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Grizzly starter lathe

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Grizzly starter lathe

#1

Grizzly starter lathe

Dinyar Chavda

>My friend wants to buy a Grizzly G8691 lathe (http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G8691), 40" between centers, 14" swing, 1/2hp motor, 0-3000rpm, with a base for $140 + shipping $38.

He is a wood worker. and wants to see if he would be interested in turning, and if he is, he is willing to then move on to something more substantial.

Is this a reasonable idea? Is there something better out there that is comparably priced? Or is this such a terrible lathe that there is no way that he can adequately judge if he would like to turn? He wants to do this fairly fast, as I will be visiting him in a couple of weeks, and he would like some basic lessons on it.

TIA

Dinyar

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#2

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

Dinyar Chavda

>I forgot to mention that he does want to turn bowls on it, not just spindle-work.

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#3

Re: Grizzly starter lathe *LINK*

RevDoug

>I believe he will find that 1/2 hp motor a bit under sized for the swing and length of the lathe. Resale on that lathe is not going to be very good either. I think I would try to talk him into but a Jet or Mercury mini.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug


Wood Spun Round

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#4

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

Ron in Drums PA

>I saw a Grizzly lathe, I'm not sure of the model number, but it was under $200.00 with shipping. This lathe had sheet metal ways. I would stay away from this machine if it is the same quality.

I second RevDoug advise about a mini.

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#5

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

Joel Hunnicutt

>Dinar, several of the students I teach at the community college bought starter lathes. Most got jet/delta mini's but one bought that lathe from Grizzly. He has not been as happy with it at the guys that got mini's. Vibration has been a constant problem. It just doesn't have the heft relative to the mini. Because it has the extra swing, he keeps trying to toss chuncks of wood on it that it is not designed for.

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#6

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

Anthony

>I bought the delta Iron bed last year,and a jet VS mini last xmas.I wasn't to happy with the Delta,because I started getting into bowls,and even small out of round pieces would cause the lathe to move.I did more turning on the Jet,what a pleasure to use.I turned pens and bowls.I've since returned the Delta,and now I'm the proud owner of a Powermatic 3520. Tell your friend for 199.00,or a little more for the variable speed on the Jet he can't go wrong with the Jet or Delta mini lathes.

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#7

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

Kent in Emmaus, PA

>For $40 more, I think the Harbor Freight cast iron lathe is a better value. It also happens to be the same machine as Grizzly G5979.

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

#8

Re: Grizzly starter lathe

David Lykins - Marietta GA - guitardude

>My turning ability is still in its infancy, however I have learned just as with others tools, its just not worth trying to save $100 or so on a starter machine when you know darn well within a few months, if not weeks you'll be dissapointed with your purchase.

If he was to purchase a Grizzly, I consider the 42335, however I got a great deal on a "Used" Delta 12x36 lathe for $300, and for my use right now it really fits the bill and probably will for years to come. It runs smooth, uses standard fittings and tools and has a MT#2.

Save for a better lathe, even if you get a used one. You'll be much happier.

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