Delta X% 16" Steel Bed Lathe

[Wilford Bickel]

Delta X5 16" Steel Bed Lathe

I am considering purchasing the Delta X5 lathe like AAW is giving away and would love to hear from anyone who owns one or has worked on one as to pro's and con's. There are several features about this lathe that work better for my bad shoulders than other machines including the PM units.

Thanks in advance.

Wilford

 

[Captain Eddie]

X-16

Wilford, The Bayou Woodturners have had one of these lathes for about 3 years. I use it a lot and some of our members have similar equipment. I've put it through the paces and then some.

I like the machine very much. It's not my first choice in a 16-20" lathe, but it's worth the $$$ you pay for it.
A couple of points:
Read and follow the instructions relating to the use of the controller for power on and off. Here's the deal, if you turn off the main power switch when it's under power, there is a diode that doesn't understand this move and you'll eventually have a glitch in the system. Too many glitches and you trash the system. Seems simple, well we have a few "Studio turners" who are to stupid to do the basics. I've put a flexible shield over ours so you have to think about hitting that switch, except in an emergency.
You can move the headstock from the far left, but don't do it if you're roughing in lumber. The steel will flex too much.
Make an emergency cutoff switch for the far right end of the lathe, especially if you have some health concerns. I'll show you ours if you need it.
Otherwise, the bed will rust if not waxed and the headstock/tailstock relationship needs to be checked fairly often.
Like I said, not my first choice, but worth the $$$

Captain Eddie
Eddiecastelin@cox.net
eddiecastelin.com

 

[DennisM]

Delta Lathe

I purchased a Delta 1642 (the version just prior to the X) two years back as my first lathe. Good lathe to learn on. The controller is a big key. You can turn the RPM's all the way down to zero and all the slow speeds on the way down. The lathe also comes up to speed with a bit of a lag - which gives you a chance to cut the power, if something is wrong in your chucking or the tool rest is in the wrong place etc. The lag in the ramp up gives you time to react if needed.
My controller would also cut out if I had a nasty catch or was cutting too aggressively. Again, features that are very approriate for a early or casual turner. Though the lagging ramp up to speed would frustrate a speed turner.

The hollow legs are also a nice feature. My lathe weighted about 450 lbs. Not light, but light enough that I could move it on my own. As I began to turn larger pieces I added two bags of sand to the legs and improved the stability greatly.

With the 42 inche bed, the lathe will handle furniture pieces as well as bowels. The moveable headstock comes in handy in bowl turning meaning that you don't have to strattle the ways when working on bowls.

Negative is that as I moved up to bowls larger that about 13 inches there seemed to be enough play in the lathe that the bowl would not stay stable. This may be the issue mentioned earlier where it was suggested not to move the headstock from the left end of the lathe.

I have since moved up to a Stubby 750 - which is simply a different class machine - but it is over twice the price of the Delta.

All in all a decent machine. By the way, my Delta 1642 is for sale. My wife says there isn't room in our house for her and two lathes. if you are interested send me an email.