feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe

Re: feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi Ken,

I think that this is a very new lathe from General. I don't have one, but am curious if anyone here does and what they think of it so far.

Thanks,

Mike

Still dreaming in the color Green in Apex, NC :)

Re: feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe *LINK*

Mike Brazeau

>Ken - I have emailed the area sales manager for Ontario to get some feedback. General have vastly improved their web page and there are specs there for two models. For a couple of years they have shown an 18" version of the 160 with VFD and a 1 HP motor. We had one in a booth at the Toronto Wood Show last November and it ran fine. General sponsored a competition and we demonstrated in the booth on three lathes. The 1 HP was slightly low on power at low rpms. The rest of it had the same mass as a 160. This new one is beefed up a bit, 1 1/4" 8 TPI headstock and a 1.5HP motor vs 1" x 8 on the 18". Looks like a downsized 260. Interesting that they are using 120V on the VFD controller which is handy. They only draw 5 A as well. Will post agian when I get some feedback.

Mike


General 25-650

Re: feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe

Keith Tompkins

>HI Ken, the lathe is fine, however, go with the 20" with VS. if you can swing it.

Re: feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe

Bill Howatt

>It appears to be marketed as General International which means it is made offshore not in Canada like the General 160s and 260s.

Not saying this condemns them at all but I don't consider GI in the same league as General.

Bill

Re: feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe

Ruth Niles

>I have to agree with Keith on the 260 VS. Don't know anything about this new model. I made the mistake of saving a few dollars, buying the 160-2, reeves-drive speed control and had nothing but trouble. Last year (at Totally Turning Symposium) I purchased the 26020 and absolutely love it. General is a good, quiet, reliable and sturdy hunk of iron.

Re: feedback on general 16" 25-650 lathe

Mike Brazeau

>Ken - I did get a response back from the sales manager. He had been on vacation. As stated earlier they are General International and are not a clone of the 18" GI lathe I mentioned. The workmanship on it was fine. Obviously when you only pay half as much as you do for domestical manufacture, there may be differences. At the price you get in the US, this new looks like something worth giving good consideration to.

Mike