A SMALL WARCO WM180 LATHE - PART #1 - IN THE WORKSHOP

[@RetroSteamTech]

Hi Keith. The Warco WM180 is a great little lathe, I've had mine for 5 years now. Couple of things that you might find useful. The brushed motor does get very hot when running at low speed and under load, don't ask me how I know (on my second motor!). Should be fine for the light use that you intend for it. Just something to be aware of. The carriage/saddle lock is very definitely worth modifying. As it comes form the factory it's just a recessed allen head screw which is quite difficult to get to. Given that locking and unlocking the carriage is something you do all the time it soon becomes a pain. Looking forward to your future videos on this great lathe. Cheers, Alan.

[@keithappleton]

I was only thinking bout making a proper Saddle Lock for it the other day }:-)))

[@nickhall5959]

Keith, if your 180 is the same as mine (@ 3:12) the bolts folding the gears in place are hollow so you can lube the gear spindle surfaces while doing the outsides. Had mine for 16 ?? years now, done loads of upgrades and still love it.

[@keithappleton]

Yes , I noticed that feature - very useful }:-)))

[@Mason58654]

Perhaps my favorite machine tool for working on steam engines! 👍

[@Acheiropoietos]

Nice one Keith 👍

[@5b4aezmarinoscyprus71]

Another "very-very well made" clone of Emco compact 8...Warco ita a very good company and keeps there standards in a high level... I wish you good luck and have fun with it Keith...

[@bsimpson6204]

I have a metric Wm180 with factory DRO's fitted, it's unmodified and does everything I need of it, which is general odd-jobbing, nice lathe, good price

[@dinger40]

Not got a hernia? You're not trying hard enough 😉👍 Another great vid.

[@keithappleton]

😁 Ouch 😁

[@MH-qq3kj]

Thanks Keith, it is almost identical to mine. It was all I could afford and does exactly what I need it to do. Just adding a quick change tool post, some preground cutting tools, and small boring bars, it works great. Can’t wait to see what you do with it.

[@keithappleton]

Please watch the rest of the series when I fit a quick change tool post to this lathe.

[@terry6131]

Owned a WM280V since 2015 and it's been a useful tool. Sure, it doesn't like heavy cuts and will twist but will happily nibble away at work and is pretty accurate. I have replaced the belts, ironically the cheapest are from a sewing company, mines a M28" & M34", total cost with shipping £11.34 I often disconnect the gearing via the arm to make the machine quieter and have the gearing set so that the travel is set to the lowest it can go to give fine finishing cuts. A quick toolpost changer makes life easier, but they are on the pricy side for this size

[@keithappleton]

I wonder what the sizes are on the WM180? They look OK but I could do with some spares.

[@WD4NYT99]

The round dust cover and hollow drive is a good feature when turning long stock. That is a sweet looking machine.

[@dermotkelly2289]

Very handy for quick jobs. Always best to have a smaller lathe as well

[@cynic-al]

People are very critical of the import lathes, however I have the 280 vf which I bought ex display from the warco sale day for £985. I have found it very accurate, I have made 0.5mm thick stainless sleeves in the past. The main failings are torque at low speeds when turning large, hard parts due to the lack of a gearbox. The rigidity on the cross slide when taking big cuts on hard parts - what lathe doesn't suffer there? You can remove it or put a rear tool post on. I crashed it into the end on power feed once accidentally and bent the gear and damaged the Bush in the saddle. These were replaced cheaply from warco. I also had to repair the motor speed control. A replacement board was available from warco for £160. I was able to find a good diagnostics manual online and narrow down the damaged component. I found that the component was available from Radwell for a couple of pounds. Radwell also had old stock boards available for £30. So I bought a few of each so I have spares. You just have to swap a component which sets the size of the motor. I believe the newer models (not the vf) have a different motor type, ac instead of dc, which I'm told is more reliable. Have fun!

[@keithappleton]

They are what they are. I have owned a Korean Milling machine for about 45 years, it has done a lot of work and I still use it. This little Warco Lathe is a great alternative to a very small "mini" lathe.

[@1471SirFrederickBanbury]

Quite the adorable little lathe. That being said, the only lathes I have are 40 mm centre height watchmakers lathes (with an additional hand crank nonetheless)! It’s amazing the vast range of sizes that lathes come in, and even more so when you put a watchmakers lathe on top of the headstock of another lathe.

[@keithappleton]

Watchmaking is not something that I have ever tried to do.

[@sween187]

Very good, I like the way you keep people on their toes, kgs, stones and pounds. A good first job for the lathe would be make a new speed controller knob, 👍

[@keithappleton]

Yes, I thought of that - if only I had the time .........

[@ilfarmboy]

you handled it better than I getting it into the shop

[@prestonm4s]

I just got done Mounting one about that size in a water proof Dewalt box with wheels on it to keep in the back of my truck for doing moble work there good to have on hand

[@keithappleton]

an excellent idea }:-)))

[@matthewgray1699]

Hi Keith, would a lathe like this be suitable for making small steam engines like the smaller Stuart models?

[@keithappleton]

Yes, even the Stuart Beam Engine And Victoria.

[@timothylangley6945]

Handy addition to the workshop.

[@ilfarmboy]

bet this will work great for the fine work you have to do on some projects

[@keithappleton]

Definitely!

[@boyd21]

Very nice looking lathe.

[@keithappleton]

I like it for those smaller jobs . . .

[@jims6323]

9 & 1/2 stone!

[@keithappleton]

60Kg

[@ego73]

A CJ-0618 type! Hammerland [especially!], Artisan Makes, n ToT have great mods I think you'll enjoy.

[@ego73]

...and I'm definitely leaving out a whole lotta others that've made a CJ-0618 THE lathe I'm going to buy--just so I'll have plenty to feed my hobby.

[@johnvine5731]

I have never heard of 3 inch or 2 inch morse tapers. Is that a typo or is that a thing?

[@keithappleton]

Really, you need to get out more ......... I first heard of it when I read the book Gulliver's Travels where he visits Brobdingnag which is a fictional land and populated by by giants using 3 inch and 2 inch Morse Tapers on really big Lathes ........ }:-)))

[@laudennn]

LOL. great vid. thanks @@keithappleton

[@keithappleton]

Sometimes I make mistakes, said the Hedgehog climbing off the Hairbrush . . . . I make a video almost every day of my life and I am not a machine }:-)))