Warco WM150

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

Hi all.

As the potential purchaser of one of the various breeds of mini lathe, which may be just a trifle too big for my current available space, are there any opinions out there on the 'new' Warco WM 150 as compared to a 'standard' mini lathe etc?

Anyone got one?

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

I dont see the WM150 as a current offering on Warco's site…..?

[BizibilderParticipant @bizibilder]

Not got one but it appears to be very much built down to a price. ie lacking steadies etc (are they even available?) also no half nuts on the lesdscrew as far as i can tell so lots of "knob twiddling" to move the saddle. Both top and cross slides seem inadequately small. Only No 1 Morse head and tailstock bores. The spindle is bored through 11mm (less than half an inch).

Sorry to sound so negative but for a few more pounds you can get a much better and more user-friendly machine with all the bits you need. Is space really the issue? The shorter "between centers" mini lathes are only about 100mm longer than the WM 150.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

As Warco say it's a 'budget' machine. It's cheaper than a mini-lathe but as said the lack of half nuts mean rapid saddle moves mean a lot of handle winding or doing them under power.

It also has a very basic top slide, a mini-lathe is probably a better bet for you if you can fit it in.

You probably looked at the 350/400mm mini-lathes.

An SC2 300 type mini lathe (12" between centres) is only 40mm longer than the WM150.

There are still 10" between centres mini-lathes out there if you search really hard, Warco used to sell them until recently. They are cramped once you put a long drill in the tailstock but would be a good solution if you are really short of space. It might be worth you contacting them to see if they still have one 'round the back'.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

This is the WM 150 fort those that need to go to specsavers. Looks to be quite a bit smaller than a mini lathe more along the lines of Brian John's Optimum machine

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Posted by JasonB on 15/10/2017 13:12:25:

This is the WM 150 fort those that need to go to specsavers. Looks to be quite a bit smaller than a mini lathe more along the lines of Brian John's Optimum machine

Grrrr…..lol…yeah I was thinking it was a milling machine for some strange reason….Looks a bit like the Sieg C0?

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by John Rudd on 15/10/2017 15:54:48

..Looks a bit like the Sieg C0?

 

Not much like the one languishing in in the corner of my shed. (Imho).

 

Edited By V8Eng on 15/10/2017 17:44:53

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As I said looks like the Optimum TU 1503V that Brian had. Weiss type machines like Warco except for the paint colour.

J

 

PS the C0 looks like a copy of a Unimat3

Edited By JasonB on 15/10/2017 17:58:39

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

Posted by JasonB on 15/10/2017 17:57:33:

PS the C0 looks like a copy of a Unimat3

Edited By JasonB on 15/10/2017 17:58:39

Yes there are a lot of similarities.

The C0 has proved quite handy during my trials and tribulations over sensibly sized workshop space.

Edited By V8Eng on 15/10/2017 19:07:00

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

Thank you chaps for your replies, I'm very grateful. At the moment I have a garage and a hobby room, (converted attic with proper stairs) but the next house move might be quite a bit smaller, so I'm thinking ahead. I've always loved steam, and until now I've made do with reading about stationary steam engines and locomotives, and the odd commercially produced engine, (Mamod etc) but I have saved up and I'm considering my first decent lathe. I have a lovely little 'Adept' in great condition, (it must have had very little use indeed) and it is OK for small bits, but after reading some fantastic old ME magazines from 1945 – 1947 and in particular the beautifully written articles by LBSC, has made me carefully consider what to buy. I'd love a Myford, but they are out of my budget. I have considered the Sherline and Peatol, but I'm wondering how much lathe I can get for my money. The Sherline in particular seems capable of work that belies it's small size. Taking Myford out of the equation it seems to be a choice between 'Small and new, or big and old/worn, or somewhere in the middle and Chinese. Whatever I buy it will have to last a good long time. The recent article in MEW about the chap with his 60 year old Zyto was right up my alley. I love the make do and mend ethos. Something like that would be ideal if I could negate the risk of a worn out machine… I have a pocket full of cash and but I'm taking my time in deciding how to spend it. There's no rush.

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

Would anyone care to make some suggestions as to what machine may be suitable? Budget is £700 maximum for the lathe, and I expect to set aside regular money for tooling. It really needs to be portable, or manageable for two people but no bigger. Any help much appreciated. If buying new I would have no problem waiting for a show if the right manufacturer was to have a sales stand.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Posted by Stewart Mason on 16/10/2017 17:38:04:

… It really needs to be portable, or manageable for two people but no bigger. …

My son carried his Warco mini-lathe upstairs on his own, but calling it "portable" is probably going a bit far, especially as the new "super" model is 2" longer and has a larger chuck. It is a bit cramped, and I would advise if you get one you try to arrange enough space to slide the tailstock off when it isn't needed – your knuckles will thank you. On the headstock end, don't forget that the gear cover needs about 4" clearance to unscrew and slide off as well.

Brian

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

I doubt if you will find that many new machines for that price these days – I have a WM180 + that is already 25% above your budget (also I couldn’t easily move it on my own) – I also have a small Perris (precursor to today’s Cowell) that is a little bigger than your adept but better spec’d + probably more capable of accurate small scale work – this is relatively easy for one person to handle but today’s Cowell is near 3 times your budget; The WM150 looks much closer to a reasonable size machine though without knowing what you intend to build difficult to say if would suit you, though it could help you decide on what you really want from a 2nd machine! – obvious several limitations on size + probably rigidity (eg MT1 fixings though these are more readily available than the MT0 used by Cowell ) – however unless you have a friend who has the knowledge to evaluate a 2nd hand machine you may well find you have bought something little better than scrap with no comeback unlike buying new – why either visit Warco or try one at one of the exhibitions they show – their machine is currently on offer well within your budget – its weight should make it relatively portable by a single person. The lowest priced Clarke CL300M(from Machine Mart) just about falls in your budget)

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I was going to make the same point as Brian. I think a mini-lathe from Warco, ArcEuroTrade or one of the other suppliers will do what you want. Get one with a brushless motor if you can.

A minilathe is a bit too heavy for me to lift from floor level on to a bench. Although I've always been a weakling I could have done it in my mid 50's but not now. No problem moving one if you have help, it's an easy two person lift. The lathe has rubber feet and will sit on a table; you don't have to bolt it down, so transportable rather than portable.

Depends of course how fit you are: I think Infantrymen routinely march 20 miles carrying rather more weight than a mini-lathe. In their position I'd be begging an officer to put me out of my misery by shooting me!

Dave

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Posted by Stewart Mason on 16/10/2017 17:38:04:

. If buying new I would have no problem waiting for a show if the right manufacturer was to have a sales stand.

They don't seem to discount at shows any more, some put the prices up to cover the cost of being there. However Warco and perhaps others do have open days if you are near enough, and Warco also sometimes have (their own) machines they have part exchanged when someone upgrades.

[V8EngParticipant @v8eng]

I think some of the suppliers have stands at the Midlands ME Exhibition this week (Thurs to Sun).

Link to the Exhibitor list:-

**LINK**

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I would agree with S.O.D. you do sound like the archetypal mini-lathe owner!

I can lift my mini lathe on and off the bench on my own without trouble (mid 50's hmm…).

Can I fault it? I wouldn't be doing what I do now if I hadn't bought it! Others will have to judge the quality of what I've done with it…

Neil

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

I managed to manually shuffle my newly acquired Tom Senior horizontal mill round the garage floor and get it in position single handed last week…………I am 63, and the TS is claimed at 432 kg

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

Crikey, 432 kg. The safety elves would have a fit. At work anything over 25 kg has to be a 2 man lift. (Fire brigade, I work in the tech dept.). It's looking increasingly like some form of mini lathe at the moment. Prices seem to be anywhere from £400 delivered up to over £700. Still, anything has to be a step up from the Adept right? Not that I'm knocking it, I love the little thing. Just wish I had a full suite of accessories!

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Oh Dear!

Anything over 25 Kg needs two men? (presumably under 75 also)

Wish I'd known that when lifting my C3 mini lathe in and out of the car to exhibit at local Shows! (And the Worden cutter grinder and the 12" Bending Rolls)

And as for lifting a 4 1/2" bandsaw, and swinging it round?

Sounds like the same theory as that for Bumble Bee flying, but lacking the bit about common sense.

Howard

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

Yes, not a lot of it makes sense, it's to protect the weakest. It goes against millions of years of evolution where they just die.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

David did not say he lifted it – he 'shuffled' it. Once a crow bar can gain purchase, the machine can easily be lifted sufficiently to get rollers under, or manouvre it on to a pallet. Levers and fulcrums can make moving a much heavier machine, than half a tonne, seem easy compared to lifting something up to bench height.

[Stewart MasonParticipant @stewartmason95803]

Very true. I think I have decided against a Chinese machine anyway. I don't like the thought of a working machine with an expired control board (eventually). I'd rather buy something without the speed control, even if it has to be older or smaller. It's a personal thing. I want something to last me 60 years, like the chap in ME with his Zyto.

It's a shame they don't produce something without the built in electrical gubbins. It seems to be what people want and perhaps it's a missing niche? Something like an old english BGSC lathe at Chinese prices, with the quality of the more recent 'dealer fettled' machines. It's the electronics that puts me off, and perhaps others too. If they produced a kind of mini lathe, but took away the electronics and instead concentrated more on the quality, it would be ideal. Sell it without a motor and allow people to specify the motor and pulleys etc that they want to use. Keep it simple. Thinking out loud.

Very appreciative of the advice and comments.

[VicParticipant @vic]

I’m not sure some folks do want electronic speed control, it’s just cheaper than making a gearbox.

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