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advice on buying lathe, please!

M

moye howard

Joined
Apr 21, 2009
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I am looking to move up. I currently have a delta 1440 and i want something bigger. I do not turn a lot of spindles, so length does not matter.

I have been looking hard. I have worked on a woodfast. Rikon is making the 70-500, which is just like the woodfast. Does anyone have experience with it?
I have also considered a jet and powermatic.

Would like to hear from all who have experience with these lathes. Advantages and disadvantages.
 
lathe

I purchased a used Woodfast, love the power, will turn large block of wood, short bed, but the one drawback I have with it is its stability. I do have it on a wood floor though but I had to put it on 4 by 4's and spread the base, and add angle iron from the 4 by 4's up to the woodfast to stabilize it more. I love turning large, unbalanced blocks and they will wable the lathe. I would buy one with a bigger spread leg system the next time. thanks,Gary
 
Moye, I did a lot of research on lathes before buying the PM3520B.
The reason I did buy PM was price. One of the local club members is a distributer for WMH products and cuts members a break on price.
If price were not a problem, I would be turning on a (1)Stubby, (2)Vicmarc or (3)Oneway.
I like what I have and know that several others here on the fourm also turn on PMs.
Good luck with your search.
Glen
 
I have a PM3520B and a Jet 1220. Love them both for different reasons. I bought my lathes the way I tell people to buy computers. Determine how much you are willing to spend (then add about 15%) and then go look at what is available, if you don't you will end up with too many choices to come to a satisfactory selection. The PM at the time was at the high end of my price range, but it went on sale and was a great buy. I see a lot of guys buy the Grizzly, because of price and are very happy with them. But, guys who spend the bucks on a Oneway, Stubby, Robust..etc. don't post much about regretting spending their money on the lathe. Pick a price...stick to it, this will limit your choice and then use the heck out of it.
Bill
 
My personal choices on a quality lathe going from lower price to higher price are as follows. Nova 16/24, Jet 16" and Powermatic 2035B. Those are all excellent buys in their price range.
 
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thanks for all the feedback. just wish i knew more about the Rikon 50-700. I have not meet anyone who is not satisfied with PM or Jet. I have a jet mini and love it.
Would love to hear more.
 
Rikon is what the Woodfast was. Made elsewhere. Makes it unacceptable by virtue of country of origin to some. Note they also make a sliding headstock PM-like lathe as well.

Used to be a saying in Detroit when they made cars there. "Put a Ford and a Chevrolet together in a garage overnight, and nine months later you get a Plymouth." As I look at all the me-too designs out there, I think it applies to Pacific rim lathes, too.

All of the lathes you ask about are full-length lathes. The sliders want more space at the far end as well. The Woodfast/Rikon wants it at the head.

Otherwise, take your choice.
 
When I was deciding on a lathe I didn't think I would ever need any length to the bed since I didn't turn spindles. For the most part I still don't turn spindles but the long bed of my 1640 is great. Not only does it give me lots of room for my elbow without removing the headstock but also ample room for my hollowing rig. Those few times I have wanted to turn something long it was a lifesaver.
 
Steer clear of Grizzly and Laguna. Same machine and laguna has had many problems. They sent me three lathes trying to get me one that worked properly. I returned it and got a 16/42 2hp and am blown away by how much better quality it is. I ran them side by side and there isn't any comparison. Plus a jet comes with a 5yr warranty.
 
I got to turn on the Rikon 70-500 right after it came out. I was doing a demo at the Woodcraft store in Allentown PA, and several Rikon big shots were there. As they were going to be in attendance, I was asked, to "push it". So I did. 😀

Once we got the proper belt placement figured out, the machine had plenty of power. I had a chunk of walnut on it about 18" in diameter and 9" thick, and I laid into it with a big ole gouge. Shavings went everywhere, and the lathe kept up with me. The speed control worked fine, the lathe itself was nice and solid, and the motor had plenty of power. I did not care at all for the placement of the control box. Rikon had (at the time) several points on the lathe where the control box could be "snapped in" and held securely. Unfortunately, they were all places where I could either not see, not reach, or it got in my way. I do not know if that has changed since I used the lathe.

I demoed on the same lathe in Baltimore - very same lathe, since the people who own the Allentown store own the Baltimore store too - and it still ran fine after being in service in a classroom shop for some time. I cannot say anything about the service for Rikon, since I do not own any of their tools, nor can I speak to the longevity of the lathe or its electronics. The Woodfast lathe design is proven over time, and is a solid machine. Quality control is an issue of which I have no knowledge either. But for the time I used it, it held its own with other lathes in the same category. If I had to pick between it and the Powermatic, I would probably go with the PM, just because of their customer service record, and the sliding headstock. That is a real plus when hollowing bowls or hollow forms.
 
New Lathe

I agree with what many have already said. Once I set the price, the PM gave me the most for my buck. Its heavy and stable, although I still need to mount it to the concrete. It has the capacity for large bowls, over the bed and even more after sliding the headstock. Someone is always running sales on them as well.

There is a ton of information out there on the monster as well.
http://mustardmonster.weebly.com/
 
If you want the best lathe for the money and made in the us, get a Robust lathe made in WI. Look on line at turnrobust.com

I have a 16", the very first one made and I love it and the customer service is great.
 
Another comment on the Woodfast

I have an original Woodfast and have had the chance to turn on the Rikon version. I think it's a great lathe and it is a good value. I like that the lathe has 5 speed ranges. When combined with the lathe's variable speed, it's easy to keep things turning at the proper speed and have plenty of torque. The lathe's spindle is supported by 4 over-sized bearings -- with the same size bearings on both the inboard and outboard side of the headstock. This is because the lathe was designed for outboard turning. I've found the lathe to be powerful and smooth.

Rikon makes an outboard toolrest and a 30" extension. So, the lathe can be easily equipped to turn 60" spindles or 30" bowls. Rikon has an excellent reputation for quality, so I wouldn't hesitate buying the lathe if I wanted a lathe with a 20" swing.

That doesn't mean I'd buy a Rikon if I were in the market for a new lathe. For about the same money, the PM 3520B would merit consideration. I prefer the Woodfast/Rikon over the PM. That's purely personal and is based on the kinds of things I turn and the way I turn. Both are very nice lathes and are more lathe than my modest skills require.

If money were not a limiting factor, I'd take a close look at the Robust, Serious, Vicmarc, and Oneway lathes. (In case you've not seen the Serious lathe, click on the link below and drool. It's 1,580 lbs of love!) When the Woodfast was still made by Woodfast (rather than by Rikon) it was considered a peer of Vicmarc and Oneway. That's why, at the price of the PM, I consider it to be an incredible value.

http://serioustoolworks.com/wood-lathes.php
 
Buy American Made

Hi Moye,

I'm with John Nicholson, buy American. You can't go wrong buying a Robust lathe.

I own a Robust Sweet 16 Long bed and couldn't be happier.

Good luck with your choice.
 
It is always nice to get a little turning time on a machine before you buy.

I've done demos on the rikon and own an old 20" woodfast both are ok machines that do what they are advertised to do. Powermatic is a fine machine. each of these machines has a short lock bar for the tool rest height. Not a problem if you develop the habit of tapping the end of it with the tool handle every time you lock it. Did that with the woodfast for years.

Robust is building a network of distributors. Don't know where you live maybe one is close to you. You could see what it does. Real nice machines.

My recommendation is buy a Jet 1640 and spend what you save on a class or two. Improved skills will make turning more fun and rewarding than the baddest lathe on the block.

come to the St Paul symposium. You can try all the top quality lathes under one roof.

Happy turing,
Al
 
Tom Hamilton said:
Hi Moye,

I'm with John Nicholson, buy American. You can't go wrong buying a Robust lathe.

I own a Robust Sweet 16 Long bed and couldn't be happier.

Good luck with your choice.
Click to expand...

I actually believe this too, for two very important reasons. First, I own an American Beauty, and second, I am a distributor for Robust. But, he did not ask about the Robust, and the price difference is such that I thought it best to stick to answering his question about the lathes he is considering. For me also, I do not want to be seen as soliciting business on the forum here.
 
My first lathe was a Jet 1442, then upgraded to a Jet 1642 2hp VS, sold it to upgrade to a Oneway. Both Jets were very nice lathes, so nice I went and bought a Jet mini 1014. Before I bought the Oneway, I considered a Robust and a 3520B, those were the top three. They all have there high points, one is customer sat, second would be fit and finish, third they TURN wood the same way. I don't know nothing about Rikon so I can't say any good or bad things about it. You don't want to limit yourself to a short bed if plan on selling it later, longer beds have a better resell market. I like the Vicmarc 300 short bed and the Stubby 1000, too much to import for what you get. I know you can get the Vicmarc here, without the Vicmarc stand though and a Stubby 750, who wants that, I want the 1000.

If you have money to spend, buy a Oneway or a Robust, if you want money to spend, buy a 3520B.

Really, buy the Powermatic and save your money to purchase other toys for your lathe.
Steve Worcester said:
I would start with

What's your budget?
How big do you want to turn?
Do you have 220V service for the lathe?
Click to expand...

I agree 100%, this is the best advice here.
 
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<<Do you have 220V service for the lathe?>> Let me tweak that - is there any reason you can't have 220V? I had a 220 line put in near the lathe for $100. Someday, I'll get around to spackling the wall openings we made.

I would suggest you factor in how long you might be expecting to turn? A 75 year old may get a different answer than a 50 year old.

I've had my 2436 Oneway about 15 years. Very contented with performance and especially information requests. I would like the stainless bed ways - weren't avail then.
 
Perspective questions

<<Do you have 220V service for the lathe?>> Let me tweak that - is there any reason you can't have 220V? I had a 220 line put in near the lathe for $100. Someday, I'll get around to spackling the wall openings we made.

I would suggest you factor in how long you might be expecting to turn? A 75 year old may get a different answer than a 50 year old.

I've had my 2436 Oneway about 15 years. Very contented with performance and especially information requests. I would like the stainless bed ways - weren't avail then.
 
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