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I'm agonizing over a lathe purchase, HELP!

Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
105
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Location
Jonesboro, Arkansas
I own a Jet 1014 mini and an old Walker Turner 1236.

I'm a beginner turner with enough knowledge to be dangerous. I've read more than I've turned so most of my knowledge is head knowledge and not machine experience. I spend a lot of time reading posts on various turning boards but now I need to put my money where I haven't much experience. I think I will enjoy many aspects of turning so I don't want to be severely limited by equipment.

I recently bought a nearly new Jet 1442 that I will pick up when I travel from Arkansas to NJ when I visit some family in May.

I have recently been offered a nearly new Powermatic 3520A that I can pick up on a trip in early April.

The powewrmatic is several hundred dollars reduced from new price and I can pick it up so no delivery $ are involved.

All of the spindle accessories I have for the Jet mini will fit the Jet 1442. They won't fit the 3520.

I haven't turned much on the mini yet but when I do spent more time turning will I not like the reeves speed control on the 1442?

Is the spindle height on the 3520 too high for my 41 inch elbow height?

Other things I should consider?

Thanks,

Clem Wixted
Jonesboro, AR
 
I would say to jump on the Powermatic like a duck on a June bug. The Jet is a good lathe, but not in the same league as the Powermatic. I think that the spindle height of the Jet and Powermatic are very close. You could always make a raised plaform if necessary.

Bill
 
Sure sounds like a GLOAT to me.

Congradulations!

That Powermatic is a fine lathe. You can get a spindle adaptor for those faceplates that you have for the Jet lathes.

Good luck
 
What can I say. I went through 3 other lathes until I bought the Powermatic. It is hands above the other 3. It's the mass and the power that makes the difference.
 
You guys are making the decision pretty obvious.

Bill, I was born in June, so I'm a june bug 🙂

Norm, I drive a Town car!

Gynia, Thats and easy fix.

John, you are probably the one that has caused me to think yellow. I have followed your posts for a long time, especially the one that described your trip to pick up your 3520.

Could you guys also talk to my wife for me? 🙂

Clem
 
Just Do IT

Clem,

When it became obvious that I had outgrown my JET 1236, I went through the same internet forum Q&A that you're doing now. Time and again I "spoke" to people who had upgraded 3 or 4 times over several years.

I decided to skip the constant wishing for Bigger Iron and the repeated pitches to SWMBO on why I must buy ANOTHER [?] lathe. She has this killer question of "So why didn't you save yourself and me the time, aggrevation, and money by just buying the Big One sooner?"

My Stubby 1000 was a "terminal purchase" as I'm very comfortable that I will never need anything bigger, yet it fit into my cramped basement shop without taking over the space. On that basis, the purchase was much easier to "sell" because it just made sense from all directions. All I had to do was dig up the money tree in the back yard and whack it up for turning blanks 😀

Spending good money on a 1442 just to get 2" of diameter when you know that you'll still be planning on a 20" machine by September will not curry favor from the Comptroller, especially when she factors in the loss when reselling the JET as "used" after a short time.

Go get your Mustard Monster and be done with it.

[Keep the the little one, however]

Mark
 
Thanks, Mark. I'll let the Comptroller read these. 🙂

Where in NJ are you?

I'll be visiting Little Egg Harbor (Tuckerton) in May for an extended stay and I would like to do some turning activities while there. Maybe even take some lessons.

Clem
 
I was in a similar situation about 3 years ago and I went with the Powermatic. If you search for Powermatic in this forum you will find other posts about it, including
this PM discussion thread

It is a good lathe and will last a long time. If you buy it, you will need a 15-20amp 220 power outlet. If you don't have that already, you might factor that into the cost.

One feature I use consistently is the movable headstock. When finish turning a piece you can move the headstock to the other end of the lathe, and now you are provided with easy access to the innards of the piece. No more "bending over the lathe".

If you have specific questions about the PM, I'll help answer them.
 
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