King Canada KWL-1016C Any opinions on this lathe?

I saw this King lathe Side by side with the General 25-100 in the KMS store in Abbotsford last year. To my eye they were identical, right down to the marks left by the milling machine on the lathe bed. I would think they are made in the same factory, and are just painted and decaled for the different machine companies. I have the General 25-100 Midi lathe and I like to use it. The price of these lathes has dropped to about $350, probably because King was kicking the stuffing out of the General's sales. Even if I had to pay more for the General over the King I would still chose the General. King products do not have a good record among wood workers around these parts. I do get good service from my General dealer when I want to buy extra parts, Like a second tool rest banjo. By the way my friends Jet mini tail stock fit onto the General and lined up to the headstock perfectly - as if they were made in the same factory. Can't be a fluke! If your funds are really thin go with the King only if it is a whole lot cheaper than the General. Looking down the road your resale value of the General will be a whole lot better. Good luck Edward

I will go over for a look in the morning.

Was working on a project - - got tired and fell asleep early. :-)

Thanks very much for the thoughts - I am glad I waited to buy because I was clueless > I have visited your site and saw what your are doing.

Much appreciated. Little by little the issues are clear on what to look for.

Despite using a lathe for years I never thought about the construction issues - Just used what my dad had. It would have take a well wielded sledge hammer to damage any of the parts on that antique I am sure it weighed almost 1/2 a ton -- or more. :-) Took two people to slide it a bit.

Now on a thin budget I actually have to consider all the issues. Too many other tools are needed.

What is clear is that if you have the money - buy top of the line - but that's true in everything.

Customers who went cheap on projects and hardware used to upset me -- because it made our work look bad. This is no different it seems.

Leo Van Der Loo wrote:

Ok will pay attention to this.

Understand.

I play guitar -- so I _really_ work hard to keep my fingers out of harms way. :-)) i.i. "take care" is taken seriously here. Yhanks for the thoughts. :-)

Thought it may be so. Just saved me a trip t the General Dealer here.

Not an issue here. Especially with so many wood shows. Just go to a show and find a dealer with the parts -- so service is important here - too many choices. Have not found a bad dealer yet.

Yeah the Jet dealer at All in One pointed that out. He also had some cheap knock-offs. He was selling them to his Jet customers. Does not advertise it - just when you come in you find out. His customers are very loyal - one took me aside and pointed out that the owner did find good stuff that worked well.

They can bury me with my wood work tools.

Denis:

We had a look at the CTC lathe. Would not recommend it except for extremely light duty.

Thay also have a larger lathe $379 - it is the "tube" style of base. I remembered that FW(?) had driticized this type so no go there either.

Denis Marier wrote:

We got the King lathe today. We will add the extension base later.

It simply became the "least worst" choice after looking at everyone's opinion and considering the alternatives (slim and none almost) on our budget. (We have other demands on the cash for a while.) The General would have been an alternative if we could have found one. The Jet mini lathe -- while nice - could not do the intended work without $250 more cash -- plus the tax.

So for $300 plus tax we got the lathe and the King 8pc chisel set. Not great tools - but serviceable for now. They are throwing in the tools on their current sales flyer. Considering that most of the tools I see at wood shows are about $75 to $150 each - for the ones I like -- we know what we're getting there as well.

We will hook it up and test it tomorrow or Monday and post a picture if we get a turning that does not reduce entirely to wood shavings.

I say we because after I ponied up the cash, SWMBO put it on her CC and said - "By the way I'll probably use it more than you". Actually she smirked as she flounced off with the cash.

I made her pay for the wood at Century Mills... Got that much at least. :-(

Turns out the fellow on the sales desk is a turner - used to teach at the local schools and colleges. I picked up a small piece of White Oak - said I was going to turn it. Thought he was going to cry. "Quarter Sawn White Oak?" he said - look at the grain on this "Don't think about turning it till you plane it." he pleaded. He was right - fabulous grain pattern - Jewel box it is.

We got some baltic birch plywood to make a table top (double layer of

3/4 for a sturdy top) and will get some nice heavy two by four legs made and make sure there is a sturdy shelf to hold the recommended sand bags... We did this with a scroll saw as well... The fellow at Century Mills described a recommended setup as he was familiar with that lathe and similar.

Got some poplar to "test on" if I don't damage it beyond repair I'll make some lamp stems from them.

If I remember correctly, the wooden end of the chisel is what one holds and the pointy end goes toward the wood... :-) Kind of like boating as a sailor once patiently explained to me - pointy end goes first...

Planning to sell some work - already planning the next lathe purchase -- so much for the warning we got. :-))

Will wrote:

Hi Will

I can see 2 lathes in you future Congrats

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Will wrote: