I currently have a Laguna 12/16 midi lathe and am considering upgrading. Rikon has their 15% sale going on and I was looking into the 70-1824 model. I was planning on going 220V (need to re-arrange my breaker box some to do that, but it is not a big undertaking) but see that it is out of stock at ACME and only available as a pre-order. I was going with ACME as they do not charge for shipping. The 110V unit is in stock but drops to a 1.75HP vs 2.5 HP motor. I am not planning on doing really large turnings so is the HP difference a concern?
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New Lathe
- Thread starter Rob Gabel
- Start date
If you are getting into bowl turning, and plan to core, then you need 1 1/2 hp and 220 volts. Mostly it is having the torque to core. It "can" be done on a 1 hp lathe, but not on many of them. The Nova DVR does seem to have far more torque than I expected for a "smaller" motor. It does not have a slow enough speed for me to be able to sand my warped bowls.
Other than that, how much of a budget do you have? I prefer to turn bowls on my Vicmark 240 which has the pivoting head stock. I think the Vicmark lathes have the best headstock design. Also, they have 3 speed ranges which I consider optimal. I keep it in mid range most of the time. Also consider sliding or pivoting headstocks. Main thing is that they allow you to stand up straight and not have to bend over or hold your arms and hands out away from your body.
robo hippy
Other than that, how much of a budget do you have? I prefer to turn bowls on my Vicmark 240 which has the pivoting head stock. I think the Vicmark lathes have the best headstock design. Also, they have 3 speed ranges which I consider optimal. I keep it in mid range most of the time. Also consider sliding or pivoting headstocks. Main thing is that they allow you to stand up straight and not have to bend over or hold your arms and hands out away from your body.
robo hippy
I have a Nova DVR Galaxi I run on 120v. I’ve turned on 120v vfd lathes, and the vfd motors do not have the lower end torque of the dvr - it was frustrating to continually stall the vfd lathe with cuts that the dvr powered through. Recommend you get the 220v version.
For what it’s worth, I would go 2.5 everything else being equal. I’ve never regretted going with more horses. I have wished I had more on occasion. Good luck!
Ha! Speaking of horsepower, the one in your profile picture looks great! Do you have others?
I've had up to 4 at once but now keep two. Have riding trails all through the property and access to adjacent land with over 100 additional acres with trails and logging roads.
I don't have either of these now. I gave the Sienna on the left to a teen boy who now shows her and wins! The big guy on the right (the horse, not me!) eventually got a bit unpredictable and liked to torment the others so he went back to the vet's farm to be a pasture puppy.
He was quite an energetic guy!
I still have Tiny who went blind (uveitis) 20+ years ago. I asked the vet what you do with a blind horse and she said "pet it a lot".
He memorized the fencing in two pastures, shelter, and barn and never bumps into anything.
And this beautiful baby is now 3 years old and acquainted with the saddle! Started handling her feet and such from day 1.
Her mother is gated but the young'n' is apparently more quarter horse. (Showed up as a surprise from the mother we'd bought the year before.)
She still has a touch of the teenage spunk but is such a wonderful girl, gentle, well behaved and so smart!
So what does this have to do with lathes?
Nothing, except horsepower!
JKJ
I have the Rikon 70-1824 in 110v. I haven't had any issues with power, but I don't core and have only done bowls up to 14-15". Overall it's a great lathe. I bought mine from Acme as well.
Model 10-342: 18" Deluxe Bandsaw - Rikon Power Tools
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Edit- Woodcraft's website shows 15% off Rikon machines.
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Thanks Kent. I do not plan on coring and 15" is likely the largest I will ever turn as well. Nice to hear that you are not having any "power" issues.
Here is something to consider I guess:
a 220V wood lathe typically doesn't use more electricity than a 110V model; it's actually more efficient by requiring less amperage for the same wattage, meaning potentially lower electricity consumption in the long run, and a lower risk of overloading the wiring.
a 220V wood lathe typically doesn't use more electricity than a 110V model; it's actually more efficient by requiring less amperage for the same wattage, meaning potentially lower electricity consumption in the long run, and a lower risk of overloading the wiring.
My Record Power is 1.75 HP. I core with the McNaughton system with no problems. If you don’t plan on doing anything harder than that you should be fine.
Hmmm... a watt is a watt. Volts x amps = watts. 120v x 10a = 1200w. 240v x 5a = 1200w. Less amperage, yes, but a doubling of the voltage. Power consumption is the same, but I can't recall the reasons high voltage/low amperage motors "work" more effectively than low voltage/high amperage motors.
Dave Landers
Beta Tester
Resistance is proportional to the current (measured in amps). Higher current means more resistance. Resistance contributes to voltage drop, and thus power loss (inefficiency). Resistance happens in the wiring and in the motor windings. Higher current requires larger wire sizes to mitigate the resistance.
For similarly rated motors (same HP), it's easier to build a more efficient 240v version than 120v.
That's oversimplifying things, but it gets the basic idea across. Everything's a trade off between science and engineering and manufacturing and cost (and when you're talking about HP ratings, marketing oftenheavily involved).
I have he Record Power Coronet herald and had intended to buy the 70-1824 during covid but they could not get it. My lathe has 1 hp and I turn 11-12 inch bowls, but the extra power would be nice at 2-2.5 hp. I had a smaller Rikon lathe before and it was a quality product.
I am considering the Record Power Regent lathe as well (220V). They are basically the same base price right now. Regent has a deal with a lot of extras (some that I would not need) but has a $600 shipping charge with it. The Rikon would ship for free from Acme Tools. Decisions, Decisions.
Yeah, that's why! Thanks Dave.
For the record, motors I own that can run 220/240v are running it.
One thing to note, be careful about the free shipping from Acme. We purchased a Sawstop a few months ago, and as soon as I went to checkout, they tacked on a $300 handling fee. Just beware....
If you buy it from Highland Woodworking the shipping is just a little over $300. The outrigger is very nice to have. It will turn 39” outboard. The SC 4 Chuck is a nice Chuck and will work with Nova jaws.
Thanks for the head's up. I have heard that since it is free "freight" shipping residential delivery may not be free. I can have it delivered to my workplace as we have receiving docks to hopefully avoid that if it is the case.
Good to know that my Nova jaws would work with that chuck. I am heavily invested in Nova chucks right now.
Same here. I have five Nova chucks and three Record Power chucks that were too cheap to pass up.
Wow, $600 to ship is a lot. Is that from a US based supplier like TheWoodturning Store?I do like the rotating headstock for some things.
I think the thing you're trying to get at here is I squared R loss. Power loss in the form of heat is the product of the resistance of the windings and the square of the current. Consequently, high current/low voltage corresponds to high I squared R loss and high voltage/low current corresponds to lower I squared R loss. This is why there are high voltage transmission lines in the power distribution network.
That was from Turners Warehouse. They do say that if it comes in less they will refund the difference, if it is a longer delivery price may increase and they will notify before shipping to get approval. Since they are in AZ and I am in WI I figured their estimate may be relatively close. I did see that I can get Highland down to just over $200 shipping if I do a commercial delivery (no lift gate) to a dock.
Considering the Record Power has all of the included "extras" right now I am now leaning that route. Need to consult with my electrician friend on how to redo my electrical box to get a 220V breaker. I thought I had (2) spare spots, but only have one currently. Could relocate some to a sub panel, or I know there are some "light" circuits in the panel that may be able to be combine on a breaker to free up a slot.
Highland Woodworkers in Atlanta is only $300 to ship. If your panel is rated for it you can install a wafer breaker and free up one spot.
That’s interesting. I will note that (before the Teknatool bankruptcy fiasco) when I placed an order for a Nova Nebula through them, there were indeed zero shipping or handling fees for the lathe or the extension bed I ordered, precisely as the product detail pages stated.
The Rikon 70-1824 was unavailable for a long time from what I understand. I bought it and am very happy with it (110v version). I bought it from Acme on sale (10% off), free shipping, and no handling charges. Also, they shipped to my home.
It is so hard to make a decision, but I am heavily leaning towards the Rikon 70-1824 over the Record Power Regent. Although the Record Power comes with nice accessories for the same price, the speed ranges are the concern. Rikon has 50-900 / 100-1850 / 200-3850. Record Power is 250-880 / 480-1740 / 1050-3880. With the Rikon I can leave it at the mid pulley for everything I have done so far. I am used to running a range of 324 - 1400 (more or less) and occasionally wish I could easily go a little slower.
Now the issue of 120 or 220. It appears the 220v is a newer version available via pre-order with anticipated shipments end of May. I am not in a hurry as I need to do a lot of shop rearrangement before I can use anyways and will need to do new wiring regardless. I was leaning towards the 220V as it would draw less current (House only has a 100A feed). After a closer look with the motor size increase there is basically no difference. 110 draws 16 Amps, 220 draws 15 Amps. Installation cost will be a little higher for the 220V (wiring and breaker costs) but not all that significant compared to the cost of the lathe.
I do want to keep the cost under the $3000 mark so that eliminates some of the others in this "size". Decisions, decisions.
Now the issue of 120 or 220. It appears the 220v is a newer version available via pre-order with anticipated shipments end of May. I am not in a hurry as I need to do a lot of shop rearrangement before I can use anyways and will need to do new wiring regardless. I was leaning towards the 220V as it would draw less current (House only has a 100A feed). After a closer look with the motor size increase there is basically no difference. 110 draws 16 Amps, 220 draws 15 Amps. Installation cost will be a little higher for the 220V (wiring and breaker costs) but not all that significant compared to the cost of the lathe.
I do want to keep the cost under the $3000 mark so that eliminates some of the others in this "size". Decisions, decisions.
I have the Record Power Envoy, 16” lathe. Center pulley is 400 to 1700. The only time I move to the slower pulley is when I am coring bowls for the extra torque.
I thought so too. Spent about $2700 - $3000 on my first lathe (with tax and shipping) about 3 years later I'm selling at a significant loss to get the full size powermatic 3520C.
Buy once , cry once.
If you can wait for another sale on the Powermatic's they are a pretty good deal. May be worth spending a little more and getting a lathe you will be happy with for many, many years.
IMO there is nothing wrong with the earlier versions of the PM3520. Those I know with the "A" version love them and turn amazing things from large to small - it has everything except the LED speed readout which is of dubious value to an experience turner. I bought a used 3520B with bed extension and a bunch of extras for $3000 - the last lathe I'll ever need.
I totally agree , I thought he wanted to buy new..
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And those regular sales prices of $5299 are often dropped to $4499 just out of the blue. I wince every time I see that-oh, well. Still happy I got mine at the higher sale price.
Maybe you bought the wrong $3k lathe. What was it? I wouldn't trade my Rikon 1824 for a PM for the $2k difference in price.
I keep mine on the middle belt (I don't core yet). It goes from 80 (which is slow enough for most sanding) to 1500 or something at the high end.
The 220v version of the 1824 has been around since the beginning as far as I know. Both versions (it's really the same lathe) have had intermittent availability problems.
@Kent Reisdorph, Is there an actual VFD in the control box, or some "proprietary" VFD type controller? From the pictures I can find it looks like a controller of some sort vs. a branded VFD.
I don't know the answer to that, sorry. Here's a reddit thread where one user posts info on the VFD.
View: https://www.reddit.com/r/turning/comments/1d4akpk/rikon_701824_review/
I reached out to Rikon and learned they use Rhymebus inverters. Looked these up online (and compared to the image in the lathe manual) and best I can tell they use a VFD that was originally designed for treadmills which is interesting. This may explain why they have a wider rpm operating range in their pulley setup.
Re: shipping costs. I bought my PM 3520 from a local dealer in December during the 15% off sale, they gave an additional 2% off for cash! Shipping was free to the dealer, I paid a local safe mover $300 to bring it to my house and down to my basement workshop.
I used piano movers to get my Robust to the basement
After much deliberation and internal debate I waited until the last moment opted for the Rikon 1824VSR2 (220V version) while it was still on sale. It was a "pre-order" so not expected to be delivered until early June which is OK with me. I will need to re-arrange (and expand) my basement shop to find room for the lathe. I also learned that I will be the recipient of a new floor standing drill press (have a larger benchtop one now) so need to fit that in as well. I am lucky enough to have a wife that enjoys turning as well so it was actually her idea to expand the shop so we could get a second lathe so we can both turn at the same time.
We want to build a dedicated shop area outside the house (add on a 3rd bay to the garage). There may be issues with this with the required setback from property line. Apparently it is OK for my neighbors house to be 4'-5' from the property line, but not an addition by me. This is according to some neighbors that tried to add on to their garages, the story being there is also a minimum distance between structures so first come first serve to building along the property line.
Anyways, looking forward to the new lathe and turning some of the bigger pieces that I have acquired.
We want to build a dedicated shop area outside the house (add on a 3rd bay to the garage). There may be issues with this with the required setback from property line. Apparently it is OK for my neighbors house to be 4'-5' from the property line, but not an addition by me. This is according to some neighbors that tried to add on to their garages, the story being there is also a minimum distance between structures so first come first serve to building along the property line.
Anyways, looking forward to the new lathe and turning some of the bigger pieces that I have acquired.