First Lathe Purchase

[ahg]

I have said this in other forums, and I will say it here - I have the best wife in the world! She knows I want a lathe - and instead of going out and purchasing one herself for me - she did one better. She went to Lee Valley and talked to someone there and purchased a beginner set of Henry Taylor tools, a manual and DVD - thereby giving me the green light to pick out my own lathe.

Now - I have used my brother's lathe a little - so I know I like it, but I am still completely novice. I am getting something that will last, is of good quality, and gives me plenty of options in what I can do with it (ie. turn pens if I desire, bowls, spindles, etc.)

I have a few questions that I would appreciate if you learned people could assist with.

1. When I researched the lathes - I understand most of the stuff I read, but I have a question when it comes to turning bowls. Say I get a lathe that has a 14" swing over capacity, but the head stock turns. Should I still limit myself to a 14" piece of stock when turning a bowl - or to what size can I turn safely ? 16", 18", 20" ??

2. I have already researched many lathes - I am leaning towards a Jet 1442VS - with the legs of course. I have also considered the Delta 14" Cast Iron (which will be easier to get in the Toronto area as there doesn't seem to be any dealers of Jet in this area). I tend to get more machine than I really need - so I am trying to be reasonable here. Is there anything I should really look for or is there something else I should consider.

3. Whats the deal with Oneway ? It is spoken in reverent whispered tones as the paragon of turning machines - but the bloody things are expensive. Are they really worth it? I could probably afford the 1224 but I obviously don't know their worth.

4. Any valid suggestions or tips would be appreciated - the more I research, the less certain I become on which lathe is right for me. I was originally going with the Jet 1236 - but now want something a little larger - that I can grow with - as the wife already placed several things on my todo list. So - help!

Thanks
-Tony

 

[Claude]

1. When I researched the lathes - I understand most of the stuff I read, but I have a question when it comes to turning bowls. Say I get a lathe that has a 14" swing over capacity, but the head stock turns. Should I still limit myself to a 14" piece of stock when turning a bowl - or to what size can I turn safely ? 16", 18", 20" ??

No, you don’t have to limit yourself to 14â€Â. You turn the head and you can safely go to 20â€Â. However I would probably put some sand bags to add stability to your lathe.

2. I have already researched many lathes - I am leaning towards a Jet 1442VS - with the legs of course. I have also considered the Delta 14" Cast Iron (which will be easier to get in the Toronto area as there doesn't seem to be any dealers of Jet in this area). I tend to get more machine than I really need - so I am trying to be reasonable here. Is there anything I should really look for or is there something else I should consider.

The Jet 1442VS is certainly a good lathe. If near Toronto you could get a Vicmarc 175, you would go for an outstanding lathe that will make you happy for years. I am not a special fan of Delta which I find somewhat expensive for its value. However it is nice tuning on it too.

3. Whats the deal with Oneway ? It is spoken in reverent whispered tones as the paragon of turning machines - but the bloody things are expensive. Are they really worth it? I could probably afford the 1224 but I obviously don't know their worth.

Oneway? Did you ever heard about Rolls Royce. That is one for woodtunrers. You want a Rolls, go for it

4. Any valid suggestions or tips would be appreciated - the more I research, the less certain I become on which lathe is right for me. I was originally going with the Jet 1236 - but now want something a little larger - that I can grow with - as the wife already placed several things on my todo list. So - help!Thanks

Wonderful! You already have your wife’s todo list... therefore go for the Vicmarc 175 and.... Enjoy turning. Beware!!!! It is quite addictive and remember any now and then you have a wife too. 😉

 

[dkulze]

Welcome to the Vortex.

It sounds like you're cutting through some of the intervening steps and going straight for a nice lathe.

By my experience, the Delta and Jet are nice machines but are outgrowable in pretty short order if you end up turning alot. Although they may have rotating headstock, figure that you're always most stable turning over the bed. Besides, you'd be surprised how much stuff can be done on a 14" swing.

If you're up for making an investment, I'd second the Vicmar and suggest a Powermatic or a Nova DVR as other options. These are lathes of a quality that you will probably never "outgrow" them for ease and reliability of use. Their only limits are horsepower and swing of any given model.

The truly high end lathes like the Oneway or Stubby are well worth the money, but only if you're going to turn at that level or have plenty of cash to spare. I'm hoping for one myself someday but can't justify it yet seeing as I'm not a proffessional turner and I've got bills to pay. But boy, do I have fun on my friends' Oneways and Stubbys when I get the chance. They run like butter and are soooooooo sweet. Rolls Royce and Ferrarri indeed.

Good luck and congratulations on your new money sink.

Dietrich

 

[TEK]

green machine

Don't forget Canada is the home of General Tools. Some of the turners in our club have Generals and love them. Some models are imported and some are still made in Canada. I'd probably go with the Nova DVR. That is just because it's the only one I have experience with. I would like to try the others sometime.
Tom

 

[Mark Mandell]

Tony,

If you're funded to the level of a 1224 Oneway, it's a small step in $ to a Powermatic 3520, with 2hp, 20" of swing, sliding headstock, and real weight and stability. I'm not downing the 1224 which I hear is a very good lathe, but I think the 3520's are the best lathe value on the market today. In addition, since the B model's now on showroom floors, there will be terrific deals available on the A's left for the persistent shopper.

Remember, you can turn small stuff on a big lathe, but big stuff will never fit on a small machine.

Mark

 

[bbrussell]

Tony, I agree with Mark the Powermtic 3520 is a great lathe for the money. I purchased the Delta 14x40 couple of years ago, and replaced it this year with the Powermatic A much better decision than the one to buy the Delta, in the first place.

 

[dkulze]

I'm pretty sure you can get the A's for under $2000 on Amazon and, if you're persistant in looking around, you can probably get showroom leftovers even cheaper. Figure that buying any of these lathes slightly used as a display/in house shop model from a store or showroom is a really good way to go. Minimal use and the newer, upgraded model they're replacing it with usually isn't that big a change. Haven't bought a truly "new" lathe yet and am doing fine.

Dietrich

AAAAANNNNNHHHHH!!!! Wrong on that one. Just checked and that sale is over. Now at 2479.99 on Amazon. Ah well.

I can confirm that my local Woodcraft just sold off their shop model of the Nova DVR 3000 including mobile stand for 1800 and all the bells and whistles for 1800.

Dietrich

 

[Kyle]

Or you could go on E-Bay and get a lathe (bidding ended 🙁 ) from before the time of those damm plastic handles. There is always one on there which is all cast iron and weights a ton.

 

[Brodie Brickey]

1st Lathe Purchase

I'd recommend that you skip the Delta 46-715 and either go with the Jet or another lathe. The delta has consistency issues over the long haul. The bearings on my Delta were going south in a year so fine detail was becoming difficult.

If you're turning large pieces over 14" you can rotate the head stock, but the bowl blank will NEED to be close to round already. I put a 15" blank on my Detla and it walked along the floor. I had to put 400lbs of cement on it to keep it in one place. The Jet lathe will be good, but since the slowest it rotates is 500 RPM the blank will be moving very fast when you are roughing out. This can cause safety issues not to mention scarying the livin' he#$ out of you.

A better choice in the under $1000 (USD) club is the Nova 3000 (not the DVR that's $1800). Its slowest setting is around ~214 RPM which would handle the larger blanks. The swing for this lathe is also 16" instead of 14" like the Jet & Delta. Up in Canada, not necessarily near you, www.KMSTOOLS.com carries the lathe. You'll want to build your own stand with drawers and a box to hold sand instead of buying the legs.

Your wife has clearly been fantastic in getting you a good set of tools to start with, but keep in mind that you'll also want a chuck (where the jaws apply equal pressure) like a vicmarc, talon, or stronghold to hold the tenon on a bowl for turning inside the bowl.

I just recently got a Powermatic 3520a and couldn't be happier if they'd made a mistake and delivered a oneway, but you may not want to jump quite that deep into the vortex yet. I have heard of others who picked up refurbished Powermatics for 1600-1900 repaired. The packaging on the Powermatics is basically the lathe bolted to a pallet and two cardboard boxes over the top of it. The lathe itself doesn't get damaged, but the inverter (speed controller) gets smashed rather easily so the lathe goes back to amazon or wherever. You might keep an eye out for something like this if you're not in a rush to get one.

Good luck in your choices.

Brodie

 

[Sascha]

first of, elcome to the world of turning, second, neener neener neener, you'll be an addict like most of us.
you did the smart thing by asking a group of turners on which lathe you should get. i made the mistake to get the first one i saw, a jt mini. don't get me wrong, it's a fine lathe, but i outgrew it in a month. then i got a Nova DVR and outgrew it 6 onths after that. now i am on my third and final lathe, a stubby 1000. yes it's a big investment and i would have been fine with a 750, but i am glad i got the big one. my turning is not better, but i have better turning conditions, i am not limited by the tool.
mark mandel is right, for the budget you are talking about(well maybe a bit more) you would do great with a PM 3520. a fantastic lathe that you will not outgrow any time soon. your best bet is to turn on a few different lathes. check with a local turning chapter.
even if your budget is not there right now, rather wait another 6 months or so and get what you really want. the step from the standard lathes to the great ones is huge. i still have my DVR standing in my office and it's not being used, it's only 8 months old and i used it for only 6months.
i had it on ebay but it didn't sell right away. so i'll keep it for now.

i don't regret my decision, best tool i ever bought. i couldn't imagine ever giving it up or getting a different lathe than my stubby, i love this lathe.

good luck and be safe

sascha

 

[Jack Savona]

Sascha, what features on the Nova were the most lacking for you? I'm ready to move up from my Delta 715 and had been eyeing a refurbished DVR for $1300. After reading some other threads, I'm considering the Powermatic discontinued 'a' (hopefully on sale). I like the compactness, rotating head, and outboard toolrest of the DVR. From what I've read about it and the people who own it, it's great. But now your comment has me wondering if and when I'll wish for more.

Any insights?

Jack

 

[dkulze]

Hi Jack,

I'm an owner of an older (round rails) Nova 3000 bought used from a friend (who upgraded to a Stubby, the *******). My big complaints with it are that it is underpowered for it's swing (16"), the headstock is bulky and gets in the way, and the tailstock on this particular model is flimsy. I do believe they fixed that problem with the newer ones but they are still a bit underpowered.

On the other hand, the speed control is wonderful, the reverse is amazingly helpful, and it is generally a solid and functional machine. I don't find myself limited in what I can do, just how fast and conveniently I can do it. I do have the outboard also but have yet to use it and probably won't for some time. 16" is bigger than you think. As to outgrowing it, it really wouldn't be necessary to upgrade until I'm ready to get a Stubby or Oneway. I'd put the Nova on par with but different from the Powermatic so.......

I got mine with all accessories for $1000 and I feel like I paid a bit much, as it really is an older model. A newer one with all extras and a stand should be a decent deal at $1300. You and Tony should be hitting up Sascha regarding relieving him of his.

And I wouldn't consider purchasing a Jet Mini in the mean time as a mistake. It's an excellent, bombproof workhorse of a lathe and I still use mine regularly for smaller items and for demos and fairs.

Good luck,
Dietrich

 

[Kyle]

:-\

Dont anyone have a old castiron lathe? They are older, sure but are the best in the term of craftmship. And if you can even vibrate it you should give your self a medel. (there better then those cheep chinese crap that most people buy. Companies that make stuff in asia: Powermatic, Jet, Delta, Nova(so sorry)

 

[Mark Mandell]

Dont anyone have a old castiron lathe? They are older, sure but are the best in the term of craftmship. And if you can even vibrate it you should give your self a medel. (there better then those cheep chinese crap that most people buy. Companies that make stuff in asia: Powermatic, Jet, Delta, Nova(so sorry)

Kyle,

Suggest you be a little more restrained in your references. Most items made in Asia are made to very careful specifications that are drafted and supplied by the companies here that sell the items. The Chinese and other Asian factories are perfectly capable of making products to the very highest quality, but those products will then be priced comparably to what they would cost if made here in the U.S.

You should also be wary of buying into the "old-cast-iron-is-the-best" mythe. Advances in engineering and materials technology have enabled production of very fine equipment since "back then". In fact, the finest wood lathes being made today, Stubby, Oneway, VB among them, are fusions of precise alloy castings and steel fabrication to exploit the benefits of both, using methods that weren't available not so many years ago.

It's fun and a real learning experience to take an old machine and restore it. For many, that's the real hobby, much like restoring old cars. But not everyone wants or likes to do that.

Have fun and be sure to post a photo or two of how your restore your lathe.

😉

 

[georgetroy]

General 260 for KYLE?

I have a 1987 General 260 with a 20" swing that I would like to sell. I need to make some more room. This is the lathe that David Ellsworth, Rudy Oslnick and other guru's of the time turned on. At one time it was the Lathe of choice for Arrowmount. This lathe has variable speed Reeves drive with a low speed of approx. 350. A cast iron beast weighing 600 lbs. The lathe has not been offered before. This is really not the thread to discuss this on. I live in Central KS and you would have to pick it up. Price? Photos here
www.georgetroygraphics.com

 

[Mark Mandell]

George,

List it in the want-Ad section here and in the classifieds on WC.

Mark

 

[Sascha]

oh wow, where to start.
NOTHING is wrong with the Nova DVR, it's an amazing lathe. i have turned a few bowls on it and i love it. 16" swing is cool, enough for most bowls, it has plenty of power and torque. BUT, it could be heavier, i had 400# of sand on the stand and it worked pretty good, but lets face it, it looks like hell. to build a wooden box inside the stand is ok, but not a lot of room.
the outboard capacity is great for platters, not so much for bowls,

i guess what i am saying is, the DVR is a wonderful spindle lathe with great bowl ability, the stubby 1000 is an AMAZING bowl lathe with great spindle ability.
my stubby is now bolted to the floor and i don't even know what unbalanced means.
all in all, the oneways, stubbys and VB's are in a different class in itself, if you have the money and don't have to break into the kids college fund, it's your birthday or any other reason you could find to treat yourself to an amazing tool, get one of those lathes. if your budget is around $2000ish, get a PM3520. either way you can't go wrong, just make sure you rather save a bit longer and get the lathe you want, i lost too much money to EBAY on the other 2 lathes. get it over with, get the best you can afford and never look back


sascha
sascha

 

[ahg]

While I attempt to narrow my choices - does anyone have any information on the Record CL4 lathe ? (www.recordpower.uk.co) Though I will need to build a stand for it, it has much all of the "paper" specifications that I require - but with no experience on products from this company - I would appreciate opinions.

Thanks
-Tony

 

[Chuck Wood]

Buy what you can afford.

Hi Tony,

I was in the same situation as you not too long ago. I was ready to 'explore' woodturning after several years of 'straight line woodworking'. I didn’t want to spend allot of money just to determine if woodturning was not as interesting and fun as I thought it would be so I limited by budget and purchased a Jet Mini lathe for about $200 and a cheap set of tools (Delta starter set) for about $100.
Well, here I am less than two years later. Have not turned on my table saw in months (band saw for blanks only) and I'm ready to buy a OneWay and Sporbies. Do yourself a favor and by the most tool you can afford. If you’re like me, you'll be hooked on woodturning!!!
By-the-way: You've cleared the biggest hurdle....your wife (haha).

-Chuck

 

[Mark Mandell]

While I attempt to narrow my choices - does anyone have any information on the Record CL4 lathe ? (www.recordpower.uk.co) Though I will need to build a stand for it, it has much all of the "paper" specifications that I require - but with no experience on products from this company - I would appreciate opinions.

Thanks
-Tony

Tony,

That's a 1 hp lathe with only a 12" swing without much, if any mass (no bed, little iron, weighs 210 lbs soaking wet) all for $1,600 US plus shipping and/or tax.

Not for my taste, not in today's market. If you want to spend $2K on a 12" lathe, buy the Oneway!! There will be no comparison between the two, and, in the unlikely event that you find you don't like turning, you will find many people willing to relieve you of the burden of the Canadian iron at a good price to be reinvested something else whereas I'll predict the Record will just gather dust in the corner. Of course, the same principals will apply if you find yourself addicted to turning and lusting after bigger iron.

Just my opinion, of course, but you asked.

Mark

 

[Hugh]

I vote for the most lathe you can afford at this time. Save yourself from going up the ladder and make the jump all at once. I started on an old (50 yr. old) lathe that could turn a 9" bowl if you started with a fairly round blank. Then bought a larger 12" Delta lathe. That did not last too long and I was looking for a larger/heavy lathe. Ended up getting a used General 260 lathe. Loved it as it was much steadier and I did not have to change the belt to change speeds. Then when the AAW Symposium was coming to the West Coast - I called Oneway and asked if they were bringing out lathes and did they sell them. I bought a 2436 with a 3 hp motor. Loaded it in my truck and drove home. The General 260 is gathering dust in the corner. Saved shipping costs, etc.

Yes, all lathes just go round and round. It is just that some go round nicer than others. The Oneway 2436 is the nicest I have found. Go for the biggest, best you can afford. I have a number of friends who have the Powermatics and like them a bunch.
Hugh

 

[spinsdawood]

I have been turning for 2+yrs. I am not rich but the thought of spending in the area of $6000.00 doesnt sent me at full gallop to the bathroom. I can buy any lathe I want. My wife doesn'nt turn but loves to watch the beauty that reveals itself in the finished product, whatever that might be. My primary lathe is a Power Matic 3520A. It has a variable speed capability of 0- 3000 rpm. It is reversible. It weighs over 600 lbs with room underneath for more weight or storage. I consider myself to be an artist and turn items from pens to yo-yo's to bowls and vases. My lathe is stable and very accurate within the machine itself. It will cost you about $2500.00 to buy one. I love mine and will probably use it till I'm no longer able to turn or I'm dead. The new "B" model is pretty much the same lathe. If I needed a lathe I would probably buy that one if the price was the Same as an "A" model For a couple hunded dollars or more whats the difference. I am able to visit other turners and have used One way and Stubby lathes. They are fantastic pieces of equipment well worth the asking price but as someone stated beforeTHEY are the RR of woodturning equipment. To bring this rambling to a close keep in mind you will also need At least 1 chuck and a variety of jaws . It is not hard to spend several thousand more dollars on accessories or other tools. Band saw, chain saw, mebe a light or two ,spindle steady, bowl steady, face-head protection,some type of air filtration (mask) and a fan or two. You may already have these things, if so.... Great! If not the good news is you probably wont need most of it all at once. If there is a wood turning group in your area by all means join it. You will be pleasantly surprised at how helpfull most members are. I don't remember why I started this post but I hope it helps,
Jim 😀

 

[Jeff Jilg]

I haven't weighed in yet. This topic comes up occasionally. I usually recommend that beginners start out with a less expensive lathe. Then if they get a more expensive lathe later on. Why?

By using an inexpensive lathe initially, you can save some money and spend it on other toys to go with the lathe. As your skills progress, you'll find features you wish you had while you're using the 1st lathe. Also if you end up not pursuing the craft later, you don't end up with a big unused machine in your garage that you spent a lot of money on.

However, once you've turned for a bit then you'll have a feel for what features are most important to you in a better lathe. There are good machines in most of the price categories. When I was ready to move to a more expensive lathe I established a rough budget, then did comparative analysis of the lathes and their features which were available in that price category. Your lathe search will eventually boil down to that anyway - what features can I get for $xyz.

And as most folks on this forum know, I have a PM3520a. Do a search in the forum search to find discussions about the PM and other lathes. If I had more money though, I probably would have bought a Stubby.

As a side note to Kyle - I agree with Mark Mandell fully. It may be true that China and Taiwan had quality problems in the past. Now, many of the factories there do not. The PM3520 is manufactured there and it is by no means cheaply built. The parts have tight tolerances, the motor and the electronics are robust, and the overall machine is very high quality. I have over 2,000 hours on mine (and maybe over 3,000 hours). Nick Cook is a production woodturner and he easily has over 5,000 hours on his. The WMH toolgroup has done an excellent job of setting up a factory overseas which has turned out a high quality product with the PM3520.

 

[JimQ]

I am a newbie to woodturning. I decided to start of with a good smaller less expensive lathe to see if I was really serious about turning. It wasn't a lack of money, I just wasn't willing to invest a lot into a hobby test. I bought a Midi-lathe with the extension to play around with and relearn turning. It had been 40 years since I last worked at a lathe in JrHigh, and I had never been taught to sharpen chisels, so I bought some cheap HSS chisels. After a month I have already added to my investment with a Nova chuck, and a set of the Wolverine jigs (and learned that I really hadn't been doing a very good job of grinding). My next add will be a couple Crown chisels.

It is probably going to be a while before I buy anything larger (garage space is limited) but even when I do, the Midi is a solid small lathe I can continue using.

IMHO

JimQ

 

[dkulze]

I absolutely agree with your choices so far, Jim. I consider my Jet Mini to still be a primary lathe, even though I've got the Nova now. It's just so convenient to use and so portable (well, 80lb is portable compared to 700, I guess). My second most valuable tool is my Wolverine Jig. Gotta figure, pretty much anything else is of very limited use if the tools don't have a good, consistant edge.

All other choices aside, I still think a $200 investment into a Jet or Delta Mini/Midi is a good thing to do. It's amazing what you can turn with a 9" swing (picture a vase 8 1/2" in diameter and 12" tall, been there, done that, mini handled it fine).

Dietrich

 

[teuton jim]

Another newbie question...

Hello all,

I've just joined your forum and would appreciate any and all help offered ! And through my readings so far on the internet, in woodturning magazines, etc. I gather that it's MORE important to buy good tools than an expensive lathe - if there's a choice between the two based on budget restrictions.

My wife is VERY supportive of my new quest to learn how to be a turner, so that part isn't an issue - thankfully...

I've purchased some Robt Sorby tools, about 8 or so of the basic ones, and I've bought some other misc. HSS tools to compare and contrast.

In looking at lathes though, and getting ready to buy one.... I need some major advice please... I'd like to be able to get something large enough to be able to turn bowls, dinner 'charger' plates, etc. - up to about 14-15" diameter, and also smaller goblets, vases, pepper mills, etc. - and then ALSO have a lathe capable of doing small, fairly detailed chess pieces...

So that said, and please excuse my ignorance here, is the Grizzly G0584 (14.5 x 43, swivel head, cast iron legs, 3/4 hp motor) for $350 + $78 shpg charge worth trying - to accomplish these projects ? Or is it money down the drain and I should instead spend more ($800+ ?) for a mid-range lathe Jet or the like ? At this 'new' stage in woodturning, I wouldn't even consider spending big bucks for a Powermatic or Oneway, etc.

Thanks in advance guys for any advice you can offer for a decent 'starter outer' lathe...

Teuton Jim

 

[Doug Dubowski]

I went through the same thing a year ago. I was constrained by a relatively small basement shop and was predominantly interested in bowl turning. I ended up with a Nova DVR and it has met all of my requirements. If I want to move to spindle turning, the DVR's bed has extensions available for longer spindles if I go that way.
I purcased the lathe from KMS tools in Vancouver and I am a bit further east here in Ottawa than you are in Toronto. Took less than a week to get it, and shipped directly to the door. The lathe comes with the standard set of accessories. Any upgrades/accessories you may be interested in can be purchased through a wide varitey of other OEMS and vendors (Woodchuckers, All-in-all-Wood, Lee Valley, for instance, all of which are in Toronto).
I found the Powermatics about a $1000 more here in Canada than the DVR. Although American vendors would sell direct, getting it shipped across the border was going to be a hassle, so although there should be some good prices in the US as the new 3520b rolls out, not sure if you will benefit in Toronto. There is an agent in Ontario for Powermatic, but as I said, the price was a bit more than I was willing to pay. He may have some deals though. The seller was Karman Tools at www.karmans.com. The $Cdn is in your favour now compared to last year.

The DVR is a nice compact, versatile lathe. Depending upon how strong you get pulled into the vortex of turning, it is an excellent machine that should take you well into the vortex before you need another. You can accessorize it to your heart's content with Oneway equipment (chucks, vacuum systems, faceplates, buffing systems, hollowing rigs), Rober Sorbey tool rests, etc.

Have fun and let us know what you have decided!


DGD

 

[dkulze]

Hi Jim,

I'd personally recommend against the Grizzly. Figure you get what you pay for. The Jet is a relatively nice lathe for the money but a Nova for a few hundred more is well worth it. One thing to do is to find your nearest turning club and try out some member's lathes. This is also a good way to get lots of hand-on instruction up front. This will save you a world of woes on your learning curve.

The other option is to simply give in to destiny, mortgage your house, and buy a Oneway or Stubby and all the trimmings.

Welcome to the Vortex,
Dietrich

 

[Chuck Wood]

So Tony? What are you going to get?

Hey Tony, 🙄

I share Jim's option, Grizzly lathes are out. So what are you thinking? I say: One-Way, OneWay,OneWay, OneWay, OneWay, OneWay, Yea OneWay! Have Fun!

C. Wood

 

[ahg]

Ok ... I'm ready to pull the trigger on a purchase - and if anyone has anything bad to say about this choice - let me know before about Tuesday / Wednesday.

I have decided on a General International - 25-650 - 16x42 variable speed lathe. It should do everything I want, and more - its nice and heavy (370lbs - so should be pretty stable) - its about $2200 CDN - and its reasonably available without having to pay shipping / duty & exchange on a Jet or Powermatic.

-Tony

 

[teuton jim]

Thanks for your valued input...

Thanks Dietrich, and others... for your opinions on good 'starter outer' lathes... sounds like 'spend a fair amount of money and get something decent' is good advice for a first lathe... I'll look closer at Jet and Nova options...

Appreciate your help...

Jim

 

[Kyle]

or if you would like an even better built lathe, look at ebay they have some nice cast iron ones from 50, 60, 70 years ago.