Buying my first new lathe. Chinese or Chinese?

[a smile]

I believe PM inspects all their machines at the (Chinese/Taiwan) suppliers before shipping them to their location. They re-inspect all machines in house (Pittsburgh, PA), and there shipped from their. Also, machines of this style/design have been manufactured for WELL over 50 years. The only differences between Chinese/Taiwan would have to be mainly the care/attention to detail taken in manufacturing. I'm sure Taiwan paint jobs are also probably much better. But either way, machines from both locations will work just fine. Also, new machines will have many more features that older will not.

I'd have no qualms buying a new Chinese machine. Just expect to spend some time going through it; disassemble, deburr, clean, oil, reassemble.

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I don't think this is a good choice. Is it because of the low price of Chinese machine tools? I gave up the option of choosing Chinese machine tools after 2014. Very quietly tell you - I am in China.

If you plan to spend a lot of time reconstructing a Chinese machine tool, why not choose an old European machine tool? Because it will get very good precision and use experience.

 

[mac1911]

A little of topic but I have a question
On NEW machines I see a lot of the lower end chinese machines being “improved” and “modiefied” to be better.
Whats the price point where “chinese” vs other non chinese manufactures that are a good buy?

Ex: A GMC 14” x 40” runs about $8k
I have no idea if thats a good lathe - made in china AFAIK
What is a comparable lathe of US manufacture and cost.
How much if any better will be a $8k USA made lathe vs a $8k chinese lathe.

Rehabbing old chinese lathes sounds like a real pita. Finding parts or what have you.

I have a 1990s era Smithy 3-1 I picked up free. The replacement parts that are available are Expensive for such a inexpensive machine.

I cant even imagine what its like trying to find parts for a larger machine. With out the ability to make them yourself……

 

[Larry$]

How much if any better will be a $8k USA made lathe vs a $8k chinese lathe.

If you are talking both NEW. I don't think there are any US made $8K lathes, certainly not 1440s.
I think the problem with Chinese made stuff is the lack of consistent quality control. You might get a decent one and the next one be full of problems.

 

[a smile]

If you are talking both NEW. I don't think there are any US made $8K lathes, certainly not 1440s.
I think the problem with Chinese made stuff is the lack of consistent quality control. You might get a decent one and the next one be full of problems.

When determining that you do not have the ability to make your own parts to repair the lathe, you will find that when it is ready for use, the price is much higher than two $8,000, so be sure to buy a lathe without any faults.

 

[matthewsx]

At work we buy from both China and Taiwan. We call Taiwan “our China”.

I own two older Taiwan built machines, they are both pretty good.

John

 

[verbotenwhisky]

If you are talking both NEW. I don't think there are any US made $8K lathes, certainly not 1440s.
I think the problem with Chinese made stuff is the lack of consistent quality control. You might get a decent one and the next one be full of problems.

I have 2 Chinese machines and 1 Taiwanese machine and the biggest difference I see is the attention to details on the castings. The Chinese machines are rough castings with a great deal of bondo/body filler (nothing which affects the function of the machine, its just not pretty) and the Taiwanese Machine has very little filler with a much more consistent fit and finish. At the end of the day I like all 3 machines and most of the work I have done to the Chinese machines was personal preference stuff like relocating the DRO display on my mill closer to the front of the machine and replacing the mud flap on the front of the Y axis travel with a bellows style cover. The operational issues I encountered were more like loose fasteners and a damaged (in shipping) DRO on the lathe.

 

[Rufustoad]

Hi all. I thought I would give a quick update. I had a business trip last week and it just so happened to be in Pittsburgh so I emailed John at PM and asked if I could come in and he could show me around. I learned a lot and very happy he took the time with me.
After reviewing the Taiwanese models and the Chinese I have to say that there are definitely things you can tell are different like the backlash BUT I have to say I was completely surprised at what I saw in the Chinese models. I had something completely different in my mind when I walked through the door (Harbor Freight) and I was very surprised. Thank you John at PM and thank you David on this forum for your help.
After looking at all my options I pulled the trigger on the PM-1440-2V because of all the options available and for me will probably go a heck of a lot longer than I ever will. I am supposed to get it the first of Dec if all goes well so I might do a little break down when I get it just for some new folks like myself.
Thanks for all your posts as this IMO is a huge purchase I wanted to get right and I do appreciate you giving me great input. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[7milesup]

Hi all. I thought I would give a quick update. I had a business trip last week and it just so happened to be in Pittsburgh so I emailed John at PM and asked if I could come in and he could show me around. I learned a lot and very happy he took the time with me.
After reviewing the Taiwanese models and the Chinese I have to say that there are definitely things you can tell are different like the backlash BUT I have to say I was completely surprised at what I saw in the Chinese models. I had something completely different in my mind when I walked through the door (Harbor Freight) and I was very surprised. Thank you John at PM and thank you David on this forum for your help.
After looking at all my options I pulled the trigger on the PM-1440-2V because of all the options available and for me will probably go a heck of a lot longer than I ever will. I am supposed to get it the first of Dec if all goes well so I might do a little break down when I get it just for some new folks like myself.
Thanks for all your posts as this IMO is a huge purchase I wanted to get right and I do appreciate you giving me great input. Happy Thanksgiving!

Awesome! Now, let us help you spend your money on tooling.

 

[Rufustoad]

HEHEHE I have my wife out hunting a 3rd job so give a few

 

[B2]

After looking at all my options I pulled the trigger on the PM-1440-2V

Congrads!!! Are there some letters missing in this model number? I did not see this exact model # it at the PM site.