Thanks pj, yeah these lathes are described in the mini lathe site like a kit you have to rebuild to get them to behave like a real lathe.. Haha, but so true. The first time I used it there was a clicking sound comming from the carriage, one of the hex screws holding the carriage on fell out & was sitting on the big geared wheel. Since then Ive spent considerable time fixing design & manufacturing probs, the gibs werent even flat... Grrr

Cheers