>I know this question gets asked a lot, but I could not find an answer when I searched.
I currently have a King Model CH-900C lathe. This is my first lathe and is a "cheap" bench top model. It looks a lot like the cheaper Jets and the like.
I now want to move up and get a better one but have the restriction that my shop is in my basement and the only access is through the family room stairs. Therefore, what is the best table top or smaller floor model around? The floor model lathe must be able to be broken down enough to be moved around in pieces. I would like to be able to turn 12" - 16" OD objects and 18"-24" long spindle work. I think the leading candidate is the Nova 3000, but not sure if I can find in Canada. Thanks for any assistance. Bill
>You don't say how much you want to spend on you new lathe. Take a look at the PM3520. The head stock, banjo, and tail stock all come off so you can get down to the legs, that also come off, and the ways. The whole thing weights in at about 700 lbs. I am how heavy each part weights but 2 guys can move it when it is broken down.
>I agree. I just bought one and two of us moved all the parts out of the truck and into my basement. The bed was the heaviest at 250lbs. However the Jet 16" is a copy of the powermatic and weighs less and costs less. I didn't price the Jet from Toolnut but his price on the 3520 was only slightly higher than most people sell the Jet 16".
Don't let moving the lathe into the basement be the determining factor. I know the Stuby 750 is designed to be separated into compact pieces which can be moved and assembled by one man. I have heard of a Oneway 2436 being moved into a basement. I think the stairs even had a landing to deal with. Oneway help deliver the lathe into the basement.
Perhaps the question could be:
I turned on a friends VL-300 and loved the way it worked. I want to get that lathe but my shop is in the basement and the only access is down the Family room stairs. What can I do?
>I recently delivered a Vicmarc VL300 shortbed that was manually carried to the basement after separating it from the stand and removing the tailstock and banjo. It took 3 men to get it there. I also delivered a long bed VL300 which had to be carried around a house to a basement side door; this monster took 5 of us to move after taking the lathe off the stand. Actually, the lathe was the easy part, the monster stand was the heavy part. There is a tremendous difference in the weight of the factory stand and the weight of the stand that Craft Supplies puts under the Vicmarc. Just remember, the pyramids were built without hydraulics. Enough manpower can do anything.
>Bill I suggest the Nova DVR. 16" swing, Mount with or with stand. Works great off of 115 volt. 24" between centers. 1 1/4"x 8 spindle. Optional outboard turning and extensions. Computer controller. Plug and play. Source in CA
>Thanks for the responses guys. Now I will check out the web and see what all of these look like.
As long as my wife doesn't read this, I don't think price really is an object. I don't expect these lathes to be overly expensive. I am thinking between $1000.00 to $1800.00 CAN$. ($750-$1500 US$). The harder part might be to find Canadian sources for these machines. Transportation from the US should be killer.
