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powermatic lathe question

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powermatic lathe question

#1

powermatic lathe question

jared

>Life is full of decisions sometimes. I had just about talked myself into buying a 3520 powermatic lathe. At present I am using a Delta midi and having great fun with it, making [and selling] some bowls] pens, etc. I was all ready to buy the new powermatic but just found out there is a school shop auction tomorrow not far away from here that has a powermatic model 90, also a real nice powermatic jointer on it. Can anybody tell me more about the 90, is it variable speed by changing belts? What is the lowest speed it will go to? What exactly is the swing, not over the gap but the regular bed?

And finally would the 90 be looked at as just a stop gap thing until I finally gave in to the lust for a new one, 3520?

I would assume that the 90 will go for $600-$800 and maybe I should just forget that and go for the new one. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance Jared

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Re: powermatic lathe question

#2

Re: powermatic lathe question

John Lucas

>I haven't looked at a model 90 in years so hopefully I won't tell you anything wrong. As I remember it is 12" swing and around 36" between centers. The variable speed is mechanical and I'm really guessing here but think it starts at 500 and goes up to about 3000. It is massive and was made for production turning.

If it is a school lathe it has one safety feature that is both good and bad. You have to move the variable speed back to the lowest setting to get it to start. That's good from a safety point but drives you crazy if your turning something and want to stop frequently to inspect it.

You will quickly outgrow the 12" limitation because about 11 1/2 is all you can get on there and by the time you round out the blank you usually down to 10 or 10 1/2". Even then the tool rest won't go under the bowl but on that lathe you have the gap that gets in the way making it hard to turn the back side of a bowl mounted in a chuck.

If you could get it for 500 I'd do it. It is a good stop gap lathe to fit between the 3520. If I had to pay more than that I'd save my money and get the 3520. You won't outgrow it anytime soon.

Re: powermatic lathe question

#3

Re: powermatic lathe question

Gil

>You can do outboard turning on a model 90. For that you have what about a 7' diameter bowl that you could turn with it. School lathes will also probably be 3phase. Everything in my highschool shop was 3phase.

-GIl

Re: powermatic lathe question

#4

Re: powermatic lathe question

David Galloway

>I have turned on a 90. I vote for the 3520.

Re: powermatic lathe question

#5

90 is a very good spindle lathe

TD

>but not good at all for bowls. Minimum speed is probably about 1500 rpm unless it has a jackshaft. If you are doing anything other than spindle turning I would suggest you go for the 3520.

Re: powermatic lathe question

#6

Re: powermatic lathe question

Gary Ljostad

>Thought you might be interested in this. New 3520 link

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=57121&item=3859137633&rd=1&tc=photo

Re: powermatic lathe question

#7

Re: powermatic lathe question

jared

>Thanks for the replies. I have done some research by phone on the lathe. I think it is probably not a lathe that was specifically desiged for a school as it is powered by 110 volt motor. I guess Ihave decided to pass on it any way and most likely spend the day working in the shop and with my 16 year old son gathering turning wood instead of standing around for many hours at an auction. Thanks Jared