My new lathe a Warco 918

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

If it's anything like mine then the last digit jump in 0.0005" steps

[Martin Hamilton 1Participant @martinhamilton1]

Both my Mitutoyo & M&W both jump in 0.0005" steps as well.

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by JasonB on 17/11/2019 16:42:45:

If it's anything like mine then the last digit jump in 0.0005" steps

Oh, that's disappointing then. I hoped it might have the full compliment of digits, not that I would have expected to have that much more accuracy, but it helps to interpret the readings better.

I know there are calipers available that display to 0.0001mm but they are not cheap. I bought a Starrett caliper in the 90's that had a miniature bargraph (with 9 segments) after the usual 0.00mm, unfortunately it was addicted to batteries and later became intermittent.

Ian P

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Hi Ian,

Its a standard Digimatic with the 0.0005" steps on the last digit as Jason and Martin said.

Ron

[Trevor WellsParticipant @trevorwells94316]

The warco 918 is a good old lathe but has its weaknesses one of which is the compound but the mod for this is well worth doing to stiffen up the toolpost. Ive also converted mine to a treadmill motor which works brilliantly,also the Dro.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Sounds good Trevor, I am certainly happy with mine. The previous owner had done a number of mods which are well engineered so I was lucky. The only thing I have added is a digital readout for the spindle speed.

Ron

Edited By Ron Laden on 02/12/2019 04:40:09

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Anyone use the carbide threading inserts..? to be honest I didnt know they existed until I came across them yesterday. I was looking at some internal and external inserts in 60 and 55 degree, I really like the idea of them and fancy getting some but I need to see if a 8mm or 10mm shank tool holder is available as 10mm is the max I can go with and dont know yet if they come down that small.

[egaParticipant @ega]

There was an article by Harold Hall in MEW some time ago.

I have a Chinese 10mm holder marked SNR0010K11.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Posted by Ron Laden on 07/12/2019 08:21:57:

Anyone use the carbide threading inserts..? to be honest I didnt know they existed until I came across them yesterday. I was looking at some internal and external inserts in 60 and 55 degree, I really like the idea of them and fancy getting some but I need to see if a 8mm or 10mm shank tool holder is available as 10mm is the max I can go with and dont know yet if they come down that small.

Do you have the original four way tool post for your 918? If so you can go up a lot bigger than 10mm. The last tool holder I got for my 8 x 14 lathe was a 16mm. I trimmed a couple of mm off the bottom on the mill and the tool is permanently on centre height using inserts.

[egaParticipant @ega]

PS If you are feeling flush, Greenwood Tools have a range of holders from 10mm centre height.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

I wonder what the Banggood threading insert holders would be like..? they do quite a range for both internal and external threading.

I have never used Banggood and I wouldnt use them for the inserts but I would have thought the holders should be half decent..?

[jimmy bParticipant @jimmyb]

I get my threading inserts from HERE

Jim

[Tony Pratt 1Participant @tonypratt1]

Posted by Ron Laden on 08/12/2019 07:39:20:

I wonder what the Banggood threading insert holders would be like..? they do quite a range for both internal and external threading.

I have never used Banggood and I wouldnt use them for the inserts but I would have thought the holders should be half decent..?

They are OK'ish, not the best but worth a punt, plenty of reviews on Youtube.

Tony

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Thanks Guys, I have just ordered a 10mm holder so I will see what arrives, at a fiver it wont be the end of the world if its not up to much.

Ega, I think its the same part number as yours.

[egaParticipant @ega]

Posted by Ron Laden on 08/12/2019 09:57:56:

Thanks Guys, I have just ordered a 10mm holder so I will see what arrives, at a fiver it wont be the end of the world if its not up to much.

Ega, I think its the same part number as yours.

Ron

My feeling is that the part number is standard and not peculiar to any one manufacturer.

I hope you will let us know how you get on with this.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Impressed with the GT insert, I turned up a pair of larger pivot steel spacers for the loco which need a good surface finish so I used the GT for the finishing cuts, very good.

I will get some on order I was given the one I tried this morning.

Edited By Ron Laden on 15/12/2019 07:21:50

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

The lathe came with two 4 jaw chucks, a 6 inch Burnerd and a Chinese 7.1/4 inch, the Chinese one is pretty awful, difficult to adjust and set up and once set the jaws have to be locked from behind, a b it of a pain in the wotsit.

However what is really good about it is the casting is shallow only 30mm and it is quite true, 0.001" across the face and when run 0.0025 run out at the edge. So rather than leave it sitting in the corner of the shop never to be used I thought it will make a good candidate for conversion to a faceplate. This morning I gave it a 5 thou skim all over to clean it up and once I have finished the Jowitt I will add 4 more slots and make up some fittings and clamps.

Edited By Ron Laden on 11/03/2020 16:27:57

Edited By Ron Laden on 11/03/2020 16:36:03

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

That 7 1/4 inch independent 4 jaw chuck was standard issue supplied with most new 918 lathes. They are awkward to use for metal work because the jaws are not positively or precisely located in a tee slot, I think they are actually really intended for wood turning lathes. 

Edited By Lathejack on 11/03/2020 22:44:53

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Thanks LJ

I thought it probably original issue which in my case is almost 24 years ago. There is no way I would want use it as a 4 jaw plus I am fortunate in having the Burnerd.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Tony Pratt 1 on 08/12/2019 08:39:06:

Posted by Ron Laden on 08/12/2019 07:39:20:

I wonder what the Banggood threading insert holders would be like..? they do quite a range for both internal and external threading.

I have never used Banggood and I wouldnt use them for the inserts but I would have thought the holders should be half decent..?

They are OK'ish, not the best but worth a punt, plenty of reviews on Youtube.

Tony

Do remember, though, (nearly) all these ‘reviews’ are from ‘influencers’ paid by bang good (free items, mostly?). Would you expect a paid employee to tell you anything other than their products are good and you should buy them? People who believe all they see or read are just a bit naive – at the very least.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Posted by not done it yet on 12/03/2020 08:02:33:

Posted by Tony Pratt 1 on 08/12/2019 08:39:06:

Posted by Ron Laden on 08/12/2019 07:39:20:

I wonder what the Banggood threading insert holders would be like..? they do quite a range for both internal and external threading.

I have never used Banggood and I wouldnt use them for the inserts but I would have thought the holders should be half decent..?

They are OK'ish, not the best but worth a punt, plenty of reviews on Youtube.

Tony

Do remember, though, (nearly) all these ‘reviews’ are from ‘influencers’ paid by bang good (free items, mostly?). Would you expect a paid employee to tell you anything other than their products are good and you should buy them? People who believe all they see or read are just a bit naive – at the very least.

I had forgotten about this it was back in December, I didnt watch any reviews but with the Banggood holder at less than half the price of others I had seen I went ahead and bought one. What did I receive ..? well to be honest I couldnt believe how good it was the quality looked excellent. I didnt buy inserts from Banggood I paid more and bought them from a UK supplier and that would be the acid test, the holder may look great but what would the fit of the inserts be like. Well again faultless, the seat and the snug fit of the insert couldnt be better so what is there not to like. Now the holder could be made of Chinese cheese but I dont think so I have used the tool with no issues what so ever.

Having said this I am not suggesting buying Banggood tooling, I buy all my lathe and mill tooling from one UK supplier. I only go elsewhere if they dont stock what I need and in this instance I gave Banggood a try based on price and it turned out much better than I would have imagined.

[Martin Hamilton 1Participant @martinhamilton1]

I have bought loads of lathe insert tool holders + **mt & **gt inserts from Banggood, never had an issue with any of them. There aluminium **gt inserts are excellent & @ around £8 for 10 inserts with free postage are a bargain as far as i am concerned. Also there carbide end mill cutters i find very good indeed especially on harder materials, there bargain price also helps when i can buy a set of 4 or 5 carbide cutters for the price of 1 cutter in the UK. For me personally its a no brainer.

[Henry BrownParticipant @henrybrown95529]

Well, I've shied away from Banggood for quite a while but based on the above and chatting with friends I've just ordered a boring bar (S16Q-SCLCR09 16x180mm Boring Bar Tool Holder) for a fraction under £8.50. I'll report back…

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

I,m sure you clever chaps will know, will sticking a flat bar magnet 50mm x 10mm x 2mm onto the back of a digital caliper affect its performance/display..?

I am thinking not but I dont really know for sure and thought you guys may know, its for an idea I have but I dont have a magnet yet to test it out.

Ron

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I've just tried a strong magnet on the back of a cheap digital calliper (I don't use them in the workshop, they are useless for repeatability compared to a simple mechanical Vernier) and didn't care if it hurt it. It didn't change the reading or stop working. However I can imagine the magnetism picking up all sorts of metallic debris and it sticking to the jaws causing you some grief.

Martin C

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