Warco wm-14

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Yet another which milling maxing

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Hi

i have my lathe which I use quite a lot for all sorts of job, now I am after a milling machine.

My workshop is not huge 8' x 8' so don't have the room for a second hand Bridgeport so was thinking bout somit the size/price of the wm-14.  Would the wm-16 be a better choice, could prob stretch to that

i have about £1000 to spend but within that budget will need tools etc.

So what do you think, other options or suggestion

Edited By petro1head on 22/03/2013 18:57:29

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Hi,

If WM-14 and WM-16 are your choices my vote would go to the WM-16. You get a larger/heavier milling machine with a larger milling table. A heavier machine can handle heavier cuts and larger work pieces. Yes you will need tools, but you can make some of them yourself (have a look at Harold Hall's website for ideas). You can also buy tools over time as you need them.

Regards

Thor

[Mark P.Participant @markp]

I've had a WM16 mill for a few years and am on the whole very pleased with it.It does all that I ask of it without complaint.

Mark P.

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

I have a WM 14 with which I am generally quite happy bar one thing……the table is a bit small. If I could go back in time I would have gone for the WM16.

Mick

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Cheers for the replys

been looking on line and there seems be other people selling these milling machines, just different colour schemes, on company has the same colour just different name tag, I assume this is because they all come from the same supplier in China. Just one example here – http://toolco.co.uk/pages/bakery/vm30-variable-speed-milling-machine-20.php although cheaper (I know I will need to add delivery)

So which company will give me the best customer service, Warco, Chester, Axminster, ARC, Toolco etcbetc

Edited By John Stevenson on 23/03/2013 01:03:06

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

By the way you have read the WM14 thread of only last week?

Edited By John Stevenson on 23/03/2013 01:03:53

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

No re the WM14 thread, will have a look, thanks

Edited By John Stevenson on 23/03/2013 01:04:31

[SpringbokParticipant @springbok]

No connection but Kietan at Arc Eurotrade seems to come out best on this forum.

Bob

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Posted by Springbok on 23/03/2013 05:22:20:

No connection but Kietan at Arc Eurotrade seems to come out best on this forum.

Bob

Kietan? can't see that make on their website

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Ketan is the owner of Arc Euro Trade and a great bloke to deal with, However, the nearest mill to the ones you have been looking at, (the seig X3)  that Ketan sells is quite a bit more expensive, but it's the old story of "you get what you pay for"

Cheers Derek.

Edited By magpie on 23/03/2013 08:58:26

[MetalhackerParticipant @metalhacker]

I have an sX3 from Arc. Good machine and great after sales service. in my experience Warco lose interest as soon as they have your money. What about their SX2? Looks good on paper at least and eliminates all the problems of the standard X2.

checking out the options is part of the fun of buying a new machine, so look long before you buy. Amadeal may be worth researching too.

BW

Andries

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Posted by magpie on 23/03/2013 08:54:00:

Ketan is the owner of Arc Euro Trade and a great bloke to deal with, However, the nearest mill to the ones you have been looking at, (the seig X3) that Ketan sells is quite a bit more expensive, but it's the old story of "you get what you pay for"

Cheers Derek.

Edited By magpie on 23/03/2013 08:58:26

Well the amadeal one, ama16v is the same price as the warco.

i having racked my brains for the layout of my shed, I think the wm-16 may be a tad too big

so, next question, what should I buy when I get it, ie tools vices etc etc

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Well, in addition to some milling cutters you will need a collet chuck – ER-20 or ER-25 or something similar. Something to clamp your vice or work to the table will get you going.
I made both T-nuts, studs, clamps and a vice myself. Later I bought a "screwless vice". A boring head and a rotary table "is nice to have" but you can do a lot of work without them.

Thor

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Note that there is some oddities about numbering. The Warco 14 is the Amadeal 16, the Warco 16 looks like an Amadeal 25 etc.

See other threads about accessories and my comments about not getting any (almost) to start with. At least as it is a cold wet weekend you can veg out reading half the threads on this forum.

[DuncParticipant @dunc]

Its bigger brother – WM18 – was reviewed in MEW 153 (Aug 2009) by David Fenner.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Posted by Bazyle on 23/03/2013 12:54:22:

Note that there is some oddities about numbering. The Warco 14 is the Amadeal 16, the Warco 16 looks like an Amadeal 25 etc.

Sales tactic to make you think you are getting more for your money.

Wary pits for the beginner to fall in.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Hi Petro1head

I have the WM16 which I bought at last years Harrogate exhib' along with a WM250V-F lathe. My workspace is a converted single garage 8' X 17' & I have placed the lathe at one end & the mill down one side with benches/worktop down t'other. If I put the two machines alongside ea.other I would be looking at .. 1.43 mtrs (56.3 " working space (inc. allowing for mill table travel distance). In your set up even if you put an extra 12" (300mm) between machines you could still get both along one 8' wall, there again depends on what lathe you have..Myford/Boxford/Harrison/Atlas/Colchester? .. have you tried a scale drawing with cardboard cut outs to move around to see how to best fit your equip't..?

My WM16 is the equiv' of Amadeals 25, Chester Champion 20v .. (usual disclaimers) all have virtually same specs, the only difference is in price. Chesters are showing a reasonable 'sale' price (£ 816 as at today, inc VAT) but you have to add del on top, I got delivery inc' plus stands, you will need the basics..milling vice, clamping system(unless you can make your own), some milling cutters, collet set ( I have a ER25 set) basic measuring equip't (inside/outside mic's, rules, protractor etc).

I have built up my bits 'n' bobs over the past year (rot' table, digital height gauge, digital depth gauge, digi vernier etc) as luckily I could manage to do so but am now retired so I am looking at.. 'do I really need it now' .. can I make it? I am still looking at a couple of items that I would 'like to have' but it's going to take that bit longer to get them . I hope to be going to Harrogate this year so maybe the 'Chancellor of the Exchequer' will allow some 'budgetary easing' .

As for customer service, I have found that the main dealers are much of a muchness, mind you I do get most of my stuff from Arc Euro/ Chronos, but have bought items from Warco/Chester/Clarke (usual disclaimer ), although in the same context I have returned a couple of items to ArcEuro for exchange without any hassle, (thanks Ketan) same applied to Chronos.

So there you have my experiences & point of view, you can only work within your budget & what space you have.

Happy hunting

George

Edited By mechman48 on 23/03/2013 16:15:04

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Thanks for that George I would prefer to have the larger machine as I always with you got the next size up A few on here seem to own the bigger Mill, WM-16 or Champion 20V. I have taken some photos and drawn a rough sketch for you to have a look at. I suppose you need enough room to be able to stand at the machine and operate it, max height, max table travel left and right. Have a look and see what you think. Also could you tell me how much space your need as you already have the machine. MODS what does my return key not work in the reply box, I am using IE10, could it be that??

Edit – Works fine with firefox so must be IE10, also the photo insert is flakey with IE10

 

Edited By petro1head on 23/03/2013 18:23:32

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Looks like you have enough room next to your Myford to put another bench (you can never have enough work / storage area) that would take a WM16..or similar, or you could put it on the bench next to the door (move the vice?). Take a look at my album, pic #6, you'll see my basic set up during the conversion, If you like I could play around & rearrange your drawing with a few ideas & send a couple of sketches via message member /e-mail?

George

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Bloody hell I could get two Blidgeports in there.

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Nooooooo, I have just spent the last 2 days rearranging the shed. The lathe was on the bench but on the wall that's now free and the vice was on the end of that,

When I moved the lathe To the window i had to cut down the work top to fit. So I have just built that bench an strengthened it for the vice. It's staying put now

The only place for a mill in the space left. By all means havea ply about tho

i will pm my email addy

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Just looked at your photos, is that the warco wm-16

 

mod, I would like to see you get them in, then wait as the fell thro the wood floor

Edited By petro1head on 23/03/2013 19:20:24

[SteambuffParticipant @steambuff]

I have found that I have to go to Compatability Mode for the 'Return' key to work with IE10. (Win 7 – 64bit)

Dave

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Posted by Steambuff on 23/03/2013 19:25:54:

I have found that I have to go to Compatability Mode for the 'Return' key to work with IE10. (Win 7 – 64bit)

Dave

Are right, thanks

So can someone who has the warco wm-16 or equivalent let me know what space I will need based on table max position left and right and max height required, thanks

Edited By petro1head on 24/03/2013 10:15:26

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