New lathe help

[Darth Davros]

Hey folks I am in need of your collective wisdom yet again. My old POS lathe – a Draper WTL 30 – has finally given up the ghost. I was able to use my Fathers Axminster for a while but the unspeakable so and so has need of its return! So I need a new lathe, my absolute hard limit is £300ish.
I have done a lot of reading about all the offerings below my price range from the usual suspects (Scheppach, SIP, Clarke, Charnwood & Draper) hell I could go to machinemart and pick up a Clarke for £180 and put the rest of my budget towards other tools! But I can’t seem to get away from all the bad reviews for these machines; apparently they are all just rebadged Chinese clones.
There is one offering from Record Power, the DML305, that I can only find glowing reviews of. It is at the top of my budget but I can get one locally from Norfolk Saw Service, I could actually go see it in the flesh first, if I so wished.
So after all that waffle I am looking for your kind help, chaps & chappettes, to talk me out of the Record Power DML305.

Cheers

 

[Walter]

The DML305 is an excellent lathe and in a different class to any of the others you have mentioned most of which are better suited for use as a boat anchor than as a lathe. The only minor negative is that it does not have electronic variable speed, to change speeds you need to move the belt from one set of pulleys to another.

 

[21William]

The DML305 is an excellent lathe and in a different class to any of the others you have mentioned most of which are better suited for use as a boat anchor than as a lathe. The only minor negative is that it does not have electronic variable speed, to change speeds you need to move the belt from one set of pulleys to another.

Yes, that’s about right. It’s a good little lathe for the money.

 

[mattkemp]

depending on how desperate you are for a lathe the newark show is coming up in march which isnt to bad a run there and they do have deals up there but not sure how good they are as i didnt really paid that much attention last year

matt

 

[yorkshireman]

Go for the record Martin, changing speed isn’t the end of the world and the record back up and warranty is excellent

 

[Penpal]

You can always fit variable speed control after,they are so cheap now. I have done this for my two Vicmarcs and its way out of my expertise in the programming. I did this with two different units over the phone to the sellers. Years without many years with,mostly turn flat out.

Peter.

 

[Bigblackdog]

You can always fit variable speed control after,they are so cheap now. I have done this for my two Vicmarcs and its way out of my expertise in the programming. I did this with two different units over the phone to the sellers. Years without many years with,mostly turn flat out.

Peter.

I understand that this is not so simple in the UK. I will happily be corrected, but when I have looked at my 240v jet mini, I have never found a way of doing it.

 

[Penpal]

To fit your own variable speed to your lathe you should be able to remove your motor, mount a suitable three phase motor under the lathe with a new drive belt to suit and Bobs your uncle. The Variable speed unit then runs the motor with a small Control,in my case I chose on the bench and behind for the motor see pics. OK the motor is total overkill. The pic with the other VL lathe was at hand. This lathe enables a rear drive to the motor and also directly under the head stock. The later VL150 I fitted the Variable speed unit in its own box C/W speed control knob that is quite small.

Peter.

 

[silver]

Have you looked on the secondhand market? Many a good used path out there.

The DML305 is an excellent lathe and in a different class to any of the others you have mentioned most of which are better suited for use as a boat anchor than as a lathe. The only minor negative is that it does not have electronic variable speed, to change speeds you need to move the belt from one set of pulleys to another.

I agree with Walter, TBH the speed control is a yours"nice to have" and a development that has changed the Woodturnings work. Having said that manual speed change was and still is for many a lathe and they don't have any problems. Yes a little more thought goes in to it but believe it or not you can still spin a piece of wood up and turn it.

You can always fit variable speed control after,they are so cheap now.

Peter.

Sorry Peter I don't agree with your statement above.. if you look at Martins budget that wouldn't buy a speed controller in the UK for conversion, let alone buy himself a lathe.

The other issues here is some of the lathes with motors that for under the bed need special motors or fittings, so that again puts blockers in the way or costs more to have conversions. (TBH those type of lathes are better used as an anchor anyway)

The reference to "cheap" is really only in reference to the individuals pocket and what they can afford. What seems cheap to one may cost the earth to others.

The most cost effective way to buy a variable speed later is to buy it new and built in.

 

[wm460]

I understand that this is not so simple in the UK. I will happily be corrected, but when I have looked at my 240v jet mini, I have never found a way of doing it.

This might be advailable in Uk?

Variable Speed Midi Lathe Conversion Kit: for Turncrafter , Jet and Delta Lathes at Penn State Industries

 

[Walter]

That particular unit is 120v for US mains power Mark. Mains voltage in the UK is 240v

I am not aware of any similar converters available in the UK. If there were I am sure I would have heard of them because many people would like a relatively cheap way to convert to VS. The usual route to conversion in the UK is a three phase motor and inverter which, as Eamonn says, would cost more than the lathe.

 

[Phil Dart]

Pen turning generally only involves two speeds. Tool cutting/applying polish/buffing speed, and sanding/applying a finish speed. Consequently there wouldn't be too many belt changes involved in the process of making a pen. Turning other work can present a need to use several speeds but in either case VS is without doubt a convenience that once tried you would not want to be without, but it is just that - a convenience not an essential. Good advice above to maybe wait a few weeks for the Newark show to see if you can negotiate a cracking deal - you can always buy the Record afterwards if a VS alternative can't be negotiated within your budget at the show.

 

[silver]

This might be advailable in Uk?

Variable Speed Midi Lathe Conversion Kit: for Turncrafter , Jet and Delta Lathes at Penn State Industries

Sure [MENTION=74]wm460[/MENTION] not available in the UK..

But even if it was 220v if Martin wanted to import it he would have to pay import taxes on all the items, that includes shipping and insurance (not just the VS convertor). That would eat in to his budget massively and may as well put that to a new UK sourced VS lathe in the first place. my guess would be nearly £130 landed cost.

 

[Penpal]

The more I learn of equipment in the UK the more inclined the difficulties faced are extraordinary. My thoughts are based on my own experiences over here. Variable speed was a only a dream for me it was not economic or possible for woodturners. My first lathe I made, self taught to turn. Fully did not expect Rome to be built in a day. In other words you can wait for extras until affordable using the new lathe as either interim or foundation for penmaking.

Our first window coverings in our new house at 20 yrs of age as a 4th yr apprentice Sparky was Bon Ami, my wife drew pictures for interest as she applied it.

Cut your cloth when making decisions. Please have success its OK to dream on the way.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

That particular unit is 120v for US mains power Mark. Mains voltage in the UK is 240v

I am not aware of any similar converters available in the UK. If there were I am sure I would have heard of them because many people would like a relatively cheap way to convert to VS. The usual route to conversion in the UK is a three phase motor and inverter which, as Eamonn says, would cost more than the lathe.

Can you get any thing like this in UK?

2000W Step-Down Transformer -GSD2000 | Great daily deals at Australia's favourite superstore | Catch.com.au

 

[wm460]

Sure [MENTION=74]wm460[/MENTION] not available in the UK..

But even if it was 220v if Martin wanted to import it he would have to pay import taxes on all the items, that includes shipping and insurance (not just the VS convertor). That would eat in to his budget massively and may as well put that to a new UK sourced VS lathe in the first place. my guess would be nearly £130 landed cost.

Sorry forgot about import taxes.

 

[Walter]

Can you get any thing like this in UK?

2000W Step-Down Transformer -GSD2000 | Great daily deals at Australia's favourite superstore | Catch.com.au

Yes, we can, but as Eamonn says he would still have to import the VS unit on top of the cost of the transformer, by the time he has done all that he has doubled the cost of his lathe.

Better to keep an eye out for a VS machine for sale. There was a DML320 up for £200 on a Facebook site yesterday. But you need to be quick, by the time I saw it it was too late.

 

[21William]

I know it’s over budget but the Record DML 320 is a nice little variable speed lathe, a mate has one and really likes it.

May be worth saving up a little longer?

 

[Walter]

I know it’s over budget but the Record DML 320 is a nice little variable speed lathe, a mate has one and really likes it.

May be worth saving up a little longer?

I agree. I reviewed it and I liked it a lot:

Dropbox - WT_303_86_88_TEST_DML_320_LATHE_REVIEW_WH_MB_MBbd.pdf

 

[21William]

I agree. I reviewed it and I liked it a lot:

Dropbox - WT_303_86_88_TEST_DML_320_LATHE_REVIEW_WH_MB_MBbd.pdf

You get to play with all the nice toys Walter!