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Choice of new lathe

I am considering upgrading my General 260 to a Grizzly, Powermatic, Baileigh, or Oliver in the $3,000 to $4,000 range. Any thoughts?
Bob,
I have a general 260 with the electronic variable speed control.
I also turned on a much older one with the reeves pulleys.

The 260 matches up pretty evenly with the Powermatic. So sort of a lateral step
The sliding headstock on the powermatic is a plus if you need/want a sliding headstock.
I prefer the banjo on the 260 easier to position and the locks are a bit more positive.

Unless Grizzly has improved a lot it would be a step down.

Can't comment on the Baileigh or Oliver
My only experience with Oliver is a big boy with a 9 foot bed. That would definitely be a step up in size and weight.

Al
 
I'd buy the Powermatic. All the others are basically the same in different color paint. If you read the Grizzly reviews, it looks like you will need to be willing to tinker with it. I feel they have better customer support than the Baileigh and Oliver, but have no proof. I'm also pretty sure the Powermatic has more bearings on the headstock shaft compared to the others. I know the Grizzly only has two. Oliver marketing has always rubbed me the wrong way. They show the old Oliver factory building in Grand Rapids, Mi in their heritage page. Trouble is they are now located on the west coast and import all their machines, mostly from China.
 
I agree on the above. I'd be interested to hear impressions of anyone turning on a NEW-Oliver lathe. I know I like my "old" one. 🙂

You might save up for a Oneway or Robust. Some are not that far off, and used deals can be had.

Doug
 
The Powermatic is at the top of your price range and the best of the bunch by far in my opinion. Grizzly is OK, but for their lathes that I have looked at they incorrectly state the horsepower of the motor. They state the input electrical power (using the term horsepower rather than the correct terminology which would be watts) and seem to imply that it is the motor output mechanical horsepower. If you multiply their stated horsepower by ²∕[SUB]3[/SUB] then that should be close to the actual mechanical horsepower output o the motor.

I have the Robust American Beauty which is about double your stated budget, but if you can somehow manage the larger amount, that opens up several cream of the crop possibilities that includes Robust, Oneway, and Vicmarc lathes, all of which are exceptional machines. However, the Powermatic is an excellent lathe. It sells for about $4,000 which may seem a bit painful, but you won't regret getting it. As they say, buying quality only hurts once.
 
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I have always drooled over the american beauty, only reason I haven't pulled the trigger is that I don't have the space, I was under the impression that it is THE top dog, how do others compare at that level pricewise and featurewise?
 
One cost saving characteristic of the Grizzly 18 and 22" lathes is the spindle pulley is on the outboard side of the two spindle bearings. While this allows the use of a short shaft motor, it just doesn't seem as sturdy as the three bearings used in the Powermatic. There are two bearings inboard of the spindle pulley, and one bearing outside in the 3520b headstock. The bearings are also larger than the Grizzly 18 and 22" lathes, which by the way, have the same size bearings.

Don't know about the others but online parts diagrams might be available and are worth studying.
 
The Powermatic is at the top of your price range and the best of the bunch by far in my opinion. Grizzly is OK, but for their lathes that I have looked at they incorrectly state the horsepower of the motor. They state the input electrical power (using the term horsepower rather than the correct terminology which would be watts) and seem to imply that it is the motor output mechanical horsepower. If you multiply their stated horsepower by ²∕[SUB]3[/SUB] then that should be close to the actual mechanical horsepower output o the motor.

I have the Robust American Beauty which is about double your stated budget, but if you can somehow manage the larger amount, that opens up several cream of the crop possibilities that includes Robust, Oneway, and Vicmarc lathes, all of which are exceptional machines. However, the Powermatic is an excellent lathe. It sells for about $4,000 which may seem a bit painful, but you won't regret getting it. As they say, buying quality only hurts once.

The Powermatic 3520B with an occassional 15%discount was going to be my first choice upgrade from a Shopsmith--but the folks at work gave me an unanticipated raise and promotion, which put the Robust into my price range.

I've turned on club members' Jet 1642EVS's, Powermatic 3520 (not B), Oneways, and a friend's Robust AB. (And the Shopsmith). Although the Jet is a good lathe, the PM is, in my opinion, significantly better. Headstock handwheel; more torque; toolrest movement a bit smoother; easier to move the headstock. The PM spindle lock is somewhat clunky (PM will give you an adapter to make it a bit less clunky, but it's still clunky). Jumping up significantly in price, the Oneway and the Robust are both wonderful lathes. The machining, fit, and finish are wonderful; the ability to get your height--if you are a 42" floor-to-elbow person, the PM is great lathe. If you are a 40" floor-to-elbow person, you will need to make duckboard. With Oneway and Robust, whatever height you want, you get. (Within reason). The swing control on the Oneway is nice; I like the controller-on-the-cable for the Robust. I love how easy it is to move the toolrest and the banjo on the Robust and the banjo on the Oneway. If you get the PM (or Jet, or Bailey, or Laguna, etc.), I would recommend investigating the Robust (or Oneway) toolrests as aftermarket upgrades. The hardened tool steel bar on the Robust rest is wonderful.

If you have the opportunity to test-drive the lathe with a friend, that's what I would suggest.

Best of luck!
 
... Although the Jet [1642] is a good lathe, the PM is, in my opinion, significantly better...

I agree. I've turned some on a variety of lathes and have two of the Jet 1642s but recently added a PM3520b with bed extension. (used, like new, $3k) It is significantly "more" lathe than the Jets. I don't particularly need the extra power but I'm quite happy with the overall weight, solid construction, tailstock, etc. The fact that the chucks, etc. are interchangeable with my Jets (and the 1642 at the club) is a plus for me. You can always spend more money (and I'm sure you often get what you pay) for but judging from the variety of turnings from those people I consider experts who use the PM I suspect it will be enough lathe for almost anyone.

JKJ
 
Well I'm a fan of the Powermatic 3520. Also the Jet 1642. Best lathes for the money. Now there are better lathes out there but usually a lot more money, in some cases twice as much. Grizzly lathes have improved a lot and so has Laguna. Not quite the quality of the Powermatic but less money. I've demoed on a lot of lathes and at a lot of clubs and rarely find anyone unhappy with either Jet or Powermatic.
 
Well I'm a fan of the Powermatic 3520. Also the Jet 1642. Best lathes for the money. Now there are better lathes out there but usually a lot more money, in some cases twice as much. Grizzly lathes have improved a lot and so has Laguna. Not quite the quality of the Powermatic but less money. I've demoed on a lot of lathes and at a lot of clubs and rarely find anyone unhappy with either Jet or Powermatic.

I agree with what you say.

However Bob is looking to upgrade his General 260.

Whether a Powermatic is an upgrade would depend on what he has with the 260.
I have a general 260 - 20" swing, EVS, and 24" outboard. For me the Powermatic is about the same maybe a bit less convenient to move the headstock than it is to move to the outboard side.
I like the banjo and tailstock on the general better, the controls are on a movable box, and there is a bit more working room near the headstock.
I like legs and stand on the Powermatic - much easier to sweep up and the leg design adds to stability.

I do enjoy turning on the Powermatic and it is a fine machine. But then a 260 can be a fine machine too.
260s were made for along time and lots of flavors.

If Bob's 260 has a 12" swing and single speed pulleys, then the Powermatic is a definite step up.

Al
 
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