Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Lathe Purchase Help!!
Richard H.
>I would like to buy a lathe, and would apprediate feedback as to what is required for spindle turning. Table legs mostly.
I have talked to the folks at Highland Hardware and they suggested the Oneway 1224. A person at Eagle tool suggested the biger General becase the 1224 is not that substantial.
I tend to ruminate over purchases to the point of obsession... so any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Keith Tompkins
>Hi Richard, my suggestion, just get the General.Make sure to get the variable speed model...I own one , won't part with it.
You will not regret purchasing the General; the bigger OneWay machines are superior machines, but much more costly. Keith
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Dave Shombert
>Hi Richard,
You'll probably get a lot of response to this question, maybe to the point that you'll be sorry you asked. But here's my two cents' worth:
I have the large General. It isn't perfect, but I'm happy with it and I have no desire to "move up". That said, it's a BIG machine - nearly 600 pounds. You won't be taking one of these babies down the basement stairs into the shop. If you're mainly interested in spindle turning, I'm not sure you really need something like this. I've seen a Oneway 1224 and I was impressed with it. All of their products are very well made and they seem to stand behind them. I would think a 1224 would be more than adequate for spindle turning.
On the other hand, this stuff is pretty addictive. I'm into some things now that I never would have anticipated when I bought my first (Nova) lathe. So you might THINK you're only interested in spindle turning, but six months from now you turn your first bowl and, next thing you know, you're collecting huge burls from that neighbor down the street and .... That's the way this often goes, and it can result in you deciding that you want something bigger. On the other (third) hand, you will probably always be able to sell a Oneway pretty easily.
Maybe this isn't that helpful. This is a tougher decision to make than one might think. But I do think that a Oneway 1224 is more than adequate for spindle turning.
Hope this helps,
Dave Shombert
Elkins, WV
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Scott Greaves, Blackfoot Idaho
>Hi Richard,
Lets break this down based on the type of turning you say you want to do. You say you will do mostly spindle work, table legs and such.
For this you don't need a big swing, because you probably won't be turning table legs that big around! But you will need a longer bed, because some legs may be 30" to 40" long, depending on how tall you want your table.
You will also find that a good powerful motor with variable speed and reversing features will help in your spindle turning.
Jet and Powermatic both have nice lathes that would fit this bill very well. I have a Oneway 1224, and with the bed extension it would fit this bill as well. Oneway sells a nice spindle steady for this lathe as well. I'm not sure how long the bed is on the big General, but if anything that would be the only thing that might be lacking on this wonderful lathe. Don't get so hung up on the name on the lathe - look instead at the features that will allow you to do what you want to do.
BTW, anybody that says the Oneway 1224 is not built well enough to handle a few table legs has never seen one, much less used one!
Good luck on your purchase! It sounds like you have some good times ahead of you!
Scott.
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Dave Peebles Lyons, Ohio!
>Hi Richard,
If you are just interested in spindle turnings at this time, save a few bucks and buy the Jet mini and the bed extention. It is a great little lathe with more than enough power for what you want to do.
I have one and think it is the best bang for the buck in the mini's. It will turn spindles all day long and do smaller bowls too.
By the way, My large lathe is a 2436 Oneway which I truly love. :) But for what you are wanting to turn, the Jet mini is a beauty.
Dave
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Walt C
>I will shillfor the Jet 1442. I bot one this summer and am very pleased. Long bed, will turn bowls, and well built. Variable speed, (reeves drive). I've spent about 1/2 the cost of the lathe on accessories, and had a fair collection of chisels to start, so reserve some money for extras too!
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Joe Stevens
>Richard
Do yourself a favour and buy a big lathe. Remember you can turn small items on a large lathe but you can't turn large items on a small lathe. Furthermore, once you get into turning you'll find it to be addictive and before long it won't be spindle turning only....been around lathes for 52 years and have seen that happen more often than not.
Unfortunately as far as this column is concerned, being in Australia, I cannot suggest a specific lathe to you, other than our Vicmarc or the Kiwi Nova.
Just make sure she is a good size mate. This is one game where size definately makes a difference.
Happy turning from Perth in Western Australia.
Joe
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Bob Hackett
>The best suggestion I can give here is to sit down and make a list of the things you want to do and another list of the things you maybe might try in the future.
After you`ve made the list and decide that turning 8 foot porch columns might be neat somewhere in the future then look for a lathe that will be adaptable to the task when your skill set improves to that level.
Things to look for on any lathe,
1-variable speed and reversible.It`s pretty much a given that the electronic type will outlast and is more versatile than a mechanical variable.You`ll cut your sanding time if you can reverse the work`s rotation.
2-bed extentions.Are they available now or can they be fabbed up at reasonable cost.
3-Swing.If you go with a 12" swing now and find out down the road that you really like bowls instead of spindles then how easy is it to install riser blocks for the head and tailstock.
4-Attachments.You`ll want a lathe with a more common size thread so you can get attachments like chucks and faceplates to fit easily.You`ll also want a drilled thru spindle in the headstock and at least a #2 morse taper(I prefer a #3) in that spindle.A drilled thru tailstock spindle will also help if you thing there will ever be a need to drill any of your spindles.
Brand isn`t as important as versatility as far as I`m concerned.Think about finding a lathe that will do what YOU want it to do and then buy it regardless of what brand,color,or age.You`re going to change something about it,I guarantee it.Think of whatever machine you buy as a starting point.
I`ll be surprised if you get thru this with only one lathe.My guess is that you`ll start with one and then tradeup as you progress and your skills/interests change and evolve.
Why not make that first lathe a used one that will fit the projects planned for the next 2 years ,say.When you`ve outgrown that lathe you`ll have a much better picture of what you really need than you do now.Look in the newsletter of the nearest woodworking club or AAW chapter for that first lathe.You`ll be wanting to become a member anyway,that`s where you`ll get the best input and advice.Nothing beats face to face interaction for shortening any learning curve.
Mainely,Bob
I took mine down the stairs
Bill Howatt
>Stairs from the garage to the shop that is. Took off parts of the skid so only the boards parallel to the ways were left and slid it down the stairs. Fortunately the right-angle bend at the bottom of stairs had lots of room to turn it. Back onto dollies and into the shop.
Going down the stairs inside the house...well, that would have been a totally different story and I would be turning in the living room. Probably not a big deal since most of the shavings seem to fall off me in the living room anyway according to my wife.
Did take off headstock and tailstock to make it lighter. Love it and its 20"VFD drive!
Bill
me too! Even worse
Mike Schwing from Md.
>I took the entire Powermatic 3520, on the pallet, 700 pounds, right in the front door of the house and down the stairs into the basement. Hired movers for the task, and they got that sucker down there in one shot. Don't even want to be home when they have to move it back up!
Re: me too! Even worse
Charlie Anderson in Southern Maryland
>Just have the lathe convey and buy a new one for the new house. You pay by the pound for the move.
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Barry Turner
>Here's a point to ponder. Are you going to just do short table legs? The 1224 has a length of 24". Dining table heights are in the range of 30". Of course, you can get a bed extension. Just remember to budget for it. As for the 1224 "not being all that substantial", I doubt this will pose much of a problem with spindle work. The 1224 is a very well made and solid lathe. It fills the niche between the mini/midi lathes and the larger ones. I think you might quickly outgrow it if and when you move beyond table legs.
Re: Lathe Purchase Help!!
Barry Turner
>Let me add another couple of things to consider. If you get a 1224, the quality will be so good, it may spoil you for lesser machines.
You say you only want to turn spindles and only need a lathe that will do spindles. If that is true, please don't turn any boxes or bowls or vessels, even small ones. Not even one. You will find this is a whole 'nuther realm of turning and quite addictive. You'll want to trade up so fast it will make your head spin.
