Lathe Super C3 or SC2

[Luke MosleyParticipant @lukemosley27661]

Hi, I'm looking to get my first lathe and after months of research I finally have the funds but am still torn between the Axminster SC2 and the Super C3 from arc eurotrade.

Both lathes seem to have a great reputation, are more or less the same and around the same sort of price point however the Super C3 is slightly cheaper and also has a 100mm longer bed. Il only be turning small parts but obviously slightly larger is better. Is there much difference between the quality of the two and which should I go for?

[Luke MosleyParticipant @lukemosley27661]

[Gordon TarlingParticipant @gordontarling37126]

IMHO, you pay a premium for buying from Axminster, whilst Arc seem to offer excellent value for money and, if you read posts on this forum, their service is first class.

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

One big thing in favour of the C3 is the lever locking tailstock, something you would soon come to curse if you got the C2. Both lathes are made by Sieg, so I wouldn't expect the quality to be any different. I think it is just a case that Arc put less of a mark-up on their stuff.

Regards.

David.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

I have the Super C3 from Arc.

I feel the service from Ketan does give a warm feeling, not too sure about Axminster…but I do feel a little biassed having bought most from Arc.

[Luke MosleyParticipant @lukemosley27661]

Thanks guys, I think you've sold it to me! Iv been set on the SC2 for a while now but after discovering the C3 was actually cheaper it threw a spanner in the works. My only concern really was that as it was a larger lathe with the same capabilities despite being made by the same manufacturer it was so much cheaper I thought it may be made to a poorer standard.

[Luke MosleyParticipant @lukemosley27661]

Before I finally go and spend my money another option that stands out are is the Amadeal CJ18A a 7×14 mini lathe which is also around the same sort of price point although the packages seem to be extremely good value for money and also comes as standard with a digital spindle readout. Are these worth considering?

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

I think you should consider the fact that the Super C3 from Arc has a brushless motor rather than the brushed motor version of either the C2 or the Amadeal offering, irrespective of the fact that it has digital readouts….

Reliability ?…….

I leave you to ponder..

BTW, usual disclaimer…..I'm just a happy punter who spends his ill gotten at a particular retailer

[Steve WithnellParticipant @stevewithnell34426]

If you buy Sieg and need spares, you'll probably end up ringing Arceurotrade to get hold of them anyway, they either have or can get what you need.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

The digital readout is a gimmick.

If you do need one you can get a module from China for about £5.

Another thing to take into account is the board on the brush-less motor version has protection on it, overload it and it trips out. The brushed motor version does not, overload it and it fries.

Something very important at the hands of a beginner.

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by John Stevenson on 10/12/2015 21:50:49:

overload it and it trips out. The brushed motor version does not, overload it and it fries.

.

And by the quantity of threads on this forum concerning help for such instances IMHO it's a worthwhile factor.

However. I don't know if it's my imagination but most of them seem to be concerning mills that have gone frazzeled not lathes?

I also consider ARC to be a good retailer. On the odd occasion when there is a problem they have a reputation for sorting it out.

Nick

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Probably more mills as it's easier to overload them but the lathe and mill has the same board in it for the brushed motor model.

The brushless mill and lathe also have the same board but they are programmed differently.

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, the new Axminster SC2 uses a 500W brushless motor. Though IMHO the super C3 still wins out with the extra between centre capacity and lower price.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I think you will find that the Amadeal also uses brushless now. They too have a pretty good reputation and keep spares. I think some of the smaller metric machines come with screw cutting indicators, if so this for some reason seems to be unique. I have no connection with them but have bought tooling via ebay, Harry something or the other on there. Like Arc he seems to try to get decent stuff at reasonable prices.

John

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[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by Graeme W on 10/12/2015 23:14:53:

Just to throw a spanner in the works, the new Axminster SC2 uses a 500W brushless motor. Though IMHO the super C3 still wins out with the extra between centre capacity and lower price.

Hi Graeme,

Just a note for clarification: Both the SC2 and the SC3 (Super C3 HiTorqueBrushless) use the same 500W brushless motor, and the wattage stated is output power. So they both share the same spanner

Thanks, Ketan at ARC.

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by John W1 on 11/12/2015 08:58:14:

I think you will find that the Amadeal also uses brushless now.

John

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Hello John W1,

Could you please point me to the link which says they use brushless motor?…also, is the wattage stated on their site input or output power…this is not clear?

Ketan at ARC.

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

John W1,

It would be good if you please check your information before stating it here. I have checked with Hugh, and I can confirm that their machines do not have brishless motors. As for power, Hugh does not know if the power stated is 'input or output' for the machines he sells.

Ketan at ARC.

Edited By Ketan Swali on 11/12/2015 09:47:44

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Ketan,

I've sent you a PM on an entirely different topic, it is sitting in your Inbox

Kind regards

Brian

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

+1 for the SC3.
I acquired one earlier this year, excellent value for money.

I fitted tapered roller bearings from day one and replaced the single half nut with a pair of nuts after a couple of weeks.

Peerless support from Ketan et al at Arc.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Ketan Swali on 11/12/2015 09:46:05:

John W1,

It would be good if you please check your information before stating it here. I have checked with Hugh, and I can confirm that their machines do not have brishless motors. As for power, Hugh does not know if the power stated is 'input or output' for the machines he sells.

Ketan at ARC.

Edited By Ketan Swali on 11/12/2015 09:47:44

If you read what I stated Ketan I used the word THINK. Reason – one of the lathes they do has changed the type of motor. Which one I don't know. I noticed it recently so use the word THINK.

John

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[Hugh Stewart-Smith 1Participant @hughstewart-smith1]

hello John W1,

you are correct about the Amadeal's brushless motor but we have them fitted to our new small mill, the AMAT25LV, not the mini-lathe. My objective has been to keep the price of our CJ18A as affordable as possible and to that end we now have a high spec. mini-lathe for under £400 (the PL2102). Fitting a brushless motor would add around 50% to the price and there is currently no plan to do so.

Hugh at Amadeal

[Ketan SwaliParticipant @ketanswali79440]

Posted by John W1 on 11/12/2015 20:13:37:

Posted by Ketan Swali on 11/12/2015 09:46:05:

John W1,

It would be good if you please check your information before stating it here. I have checked with Hugh, and I can confirm that their machines do not have brishless motors. As for power, Hugh does not know if the power stated is 'input or output' for the machines he sells.

Ketan at ARC.

Edited By Ketan Swali on 11/12/2015 09:47:44

If you read what I stated Ketan I used the word THINK. Reason – one of the lathes they do has changed the type of motor. Which one I don't know. I noticed it recently so use the word THINK.

John

–

Thank you for the clarification of your comments John. Please accept my apologies for the misunderstanding of your thoughts.

Ketan at ARC.

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