Warco wm-14

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

You can always make small things on a big machine, but bigger things on a small machine become more difficult. Wthin reason buy the biggest machine you can afford and that will fit in the workshop.

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Spoke to warco re the wm16 and we got to talking about the price, I mentioned the Chester tools v20 and that it was a fair bit cheaper. The rep once was that warco use American circuit board and trot the usual chineese ones, any view on that statement?

There is alo a fv-320t for sale in my area, anyone now these machines?

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

I have had a Chester Champion 20V for over two years now and had NO trouble at all.

Cheers Derek.

P.S. See fibre optic clock thread to see what i use it for.

Edited By magpie on 25/03/2013 19:02:40

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Posted by magpie on 25/03/2013 19:00:03:

I have had a Chester Champion 20V for over two years now and had NO trouble at all.

Cheers Derek.

P.S. See fibre optic clock thread to see what i use it for.

Edited By magpie on 25/03/2013 19:02:40

So your suggesting they are just saying that to justify the extra cost?

Looked at your photos what are you using for the stand

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

The stand is home made, as is the workbench ,both made from scrap (we have a very good local scrapyard). I was not "suggesting" anything, i have no idea why the warco mill is more expensive, there could be very many reasons. I chose the Chester item not just on price, but also on the recomendation of a friend who has dealt with Chester UK for many years..Plus the company is only 25 miles away so if i do ever have any problems it should be easy to sort them out.

Cheers Derek.

P.S. it would seem you like putting words into peoples mouths, never a good idea on this site.

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Posted by magpie on 25/03/2013 22:32:28:

P.S. it would seem you like putting words into peoples mouths, never a good idea on this site.

Cheers for the reply

In the case of above, that was not my intension, I was just trying to get clarification

[SteveWParticipant @stevew54046]

If you can, visit the Warco(Chester) showroom. I found they were very helpful when I bought my lathe and I took all the measurements from an actual machine. This allowed me to estimate the best height for a bench and access requirements so when the lathe came I was able to 'put it to bed' straight away.

SteveW

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

I recall a thread somewhere that highlighted a problem with the Warco mill. it would seem that should you wish to tilt the head at anytime there is a danger of slicing the mains cable in half. It may well be that the problem has been sorted, but i think folk should be made aware of this.

Cheers Derek.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi petro1head,
I noticed this morning that there is a WM16 for sale on Ebay (In the UK). I don't know if it is in the right country for you as you do not give any profile information.

Les.

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Well spotted and thanks, its in London

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

Looking at the one on Ebay, i would think the problem with the mains cable is still there, so i hope you don't need to tilt the head.

Cheers Derek.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Update:

Have seen the machine on e-bay, with it being on auction it may well end up near the 'new' price at close of play ?

Have taken a couple of pics of my machine for clarification re measurements, in pic 1 I have set up the table at the farthest end of travel to left, then set up squares from spindle centre to end of tee slot, this gives me a workable distance of 530 mm, as I thought the other day .

another shot of the set up:

this pic shows tape showing approx 530 mm from end of tee slot to spindle centre:

pic 4 shows that from one end of tee slott to other gives me approx 620 mm of work area / length

As for the cable trapping if the head is swung I too recall seeing a write up on this but IIRC it was on another make of machine (could be wrong!). I have trammed my machine head & fixed locking plates to prevent any lateral movement, when I have needed to cut any angular work I used my tilting vice so have had no need to tilt machine head, can't show pic as my desktop has gone t***s up & am having to use laptop which doesn't have all my pics on it ( can show when get desktop back if anyone is curious ).

So Petro1head if this doesn't answer your question then I am at a loss what will! all I can suggest ( advise only!) is you stick with the WM 14 option or find a smaller machine ..X2? maybe (usual disclaimer..not promoting any in particular).

Cheers, have a nice day

George.

ps it seem as though some words are hyperlinked in final post ..can't seem to get rid of them..anyone have solution?

Edited By mechman48 on 26/03/2013 18:02:20

Edited By mechman48 on 26/03/2013 18:07:36

[magpieParticipant @magpie]

George, I never tilt the head on my mill, well locked at 90 deg to table, and like yourself i use a tilting vice if need be. RE the cable problem, i am fairly sure it was a Warco mill that had the problem. because the control box is fixed to the head and the cable exits at the rear, when the head is rotated there is a danger of slicing through the cable. Perhaps someone else who remembers the artical can enlighten us !!!!! As i said in a previous post, i just think it is somthing that anyone new to the hobby should be aware of. We don't need anyone going BANG before they get started.

Cheers Derek.

P.S. Looks like your mill will NOT have the problem.

Edited By magpie on 26/03/2013 18:24:11

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Cheers for all the replies guys

 

I ended up finding an Emco fb2 copy local to me that included quite a few tools etc.

 

My reasoning for getting this was cost and needed to find out how much I will use a mill. My thoughts were better to not to spend the best part of £1300 ( I always hankered after the wm16) until I was sure so got this and if I find I enjoy using a mill and have a use for it can always upgrade at a later date

 

I have started another thread

 

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=81575&p=2#1402316

Long link edited

Edited By John Stevenson on 29/03/2013 22:47:47

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