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Axi AT406WL (1628vs) or the Twister FU180.
Pierre
Fellow
It looks like the twister comes with legs and the axi doesn't; is that the case? in which case surely the one with legs wins since they are both about the same spec.
There you have it....I thought as much.... Pierre is a leg man
Nice conundrum to have....if both lathe's are a similar spec I would start looking at support and customer services..... I use a rebadged Chinese lathe from Axi, because I know I can get spares!
Nice conundrum to have....if both lathe's are a similar spec I would start looking at support and customer services..... I use a rebadged Chinese lathe from Axi, because I know I can get spares!
I have the 1628 and is a great machine, that said if the Vicmarc does look a nice machine and is supported well by dealers in the UK now I understand.
Simon Hope has used Vicmarc machines for a while at his shows and is now a UK distributor.
Maybe doesn't help your decisions but you could always ask him what supoort, assesories and spares are like in the UK.
Never had a problem with mine, however it hasn't done much big stuff for a couple of years now as unable to manage and hold the tools when turning bowls and the like.
I had put it up for sale at one point, I may be putting it up again if you are interested in 2nd hand one.
PM me if you are.
Simon Hope has used Vicmarc machines for a while at his shows and is now a UK distributor.
Maybe doesn't help your decisions but you could always ask him what supoort, assesories and spares are like in the UK.
Never had a problem with mine, however it hasn't done much big stuff for a couple of years now as unable to manage and hold the tools when turning bowls and the like.
I had put it up for sale at one point, I may be putting it up again if you are interested in 2nd hand one.
PM me if you are.
geordie0928
Graduate Member
his is what some one put up on an other site I just happened to come across,
Here are some questions that might make you want to spend less..
- Do you need 2hp
- Do you need a rotating headstock (or a sliding one)
- Do you want a different length warranty (including possibly longer)
- Are you really going to use the capacity of the 1628 or could you accept less diameter for the long term
- Do you need Axminster quality or would you be ok with lower (or possibly higher)
- Is it going to be too heavy to move around
Here are some questions that might make you want to spend more
- would you like a longer guarantee
- would you like higher quality components
- would you like more turning capacity
- would you prefer a fixed headstock or just a sliding headstock
- would you prefer a more flexible working height
- would you like a substantially heavier machine
- would you like stainless steel bedways
- would you like a tailstock tilt away or equivalent
- do you mind a machine made in China
Maybe some good advice.
Here are some questions that might make you want to spend less..
- Do you need 2hp
- Do you need a rotating headstock (or a sliding one)
- Do you want a different length warranty (including possibly longer)
- Are you really going to use the capacity of the 1628 or could you accept less diameter for the long term
- Do you need Axminster quality or would you be ok with lower (or possibly higher)
- Is it going to be too heavy to move around
Here are some questions that might make you want to spend more
- would you like a longer guarantee
- would you like higher quality components
- would you like more turning capacity
- would you prefer a fixed headstock or just a sliding headstock
- would you prefer a more flexible working height
- would you like a substantially heavier machine
- would you like stainless steel bedways
- would you like a tailstock tilt away or equivalent
- do you mind a machine made in China
Maybe some good advice.
Pierre
Fellow
Ultimately it comes down to one thing in the end no matter what the lathe is and so long as it will take the accessories that you intend to put on it. It is absolutely essential that the drive point meets the counterpoint precisely, don't accept a .5 mm off centre on the points with the salesman saying 'that's within tolerance sir' ; you will regret it later, so I recommend that you check the lathe you are going to buy with that in mind, I had to send a lathe back to Axminster which had that problem among other problems (like the transporter trying to break it.) There are ways of twisting a bed to make this work with small differences but any twisting has an impact elsewhere especially with a lathe where the head stock is designed to slide up and down the bed as well.
Here is the example:
Here is the example:
You are correct Pierre . When I first came over to the UK a very well known company here marketed there products as made in the UK so that's where I bought from, what a mistake twice I had major problems and in the end I decided not to give the green and yellow livery a space in my workshop.
I do have a lathe from Axminster ,made in Taiwan, but Axminster don't hide that fact not a bad little lathe.
I want a larger lathe and have been researching all that's available (except the green and yellow livery not interested) within my budget.
Two lathes on the short list the Twister FU 180 and the Axminster AT406WL. But there's another possibility and that's to wait for about 2 months and I am sure there will be a fair few hardly used ones becoming available.
I must say that I am leaning towards the FU 180 at this stage.
I do have a lathe from Axminster ,made in Taiwan, but Axminster don't hide that fact not a bad little lathe.
I want a larger lathe and have been researching all that's available (except the green and yellow livery not interested) within my budget.
Two lathes on the short list the Twister FU 180 and the Axminster AT406WL. But there's another possibility and that's to wait for about 2 months and I am sure there will be a fair few hardly used ones becoming available.
I must say that I am leaning towards the FU 180 at this stage.
wm460
Grand Master
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- Mar 16, 2013
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Keep your eye out for a Vicmarc, seen a few for sale in the UK.
I had a good look at the the range Simon Hope sells at the Exeter show and was impressed by the quality. I particularly liked the FU-230. Stratos FU-230 Woodturning Lathe | Lathes & chucks | HOPE woodturning As far as alignment of the head and tailstock are concerned this should be perfect straight out of the box on a fixed head lathe like my AT1416VS and it is. If you have a swivelling head model then all bets are off unless the lathe comes with or you buy an alignment tool. Axminster Lathe Alignment Centre 2MT - Woodturning Lathe Accessories - Lathe Accessories - Machinery Accessories - Accessories | Axminster Tools & Machinery
I also like the look of the OneWay lathes from Canada and the American Powermatic but I don’t have the space.
I also like the look of the OneWay lathes from Canada and the American Powermatic but I don’t have the space.
Pierre
Fellow
Are you sure? on the Axminster site it is £1850 bench mounted and on Simon's site its is Twister FU-180 Woodturning Lathe with legs £1750 at only .4 kw between the 2 ie .5 HP the cheaper one seems to be the better option!! I know that power is important and I use a 3.5 HP Axminster machine which now works as it should (except the indexing); but its only really important if you are going to make large bowls etc
£1850 includes the legstand. The lathes bench mounted are very similar price wise. The Axminster is slightly larger but it lacks the ability to mount the bed extension at 90 degrees to the bed on the leg making it more versatile in my opinion.
My calculations the twister will be about £100 less but there's still transport costs to factor in.
I have seen the bigger FU 230 in action and was really impressed. This is only my opinion but I believe the German company may fettle each and every lathe to their standard and that could be why they claim to be manufactured in Germany. It's possible that only the castings come from Taiwan and the rest in Germany.......?
The lathes seemed to be better finished than the ones from Axminster again my opinion.
My calculations the twister will be about £100 less but there's still transport costs to factor in.
I have seen the bigger FU 230 in action and was really impressed. This is only my opinion but I believe the German company may fettle each and every lathe to their standard and that could be why they claim to be manufactured in Germany. It's possible that only the castings come from Taiwan and the rest in Germany.......?
The lathes seemed to be better finished than the ones from Axminster again my opinion.
Pierre
Fellow
Well done I hope it turns out well for you (pun intended) 
I'm jealous I fancy a new toy. 
I'm jealous I fancy a new toy.