Warco WM250 Lathe and Warco WM18 Milling machine (Advice please)

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

As you havent received your lathe yet, it might be worth mentioning to Warco that you are considering cancelling it if the issue with the mill isnt resolved to your satisfaction…..

Might sound a bit harsh but you are a paying customer….

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

Hi STK,

As coincidence would have it, I bought the Weiss version of your mill, last Friday.

Fwiw, I thought I would test a piece, to see how it compared with yours.

With no flaffing around setting things up too much I ran a facemill over a block of

aluminium.

The ally block is 70mm x 125mm and the facemill is RDG's 63mm carbide insert.

I ran two cuts along the block cutting on the x axis, bringing the block forward with

the y, for the second cut.

With the dti as shown, I had 0.01mm difference betwixt fore & aft (70mm apart).

 

 

Edited By Daniel on 25/04/2018 15:21:32

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Noted shall see how it goes for now.

They replied basically asked me to clamp a work piece to the table and not the vice and redo test this won’t help I know it’s not the vice but hey ho shall do so.

Shall do it later when wife gets back have kids and a baby to attend to lol.

[DanielParticipant @daniel]

Duh … I forgot the photo

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Daniel show off lol.

Yeah I ain’t been as lucky with mine.

I’m actually going to suggest

Load up a new mill in there van at the same time load up the lathe etc etc and kill two birds with one stone so to speak

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Hi all did what they wanted and as I expected and as I said to them its done the same thing

 

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

 

And I tested it with the verdict and yes the verdict shows 0.001" over each ridge.

No more messing about now tbh I know its faulty I am going to suggest I would like a new mill and could they deliver it at the same time as my lathe when ever that will be I say that because they just dont bother to keep you informed ever or at all tbh.

 

Ah well shell keep this thread updated

 

Edit as a note a few times when there was no load on the motor the RPM seemed to drop a fair bit then spin back up again happend a few times tbh but thinking about that realy hurts my head LOL.

 

Ive emailed them just now suggesting once the lathe stand is in stock to load up the van with the lathe,stand and the last bits of tooling plus a replacement mill and deliver it then collect the faulty one at the same time and kill two birds with one stone so to speak

There is some thing boggling me tbh but I am not going to say it yet I want to see how this pans out.

 

any way thanks again all

Edited By STK2008 on 25/04/2018 19:43:50

Edited By STK2008 on 25/04/2018 19:44:42

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by STK2008 on 25/04/2018 19:28:58:

Hi all did what they wanted and as I expected and as I said to them its done the same thing

[ … ]

And I tested it with the verdict and yes the verdict shows 0.001" over each ridge.

No more messing about now tbh I know its faulty I am going to suggest I would like a new mill …

.

Perhaps they could send you the one that matches the Inspection Certificate that you have. … One can only assume that things got mixed-up in the Dispatch Bay

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 25/04/2018 20:14:49

[Paul KempParticipant @paulkemp46892]

Hmmm,

Been following your saga from the side lines. I think it's quite clear from your videos that the column is pretty well at 90 degrees (square) to the table but the axis of the spindle is not parallel to the column. Evidenced by raising / lowering the head on the column slide ways and your clock indicating roughly true against your square but when the quill is extended your clock not indicating true.

A quick and dirty rough check to confirm would be to wind the table in close to the column and put your square on the table against the column slide ways and look at any gap (use a light behind the square) you should see the amount of light visible between the blade of the square and column pretty well equal right down the blade. Then stick a length of silver steel in the spindle collet (you can rotate it against a clock at the lower end to confirm it is straight) and then put your square on the table resting against the silver steel on the front side and I will wager you will see a noticiable gap at the top or bottom of the blade of the square!

The purists here will gasp at such a rough and ready check but I think it will be perfectly good enough to show you what you need to know / already suspect.

There are plenty of very happy owners of Warco Machines, sounds like you just got the Friday afternoon unit. I hope they put this right without fuss.

Paul.

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Thanks for replying
I to hope this gets sorted it’s took me many many years to get these machines and unfortunately how I managed to finally get the last bit of money for them is upsetting which is also why through out the whole post I was stressing about it etc I’m sure u all understand what I mean .

Any way I shall as said keep u updated.

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Well that’s disappointing.

As ya l
All know I messaged them yesterday and they asked me to test with stock on the bed so I did and showed them I still had same issue and said I’m confident the machine is faulty.
Suggested about delivering lathe and all the other bits I had on back order and to deliver it at the same time to drop off a replacement mill and collect faulty one.

Any way nothing today not a single peep from them today I left me mobile and land line in email.

If I don’t hear from em tomorrow by 12 I’m gonna ring them.

Bit disappointing they never at least emailed me saying we are looking into what we can do.

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Posted by STK2008 on 26/04/2018 16:32:07:

All know I messaged them yesterday.

Suggested about delivering lathe and all the other bits I had on back order and to deliver it at the same time to drop off a replacement mill and collect faulty one.

Any way nothing today not a single peep from them today I left me mobile and land line in email.

If I don't hear from em tomorrow by 12 I'm gonna ring them.

Bit disappointing they never at least emailed me saying we are looking into what we can do.

Well from the experiences I've had with Warco its typical….and for that reason, is why I've never made a serious machine purchase from them. I refuse to deal with suppliers who cant deliver on their promises.

I bought a stand from them for the CY90 bandsaw they supplied me. When it arrived there were no fixings to assemble it with! I couldnt believe it.

Several phone calls before I finally got it resolved…

I hope there's a happy ending to all of this……

Edited By John Rudd on 26/04/2018 17:03:52

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

First of all well done you for getting this far! Previously your measurements might have been faulty; now you've got a solid case.

It will be interesting to see how well Warco handle this; I'm confident they will fix it, I just hope they don't mess you about in the process. One way of doing that is to leave you in the dark while they decide how best to approach the problem. They can do themselves a lot of good by keeping you informed, and a lot of harm by fumbling the ball. We're all on your side.

It's not all bad news – look at how much you've learned! And you're about to become the forum's most up-to-date expert on 'dealing with a faulty new machine'.

Fingers crossed you'll be back on track and fully equipped soon. It's a wonderful hobby once you get going.

Best wishes,

Dave

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Thank you for replying .

Pretty worried it’s not gonna work out tbh spent a huge amount of money that tbh I shouldn’t have but wanted some thing to show for it and not get it and see nothing to show.

I honestly don’t think I’m asking much seeing as I’ve been messed about with the damn lathe now for at least a month.

Load up my last remaining order lathe,stand,tooling and a replacement mill deliver stuff and collect faulty mill at the same time.

I’m not going through the process of hiring yet another engine crane at ?35 a pop just to lift the damn faulty mill of for them to only collect that and then have to hire it yet again to refit replacement mill and lathe.

They do say they will do warrenty at home address for first six months at no cost to the user so…..

Fingers crossed all

Edited By STK2008 on 26/04/2018 17:24:17

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

Out of interest have you paid any of the money to Warco on a credit card? If so you are covered under "section 75" of some credit act.

Jim

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Hi

Nope I placed the order over the phone used my paid via visa debit card.

Tbh I realy don’t want to get a refund as such all I damn well want if I must be honest now is

Machines that are fit for purpose and I’m going to say it now that have been bloody checked.

And it’s not just me that implies that I think from how I read it.

I was on it 20 min trammi g head and bam spotted the issue right away then spent the next damn 3 days questioning my self lol.

I realy don’t want warco to be that company I truly hope they do help seeing as this should have been spotted any way in there “tests before dispatch”.

Sorry just getting a bit angry lol.

[Swarf MakerParticipant @swarfmaker85383]

Reminds me of when I went to collect a mini lathe from the Warco works. Advertised as fully checked as was their wont in those days. When I arrived the lathe was hauled out from the back somewhere, still in its unopened Asian packaging. Has it been checked then says I? "No, not yet" came the reply – "I'll do it now". Tape on box cut, lid lifted, lathe on it's side. Mains lead oiked out, plugged in, switched on speed knob twiddled, chuck rotates. "Yep, all OK – there you go." Was I impressed?

Again, at an exhibition took a mate to look at machines. One of their bigger mills – can't remember which one. Usual touchy feely things that one does and the spindle won't rotate – at all! Speak to man on stand. "Oh is it?" he says and shows no further interest in us.

Another mate ill advisedly bought a combination machine, 300 something or other. Not many weeks in, the milling spindle started rattling, wandering and then seized. Company showed no interest, warranty or otherwise. So we stripped it and replaced the bearings with decent quality ones. You should have seen the apology for bearings that had additionally been running in sand-laden grease.

No comfort to STK2008 I'm afraid and my experiences were a few or more years ago now. One would hope that things have improved?

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Yeah that ain’t comforting at all .

Well I’m just gonna ring them tomorrow.

As I thought nope won’t harras them today hoping they would at least email me saying we shall look into what we can do for you but nothing g that’s poor tbh just to ignore a warrenty issue but shall see what they say tomorrow if they even answer lol.

They must have a person snooping around d on these forums wod be silly not to tbh come on who is I lol

Edited By STK2008 on 26/04/2018 22:57:24

Also they must know people like us are going to give it a one once over to at least make sure it’s some what fit for purpose so would do every thing to insure it’s not faulty I know I’m sounding like they did not check it over but I’m not hearing nor experiencing much different .

Edited By STK2008 on 26/04/2018 23:05:12

[Martin Hamilton 1Participant @martinhamilton1]

You have to question the accuracy certificate you get with all these Chinese machines, as so many have found out that some machines need practically rebuilding & resetting up to get them accurate. When I asked the supplier ( I think this was Warco ) about these so called accuracy certificates they said the certificate was only valid on the day the machine was inspected back at the factory in China. Some of these machines can be quite old by the time you purchase from the UK suppliers.

[Martin Hamilton 1Participant @martinhamilton1]

It does make you wonder when some of these UK suppliers say inspected by our own expert staff prior to delivery, as I have thought they simply plug the machine in & make sure it spins.

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Well gonna ring them today hopefully I get an answer lol.
Just gutted now it’s clearly faulty I’ve heard good things about warco hence why I went to them.

Edited By STK2008 on 27/04/2018 08:06:22

[jaCK HobsonParticipant @jackhobson50760]

Isn't there any way to adjust the WM18 so you can get the quill perpendicular? Shims under the front of the column? Seem odd this can't be adjusted out.

Would you expect to be able to adjust the z height of the head during milling operations without having to re-register x-y? If not, how important is it that the quill is in line with the column, so long as the quill is perpendicular?

I don't know none of this. I don't have a mill I was dreaming of a WM18 though after I saw the size of it at Warco's last open day.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

hence why I went to them and not …

I do hope you are not casting aspersions on these other companies….

I, for one, would be very annoyed with that and may well be looking for an unreserved apology, if my company was unjustifiably accused of supplying out-of-spec machines and ignoring customer warranty issues.

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

Yep your correct I did not mean for it to sound like that but yes it could have been read like this so I have corrected that .

Thank you for pointing that out.

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

As for shimming possibly but I’m not touching it as that might void warrenty etc.

It says on there Web site machines are ready to go unpack mount on stand etc and go.

Offcourse people probably double check them I know spending this kind of money I would well did and hence found the issue right away.

I’m sure warco will sort this out I do but some times the lack of communication is worrying.

[STK2008Participant @stk2008]

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX UPDATE ON WARRENTY XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

OK

just rang and from what I was told I am very very happy

Warco have agreed to replace the mill.

I said about loading up there van with the remaing items i have on back order and a replacement mill I also aired my concern about the issue I had getting it into my workshop etc.

 

They have said

 

We will load up our van with all the items remaning plus replacement mill and we will also send out two chaps with all equipment reqiured to install and remove machines.

 

There going to get back to me but looks like Warco so far will be coming out a winner in my books.

 

Such a relief to hear this.

Shall keep you all posted on outcome but so far I am happy chappy now.

 

 

Edited By STK2008 on 27/04/2018 09:07:53

[Author]

Posts