New Lathe maybe?

[Martynbez]

I currently have a Clarke CWL325V 13" ( Clarke CWL325V 13" Wood Lathe with Electronic Variable Speed - Machine Mart - Machine Mart). It's been ok but it's lacking in quality :(.
The tail stock moves no matter how tight you get it and you need a spanner to do that as the plastic handles slip.

So the above it MT 1 so would make sense to get another one as could get expensive replacing all the other equipment (I know you can get an adaptor but not sure how good they are).
My go to place would be Axminster but there is no stock of anything it would seem at the moment. I would like a lathe with a digital rpm and does not need to be massive as pens are pretty much all I turn.

Would be great to see people's thoughts on different models etc.

 

[Penpal]

My experience tells me to repair and modify.

Peter.

 

[Pierre]

The adapters work well, I moved from a record cl1 (MT1) to a big Axminister 3.5HP without a problem and only 3 adapters 2 for the morse tapers and one for the chuck. the other alternative is to look at Record who make a good quality lather set from £260 upwards. You can expect to pay about 5-600£ for a variable speed lather of quality. try here Woodturning Category to see the specs,

You dont have to stick to axminster there is also

Lathes - Tools & Machines - Yandle & Sons Ltd
Woodturning Lathes : Stiles & Bates
Woodturning Lathes - Turners Retreat
Lathes | Poolewood Machinery & Tools

To name but a few. The essential thing is that the 2 points must meet in the middle with no play and not even 1/2 mm offset so long as everything else tightens up properly then it should be good to go.

 

[Themackay]

Depends what size of lathe you want and what your budget is

 

[21William]

If it’s just for pens you don’t need to go very big. Some idea of budget would help though.

I’ve got one of these and it’s very good.

Axminster Trade AT350WL Woodturning Lathe - 230V | Axminster Tools

 

[Penpal]

Do trust you are able to satisfy the itch to purchase.

Peter.

 

[wm460]

Keep an eye on gumtree.

 

[Martynbez]

So went for the Draper 60989 as it had everything I wanted spec wise and at a keen price.

Only thing is the headstock taper is MT1 and the tail one looks bigger assume MT2. One assume I can get an MT1 to MT2 adaptor of some sorts?

 

[Pierre]

No lathe should give 2 different morse tapers, you have read a product specification incorrectly or they have printed it incorrectly .

 

[Martynbez]

Nope it’s deff bigger as my mt1 mandrel fits ok in the head stock and the other day be is more then rattling around in it ( I have an Axminster compression mandrel)

 

[21William]

It does seem odd but it says here MT1 and MT2:

Draper WTL457 230V 550W Compact Digital Variable Speed Wood Lathe

There seem to be a number of lathes that look very similar but the specs vary wildly.

 

[Martynbez]

Yep hence the need for the sleeve/adapter

 

[Pierre]

Then you cant use certain tooling easily, for example I use a drill chuck in the tail stock for drilling and the same chuck in the headstock for sanding. The converters by their very nature stick and are hard to release so it would make swapping over a pain in the posterior. But so long as it is point to point precise it will work.

 

[Martynbez]

Yeah fully understand. I do very little else other then pen turning and was hoping to spend a few pounds then another £50 on my preferred mandrel.

 

[Dalboy]

Very late to this as you have already made your choice, Personally I would have taken the plunge and gone for a lathe with the 33mm thread and MT2 all round. It does mean a lot of extra pieces but when you want to sell it will be easier as those seem to be the norm now.
At present I have an old 3/4" with 1MT but hopefully will upgrade to something bigger but then I do tend to turn larger items than pens

 

[21William]

Very late to this as you have already made your choice, Personally I would have taken the plunge and gone for a lathe with the 33mm thread and MT2 all round. It does mean a lot of extra pieces but when you want to sell it will be easier as those seem to be the norm now.

Yes agreed. Buying the cheapest doesn’t always make sense.

 

[Martynbez]

Thanks all for your helpful input. I found one on Amazon and took a chance and it arrived today. Does the job perfectly.

 

[21William]

If you haven’t got one already it’s probably worth getting an ejector drift. They can be pain to separate sometimes without one.

 

[Phil Dart]

Photos Martyn. We need photos