Need advice on new Lathe choice

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Jorge Castaneda ~ Downeast Maine

>Dave,

The Nova DVR gives you both thr variable speed and the option of adding beds as needed.

By itself it does not weight a ton, but youcan build a cabinet and have a ballast compartment there.

Or you could buy their cast iron legs, it will make it heavy but I don't think it will acept the extensions then. As a bonus it has a swivel head.

2 cents

Jorge

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Chris K in MD

>I recently bought a 3520A and while I havent used the full swing yet, keep in mind that the banjo takes up swing capacity. Its nice to move it freely under any porject you are working on.

If you are still OK with this then take a look at the Jet VS (little brother to the 3520A)with 14" swing and the Delta VS with 16" swing both are priced in the $1200-1600 range if you shop around.

The DVR also has some of these features but seems like more money for simialr features.

HTH

Chris

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Steve Lewis

>The Jet 1442 sounds like the lathe you need. I've seen them sell for less than $800.00.

Guess which one I recommend?

Dominic Greco in Richboro PA

>Dave,

If you're budget isn't quite up to the Powermatic 3520A, or if you really don't have the need for that kinda' capacity, I would recommend it's younger "cousin", the Jet JWL-1642.

About (3) years ago, I purchased a Jet JWL-1642. I even wrote a review and posted it here on WoodCentral. Since then I've used the living heck out of it and have had no complaints what so ever. I use it for primarily for bowls, but I have recently been doing more and more spindle turning. While the 42" capacity allows for long spindles, you can purchase an short bed extension for about $300 that will increase the capacity.

And if you wanted to add mass on top of it's 435lb "bare" weight, a simple ballast box will take care of that. Guess who wrote an article on that as well? :>)

See ya around,

Dominic

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Anthony

>I agree with Dominic,I don't think you need a massive lathe to mostly spindle work.The Jet Dominic advises is a fine lathe.

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Eduardo Sarmiento Hall-Lima Peru

>Well the only one I can think of (if you got the bucks) is the ONEWAY 1640 I seriously thinking of getting one instead of the STUBBY

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Richard Allen

>Hi Dave

They used to make lathes like you are looking for all the time. The old iron would be a good match for your needs. You would have to add EVS.

The General lathe is also a very good match. That lathe is based on old iron design and they now have EVS.

The Vega lathes are a good fit as well. There line of spindle lathes is well suited to your stated needs.

For resale value I would get the big Jet or the small Powermatic. They are heavy, have the power and flexablity you are looking for and they have good resale value.

If it was just the handles you were wanting the lathe for then the Vicmarc 100 (minilathe) fitted with a 1hp EVS motor would be perfect for production work.

Good Luck

Richard

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Thomas Skaggs, Go Illini!!

>Dave,

I have the Delta 1642 and I love it. It has a Baldor controller...very nice. 16" swing and 42" between centers. It is a great spindle lathe and I have turned some sizable bowls on it.

The base is designed to easily add outriggers and ballast for stability and weight.

Tommy

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Dave, pay no attention to these other people with their suggestions! What you really need is my Mini Max T-124 lathe, complete with duplicator for all your spindle work!

Bill

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice *LINK*

Edward

>Have a look at the new lathe from General (Canada). It is made in Two models; 25-600, reeves drive variable speed and 25-650 electronic variable speed. Lots of cast iron, swivel/sliding headstock, well machined, smooth & quiet. Perfect for spindles and will accomodate a bowl or plate.

Here is a link, I sure hope it works.


http://www.general.ca/product/inter/25650an.html

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

bill Crommett in seneca

>Is Genmeral still using course threads on the steady rest locks.. It has been a pain to have to hit the toggle with a gouge in order to tighten and loosen the lock.

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Keith Tompkins

>Dave, you may be happy with a General....you may be interested in driving to Saratoga, NY this weekend.....the Northeastern Woodworkers Showcase is being held there.....you can test drive a few lathes yourself there.

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice *LINK*

Dave Peebles Lyons, Ohio!

>Hi Dave,

Another lathe to consider is the 1224 from Oneway. It seems to fit a lot of your needs. It also has a bed extention available to allow you to turn 48" between centers.

Best wishes,

Dave


1224 Oneway lathe

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Richard Polinski

>One area you do not want to overlook is the used machinery market. One does not have to be rich to afford a good quality heavy duty lathe. I'm poor yet by buying antique machinery I've outfitted an entire woodworking/turning shop with heavy duty industrial equipment. My suggestion would be to look locally or on Ebay for a nice Yates American type lathe from the 30's or 40's or a Powermatic type from the 50's or 60's. These regularly sell for less than a thousand dollars and as a professional cabinet maker and turner I can tell you that they are perfect for standard spindle turning and face work. You can also turn outboard for larger face work. At work we have a General and I've turned up to 36" dia. easily on the outboard end. At home I have a wooden bed lathe (a turn of the century Porter) with a 20" swing that I picked up for $10 from an old coffin factory near Scranton for turning up to 12' posts. My other lathe is an American Wood Working Machine Company 12" X 36" from 1920 with complete accesories I got for $900 a few years ago by selling an old rifle I had to pay for it. These both run off leather belts and are heavy, solid and ready for another hundred years. The newer ones like I mentioned above have their own internal motors.

I turned bowls at a farm market for a while with a Oneway 2436 and it's a great lathe with capacity for those jumbo bowls. But at $5000 I'd need to save for 10 years. And the $1500 - $2500 lathes (Which I'd have to save a year or two to afford) aren't as heavy or ridgid as I like, not that there's anything wrong with them and from what everyone says they're great lathes and have modern features like variable speed (though I've never found a need for this feature myself, even turning bowls of all sizes). But then I'm used to even my small lathe being over 500 pounds of cast iron and steel. Anyway, I would at least look at that end of the market as well before making your decision. I had to travel six hours round trip and sleep in my truck overnight to get my Porter lathe (with a truckload of lineshafting and other misc. goodies) but the price (and the lathe) were right. On Ebay right now there are several of the type lathes I've mentioned, including a Yates-American. I hope this may help and good luck.

Rich Polinski

Milford, NJ

Re: Need advice on new Lathe choice

Dave Anderson Chester,NH

>Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm still soring out my options, but am leaning toward the Jet 1642 with VFD since there's a one day Jet sale next Saturday at Woodcraft and I can save a Coupla hundred dollars. In any event, I'll let folks know my choice after it's been made. Thanks again.