Delta Lathe

Skip the Delta

Dominic Greco in Richboro, PA

>John,

From the perspective of someone who owned a lathe much like the one you are considering, I would I offer another consideration. How about purchasing a Midi Lathe with the bed extension? Either the Delta or the Jet will do. I have the Delta Midi and really enjoy using it. Mark Kauder turns incredible looking (and intricate) bowls using his Jet Midi lathe.

I believe both the Jet and Delta Midi lathes are on sale now. Both Jet and Delta have offers where you get the bed extension free. This allows you to be able to turn up to 32" between centers. The 1/2 HP motor is almost as powerful as the 3/4HP you would be getting with the Delta.

Another consideration is resale value. You can easily sell the Midi lather if, and when you upgrade.

Just my 2 cents.

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Skip the Delta

Brad Vietje

>I agree with Dominic about the mini/midi lathe options, but would also add the General and Vicmarc lines to your consideration list.

I've turned a few times on the General, which they call the "General Maxi Lathe", and like it a lot. In my opinion, it is much better made than either the Jet or Delta, and far more massive (nearly twice the weight). The Jet offers a variable speed option at a very good price. Most folks are happy with their Delta mini's, though there were quite a few problems reported with spindle wobble/runout over the last two years. The belts are easier to change on the Delta than the Jet (non-variable speed models) because the access door is larger. The Vicmarc mini has enjoyed a great reputation until quite recently on this list and elswhere; seems they were sorting out some customer service issues a few months ago.

We may not all agree on the particular lathe to buy, but we all agree you should get one !

Safe Spinning,

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT

Re: Delta Lathe

Ronnie in Graham N,C.

>John,

I have a 46-715 and have been happy with it although I haven't turned on much other than an old Craftsman 12" that the 46-715 replaced.

I would like for it to turn slower sometimes but you get what you pay for.

I put 250 lb. of sand in the base and it is all but vibration free even with a large out of balance blank,the craftsman was on a bench with wheels and it would jump all over the place with a 8" blank.

Ronnie Rimmer

I'll never buy one again

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Check my review of the 46-715 in the WC articles and reviews section. Should tell you plenty!

Re: Delta Lathe

ken riedel

>I have that lathe I also use it every day.I think it is a good starter lathe . the price is very good . keep pulley system clean .

They're not that bad!

Earl

>I bought the 46-701 used, which is quite a bit older. I also have two sand bags on the shelf to keep it from vibrating. I've been turning on it for about 1 1/2 years. I was very happy with it until I threw a 30# wet chunk of out of round wood on it and then tried to hollow a vase out of it (about 10" deep). I threw the bearings out! Personally, if you don't try to do too big of turnings and keep the Reeves drive clean and well lubed, I think it would be great for $350. Others will disagree with me, but a friend bought a new Jet mini at the same time. It's a good lathe but I have been able to do much more on mine than he has on his.

I just ordered my Christmas present--a Powermatic 3520A so I can do bigger things!!

Earl

Re: Delta Lathe

JL work

>I have the Delta 46-715. If what you are doing is turning bowls, pens and "small" stuff - do you think you will need the 40" between centers? I got mine because I turn some long stuff (30") for chairs and the like.

Re: Delta Lathe

Earl

>You may not need the length for bowls but you do need the power and heft. A 10" chunk of wet wood on a mini lathe is really pushing it.

Earl

Re: Delta Lathe

Fog Tanner

>Raffin turns his small stuff along with his larger stuff on a 1000 lb 51" bed Vicmarc 300. That includes his bowls too. You really don't need a shortbed bed for bowl turning. I use the same model Vic for pens, boxes, bowls, and long spindles, so 40" is a short bed :-) ..

I also have the Delta 16" steel bed lathe (now my mini) which has a movable head and a 43" bed. I have never moved the nead to the end for bowl turning, only slighty from the left end to clear the "leg". If I hadn't gotten into offcenter turning, I would never gone past my Delta,but the Vic gave me more offcenter swing. But, I learned to turn on the Delta and still use it for some items - one simply isn't civilized unless one has two lathes ;-) ...something about more tools/toys and winning when they die I believe ..

Re: Delta Lathe

John Haylow Bracebridge Ont

>I would like to thank those who responded to my post. I have decided that I will start off with a mini lathe.

I have also ordered Bill Grumbine's DVD on turning and I am looking forward to viewing it.

Thanks again.

John