Warco wm250

[Martin Botting 2Participant @martinbotting2]

advice

[Martin Botting 2Participant @martinbotting2]

Hello forum users.

I was thinking about something of a gift to me for a change from being the bank to family and friends, The old ML7 is tired and in need of more repairs so casting my eye about I thought I may take a punt on a new machine and the Warco WM250 seems to shine. I would like some advice from any owners about how they shape up.

I know that many here will roll out the usual comments about the far eastern machines and being bad/ indifferent but truth be told it all comes down to the size of the bank balance. Sure colchester in mint condition and a Bridgeport housed in a 30X20 workshop would be heaven but thats pipe dreams.

I have searched the forum and other places on the web and the reviews for the warco machine seem few and far between, I hope to have a look round one at some of the southern shows over the next few months or have a day out to the showroom but I would like some help with up's downs and round and rounds, OR a suitable replacement for a very old ML7, I fitted an inverter last year and thats been a bit like putting a merlin engine in a morris minor.

Thanks In advance

[lee hawkins 1Participant @leehawkins1]

You could get a good Boxford lathe with some tooling for that price on ebay, I have had a couple of chinese lathes over the years. na never again, the only benifit buying a new chinese made lathe is they get delivered straight to your front door.

lee

 

Edited By lee hawkins 1 on 10/12/2014 06:51:13

[john kennedy 1Participant @johnkennedy1]

I remember getting my ML7 and being proud that I'd finally made it. I'd got a Myford. It soon dawned on me that I couldn't see what all the fuss was about. It was too small.The bed was worn,the 3 jaw run out was bad and it made clanking noises. I'd been sold a right lemon.

5 years ago at Harrowgate I managed to get a WM250 from Mr Warren, vat free (those days have gone). Cost me £850. Best money I'd ever spent. A very accurate and sturdy machine.

I believe a machine is there to work,not an ornament. I've given it some stick and its been ok except for the dc drive.I have since converted it to 3 phase with a VFD . See my photos.

Would I buy another?. Definitely except next time it would be a 280.

Have a look at this site. Some good mods on here http://www.cign.org/index.html

Hope this helps .. John

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Martin, there is a long running thread here about the 250 lathes and similar offerings, have a read, we all seem reasonably happy with them.

The latest 250 & 280 lathes come with inverter drive anyway so no need to worry about converting

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

Hi Martin

There's a lot to be said for the newer versions of the 250 /280 /290… plus a lot to be said against them from others who would rally for the Myford/Boxford.. but at the end of the day it's the individuals choice & bank balance. I can't complain about my 250V-F, It has done all I have given it 'straight out of the box' I have modified the saddle locking clamp only last week, still have to change the compound slide gib key to a brass one ( been on my toduit list for a while) changed the saddle & g/box oil initially, made three small engines, miscellaneous tooling, some small bits for family etc, all without any complaints from the machine.. so I'm well satisfied with it. Same applies to the WM16 Mill I have. Best thing to do is go to the distributor ( or someone near to you who has one) & have a play with their demo models & you'll soon 'feel' if it's right for you… or maybe the 280/290?

Happy hunting

George

[DismalduncParticipant @dismaldunc]

Hi Martin. I bought a wm250 to replace my mini lathe and to be honest I think it's great. It all worked "out of the box" and I have made lots of things on it without any problems. I have never used any of the myfords etc so cannot comment but I'm a happy bunny.

There is a review thingy here. **LINK**

[Ron HancockParticipant @ronhancock63652]

Hi Martin well i had same problem with choice two years ago our Chairman used the 280 and loves it.

I already had a super 7 but felt at times a little small for me as a Novice.

A friend of mine talked me into buying an excellent Harrison L5 it had very little use and over the moon with it.

The only downside getting things like face plates chucks took ages but do love the lathe.

If i had the choice again i would go for a Warco or Axminster,

I recently bought a new milling machine same problem would cost a fortune for delivery.

I bought a belt drive axminster as it had a one and a half horse motor against Warco 1.1 hp.

I love it to bits and found them very helpful delivered free in 3 days

Check motor size and take your time the new stuff is fine now not like the early ones.

Good luck in your Search

Ron

[LathejackParticipant @lathejack]

Hello Martin.

If buying new on careful budget then a Chinese lathe of the type you are interested in can be a good choice for model engineering, they can usually be pleasant and capable machines. I use both British and Chinese lathes.

A couple of alternatives that might also be worth looking at are the SP2124 from SPG Tools and the DB10 Super from Chester Machine Tools. These are both very similar to the WM250 and have the same major castings.

But as well as powered cross and longitudinal feeds these also have a quick change gearbox with nine feed rates instead of just three of the Warco and others. They also have a quick change spindle nose fitting and a traditional type tumbler reverse lever for the leadscrew, similar to Boxford and Myford. They do however, have a slightly smaller spindle bore of 21mm as opposed to 26.

The Chester version also comes with the unusual choice of being fitted with either an open Norton type of screwcutting gearbox, or an enclosed oil filled screwcutting gearbox as on the SPG machine, both with nine feed rates.

Just a thought.

[Martin Botting 2Participant @martinbotting2]

WOW! Thanks folks for your advice. I contacted Warco and they won't be going to the MEX but ally pally so thats decided it for me. I will wait till after the mad spend up called Xmas and have a look and tinker at the warco stand.

I was looking at the Chester machines and while they look "rougher" than the warco jobs I was drawn to the Norton type gear boxes.. Gawd knows what I would do with one… I mean what is screw cutting without black hands, bits of paper and nipped fingers in banjo's?

Yes, I would love to think I was able to build models with the aid of a finely tuned BRITISH machine but finding good ones like college machines is so rare now, do they actually let youth loose on real machines or is it all theory and video and CAD? I recall the little Boxford's we had a school and the BIG Colchester.. I would have given my eye teeth for one but the bank balance and the gamble of getting a good one and tooling is out numbered by the folding stuff! when I make my mind up and IF i get one and it goes wrong I will accept the verbal kicking and "told ya SO!' with grace.

Thanks again people.

[Martin Botting 2Participant @martinbotting2]

Folks.

While wandering the web and reading with great interest the link Jason supplied about the WM250 stable I also came upon this:

http://www.cign.org/lathe.html

and its got a great review on the older model and the site owners "mods"

I was wondering about the QCTP on my old ML7 that i bought from one of the major tool suppliers a while back and the plethora of holders. I have found someone that might want the old ML7 so i was thinking about what I can keep and whats to send with it… I will not need any of the head stock tooling chucks etc but the QCTP might be worth saving or go mental with the plastic and get a brand new piston type… would any kind owner have a measure up of their compound and give me some dimensions of the stud etc.

Again thanks to everyone that replied to my initial query and I am looking forward to pestering Messrs Warco and chester et al.

As an aside I have read the runners and riders for the Kempton park show… very poor field and I bet the going will be soft! This is one punter that will NOT be having a bet on the day.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I run a Myford sized Dickson QCTP on my 280, just needed a 1/4" steel plate with a hole in it to sit between topslide and toolpost, probably won't need that on the250 and the boss at the base of the stud can be machined if needed

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

(Cough) Sandown, not Kempton (cough).

[OuBallieParticipant @ouballie]

Martin,

My first lathe was an Embo V10P, a bit bigger than the Myford, but as good a quality, and I was happy except for the single phase motor and geared head that made me wince when switching on and off.

My present lathe is a 2nd hand Warco BH600G, bought in 2008, huge in comparison to the two mentioned, but just as accurate!

It won't win any Catwalk competition BUT it does exactly what I want it to do, at the accuracy I need.

Having fitted a Newton-Tesla VFD, QC tool holder and the 'clutch', it is an absolute pleasure to use.

I would not hesitate in recommending a Warco (the usual), and if new you have a 'Fit for Purpose' guarantee.

Plus they all come with VFD as standard now, and that's something I would not now be without, as it transformed my lathe.

Geoff – Thank you SwiftKey for bringing sanity back when typing

[Martin Botting 2Participant @martinbotting2]

Posted by Chris Trice on 12/12/2014 09:47:45:

(Cough) Sandown, not Kempton (cough).

Yes you are quite right! well spotted.

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I fitted a Dickson type QCTP to my 250.. no need for any plate under the tool post but had to machine the boss off which was no big deal….

In case you're wondering the knurled pin is for anti rotation purposes…it has been asked before

George

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