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Hi From Newbury - Bit of help please

Treeesa

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Hi - Just started to get into "thinking" about making something after looking through some of the lovely stuff on here.

I don't yet have any kit but I have seen a second hand Axminster lathe and wondered if anyone could give me a steer on what to look for - How old it's likely to be and what sort of money I should be looking at.



Thanks in advance and thanks for the great inspiration!

Cheers
Andy
 

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Buckeye

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Welcome to the forum.

I am not sure you can tell exactly how old it is, it's not the latest model, it was replaced within the last year, I have one and it has been superb. I think the new price was £200 I bought mine from Axminster new on offer for £16?.00 I wouldn't pay more than £150 for a 2nd hand one I would probably go for the newer model depending on my budget at the time.

Peter
 

Treeesa

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Thanks Peter - Just trying to balance on the learning curve at the moment so all help appreciated !

Andy
 

Paul

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Well, get the biggest you can afford. I got a dml305. Lovely machine one year in and I want to do bigger stuff. So just think about max sizes of wood and if you want to do large bowls be prepared to buy a second lathe. Soon!
 

Buckeye

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It does depend what you want to do with your lathe, I have a bigger lathe, but I bought the Axminster just for pens, although I have done other things on it. If it's just for pens it's more than good enough. Some people have a downer on Axminster lathes, but mine is great and so are the one we have at the club. In the end it's up to you how much you have to spend.

Peter
 

rayf6604

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Hi Andy, welcome, just avoid the Hobby range of Axminster lathes and you should be ok. Axminster also have an offer of the Jet 1220 at the moment, reduced from about £450 to £343. This model is being replaced by the 1221 so they are selling off the old stock. I have one and it's superb. Hope that helps.
 

bellringer

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Hi Andy, welcome, just avoid the Hobby range of Axminster lathes and you should be ok. Axminster also have an offer of the Jet 1220 at the moment, reduced from about £450 to £343. This model is being replaced by the 1221 so they are selling off the old stock. I have one and it's superb. Hope that helps.
I disagree total with that I have the same model as the one in the picture and it is amazing what it withstands it has more then it rated for I have never ever had a problem with it
 

Buckeye

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I disagree total with that I have the same model as the one in the picture and it is amazing what it withstands it has more then it rated for I have never ever had a problem with it

Same here, although the digital readout did start playing up, but the sent me a new one and it was fitted within minutes. If it ever happens again the I wouldn't bother as I don't really need to see the speed it's turning at. Based on how good it has been I would have no problem having another one.

Peter
 

bellringer

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Same here, although the digital readout did start playing up, but the sent me a new one and it was fitted within minutes. If it ever happens again the I wouldn't bother as I don't really need to see the speed it's turning at. Based on how good it has been I would have no problem having another one.

Peter
Yep the same here
 

ataylor

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I have a hobby one wich I regret now buying if I had the money I would be buying the Jet 1220.
 

Doug

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Hi Andy & welcome to the forum :waver:

As you will no doubt realise opinion on Axminster own brand gear is divided & I will admit to not liking it.
That said if you can buy it at a cheap enough price it will always be worth a punt, personally I wouldn't pay more than £50 for it & it would need to be in excellent condition to prise that money from my pocket. :thinks:
 

rayf6604

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I disagree total with that I have the same model as the one in the picture and it is amazing what it withstands it has more then it rated for I have never ever had a problem with it
I don't think the one pictured is a hobby machine but I was just making the point that if Andy were to go for a different Axminster lathe then avoid the Hobby ones. The trade rated lathes, which the ONE above looks like, are better.
 

bellringer

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I don't think the one pictured is a hobby machine but I was just making the point that if Andy were to go for a different Axminster lathe then avoid the Hobby ones. The trade rated lathes, which the ONE above looks like, are better.
The one in the picture is hobby rated it from before they changed the colours
 

Buckeye

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I don't think the one pictured is a hobby machine but I was just making the point that if Andy were to go for a different Axminster lathe then avoid the Hobby ones. The trade rated lathes, which the ONE above looks like, are better.

No, that's a hobby rated one and mine gets used for hours on end, somedays it's used all day long with just a break now and then for me to have a cuppa and it's been like that since I have had it.

Peter
 

Treeesa

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Thanks for all the info guys - not sure about it now - price was £170 ono and the £50 quid maybe a bridge tto far - maybe I should take a look at the newer ones - really looking forward to it so may need to bite the bullet a bit further !

Will be back for some more advise and many thanks for the welcomes

Andy
 
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