AWGB Woodturning Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: vyvsdad on November 06, 2017, 01:42:30 PM
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Hello guys
My beloved poolewood euro 1000 is showing its age, and I'm working close to the limits of its capacity. So i think it might be time to dip into my savings and treat myself to a brand new lathe. The problems is which do I pick? I want extra capacity, and have thus far narrowed it down he following:
Stratos fu-230
Killinger 1400/1450se
Axminster 1628/2030
Recordpower Maxi 1
As yet I've not tried any so am going purely on price and spec.
My budget is abouto £3000, £3500 at a push, so what would you guys go for?Thanks,
I'm aware that I've opened a can of worms, and I look forward to hearing everyones opinions
Thanks,
Dan
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The only one of those four that I have used is the Record Maxi 1 and I use it on a daily basis, so the only advise that I can offer is limited to that rather than a comparison of lathes.
I am delighted with the Maxi....I turn big, out of balance pieces on my lathe, which is now a little over 5 years old. It gives me great service and has not had any significant failure. I frequently turn out-of-balance burrs up to 30" diameter, but also make much smaller stuff, and the Maxi does it for me.
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Used VB36 with long bed, within your price bracket and will out last us all.
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I have the twister fu-200, which is the smaller brother to the stratos fu-230. This is probably the lower end of the price range, and the lathe is very similar to the Axminster 1628. It does everything I am asking from it, including large diameters up to 30" (with the head swiveled to the side or slid to the end of the bed). Solid construction, heavy, accurate, reliable. If I was a professional turner, I would probably go for the Stratos XL, but for me the Twister was money well spent, every single penny of it.
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If they have any left Axminster were selling the 2030 for £2200 discontinued model but cheap at that price
Fred
orchard-woodturners.org.uk
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Whilst I do like the idea of owning a VB36 i have too many accessories that wouldn't fit on it, such as my homemade centre steady and homemade ball turning jig, both of which I use quite a lot.
As for the axminster 2030, that was on my list, but it seems quite steep at £2700+, its current list price. Others on the list seem to offer better value for money.
At the moment top of my list are the Stratos and the Record Power, but they're quite different beasts. Are there any other lathes I should be considering?
Dan
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Mark Sanger has got a Killinger and really rates it
Regards George
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I bought the Axminster 20/30 when it was on offer, its a very good machine and with the bed extension it makes its capacity larger
regards
Andy
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for £3000 you can get the powermatic 3520b.
it's the dogs ging gang goolies...
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Used VB36 with long bed, within your price bracket and will out last us all.
I owned a VB 36 and was very happy when I sold it on , Its not a user friendly lathe
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Used VB36 with long bed, within your price bracket and will out last us all.
I owned a VB 36 and was very happy when I sold it on , Its not a user friendly lathe
Whilst all tools are subjective, what were the issues you encountered, I have found nothing apart from the heat in the summer?
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Hi Dan
I have two 1628's in my workshop and a VB36. I've run a 1628 since I started woodturning in 2013 it's done well over 10,000 hours and has taken on pretty much whatever I've throw at it. I've done platters to 36" I think that I found it's limit when I mounted a 50kg well out of balance lump of wood out front it turned it but I could not get any speed as it just wanted to bounce all over the place. Hence the VB.
If I were buying a new lathe today I think that I would buy the Stratos FU-230 it's more powerful than the 1628 and has a larger turning capacity. In fact I'm thinking of selling one of the 1628's and replacing it with a Stratos FU-230 they look a cracking bit of kit for the money.
Ed
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Hello All,
Thanks for all the answers.
I like the powermatic, but I need a rotating headstock due to workshop constraints.
Like I said, I'm currently inclined towards the stratos, but the Record Power does seem to offer a lot for the money. It has the largest capacities out of all of my short list, and is the cheapest which makes me think that it's too good to be true and there must be compromises somewhere and there has only been one record power supporter thus far.
It is increasingly clear that I'll have to try and find some examples of each to play with.
Dan
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Used VB36 with long bed, within your price bracket and will out last us all.
I owned a VB 36 and was very happy when I sold it on , Its not a user friendly lathe
Whilst all tools are subjective, what were the issues you encountered, I have found nothing apart from the heat in the summer?
Where do I start , Just re positioning the tool rest is a mare , Unlock and lift the steel pole , Unwinde the wedge handle , Lift a conciderable weight , slide this in or out , tighten the wedge again , drop the steel pole and tighten the locking handle , Phew ! and yes I did have the rotating tool rest attachment , also hernier inducing moving the tailstock assembly
I longed for a VB for years but as with some things in life when I got one I was dissapointed
So it was sold on
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I went for a Stratos XL 18 months ago and I’m very pleased with it. The weight is good and a good size motor at no extra cost. The wandering lead/control box is a great plus too. For the price it’s a good lump. Been used almost every day since I got it and no problems.
Cheers
Michael
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I bought the Stratos fu230 along with the bed extension and the quick change system from Simon Hope July last year. The service from Simon was excellent and arrived within 7 days direct from Germany.
I am impressed with the quality of the lathe and no problems have been experienced, excellent value for the money.
If you intend to make large diameter platters then the bed extension is essential in the outboard mode, combined with the quick exchanged plates is can be installed in a couple of minutes.
Regards
Ken