warco. . Delivery was delayed through no fault of Warco ( I suggested to Roger Warren that they give them more oars for the boat ) Speed range is 2000 rpm down to 45 rpm. Build quality is good with less evidence of filler on the castings than my previous lathe. . Accuracy is excellent and I am prepared to put up with the bolt on chuck fiddle The only mod I have made is to fit some decent handles to replace the …… originals .How long will it last ? I don't know, but certainly longer then me by which time how many people will want to use a manual lathe ? Looking at the age profile of those attending the exhibitions, not many .

Brian

[JonParticipant @jon]

Only ever had the one foreign/asian, a repair followed by two new US circuit boards still couldnt do a thing with it except power a small 1" flap wheel. Duly got rid of with grease still on it.

15 years on still got the British iron, difference is it lasts.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Went and visited a mate today who just bought a secondhand Chinese BV-250 (10" x 30" )  lathe sold in Oz by Rexon a few years ago. He paid $150 for it. Main problem seems to be the motor reversing switch has disintegrated. As has the cross slide feed nut. So a little bit of fettling and it will be useable. Not bad for the price though! No parts available so he's ordered a tap to make himself a new nut.

Seems like a good solid machine. Very heavy box-section bed casting seemingly well finished off. Cross slide and topslide ways and gibs all good. But let down a bit by poor surface where the toolpost seats, but a rub with a file will fix that. And the surface on the 4-way toolpost where the tool bits sit looks like it was chewed into shape by their most untrained rats. Again, fixable with a bit of fettling.

A bizarre tailstock quill clamp that simply does not work but can be modded to work.

Has six geared speeds ranging from 115rpm to 1600 rpm so a bit fast for slow screwcutting but good for indexable tools at the top end (compared with Myford, South Bend etc) A change of pulleys or a hand crank might be the go for screwcutting. Good range of screwcutting change gears for metric and imperial. Nice Fuerda chucks in three and four jaw plus fixed and moving steadies and a big faceplate.

For the price you could not beat it with a stick — and there's way less work to do on it than my $400 Myford had when it was rescued from a garage sale. Course the Myford is about 40-50 years older so I guess that is to be expected. But the Chinese cheapie will have my mate making swarf where he could not have otherwise afforded to.

 

Edited By Hopper on 09/05/2019 13:54:14

[Bob StevensonParticipant @bobstevenson13909]

My two inexpensive Chinese lathes have been excellent for their price, although I'm only making clocks……

If the Chinese makers and their importers are watching this thread then can I make a plea that they think about the difference in size between Chinese and European fingers!…….Changing chucks (on the small lathes) spoils an otherwise happy day due to getting your fingers onto the bastard nuts without dropping them down the back of the machine, or worse….. I know that the bolted chuck methd is cheap to make and safe etc but it would not be too difficult to design the tin around the headstocks to allow finger space.

[Ron ColvinParticipant @roncolvin83430]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 08/05/2019 22:05:49:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 08/05/2019 18:01:23:

Any lathe is better than no lathe, which is more than can be said of wives!

Darn right!

Lathes don't get jealous if you've got another one, or more, on the side

Lathes don't moan if you ignore them for a period

Lathes don't complain if they don't get serviced as often as they should

Lathes don't get headaches

Lathes are ready to perform immediately after power on

Lathes don't go on shopping sprees, but love it when you buy accessories

Lathes don't get pregnant

Andrew

Pregnant lathes!, so you would never have to buy another one. Pity though that they would be out of commission for 9 months.

[Ron ColvinParticipant @roncolvin83430]

Sorry, I double posted.

Edited By Ron Colvin on 09/05/2019 15:14:54

[Author]

Posts