Rotary tables from India?

[compressor man]

Does anyone here have experience with the (astonishingly) affordable rotary tables from India? Yes, I know that one tends to get what they pay for but are these good enough for the occasional hobby job? I saw some 4" units that were ~$100 cheaper than a comparable Grizzly table. Is a Grizzly table far better than one of these or are they much the same?

Chris

 

[bobs7-62steamair]

A few years ago I purchased a 4" rotary table made in India. Extremely poor quality, broke down after one use, worm wouldn't engage the gearing to rotate.
I would never buy anything made in India that has moving parts.

Chinese products are much better made and about the same price if you buy through Alibaba.com Highly recommend the Olima brand, 2,000% better quality than anything made in India.

Indian Rotary tables would make great small boat anchors!

 

[compressor man]

Wow. Thanks!
Chris

 

[RM-MN]

WOW! What a way to disparage an entire country with only one bad example. I once bought a vehicle made in USA that turned out to be a piece of junk. Should I quit buying anything built in USA that has moving parts?

 

[Longboy]

WOW! What a way to disparage an entire country with only one bad example. I once bought a vehicle made in USA that turned out to be a piece of junk. Should I quit buying anything built in USA that has moving parts?

Stop buying product that doesn't preform. Let us know their source and tell us your experience. Let the offended party improve their products....or not!

 

[Cogsy]

I agree, you can't write off an entire country on one example. It's funny how times change though isn't it - just a few years ago everyone was griping about 'Chinese junk' and how they'd never buy anything from there, but the Taiwanese stuff was good. Before that Taiwan was junk and so on. How long before China becomes too expensive and India steps up to be the next 'decent' supplier country I wonder...

 

[Rudy from Norway]

If I had a boat and needed an anchor, I'm not sure I would have thrusted it with a rotary table from India... Slightly overstated, but I have one. I won't give it away. Someone could be sorry.
I got one of these very small ones. Looks so nice. I used it a few times before it revealed its inner dark truth. Absolutely nothing was right. Unless from the feel when cranking it. Nice and tight.
I stripped it from paint and putty and totally re machined it. Now it can do some less accurate and less demanding jobs.
I also have a 6” Chinese rotary table. Same story. Absolutely not god. No brand. This one is beyond any repair. Now I acquired an 8” from Soba. With all the crappy units in mind, I was very skeptical to get another lump of junk metal. However, it is a totally different story. So far very happy.

Rudy

 

[motmaluk]

I had good results with taps from India,I bought a BA set two years ago and they have been trouble free. I must admit most of the material I tapped was Brass .

 

[Rudy from Norway]

motmaluk, I also bought a BA tap set from India. I have heard others are happy with them to. Mine however, vas unserviceable. Had to buy taps from Stuart. When looking at the taps under a magnifying glas you could see that the edges that should cut metal was curled inwards and to wide. the treads would be far from the intended measurements. Same thing with the adjustable reamers I got from the same seller. The seller agreed a refund.
Looks like India definitely is where China where. The quality can vary a grate deal. If you are lucky, you are getting grat value for money. Me however, think I'll pass.
Rudy

 

[vederstein]

There's good stuff and awful crap from anywhere.

This discussion may be more fruitful if there's a way to identify the actual manufacturer and avoid product that way.

...Ved.

 

[goldstar31]

India and China are rather BIG places and quality varies enormously. The surprising thing is that the largest amounts in the cost to the consumer lie with transport, the importer, and of --of course, the government at the point of sale- not production.

Perhaps some study should be concentrated on economics- with a modicum of engineering! There is always 'someone' who missed his lesson on price-- or was fast asleep.

Norm

 

[johnl]

I bought a Grizzly H7527 6" rotary table w/ dividing plates and tailstock (made in India).
It required the usual tweaking out of the box but has performed fine since.
I used it for parts on my Hodgson 9 cyl. radial engine including all the gears.
John

 

[ironman]

I have a 4 inch that I have been using 5-6 years. Works great. 99 bucks from Harbor Freight. Made in India.

 

[Gordon]

I am amazed at the visual aspects of many of the off shore products. If you look at them the paint job or plating looks great but many of them are junk. If they spent a little more on quality materials and a little more time on proper machining and fitting would be much more usable but they concentrate on making it look good. For most of us we want it to perform the task and do not display it on the coffee table. I have purchased items for one time or limited use and had them fail just because the steel was too soft or the fit was so poor that they stripped the threads or experienced excessive wear before I even completed the one time use.

Some times the items can be used by some re-machining or lighter use. For instance I have one of the Harbor Freight 4" rotary tables and I can use it by tightening the table clamps and taking light cuts. This is possible for the once a year I use it but if I used it on any sort of regular basis it would be too much bother.

Periodically I end up purchasing something for one time use that when I was in business I would not have even considered. For instance I used to spend $100+ for a drill motor when I would be drilling holes for hours but now I may purchase a $25 drill motor because I am only going to drill two holes and then put it away for weeks. Now that I am retired and doing this as a hobby putting it down to cool off and going to get a cup of coffee is not a problem.