Comments on: Watchmaker’s Lathe – Made in China? http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/ A mechanical watchmaker in a digital world Wed, 16 May 2012 16:48:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Drew http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-59377 Drew Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:16:01 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-59377 Hello, We currently use the Vector lathe at the Oklahoma State University school, and yes, we have 2 Schaublins, with servodrives and fully outfitted, and the strange bedded Horia lathes as well. We are spoiled- but only after we learn on the Vectors. We all have our own Vector to use here, each fully outfitted. The Vector is the German DIN spec certified version of what you see on ebay. The ebay model cannot be made as nicely for the price, since all that German inspection means holding tolerances. However, the Vectors are lacking in areas, the crossslide lock is a cam lobed hex screw, and it slips sometimes. The collets are not true 8mm WW collets- they are unique threads to the Vector, unfortunately. If your Chinese version comes with a 3rd drawbar that has a ring cut into the aluminum handpiece- DONT use it for Vector collets! If the basic Chinese one has this like the Vector, that drawbar is meant to work with WW collets ONLY. You will ruin collets of either type if you don't know this. Milling and grinding attachments look nice, haven't used them yet. The biggest complaint is the lantern on these- the toolholder. Even on a Vector, they break as the slot was cut way too deep for the tool, close to the t-slot. We made our own on other machines- be careful of this- don't crank down on them. Overall, I'm like the 5th person to say it, but it's not a schaublin, or a ball-bearing Levin insstrument lathe, but for the money, they are very nice if well taken care of. Hello,

We currently use the Vector lathe at the Oklahoma State University school, and yes, we have 2 Schaublins, with servodrives and fully outfitted, and the strange bedded Horia lathes as well. We are spoiled- but only after we learn on the Vectors.

We all have our own Vector to use here, each fully outfitted. The Vector is the German DIN spec certified version of what you see on ebay. The ebay model cannot be made as nicely for the price, since all that German inspection means holding tolerances. However, the Vectors are lacking in areas, the crossslide lock is a cam lobed hex screw, and it slips sometimes. The collets are not true 8mm WW collets- they are unique threads to the Vector, unfortunately. If your Chinese version comes with a 3rd drawbar that has a ring cut into the aluminum handpiece- DONT use it for Vector collets! If the basic Chinese one has this like the Vector, that drawbar is meant to work with WW collets ONLY. You will ruin collets of either type if you don’t know this.

Milling and grinding attachments look nice, haven’t used them yet. The biggest complaint is the lantern on these- the toolholder. Even on a Vector, they break as the slot was cut way too deep for the tool, close to the t-slot. We made our own on other machines- be careful of this- don’t crank down on them.

Overall, I’m like the 5th person to say it, but it’s not a schaublin, or a ball-bearing Levin insstrument lathe, but for the money, they are very nice if well taken care of.

]]> By: Geoffrey Walker http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-52093 Geoffrey Walker Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:24:59 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-52093 Hi. This is second hand information, but from a friend who is a chronometer specialist. He bought some chinese collets, and when he checked them he said theya re somewhere between Schaublin's first and second quality. Hope this helps Best wishes Geoffrey Manchester UK Hi. This is second hand information, but from a friend who is a chronometer specialist. He bought some chinese collets, and when he checked them he said theya re somewhere between Schaublin’s first and second quality.
Hope this helps
Best wishes
Geoffrey
Manchester UK

]]> By: Tick Talk » A Watchmaker’s Estate http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-51106 Tick Talk » A Watchmaker’s Estate Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:35:21 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-51106 [...] The estate came with a nice Boley lathe with a pretty nice set of collets. At long last I have a lathe at home, now if only I can find time to use it. I didn’t even have to buy a Chinese lathe. [...] [...] The estate came with a nice Boley lathe with a pretty nice set of collets. At long last I have a lathe at home, now if only I can find time to use it. I didn’t even have to buy a Chinese lathe. [...]

]]> By: joel goodwin http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-46288 joel goodwin Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:13:06 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-46288 I have recently purchased one of these lathes. I have purchased tools made in china and know that you need to disassemble and cleane out all of the remnants of casting sand and grinding dust. I did not like the paint job on my lathe so I striped it down to the bare casting. To my suprise, the castings arn't too bad. Some of the collets do not go into the head stock but the seller is willing to help correct this. What I had, I was able to correct myself. This lathe was purchased to work on clock parts. I can't imagine trying to make a staff for an 18L pocket watch since the seller does mension the concentr. If you are willing to put in the time and effort this lathe makes a good clock lathe. I hope this was helpfull to you. :-D I have recently purchased one of these lathes. I have purchased tools made in china
and know that you need to disassemble and
cleane out all of the remnants of casting sand and grinding dust.
I did not like the paint job on my lathe so
I striped it down to the bare casting.
To my suprise, the castings arn’t too bad.
Some of the collets do not go into the head
stock but the seller is willing to help correct this. What I had, I was able to correct myself.
This lathe was purchased to work on clock parts. I can’t imagine trying to make a staff for an 18L pocket watch since the seller does mension the concentr.
If you are willing to put in the time and effort this lathe makes a good clock lathe.
I hope this was helpfull to you. :-D

]]> By: Dave Arnold CMC http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-32723 Dave Arnold CMC Sat, 02 Apr 2011 03:20:13 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-32723 I bought one of these with all the accessories from "Sincere" off Ebay. I disassembled everything upon arrival and lapped all the sliding and turning surfaces with 1200 grit lapping compound, cleaned, reassembled, and have been using it for a few months now and have been quite pleased. The headstock runs true and the collets are accurately made and hardened. The tailstock lines up well and milling attachment works well, without any chatter. I paid $1700 with a motor (which I would avoid) but including every accessory they offer and for the money, I couldn't be happier. I had to grind the jaws on the 3 jaw to true it,(it was way out,) but now it works well. Overall, I am pleased. No, it's not a ball-bearing Levin, or a Schaublin, but it works reasonably well for what you pay. There is a great deal of snobbery when it come to tools, and if money is no object, wonderful. But for a poor soul trying to make a living at the bench, this is a reasonable investment, in my opinion. I bought one of these with all the accessories from “Sincere” off Ebay.
I disassembled everything upon arrival and lapped all the sliding and turning surfaces with 1200 grit lapping compound, cleaned, reassembled, and have been using it for a few months now and have been quite pleased. The headstock runs true and the collets are accurately made and hardened. The tailstock lines up well and milling attachment works well, without any chatter. I paid $1700 with a motor (which I would avoid) but including every accessory they offer and for the money, I couldn’t be happier. I had to grind the jaws on the 3 jaw to true it,(it was way out,) but now it works well. Overall, I am pleased. No, it’s not a ball-bearing Levin, or a Schaublin, but it works reasonably well for what you pay. There is a great deal of snobbery when it come to tools, and if money is no object, wonderful. But for a poor soul trying to make a living at the bench, this is a reasonable investment, in my opinion.

]]> By: Dushan Grujich http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-23478 Dushan Grujich Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:16:22 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-23478 Good Day, PJ! What is it that You would like to know about the Chinese lathe? C6104 is the same lathe which is sold by G. Boley in the Geneva style range under the trade name "Vector", cost is somewhat less than EUR 2800 for a fairly comprehensive set. http://www.boley.de/en/Content/Product.aspx/pg1617/px_685000_1617 You have my e-mail address. Cheers Dushan Good Day, PJ!

What is it that You would like to know about the Chinese lathe?

C6104 is the same lathe which is sold by G. Boley in the Geneva style range under the trade name “Vector”, cost is somewhat less than EUR 2800 for a fairly comprehensive set.

http://www.boley.de/en/Content/Product.aspx/pg1617/px_685000_1617

You have my e-mail address.

Cheers

Dushan

]]> By: Geoffrey Walker http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-23138 Geoffrey Walker Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:37:46 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-23138 HI A chronometer specialist in the UK has bought the box of 70 collets all 8mm, and says they are between Schaublins first and second quality. He has the inspection equipmernt necessary to tell how accurate they are. This sounds encouraging. Regards Geoffrey HI
A chronometer specialist in the UK has bought the box of 70 collets all 8mm, and says they are between Schaublins first and second quality. He has the inspection equipmernt necessary to tell how accurate they are. This sounds encouraging.
Regards
Geoffrey

]]> By: George Sharkey http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-21335 George Sharkey Wed, 22 Sep 2010 23:13:22 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-21335 Hi my name is George,I.m a Bulova school of watchmaking graduate,whose been working as a tool and die maker for the last 30+years.Any one can make ww collets useing even half hard brass you know the old saying practice makes perfect.the chinese ww dies work,but I prefer to chase my threads(40tpi)for accuracy.As for what I,ve seen the chinese stuff isn,t too bad.As for cutting wheels I too cannot afford wheel cutters.I make my own, not fly cutters but 4 flute cutters.you can find this information on how to make these cutters in Malcolm Wild,s book Wheel and pinion cutting in horology. Hi my name is George,I.m a Bulova school of watchmaking graduate,whose been working as a tool and die maker for the last 30+years.Any one can make ww collets useing even half hard brass you know the old saying practice makes perfect.the chinese ww dies work,but I prefer to chase my threads(40tpi)for accuracy.As for what I,ve seen the chinese stuff isn,t too bad.As for cutting wheels I too cannot afford wheel cutters.I make my own, not fly cutters but 4 flute cutters.you can find this information on how to make these cutters in Malcolm Wild,s book Wheel and pinion cutting in horology.

]]> By: Peter Chamberlain http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-13607 Peter Chamberlain Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:24:17 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-13607 I too am interested in Gators approach to tidying up his Chinese lathe. I am interested in purchasing one as the cost of a decent used alternative is expensive and very hard to come by. I have been trying to get a slide for my IME but no such luck so the Chinese lathe might have to do. I too am interested in Gators approach to tidying up his Chinese lathe. I am interested in purchasing one as the cost of a decent used alternative is expensive and very hard to come by. I have been trying to get a slide for my IME but no such luck so the Chinese lathe might have to do.

]]> By: Paul Loatman http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/comment-page-1/#comment-10637 Paul Loatman Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:10:52 +0000 http://watchmakingblog.com/2008/02/18/watchmakers-lathe-made-in-china/#comment-10637 I forgot to mention the 3 jaw center chuck but i haven't received it yet, so i won't be able to report on that for another week or so. Shipping is very slow by the way. I forgot to mention the 3 jaw center chuck but i haven’t received it yet, so i won’t be able to report on that for another week or so. Shipping is very slow by the way.

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