Re: Warco lathes


gn3dr wrote:
> What's involved with changing the motor belt for speed changes on the
> BH600? Is this done with a lever or by just physically moving the belt
> by hand from one pulley to the next.

Hi gn3dr

There is a lever to release the tension and then the belt needs to be
changed from pulley to pulley, not too difficult really but the two
speed pulley on the motor means that the motor needs lifting to make
the change - it's heavy but a length of webbing makes it much easier.
The backgear is engaged with the usual lever/pin system.

> I must say the BH600 looks like a good machine but the thought of just
> turning a knob on the WM lathe to change speed is very attractive. But
> then the WM & C6 don't have screw cutting gear boxes......decisions,
> decisions

I agree in part, turning a knob is the best speed selector available.
However, there are many more facilities that I believe are more
important on a lathe; correct size for the range of work you will do,
sufficient mass to make the machine rigid and stable, decent thread
cutting range, reversible leadscrew, backgear to ensure slow speed with
plenty of torque, power crossfeed etc. An inverter and 3 phase motor
will provide variable speed for the BH600 when I have earned sufficient
smartie points from my accountant to be let out with the plastic
again!!

Personally I find the gearbox a must have, I hate messing with change
wheels and at least you can set up for a reasonable range of threads
and feeds and others are available when you get the change gears out.
Although mine is an imperial machine I have it set for metric thread
cutting and rarely need anything that is not available from the
gearbox. Yes I know that some are an "approximation in pitch" but that
has never given me a problem. The gearbox also gives a range of feed
rates which I find useful for roughing/finishing cuts.
>
> One other question. Does the BH600 have an (easily) reversible
> leadscrew for cutting LH threads like the WM Lathes have?

Yes, both leadscrew and feed shaft reverse with the movement of a lever
on the front of the machine.

As I said previously I think the BH600 is a fine lathe and excellent
value for money, it is a serious lathe with reasonable power but is
large and heavy so, if your work is mostly small items, it might not be
ideal. It will of course handle small jobs but is a bit of overkill if
you are going to spend a lot of time with 1/2" aluminium bar in the
chuck. I must admit that the machines you identify seem quite different
to me and in my opinion the BH600 only comes into the equation because
it is so bl****y cheap. An advantage I suppose of a fairly old and
simple design, a very strong customer base and the fact that they make
thousands of them. Of course the other two are much more compact if
room is a limiting factor. The other issue that is interesting is that
up to recent times cheap import lathes have been a real pig to sell
secondhand, that is not always the case now and there is a reasonably
strong market for some of the better regarded machines as long as they
are well looked after. Obviously they don't retain value like a Myford
but you don't have to give them away anymore either.

Hope this helps a little

Regards

Keith

.

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