They are OK, but need careful setting up when new.

Be careful, I bought an 300mm Axminster one and left it boxed for a year, DUH.

Nothing was quite right, the casting machining was off so long bends are still a little off after fettling as one side operates before the other.

On the plus side they will roll 3" wide 3mm steel with lots of runs even if the gears are way off meshing.

Friend of mine bought one, it was impossible to set up correctly as the end pieces were machined out of line. Supplier refunded without even checking, which suggests it wasn't unusual. Having said that, someone else I know has one and is pleased with it, so it sounds like typical imported stuff, some of it is rubbish, but other which looks identical can be good. Moral of the story unpack it and try it out straight away.

The first Chester 12" 3-in-1 I bought would not operate alla three funsctions due to the moving beam being machined incorrectly. No spares to hand, so the machine was replaced & the second one works fine.

The quoted 1mm capability in steel is an effort to shear, though I have used mine mainly on sub-1mm aluminiun for which it is quite easy..

It has not had much use & is currently greased up under a bench pending sale – it is in the small ads on here , collect from Huddersfield for a lot less than a new one, plus it has already been deburred !

Nigel B.

I've had the smaller size from Machine Mart for several years and make round fuel tanks for my stationary engines using ex immersion heater tanks copper sheet, I've cut thin steel sheet with it. The rolls and bender work well for me as well.

My only criticism would be that I had to tinker with the guillotine table to get it to cut well.

Martin P