Colchester Student/Master Replacement???

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

I am building a new workshop and have the opportunity to upgrade my machines. I have an elderly round head Colchester Student and would love to find a more recent gap bed Student or Master in outstanding original condition but this is proving to be hard to find at any price.

I am looking at new machines and have come across Excel, Warco and Mach. Warco do the GH1440 which is almost there…The Excel D360 looks very similar and the Excel D 420 has a bit more capacity again – Mach have the L 1340.

I would much rather buy the original condition Colchester but unless anyone reading this has one for sale – what do we know about these new machines?

[IanHParticipant @ianh]

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I have an early Excel 14×40. Not bad for a Taiwan built lathe. Faults- weak cross slide/cross slide Vee's to narrow/ the saddle will not get close enough to the headstock for thin face plate work or for machining chuck back plates. Lots of tool overhang required. Zero response from Excel when enquiring about spares.

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