I have the twister fu-200, which is the smaller brother to the stratos fu-230. This is probably the lower end of the price range, and the lathe is very similar to the Axminster 1628. It does everything I am asking from it, including large diameters up to 30" (with the head swiveled to the side or slid to the end of the bed). Solid construction, heavy, accurate, reliable. If I was a professional turner, I would probably go for the Stratos XL, but for me the Twister was money well spent, every single penny of it.