Warco GH600

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

Great idea Ian.

I certainly have some challenges getting it into position. I'm hoping a bunch of my work colleagues can be persuaded to lend a hand.

I haven't called Warco, so thanks for the shipping update.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

If you do not have access to a crane, you could lift the machine into place by jacking and packing. It will be slow, and you need to ensure that nothing is going to fall over during the process. Guy ropes would be a good safety precaution. Obviously, the packing needs to be the same at each end..

Once level with the bench, the machine can then be slid across into position, ready to be levelled (i.e. ensure that the bed is free of twist. ). It won't matter particularly if the headstock is slightly above or below the tailstock, unless you are using pumped coolant. the essential is to make sure that the the bed is not twisted, otherwise you are likely to turn a taper every time. The time spent installing the machine correctly will be well invested.

Howard.

[IRTParticipant @irt]

I was going to hire a crane, but having watched this I don't think I will need it:

**LINK**

I weigh about 75Kg.

I don't need to lift it above my head so not expecting any problems at all.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

Ahaha! If only it were that easy…

I think I'll be relying on some colleagues to provide the muscle to get the machine into the shed, and then the "jack and pack" method that Howard suggests for getting it up onto the stand.

[FMESParticipant @fmes]

Hi Jed,

Check with Warco, when I had my GH1330 and Supermajor mill delivered they transported it on an electric pallet truck all the way down the drive and put them in the workshop where I wanted them.

Regards

[IRTParticipant @irt]

The risk of the packing toppling puts me off trying to rock the lathe up.

The thought of trying to slide 160kg of steel between the jacked-up pile and the benchtop, both of which could move, fills me with dread.

I have nothing to hang the lathe from for insurance if it goes wrong.

Maybe I am missing something? Anyone got any pictures of how they achieved this, or can they point me in the direction of any videos?

I think I will be doing this on my own so am planning on hiring an engine hoist.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

Hi Fmes, those electric pallet trucks are awesome, but unfortunately I've got some bumpy lawn, steps, and more lawn to negotiate to get to my shed. Good old fashioned manpower will have to suffice

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Ian,

PM me with your location,

With regard to "Jack and Pack", I did advise using guy ropes to guard against having the lathe as footwear!

If you are prepared to be patient and careful, it is surprising what can be achieved!

When lifting anything heavy, it is imperative to ensure personal safety, and minimal risk of damage to the load.

Howard

[IRTParticipant @irt]

Hi Howard,

I re-read my post above. It was not meant to disagree with your advice, but I wrote it with the considerations of my circumstances and the equipment and fittings I have available. I can see how it could have been considered a bit rude, but it was not meant to be. Sorry if you read it that way.

When the lathe finally arrives I need to make a base to raise it up on. This will give me a couple of weeks to consider my options.

PM sent with location.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

No offence taken!

Replied to your PM

Howard

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

When I bought my Warco BH600 many years ago, it arrived on a 36ft pallet truck. ( why did I think that delivery would be ba a short bed transit with hydraulic crane?) The driver could not reverse up the lane to my garage and I had visions of him dropping it on the road leaving me to sort it out. As it turned out, the driver was very helpful and having got the pallet off the lorry using a hand operated pallet mover, he helped steering it while i used my car and a heavy strop to tow it up a hill onto the flat outside the garage. Once we got there, the driver took over swinging the pallet around as if a toy putting it into the garage.

When it came to moving it into position, I jacked up the pallet and fitted castors allowing me to lever it into position. Lifting was carried out using an engine crane..

Some months later, I went to the Bristol Exhibition where Warco had a rather nice vertical mill. I was very tempted and booked into a local B&B so I could telephone my son that evening to check if there was enough room in the shed He was quite anxious that I did not buy since after the troubles with the lathe I would do myself some harm with a mill. Next morning, I came home, not wanting to be tempted by another visit to the Warco stand. I often regret not buying and perhaps getting a couple of strong hands to offload and install.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

I've been informed by Warco that the lathe has shipped.

I appreciate emojis are frowned upon here, so I'll go with a gif…

[IRTParticipant @irt]

That is good news. Should be getting mine very soon then.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

Well, it has arrived. My first glimpse of it, as I walked down the drive to meet the delivery driver, was of the pallet laying on its side on the pavement, having tipped off the pallet trolley. Not a great start – I called Warco and we agreed I'd accept the delivery, un-box it and assess the damage, and we'd take it from there…

So, I built a timber frame around the crate with 4 handles, so that myself and 3 burly software engineers could shift it.

Then it began its trip. First a small ramp and along the front of the house…

Then up the big ramp… (kids are camping in the back yard)

and finally to the shed…

where it is currently sitting on the concrete floor while I build up the stand and get it in position. It is most certainly a 4-person job shifting one of these things…

I can't see any visible signs of damage. I've powered it up and it seems to run ok. The levers all do what they are supposed to. Once I get it on the stand I'll start checking that everything is straight and true. I've measured the spindle run-out (not that I have any idea if this is a significant measurement or not) and it is less than 0.01mm. So far so good, I suppose…

Edited By Jed Martens on 30/07/2019 19:52:55

[IRTParticipant @irt]

I have been waiting for the update to see how it came. I wasn't expecting to see 'on it's side'.

It doesn't look like it is top heavy – how on earth did they manage that?

Mine is coming Thursday so hope I have more luck.

That does look like an assault course. I only have to get it into a single garage straight off the drive. The delivery company said they should be okay doing that.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

The Warco crate that contains the lathe is fairly solid. The stand is separate, so the crate is long and low, and as the lathe is bolted to the base, reasonably balanced. However, someone had decided to pop that onto a standard euro-pallet, which didn't support the length of the crate. Then the boxes with the base were piled on top, at one end – the head-stock end obviously. The result tipped over easily when the delivery guy turned the pallet truck.

He did say it toppled over gently. I was sceptical, but it looks ok so far. Once I can prove to myself the ways are true I'll be happy.

I have a lot of sympathy for those delivery guys, they're not the guys that package up the pallets, but they do end up dealing with the mess when things go wrong.

edit : I should also praise our local postie, who happily helped myself and the driver get the crate the right way up.

Edited By Jed Martens on 30/07/2019 20:57:22

[IRTParticipant @irt]

I know you get burly builders, maybe burly plumbers, but didn't know you got burly software Engineers. I thought hey were all like me and sat at a desk for too long.

Warco did tell me that it will come on a 1m pallet.

Could you tell from looking at the crate that it had toppled?

With both Brian's and your now your's having fell over, perhaps they need to have a rethink on how they pack things.

I will watch for this when the lorry arrives.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

I was being facetious – they sit at a desk all day long like you too

Here's how the crate looked….

[IRTParticipant @irt]

Mine arrived today.

I had more luck. It was the right way up and no sign of damage to the case.

The driver was very good. He put it in the garage. A good job as it is heavier than I expected.

I have no idea how you managed to get it up to your shed.

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

Hi Ian – glad to hear the delivery went smoothly. I managed to get mine up on the stand last night, using the "jack and pack" technique. That wasn't easy either, I had no idea owning a lathe was so challenging. There's still plenty to do before I can make any cuts…

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

Hi Ian .

Congratulations on joining the GH600 Club

Brian

[IRTParticipant @irt]

Cheers Brian.

I am guessing it will be a couple of weeks before I am up and running.

Cleaning off some of the oil while I wait for some steel to arrive to make the base.

That will give me some time to decide how I will lift it.

[IRTParticipant @irt]

Have you tried changing the chuck yet? What a game!

I had top grind an allen key down to fit and I think they had been done up by one of the weight lifters in my earlier link. Then to remove the 3 jaw chuck from the register. I had to put a bar in the chuck to wriggle it free.

It is a very tight fit..

Trying to align the chuck and refit the bolts that hold it in place is challenging.

I do remember you warning me about this Brian.

The mini-lathe solution of studs and nuts was far easier. Is there any reason why I can't use studs and nuts rather than the bolts supplied?

Also, should there be a cover plate on the hole in the side door to keep swarf out of the change wheels?

 

Apart from that, the stand is built but the lathe is still on the floor. Most of the shipping grease has gone and has been replaced with way oil. I have not stripped the slides down – only cleaned what is accessible.

So far I have a good feeling about it, with everything feeling tight and smooth.

Edited By Ian Thomson 2 on 02/08/2019 19:03:46

[BC ProfParticipant @bcprof]

Hi Ian .

Yes there should be a cover over the end of the spindle . It pivots on a cap screw fitted into the small hole .

I don't know what stand version you have but compared with the 280V which had shelves my GH600 stand had two panels filling in between the towers. I removed these, took off the angle iron that supports them , curt each section in half and re fitted them horizontally to form supports for the panels that become shelves . As you may remember from your visit, storage space in my workshop ( AKA Tip) is at a premium.

Brian .

[Jed MartensParticipant @jedmartens56976]

Hi Ian – my unit came with a small yellow round cover for the side door, but it was loose somewhere (can't remember where exactly) and there was no fixing to mount it with. I guess I'll get around to fitting it somehow…

I'm with you regarding changing the chuck. The system with socket-head bolts facing into the head-stock, only accessible via a wee notch, is plain nuts.The tiny stubby hex key provided is even more laughable. Like you I had to modify a standard allen key to fit, and even then it was a struggle. I skinned one of my knuckles in the fight, but to be fair, I do that tackling even the simplest of jobs…

I have replaced the socket-head bolts with standard 25 x 8mm hex-head bolts, allowing a standard spanner to be used. Goodness knows why they didn't do that in the first place. I'm happy to be corrected if anyone can suggest why socket-head bolts are better…

I should also note, I had an anxious moment when the unit wouldn't start after I managed to get it up on the stand. It turns out the safety switch that is actuated by the side door is rather sensitive. A small shim taped to the inside of the door sorted that out by ensuring the switch is fully activated when the door is closed.

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