Owners poll- 18" X 47" lathes

Chris Haas · Mar 27, 2010

well, i'm on the fence wether laguna or grizzly.

pros for grizzly is obviously price
cons, no handwheel which could lead to hard vacuum abilities, also, the first lagunas had the same headstock setup, and there was a lot of bad writeups about them, i'm wondering if grizzly bought those plans and will soon have the same problems

laguna has worked amazingly over the phone as far as price to get me to buy theres, so while its still a con, it is a little less.

so i need to make up my mind and put down a deposit before wednesday.

now for your guys part, if you have a grizzly, could youpost some pics of the handwheel side of the headstock so i can see if some kind of handwheel/vacuum adapter could be fabricated. thanks in advance. Chris

Roger Chandler · Mar 27, 2010

Pics of the G0698 Grizzly

Chris Haas said:
well, i'm on the fence wether laguna or grizzly.

pros for grizzly is obviously price
cons, no handwheel which could lead to hard vacuum abilities, also, the first lagunas had the same headstock setup, and there was a lot of bad writeups about them, i'm wondering if grizzly bought those plans and will soon have the same problems

laguna has worked amazingly over the phone as far as price to get me to buy theres, so while its still a con, it is a little less.

so i need to make up my mind and put down a deposit before wednesday.

now for your guys part, if you have a grizzly, could youpost some pics of the handwheel side of the headstock so i can see if some kind of handwheel/vacuum adapter could be fabricated. thanks in advance. Chris

Chris,

I have pics of my Grizz on this forum, under a thread by Rich Aldrich:

"G0698 18"x 47" " I think they are on the second or third page and there are a about a dozen or so and they show all angles and closeups of the headstock from the motor side as well as other angles.

Tom from JT turning tools has emailed me and is working on a vacuum set up for the Grizzly G0698 which is like the old first Laguna 18/47 which he has made vacuum adapters for a couple of customers, and is going to make me one when I give him the go ahead. He wants to start carrying them as an in-stock item according to what he told me in the email, so getting a vacuum chuck set up shouldn't be a problem.

Mike Stephens · Mar 27, 2010

Dave Moore · Mar 27, 2010

no pics

Mike, and Roger too
The links to the photos don't work, I tried three at random and got a "page not found" msg in photobucket.
No clue as to why.

Roger Chandler · Mar 27, 2010

Links to pics did not work when tried

Mike Stephens said:
Roger I copied the links to your pics. I thought they should be included in this thread.

Cheers,
Mike

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1631.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1632.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1633.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1634.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1635.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1636.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1637.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1638.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1639.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1640.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1641.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1642.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1643.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1644.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1645.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1646.jpg
http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/w...1/IMGP1647.jpg

Mike,

When I tried clicking on the links that you copied of my lathe, the site said page not available, but when I went to the original thread, the pics did show up. I don't know what the difference is, but it didn't work for me.

Thanks for trying to make it easier to link to from this thread. Maybe you are a lot more computer savy than I,[my computer skills are minimal] so maybe you could figure out why, if you want to take the time.

Roger Chandler · Mar 27, 2010

Try the other thread [G0698 18"x47"]

Dave Moore said:
Mike, and Roger too
The links to the photos don't work, I tried three at random and got a "page not found" msg in photobucket.
No clue as to why.

Hello Dave,

When I went back to the original thread where we were discussing the G0698 my pics did come up when the links were clicked on. the thread is one started by Rich Aldrich and was "G0698 18"x47" lathe"

This worked for me when I tried.

Vaughn · Mar 28, 2010

Roger Chandler said:
I just read a thread on SMC forum about Jet 16/42 centers not aligning correctly...

...and in the thread one poster notes that his Nova had the same problem. Just interesting I think.

Roger, you will hear about various problems that can be common to nearly all lathes. It's not really not anything new. I think it's the nature of the (manufacturing) beast. But a person should also keep in mind the number of issues per thousand (or hundred) machines sold. If ten people report an identical problem with a Jet 1642, it would worry me much less than if 10 people reported the same problem with the Laguna or new Grizzly.

I'd be surprised if you didn't see more problems reported about the Jet or Nova than the new 18" lathes, considering the fact that there are so many more of those lathes being used right now. As the owner a new lathe, it's only natural for you to start noticing problem reports about either your lathe or the ones you were considering. (Sorta like after purchasing a new car, you start seeing that same model everywhere you go. Or the bad reviews and recall notices for similar makes and models.) Just remember problem reports will always be out there...it's the number of those problems per number of units sold that helps put them into perspective. 😉

Mike Stephens · Mar 28, 2010

Here is the link to the OG thread. Pics are on page 3.

http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=6877

Bart Leetch · Mar 28, 2010

It may have actually been used

I found a little dust on the top edge of the basket. I had to look at all the pictures real carefully.😱🙂😀😀

kevinkabby · Mar 28, 2010

3 out of 30

I talked to laguna on friday about getting a different lathe. They said that they rarely have problems with them. They actually told me that they are going to resell the one that I have that the centers don't line up and the motor has hunting issues. They also told me that they sold 30 so far this year and said that they had problems with only 3. That is 10%. Seems kind of high?

spring screw handles are stripped out, any suggestions on how to fix or can I buy them somewhere that are made of stronger metal?

Roger Chandler · Mar 28, 2010

Numbers do matter

Vaughn said:
Roger, you will hear about various problems that can be common to nearly all lathes. It's not really not anything new. I think it's the nature of the (manufacturing) beast. But a person should also keep in mind the number of issues per thousand (or hundred) machines sold. If ten people report an identical problem with a Jet 1642, it would worry me much less than if 10 people reported the same problem with the Laguna or new Grizzly.

I'd be surprised if you didn't see more problems reported about the Jet or Nova than the new 18" lathes, considering the fact that there are so many more of those lathes being used right now. As the owner a new lathe, it's only natural for you to start noticing problem reports about either your lathe or the ones you were considering. (Sorta like after purchasing a new car, you start seeing that same model everywhere you go. Or the bad reviews and recall notices for similar makes and models.) Just remember problem reports will always be out there...it's the number of those problems per number of units sold that helps put them into perspective. 😉

Hi Vaughn,

You make some valid points as it relates to problems reported/ 100 units as it will give a picture to the odds one might have in risking their money. I do believe that most problems could be avoided with careful Q/C standards and rigorous inspection proceedures.

Some may think me nieve, but I still believe the decision makers in industry reflect their own character by the things they let slide by. If I owned the company, I would try my best to think about the end user and the one who puts out their hard earned money, and try to make sure their unit was a good as I could make it for the price.

There is thread on another forum, by John Lucas about we are quickly coming to be a throw away society. He is right, and it is a sad commentary on the values of the manufacturers when they would rather build to bust than build to last!

That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it! 😀

Thanks for your response Vaughn. I enjoy these discussions we all have together, and I appreciate the fellow turners who help make this hobby an enriching experience.

Roger Chandler · Mar 28, 2010

interesting stats

kevinkabby said:
I talked to laguna on friday about getting a different lathe. They said that they rarely have problems with them. They actually told me that they are going to resell the one that I have that the centers don't line up and the motor has hunting issues. They also told me that they sold 30 so far this year and said that they had problems with only 3. That is 10%. Seems kind of high?

spring screw handles are stripped out, any suggestions on how to fix or can I buy them somewhere that are made of stronger metal?

Hi kevin,

It was my understanding you were going to send the 18/47 back to Laguna and get the Jet 16/42. Did you change your mind, or are you waiting for a new unit to come in from Laguna?

Those statistics you spoke of 3/30 are interesting. From the posters who have gotten the G0698, Steve Bellinger, myself and a couple of others that I can't remember their names this moment[I apologize], they all seem satisfied with their unit. [they say some things improve with age- the older I get the better my forgetter is getting 😀]

I sure will be glad for you when all this gets resolved to your satisfaction. Keep us informed, if you don't mind, as we are all pullin' for you...🙂

Roger Chandler · Mar 28, 2010

My sawdust, I used the lathe

Bart Leetch said:
I found a little dust on the top edge of the basket. I had to look at all the pictures real carefully.😱🙂😀😀

Bart,

I did not get the jist of your post, were you meaning I got a used lathe? or did I miss some obvious humor?

that is my lathe, and the dust that came from turning a cherry bowl. Did I miss someone else's statement? Just wondering about the dust found on the top edge of the basket, and how it related to the discussion in the thread.

Roger

Bart Leetch · Mar 28, 2010

Roger Chandler said:
Bart,

I did not get the jist of your post, were you meaning I got a used lathe? or did I miss some obvious humor?

that is my lathe, and the dust that came from turning a cherry bowl. Did I miss someone else's statement? Just wondering about the dust found on the top edge of the basket, and how it related to the discussion in the thread.

Roger

Chuckle
Zing it went right over your head..........

Here is the bowl I've been working on it may look a little different lets see if you catch the difference.

Oh my goodness there's a few chips laying around I guess I should have vacuumed before I took the picture.😀

Don't mind me I used to not take any pictures for posting if the shop wasn't vacuumed first & I got teased & generally given a bad time too. Now it's your turn. He He Ha Ha...................😱🙂😀

Roger Chandler · Mar 28, 2010

Zing

Bart Leetch said:
Chuckle
Zing it went right over your head..........

Here is the bowl I've been working on it may look a little different lets see if you catch the difference.

Oh my goodness there's a few chips laying around I guess I should have vacuumed before I took the picture.😀

Don't mind me I used to not take any pictures for posting if the shop wasn't vacuumed first & I got teased & generally given a bad time too. Now it's your turn. He He Ha Ha...................😱🙂😀

Hello Bart,

Well, you still got me on that one. Your spalted bowl is indeed a nice piece of work. What lathe is that you are using, obviously a Jet, but which model.

After thinking about your comment, I wonder if your reference to the dust on the basket might have been a reference to another poster's comment on the lathe being way too clean, as if it had not been used at all. Well, before I took the picture, I did do a quick vacuum with the hose off my dust collector, so it had been turned on and a bowl and a burl had been roughed out at that particular point.

And oh yes, it did occur to me that a better picture of the machine might be had if I did clean up the shavings ....What you did not see was on the other side of the camera, which I would not want to post until I put some things away, and took all my cutoffs and other lumber into my other building.

Bart Leetch · Mar 28, 2010

Roger

That is my Jet mini that I won in a drawing at a woodworkers BBQ.

steve bellinger · Mar 29, 2010

Roger Chandler said:
Hello Bart,

Well, you still got me on that one. Your spalted bowl is indeed a nice piece of work. What lathe is that you are using, obviously a Jet, but which model.

After thinking about your comment, I wonder if your reference to the dust on the basket might have been a reference to another poster's comment on the lathe being way too clean, as if it had not been used at all. Well, before I took the picture, I did do a quick vacuum with the hose off my dust collector, so it had been turned on and a bowl and a burl had been roughed out at that particular point.

And oh yes, it did occur to me that a better picture of the machine might be had if I did clean up the shavings ....What you did not see was on the other side of the camera, which I would not want to post until I put some things away, and took all my cutoffs and other lumber into my other building.

Roger i do belive Bart was refering to the fact that your lathe was to clean.😛 Most forums the folks like to give us a hard time about that. just for the sake of humor. I don't even try to clean it up when showing a piece still on the lathe.😀
Steve

Roger Chandler · Mar 29, 2010

steve bellinger said:
Roger i do belive Bart was refering to the fact that your lathe was to clean.😛 Most forums the folks like to give us a hard time about that. just for the sake of humor. I don't even try to clean it up when showing a piece still on the lathe.😀
Steve

Steve [and Bart]

I will try to do a better job next time I post pics of leaving some shavings. The project on the lathe was not the point of the pics last time; it was the machine itself, as some posters had asked that I post some, because they wanted to see the machine, it being new to the market.

I can see some appreciate showing all the hard work with the shavings all over the place. I guess they like taking pictures of the journey as much as the destination.😉

Roger Chandler · Mar 29, 2010

Nice work on a mini

Bart Leetch said:
Roger

That is my Jet mini that I won in a drawing at a woodworkers BBQ.

Bart,

That is a really nice spalted bowl that you have turned on that mini. I like its form and its size. What are your plans for a finish? Was the wood good and dry and do you expect any warping or change in shape?

Bart Leetch · Mar 29, 2010

Roger Chandler said:
Bart,

That is a really nice spalted bowl that you have turned on that mini. I like its form and its size. What are your plans for a finish? Was the wood good and dry and do you expect any warping or change in shape?

It is dry Maple. I'll wipe it down with 2-3 coats of tung oil & then onto a wipe on finish. The initial turning was done on my old Delta double duty lathe. I switched lathes because the Jet turns 240 RPM's slower then the Delta at low speed. The Jet wouldn't have handled the blank to start even at 500 RPM's it really shook the old lathe even with the lathe & bench weight of 420 LBS.

Roger Chandler · Mar 31, 2010

Will the double Delta have to go with a new lathe?

Bart Leetch said:
It is dry Maple. I'll wipe it down with 2-3 coats of tung oil & then onto a wipe on finish. The initial turning was done on my old Delta double duty lathe. I switched lathes because the Jet turns 240 RPM's slower then the Delta at low speed. The Jet wouldn't have handled the blank to start even at 500 RPM's it really shook the old lathe even with the lathe & bench weight of 420 LBS.

Bart,

When you get your new lathe, will you relinquish the old DD Delta to the realm of antiquity,or will you find room for 3 lathes in your shop?

The 18/47's weigh around 500 lbs. by themselves, but if you are going to turn large blanks, then I would add a shelf and ballast to the unit for extra weight just as a stabilizing proposition. [Something I am going to do with my unit]

Roger Chandler · Apr 1, 2010

Another turning session - G0698 gives great performance

Hello all,

Because some who visit this forum have inquired about this newly marketed unit from Grizzly, and in the other thread I said I would post some on-going reviews and impressions, I post the following....

I spent several hours yesterday turning a cherry log blank into a undulating bowl which will go for my wife to place a flower arrangement in. The final dimensions were 9-5/8 inches diameter, and almost 4" high. The top tapers towards the bottom in stepped sequence to add visual interest, both inside and outside the bowl, with the inside undulations being more rounded than the outside steps.

For over 6 hours I turned, sanded and finished and ran the lathe mostly on the low belt setting because of the size of the log and weight. Starting slow [200 rpm] and going to 1220 rpm when the thing was in balance, the G0698 performed flawlessly.

Sanding was done at about 150 rpm [ couldn't stand any slower] and finishing at about 80 rpm, with sanding sealer and wipe on poly from miniwax.

The only problem I had was not with the lathe. My design choice was to put a little inside lip on the top of the bowl about 1/4" high, and that prevented the thing from seating properly on the cole jaws, so when I tried to turn the bottom foot from the tenon, then the piece went flying twice on me. I ended up with strapping it to the cole jaws with several rounds of blue painters tape and still had problems being able to get the foot the way I wanted it.

The piece turned out nice [except for the dings and a couple of chip outs on the rim, that were small, when the bowl flew off the lathe, and the foot that I am not altogether pleased with] but I guess one lives and learns from their mistakes. Boy I can't hardly wait till I get my vacuum system!

The lathe was on the low belt setting for most of the session, and even though I had it on very low rpm for sanding and finishing the motor never got hot, and it was 77 degrees in the shop. I felt like I gave this unit another good work out, and it met every challenge with smooth, quiet performance that made turning on it a joy. This unit has torque to spare, and plenty of power to handle everything I have thrown at it so far.

I am still a happy camper! 🙂

Bart Leetch · Apr 2, 2010

Roger Chandler said:
Bart,

When you get your new lathe, will you relinquish the old DD Delta to the realm of antiquity,or will you find room for 3 lathes in your shop?

Yes I plan on giving it to a friend of mine.

The 18/47's weigh around 500 lbs. by themselves, but if you are going to turn large blanks, then I would add a shelf and ballast to the unit for extra weight just as a stabilizing proposition. [Something I am going to do with my unit]

I plan on building a storage area into the base with I am thinking of vertical partitions on drawer glides with a lathe tool racks on each side set up like the picture with a board with pockets for the tips of the handles & a bar magnet for the chisel ends. Some of the longer chisels may need to be stored differently. An ideas will be considered & collected.

How far are the shelf brackets from the floor? I am thinking of making a ballast box that will hang down from them close to the floor with toe clearance. Maybe a plywood box built with 2X material along the top outside edge as a stiffener & hanger to fit into the brackets on the lathe stand so the box could hang down & hold around 200 LBS of sand & then make the tool cabinet to set on top of it & is just screwed to it.

Roger Chandler · Apr 3, 2010

G0698 Pics generated a lot of interest at local meeting

I took the photo's that are posted in the thread about the G0698 to our local woodturners chapter of the AAW, when we had our monthly meeting this morning. I had quite a few turners who were asking questions and taking a good look.

Some liked the features and compared them to the features of the PM 3520b that is in the shop where we hold the meetings. Although the G0698 does not come with the cage like the PM and the Jet, it is my understanding that most turners take the cage off anyway [at least that is what I have heard]

It has the reversing, the electronic variable speed, 2 hp like the PM, but does not have as long a banjo as the 3520b, and lacks a handwheel like the 3520b.

I think a couple of them were serious about inquiring with Grizzly. We will see if they upgrade in the near future. A couple want to come over and give mine a spin.

Chris Haas · Apr 4, 2010

the handwheel reason is what really bothered me the most. i just love and use my handwheel too much. hopefully they get those issues worked out.

Roger Chandler · Apr 4, 2010

preference for some

Chris Haas said:
the handwheel reason is what really bothered me the most. i just love and use my handwheel too much. hopefully they get those issues worked out.

Hi Chris,

the hand wheel is certainly a preference that matters to some. Perhaps when learning to turn it was the way they learned, and now have adapted that to their normal procedure.

Mounting a blank on a screw chuck is probably the most it would be used if one was on the Grizzly G0698. I have mounted a couple of log blanks on mine using a screw with my nova chuck and the only difference is with locking the spindle with the pin, and using two hands to rotate the blank. Mostly a matter of style, I guess.

One poster was thinking he needed to slow the lathe to a halt by use of a hand wheel, like you see on Bob Hamilton's videos when he uses it to slow his Nova DVR, but the spindle slows very quickly with turning the speed dial down or hitting the stop button on the Grizzly G0698.

I think a handwheel would be a desirable accessory, and I am going to talk to Tom at JT turning tools to see if he can fabricate one for the Grizzly, and most likely get some parts for a vacuum system from him also. I know he comes highly recommended.

Roger Chandler · Apr 8, 2010

hand wheel a no go with JT

I am going to talk to Tom at JT turning tools to see if he can fabricate one for the Grizzly, and most likely get some parts for a vacuum system from him also. I know he comes highly recommended.[/QUOTE]

Well I talked to Tom at JT Turning tools about him fabricating a hand wheel accessory for my G0698, and it is a no go. He says the spindle is too short, and is cut flush with the pulley, and does not have the room to make a thread for accepting a hand wheel.

I will have to think a little more on the possibility......

Vaughn · Apr 8, 2010

Roger Chandler said:
...the hand wheel is certainly a preference that matters to some. Perhaps when learning to turn it was the way they learned, and now have adapted that to their normal procedure...

Speaking only for myself, my first two lathes did not have a hand wheel. My third one does, and I expect any subsequent lathes I buy will, too. So it had nothing to do with how I learned. I don't use screw chucks and don't use the wheel to slow down the lathe, but I use it all the time attaching and removing chucks and faceplates. I also use it for turning a piece by hand when I'm power sanding.

Roger Chandler · Apr 9, 2010

Question as to hand wheel use

Vaughn said:
Speaking only for myself, my first two lathes did not have a hand wheel. My third one does, and I expect any subsequent lathes I buy will, too. So it had nothing to do with how I learned. I don't use screw chucks and don't use the wheel to slow down the lathe, but I use it all the time attaching and removing chucks and faceplates. I also use it for turning a piece by hand when I'm power sanding.

Hi Vaughn,

This is not a sarcastic question at all, but I was wondering if I am missing something as it relates to a hand wheel. My lathe that broke a gear shaft had one [craftsman 15"] and I did use it to rotate the spindle when putting on a scroll chuck or put a blank on a screw chuck.

My new lathe doesn't have a hand wheel, but I have not really missed it, as I just go about the same task another way. This is why I question if I am missing something about the issue of having one vs. not having one.

In previous posts I thought of it as a preference of the individual, but I am open to new light on the subject, and welcome others input, because I certainly don't know it all, that's for sure! Good to hear from you...🙂

The power sanding is something I had not thought of.... I just always did it with the lathe turning, but I could see a particular end grain area that might be stubborn and need a little extra while the lathe is mostly still......just thinking....

Jerry Hall · Apr 9, 2010

Hand Wheel is Basic to any good lathe!

Roger, I don't have a dog in this fight. But in answer to your question: There are many answers to why someone would want a hand wheel, and most are in this thread. I understand you have worked around the missing hand wheel, but that doesn't mean a good basic lathe shouldn't have one (as all others do) and that others should have to go to work-arounds. Grizzly will fix this in future models I have no doubt, because they should It was dumb to leave it out. It was maybe a $10 decision that detracts mightily from a potential winner. It should just be left at that. I am surprised and sorry you can't add one. Jerry

Roger Chandler · Apr 9, 2010

thanks

jerhall said:
Roger, I don't have a dog in this fight. But in answer to your question: There are many answers to why someone would want a hand wheel, and most are in this thread. I understand you have worked around the missing hand wheel, but that doesn't mean a good basic lathe shouldn't have one (as all others do) and that others should have to go to work-arounds. Grizzly will fix this in future models I have no doubt, because they should It was dumb to leave it out. It was maybe a $10 decision that detracts mightily from a potential winner. It should just be left at that. I am surprised and sorry you can't add one. Jerry

Hi Jerry,

Coining and old phrase such as "a dog in this fight" does convey a disagreement, and I just wanted all to know, I have not meant any comment that I have made from a point of disagreement. On the contrary, I agree with most of the comments made by others, and just find it interesting the different ways different turners go about their craft.

Having said that, once again, I agree with you that Grizzly should have gotten this small, but important [to most] detail included on their version of this lathe. I suspect, [I don't know for a fact, but speculate] that in order for Grizzly to get the lathe made with their label, that they had to have some difference between theirs and the Laguna with the hand wheel.

I think it would be a great thing for Grizzly to get an upgrade package ready for this lathe that would include an extended spindle and a hand wheel, complete with DETAILED instructions on how to install the upgrade by the owner. Now that would make great customer service! [Are you listening Grizzly?]

I hope you are correct in your opinion that Grizzly will bring about a fix for this in the future, because IMHO it was dumb as you say....🙂

Thanks for your input, Jerry.

Chris Haas · Apr 9, 2010

heres my take on the whole thing, first, i have no proof, just a hunch on the theory.

here goes

i think grizzly bought/copied the rights to lagunas original 1847 design that has the shorter spindle. i also think laguna sold/allowed it because they made some other improvements on their newer design that then would not be copied, also, i remember all the bad reviews lagunas original 1847 got, and i wouldnt be surprised if those same problems worked their way into the grizzly line.

now roger, i know you are going to reply to this, i know you got a great lathe, and i think that is awesome. i also know about all the griz QC, but i guess i'm just too skeptical right now to go for the griz.

like i said in the begining, i have absolutly no proof, just a gut feeling.

Roger Chandler · Apr 9, 2010

Trusting your gut

Chris Haas said:
heres my take on the whole thing, first, i have no proof, just a hunch on the theory.

here goes

i think grizzly bought/copied the rights to lagunas original 1847 design that has the shorter spindle. i also think laguna sold/allowed it because they made some other improvements on their newer design that then would not be copied, also, i remember all the bad reviews lagunas original 1847 got, and i wouldnt be surprised if those same problems worked their way into the grizzly line.

now roger, i know you are going to reply to this, i know you got a great lathe, and i think that is awesome. i also know about all the griz QC, but i guess i'm just too skeptical right now to go for the griz.

like i said in the begining, i have absolutly no proof, just a gut feeling.

Hey Chris,

Just quoting Leroy Jethro Gibbs [NCIS] "trust your gut." No one will look out for your best interest like yourself. I can certainly understand anyone's skepticism after reading the posts on this and other forums, because they are all over the place. Kinda reminds me of an old axiom I heard... "opinions are like feet, everyone has them and they all [fill in the blank] 😀

I am skeptical of what I read here, but in my case I think I got a good unit, but I do wish it were perfect, like with a hand wheel, and no hunt at very low rpm, but neither is a real problem, just the cotton-pikkin' specs of Grizzly...😀

As far as my reply to your comment, well.........you set the bait😀 .... no, seriously, I enjoy the commentary and the great folks on this forum, that is why I keep coming back, and I learn so much from all of you.....thanks for posting! 🙂

kevinkabby · Apr 9, 2010

Chris

If you want the same exact lathe as the laguna minus the hand wheel, buy the grizzly. For one you will have better customer service, they also have 3 large warehouses so if you need a part, you can get one.

I own the laguna, nothing but problems. I can't return it because they wont have any till mid july. I can send it back for a refund....when it passes their inspection. I used it every day for a month, and have no faith that they will refund me the full amount. I am dealing with it till they send me a new one. I forgot the centers didn't line up until I pulled out the angle grinder and files. Also with both of these lathes you will find that the handles will wear out on the tool rest and tail stock.

The specs are the same from griz and laguna, from the motor to the vfd. The only difference is the green paint and a hand wheel. For me the hand wheel is worth the three hundred dollars. it makes it faster to install the chuck, stopping the project and if you simply wanted to rotate it with one hand and use the other on the project.

If i were to do it all over again, I would definately buy a jet

Roger Chandler · Apr 9, 2010

I was told the handles were changed

kevinkabby said:
I Also with both of these lathes you will find that the handles will wear out on the tool rest and tail stock.

If i were to do it all over again, I would definately buy a jet

Kevin,

Just to make a point of clarification - Bart Leech sent me a message where he contacted Bill Crofutt, the QC guy at Grizzly, and he stated that they had the handles changed to ones with a deeper socket, which if used correctly and allowed to seat properly will avoid the strip out that was common with the older handles.

Also, I almost bought the Jet myself in December '09, and since reading this and other forums there have been quite a number of Jet 16/42's that have had motor problems [some units, multiple times] which Jet is sending replacement motors for, as they are aware of the problem, and are standing by their warranty. Just information for clarification purposes.

I hope your second unit is much better than your first. We are interested in your situation, and want it to go well for you....🙂

steelguy · Apr 9, 2010

Champagne appetite - Beer Pocketbook

I have been following this thread for it seems like months now. What I have learned so far is Grizzley 18/47 - $1295 - Laguna 18/47 - $1850. Grizzly - no hand wheel and hunts under 100 rpm - Laguna has a hand wheel and doesn't hunt. Also, with a $600 lower selling price, the Grizzley folks are thought to have made a serious error for leaving off the handwheel.

Having had only one lathe with a hand wheel (that I don't use - I use the chuck) and several others without hand wheels, I am left to wonder how I have had any fun at all in my shop!

The lathe that I have had the most fun with (my first one) is a 1936 vintage 9in. Craftman with an open step cone pulley system and brass bushing head which sprays oil all over me when newly lubricated. It has a homemade motor mount on a hinged plate. On this lathe, a number of years ago, I completed a turned walnut, four poster bed. BTW, this lathe was free!!!!

I guess that I have never had the ideal lathe - I've just had lathes that make whatever I am turning go round and round. I have never obsessed about lathes, just obsessed about having enough time to use whatever lathe I happen to have at the time. 🙂

Jerry

Roger Chandler · Apr 9, 2010

Great Post Jerry!

steelguy said:
I have been following this thread for it seems like months now. What I have learned so far is Grizzley 18/47 - $1295 - Laguna 18/47 - $1850. Grizzly - no hand wheel and hunts under 100 rpm - Laguna has a hand wheel and doesn't hunt. Also, with a $600 lower selling price, the Grizzley folks are thought to have made a serious error for leaving off the handwheel.

Having had only one lathe with a hand wheel (that I don't use - I use the chuck) and several others without hand wheels, I am left to wonder how I have had any fun at all in my shop!

The lathe that I have had the most fun with (my first one) is a 1936 vintage 9in. Craftman with an open step cone pulley system and brass bushing head which sprays oil all over me when newly lubricated. It has a homemade motor mount on a hinged plate. On this lathe, a number of years ago, I completed a turned walnut, four poster bed. BTW, this lathe was free!!!!

I guess that I have never had the ideal lathe - I've just had lathes that make whatever I am turning go round and round. I have never obsessed about lathes, just obsessed about having enough time to use whatever lathe I happen to have at the time. 🙂

Jerry

Hi Jerry,

I won't say champaigne or beer, but I'll just say I have an "Iced Tea" pocketbook, and yes, I guess I wish I had the perfect lathe, then they would develop some new feature, and I would know that my unit was "second class" as innovations always seem to have a way of creeping up, and the "latest and greatest" is always marketed for fullest effect.

Seriously, what matters to me are reliability first, then quality and features. I feel like I got my money's worth with the Grizzly G0698 in all these catagories.

I agree with you about the fun part..... I had fun on my old craftsman before it broke on me, and I could not get parts to fix it anywhere. That is how I knew that I wanted another, newer lathe, and would be willing to cough up the $$$$$ for it. Of course, almost anything woodworking related gets me going, but turning has a special appeal because of the creative side to it that can bring something beautiful out of a hunk of wood that the average person would not see much value in.

Good to hear from you! 🙂

Roger Chandler · Apr 10, 2010

center alignment on your Laguna

[Quote- KevinKabby] "I forgot the centers didn't line up until I pulled out the angle grinder and files. Also with both of these lathes you will find that the handles will wear out on the tool rest and tail stock."

Hi Kevin,

I don't know if you have already tried this to help the centers align or not, but in another discussion on another forum, there were posters who were dealing with alignment problems as well. [Jet]

A number of the posters were speaking of the importance of the bed being level side to side and front to back. I know the manual on my Grizz specifically says to get it level. On an uneven surface such as concrete floor, this could cause the bed to torque one way or another as one leg might be higher, or whatever, and this causes misalignment of centers.

I know that my shop floor is not level, and I had to shim the headstock end with a couple small pieces of 1/2 plywood to get level, and my centers are dead on. I don't know if you've already gone through this proceedure, but I was hoping that this might help a bit, but if not I had the best of intentions in trying to get information to you that might help remedy the alignment issues.

Good luck Kevin

Roger Chandler · Apr 14, 2010

adding ballast to G0698

Because of the interest shown in this newly marketed lathe, I am following through on my statement that I would post some ongoing information and reviews on this unit.

Yesterday I added a shelf on the leg castings. I used one 2x12 that I had on hand from a former deck project and purchased another 2x8 to complete it to full width. The length of both boards was 64-3/4 inches. I have a small shop and need every inch of space for woodworking items.

What I did was use the shelf to store some nailers, pneumatic tools which are in blow molded cases, and on the tailstock end placed my portable Delta planer with a cover over it to protect from wood dust. I now have ballast to spare, and this thing is absolutely rock solid. No issue about being wobbly or vibration with a large blank.

The G0698 weighs around 500 lbs anyway, and I only had one vibration to occur when I chucked up a very unbalanced and out of round blank the second week I had it, and it handled it well when I turned the speed down to about 250 rpm, but now, I don't think hardly anything will shake it. I pushed against the lathe with the weight of my body and tried to shake it that way, but it was like a rock.

The shelf also added stiffness lengthwise, and it is stable both length and width.

Roger Chandler · Apr 20, 2010

The more I use it....

A neighbor brought me a branch off a large lilac bush [tree?] about 3 inches or so in diameter. Wanted to see if I could do something with it. It was really knarly and very crooked. Hardly usable at all, except one section that was about 10 inches which wasn't straight, but could be made so by turning.

I made his wife a candlestick, and the lilac has pretty grain, especially the sap wood contrast to the darker heartwood. Finished it with 2 coats sanding sealer, and 3 coats high friction polish.

You would have thought I gave them money...😀 It came from their own yard, and to them it has a story, so I guess its all good.

The more I use the Grizzly G0698, the more I get settled into genuine satisfaction with my choice. The smooth, quiet performance is definitely there with this unit, and the features make it a joy to turn on.

This candlestick holder was turned entirely on the high belt setting, starting at about 700 rpm for roughing and went up to 2400 for final shaping. I could have gone to 3200 rpm, but the finish was smooth, so no need to.

I am wanting to piece together some red oak, walnut and cherry for a segmented platter in the near future. I guess I will probably use a waste block for a tenon, as the wood is only 3/4" thick. If anyone has a better solution for mounting this, I would appreciate the tips....🙂

Regards to all

Owners poll- 18" X 47" lathes

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