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Harvey T60-s 8 month review

John Hicks

John Hicks

Joined
Jan 23, 2020
Messages
692
Likes
968
Location
Shingletown CA
I went ahead and ordered a T60-s about 8 months ago. It was on sale for 4,999 (since then has dropped a couple times) I got free shipping by taking to someone at the California location. It arrived well crated and with not a scratch. The lathe is very well made and I was pleasantly surprised at the fit and finish. This is the same as the Grizzly go800 with a different motor and electronics.
The motor is very strong and I had zero trouble coring with the easy core.
The head and tail-stock lined up perfectly. The live center was a double ball bearing heavy duty cone type.
I did find the shoulder on the spindle is a bit short for using the set screws on my Nova Titans and Supernova2 chucks. I used a spacer to push them out onto the part of the spindle where they were supposed to line up. I have used the secondary stop/start control many times with live edge bowls with that wicked edge. It is magnetized and holds very well.
The lathe runs super smooth with a very quiet motor.

Problems:
1. The banjo has a miss machined bottom that drags on one side. Rather than wait; I just sanded the high spot with some ceramic discs and it works well now.

2.The tail-stock feed mechanism needed to be taken apart and smoothed out with some emery cloth to keep it from being sticky, took a couple hours.

3. The index lock is not visible from the front and I have on a couple occasions started the motor with the thing locked. I was quick to shut it off; but it needs some sort of visible indication that it is locked.

4. No videos on the lathe anywhere! A couple G0800 videos on YouTube that Don't give you much information.

I am over all very happy with this lathe. I use the sliding head-stock quite often and the variable speed works very well, even at low speeds.

They go on sale at even less than the 4,999 that I paid; but it is very sporadic and they don't announce it.
The mark up on these imports must be huge to make sudden large cuts in the price?

Anyway: if your up in the northwest part of the US and want to check one out; you'll have to come to my shop, because as far as I know, there is not another one in the western side of Washington State. Not to mention that Woodcraft,who is a distributor, does not have one in any of their stores here.
If I had more $$$, I would have went with the Robust; but I
am very satisfied with this lathe and have no regrets about buying one.
 
John Hicks said:
3. The index lock is not visible from the front and I have on a couple occasions started the motor with the thing locked. I was quick to shut it off; but it needs some sort of visible indication that it is locked.
Click to expand...

Same problem with my Woodfast lathe. What I've done is make a little "flag" on a magnet. That is attached to the control box when the spindle is locked. Using this method, I don't believe I've accidentally started the lathe while the spindle was locked in over 25 years.....😀

-----odie-----
 
never heard of a Harvey lathe. took a look at their website and then re-read your review. I'm not in the market but it looks like nice stuff. Good to know
 
John Hicks said:
I went ahead and ordered a T60-s about 8 months ago. It was on sale for 4,999 (since then has dropped a couple times) I got free shipping by taking to someone at the California location. It arrived well crated and with not a scratch. The lathe is very well made and I was pleasantly surprised at the fit and finish. This is the same as the Grizzly go800 with a different motor and electronics.
The motor is very strong and I had zero trouble coring with the easy core.
The head and tail-stock lined up perfectly. The live center was a double ball bearing heavy duty cone type.
I did find the shoulder on the spindle is a bit short for using the set screws on my Nova Titans and Supernova2 chucks. I used a spacer to push them out onto the part of the spindle where they were supposed to line up. I have used the secondary stop/start control many times with live edge bowls with that wicked edge. It is magnetized and holds very well.
The lathe runs super smooth with a very quiet motor.

Problems:
1. The banjo has a miss machined bottom that drags on one side. Rather than wait; I just sanded the high spot with some ceramic discs and it works well now.

2.The tail-stock feed mechanism needed to be taken apart and smoothed out with some emery cloth to keep it from being sticky, took a couple hours.

3. The index lock is not visible from the front and I have on a couple occasions started the motor with the thing locked. I was quick to shut it off; but it needs some sort of visible indication that it is locked.

4. No videos on the lathe anywhere! A couple G0800 videos on YouTube that Don't give you much information.

I am over all very happy with this lathe. I use the sliding head-stock quite often and the variable speed works very well, even at low speeds.

They go on sale at even less than the 4,999 that I paid; but it is very sporadic and they don't announce it.
The mark up on these imports must be huge to make sudden large cuts in the price?

Anyway: if your up in the northwest part of the US and want to check one out; you'll have to come to my shop, because as far as I know, there is not another one in the western side of Washington State. Not to mention that Woodcraft,who is a distributor, does not have one in any of their stores here.
If I had more $$$, I would have went with the Robust; but I
am very satisfied with this lathe and have no regrets about buying one.
Click to expand...
Located anywhere near the Portland/Vancouver, WA area?
 
Hmm, it makes me tempted to come up for a play date. Mostly I haven't turned on one, and I HAVE to experiment.... Maybe later in the year when I have had both my shots....

Allen, I have a Vic 240, which isn't cheap, and you can come down to play on it if you want.

robo hippy
 
Having turned on a number [more than a dozen units] of PM 3520b's, a Serious SL-2542, a Robust American Beauty, numerous Jets, and owning a Grizzly G0698 18/47 with 2 hp D/C servo motor, and now own a G0766 22x42 with 3 hp A/C motor/inverter, and a G0800 24x48 with 3 hp A/C motor-with inverter, I can tell you that the quality is there with the Harvey T-60.

My G0800 is the same lathe frame, just with the 3 hp A/C motor with advanced "EL" series inverter. I have absolutetly zero issues or or complaints with my G0800. Only wish Grizzly would find a way to continue to carry it, although I suspect that it was probably Harvey's decision, not Grizzly's.

The G0800 is a premium turning platform......I found no greater performance from the Serious SL-2542, or the Robust AB, in power, torque, etc. Only the swing-away, and remote pendant on the Robust is what raises the bar, [but my G0800 has a swing away] and the fact it is American made. I may yet end up with one in my shop, or a Oneway 2436...but I like sliding headstocks, but an outboard configuration on the Oneway may mitigate that.
 
Roger
Good review thanks....

i was contemplating a Harvey a while back but I went with Laguna!!!!
no comment!!!!

I am now looking at Axminster or Record Power lathes. and maybe
I hope Robust

I live over by Puyallup....

go Hawks
 
Michael Lyle said:
Roger
Good review thanks....

i was contemplating a Harvey a while back but I went with Laguna!!!!
no comment!!!!

I am now looking at Axminster or Record Power lathes. and maybe
I hope Robust

I live over by Puyallup....

go Hawks
Click to expand...
robo hippy said:
Hmm, it makes me tempted to come up for a play date. Mostly I haven't turned on one, and I HAVE to experiment.... Maybe later in the year when I have had both my shots....

Allen, I have a Vic 240, which isn't cheap, and you can come down to play on it if you want.

robo hippy
Click to expand...
I appreciate that!
 
John Hicks said:
I went ahead and ordered a T60-s about 8 months ago. It was on sale for 4,999 (since then has dropped a couple times) I got free shipping by taking to someone at the California location. It arrived well crated and with not a scratch. The lathe is very well made and I was pleasantly surprised at the fit and finish. This is the same as the Grizzly go800 with a different motor and electronics.
The motor is very strong and I had zero trouble coring with the easy core.
The head and tail-stock lined up perfectly. The live center was a double ball bearing heavy duty cone type.
I did find the shoulder on the spindle is a bit short for using the set screws on my Nova Titans and Supernova2 chucks. I used a spacer to push them out onto the part of the spindle where they were supposed to line up. I have used the secondary stop/start control many times with live edge bowls with that wicked edge. It is magnetized and holds very well.
The lathe runs super smooth with a very quiet motor.

Problems:
1. The banjo has a miss machined bottom that drags on one side. Rather than wait; I just sanded the high spot with some ceramic discs and it works well now.

2.The tail-stock feed mechanism needed to be taken apart and smoothed out with some emery cloth to keep it from being sticky, took a couple hours.

3. The index lock is not visible from the front and I have on a couple occasions started the motor with the thing locked. I was quick to shut it off; but it needs some sort of visible indication that it is locked.

4. No videos on the lathe anywhere! A couple G0800 videos on YouTube that Don't give you much information.

I am over all very happy with this lathe. I use the sliding head-stock quite often and the variable speed works very well, even at low speeds.

They go on sale at even less than the 4,999 that I paid; but it is very sporadic and they don't announce it.
The mark up on these imports must be huge to make sudden large cuts in the price?

Anyway: if your up in the northwest part of the US and want to check one out; you'll have to come to my shop, because as far as I know, there is not another one in the western side of Washington State. Not to mention that Woodcraft,who is a distributor, does not have one in any of their stores here.
If I had more $$$, I would have went with the Robust; but I
am very satisfied with this lathe and have no regrets about buying one.
Click to expand...
I’ve been looking at the T60 for a while John; are you still pleased including coring? I’m recovering from carpal tunnel surgery and will pull trigger on something that spins wood. Thanks
 
Dwight West said:
I’ve been looking at the T60 for a while John; are you still pleased including coring? I’m recovering from carpal tunnel surgery and will pull trigger on something that spins wood. Thanks
Click to expand...
It is a wonderful lathe. Dare I say a bit better than even a powermatic. I don't know what they are asking for one now; I've had mine for 3 years and it has performed very well. A bit of trouble with the banjo, and the remote switch, but customer service took care of it.
 
Dwight West said:
Thanks so much for the timely response, I already have the Harvey Ambassador bandsaw and will be pulling trigger on the T60 lathe now.
Click to expand...
I love my Harvey T-60 SO MUCH. It has never ever bogged down on ANYTHING. One tip when you get it use LOC-TITE on the knock out bar tip. Lost one in the shavings and they sent me a new one no charge, but the LOC-TITE did the trick.
 
John Hicks said:
They go on sale at even less than the 4,999 that I paid; but it is very sporadic and they don't announce it.
Click to expand...

It was $3999 for a few days recently on Harvey's web site. I was starting to get tempted but then it jumped back up to $4999. I might have pulled the trigger at $4k but the $600 shipping stuck in my craw. Next time it drops I'll see if there's a dealer within driving distance of Nashville.
 
Kent Reisdorph said:
It was $3999 for a few days recently on Harvey's web site. I was starting to get tempted but then it jumped back up to $4999. . . . . . .
Click to expand...

Harvey's business model for pricing is interesting. I have watched their dust collectors.

They remind me of the old Sears and Roebuck in that you didn't dare buy anything that wasn't on sale big time. You knew the normal price really wasn't normal.
 
Since they own and run the factory where the machines are made; There is no middle man and they can offer better deals.
 
John Hicks said:
I went ahead and ordered a T60-s about 8 months ago. It was on sale for 4,999 (since then has dropped a couple times) I got free shipping by taking to someone at the California location. It arrived well crated and with not a scratch. The lathe is very well made and I was pleasantly surprised at the fit and finish. This is the same as the Grizzly go800 with a different motor and electronics.
The motor is very strong and I had zero trouble coring with the easy core.
The head and tail-stock lined up perfectly. The live center was a double ball bearing heavy duty cone type.
I did find the shoulder on the spindle is a bit short for using the set screws on my Nova Titans and Supernova2 chucks. I used a spacer to push them out onto the part of the spindle where they were supposed to line up. I have used the secondary stop/start control many times with live edge bowls with that wicked edge. It is magnetized and holds very well.
The lathe runs super smooth with a very quiet motor.

Problems:
1. The banjo has a miss machined bottom that drags on one side. Rather than wait; I just sanded the high spot with some ceramic discs and it works well now.

2.The tail-stock feed mechanism needed to be taken apart and smoothed out with some emery cloth to keep it from being sticky, took a couple hours.

3. The index lock is not visible from the front and I have on a couple occasions started the motor with the thing locked. I was quick to shut it off; but it needs some sort of visible indication that it is locked.

4. No videos on the lathe anywhere! A couple G0800 videos on YouTube that Don't give you much information.

I am over all very happy with this lathe. I use the sliding head-stock quite often and the variable speed works very well, even at low speeds.

They go on sale at even less than the 4,999 that I paid; but it is very sporadic and they don't announce it.
The mark up on these imports must be huge to make sudden large cuts in the price?

Anyway: if your up in the northwest part of the US and want to check one out; you'll have to come to my shop, because as far as I know, there is not another one in the western side of Washington State. Not to mention that Woodcraft,who is a distributor, does not have one in any of their stores here.
If I had more $$$, I would have went with the Robust; but I
am very satisfied with this lathe and have no regrets about buying one.
Click to expand...
Took advantage of sale today and ordered the T60 with EB; I have a spot for it and installing a 3" box rail with stanely trolley to and winch or small block and tackle to assist in putting the lathe together and lifting the big ones on bandsaw and lathe
 

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On behalf of a friend, and out of my own curiosity, any new experiences or opinions on the Harvey T-60? FWIW, he is considering the T60 or a Vicmarc 240 or 300.
 
A friend told me about a lightly used (almost new) Harvey Turbo T-60S for sale in his neck of the woods that he is considering and they are asking $2900 for it... Lathe only - no accessories but it does have a swing away for the tailstock. I dont know anything about the Harvey T60.... He's asking me if this would this be a reasonable purchase price? Any thoughts or recommendations on what to look out for with this machine?
 
It’s a really good lathe. Looks like a fair price. I would want to check it out first. I’ve had mine for almost 4 years with no problems other than the banjo was warped and because of that, it cracked. Was replaced by Harvey
 
I can only comment on the T-40 but will presume the qualities are similar. The servo motor drive is wonderful. It is smooth and quiet. It will spin down and hold less than 10 RPM. The speed readout cuts off at 30 RPM which is the advertised low speed. The head rotates and returns precisely to the zero point. The banjo is solid although I have had a little trouble with a bushing that works out of place and needs to be reinstalled with Loctite occasionally. The tool rest is standard size and has a hardened top rod like other good tool rests. One of the unique features of the servo motor is zero speed on the speed control means zero speed. The drive spindle is held in place wherever zero is achieved. Not as strong as the spindle lock but very useful when sanding. One thing that is a bit different on the Harvey lathes is the speed control is used to stop the lathe, not slamming the stop button (you can use the big red button but the controller must be reset each time to resume work). This is a good thing in my opinion because each and every start up becomes start from zero RPM.

I would jump all over $2900 for a T-60 assuming it is in decent condition. Los Angeles is a bit out of my range.
 
I have had a t60 for the last year and would recomend it to anybody. Speed goes all the way down to zero. I just wish they had more mounting options on the headstock for lights and stuff. Bought and then returned a lift table to get it setup. Worked great!
 
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