Anyone order a machine from Alibaba?

Hey guys...just to keep adding to the discussion. Its Monday and I have received back a few more quotes. Sunmore's response was nice and seemed to be honest. He said the particular lathe I was getting a quote on was 6 months out on production. He stated they are the actual manufacturer of the lathe. He also said they will be at a trade show in Chicago in October and I should stop by to see their booth and see their products and quality. I thought this seemed much more substantial than other companies replies.

I also got another quote back from another company that says they also manufacturer their own equipment. They had a unit in LA, California that I could get immediately and skip all the shipping and import duties. The only issue is a 14x40 was $5900.

Im really thinking Im going to just go ahead and order a 12x36 from PM. I wasnt sure what size lathe I really needed as this is my first. Originally thinking the 10x22 Grizzly was what I wanted. After thinking and thinking, I just dont want to need a bigger lathe. I think the 12x36 should be enough.
 
8mpg said:
Hey guys...just to keep adding to the discussion. Its Monday and I have received back a few more quotes. Sunmore's response was nice and seemed to be honest. He said the particular lathe I was getting a quote on was 6 months out on production. He stated they are the actual manufacturer of the lathe. He also said they will be at a trade show in Chicago in October and I should stop by to see their booth and see their products and quality. I thought this seemed much more substantial than other companies replies.

.
Click to expand...

After being involved with numerous trade shows, I want to see one in the field. They don’t take equipment off of the line and send it to trade shows, the ones at the shows, have been “Fluffed and Buffed”, There will not be any maladjusted gibs, bent shafts or chipped paint, all the parts will be pristine, I would want to see one fresh out of the box, at a customers shop, then see it again 2-3 months later, to see how well the quality survived.

I know people have had problems with Jet tools, I haven’t, but go read the thread on the PM1236, on Home Shop Machinist. his had broken taps in the castings and multiple ill fitting parts. None of these suppliers are perfect, the best you hope for, is you get one of their better examples.

I’d hate to give them my money and wait, for them to send me the part. I tried to buy a lathe from PM. but was not about to pay $5000+ and then wait 6-8 weeks to get the lathe. Especially when I could buy a Jet, Grizzly or a few other, get the same or same quality machine and get it immediately.
 
Last edited:
The first lathe I used was a big Okuma in pre-ap. A nice big Japanese industrial lathe. The college got it as a donation for tax purposes, it was worn. The next lathe I used 25 years later is my BusyBee DF1224g , a used Taiwanese generic ,The third lathe I used is my son's XIMA QC6125, a Chinese 10x22. The easiest lathe to use was also the biggest. The next easiest was the 12" the least the 10"

If you can get machines with the makers name on it, I don't mean Grizzly ,Jet, PM, they are just importers, I feel you might get a better machine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top