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Recommendations for simple, medium - duty lathe

E

erimille

Joined
Dec 31, 2004
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Location
columbus, oh
In a previous thread about restoring an old lathe, an option I've started to consider is simply letting this go and buying a new (to me at least) lathe.

I have a fairly decent lathe table / stand and a nice 1750 rpm, 1/2 HP Baldor motor. Given these items, I'm wondering if there a simple, well built lathe (without motor / stand) that is available. I'm thinking something along the lines of a connover-light-more-for-bowl-turning sort of lathe.

Is there anything along these lines someone might recommend?

thanks in advance,

--eric
 
Hello Eric,

I would never have thought you would be one to give up!!

Posting the question for a lathe recommendation, will surely set the record for replys. There are a great number of good lathes on the market, and an equial number of not so good ones; I didn"t want to say junk. Why not take some time and go out and look at some lathes that you think would sute you and your wallet. Get some hands -on experience, visit a wood turning club, see what others have, more often than not you will get an invite to a members shop/studio to give it a go on what they have. When you think you have found something that will sute you, check the history on the posts to see all of the pros and cons of your selection. But, what ever you do, don't just buy one from a catalog because it looks good.

As it is often noted - - " now with that said; What is better - a Ford or a Chevy ;)

I like a good treadle lathe myself - cheep to run :)

Good luck & happy hunting.
 
Bill is indeed "nice". The truth is that the options are daunting and really comes down to how much you want to spend. YOu can go used....there's a machinery shop here in Atl. that sell all kind of used lathes...I would assume there's something like that near you.
You can ride the want ads but I doubt there's going to be something that will meet your specific requirements.
You could go the way of the mini and use it for learning.
Your initial instinct is a good one along the Conover line. I still have my first lathe, a Conover, that I drag out of retirement every so often. I'm not sure you would be pleased with the 1/2 hp motor for long but it would get you started. By the way, most Conover owners are not interested in getting rid of theirs, particularly now that they are out of production. But you can keep looking.
Buying a Delta or a Jet get you turning simply and quickly, and you can always sell it when and if you move up. The best value to me is the Powermatic but it depends on what you are willing/able to spend.
Finally, Bill is right on in terms of trying on a local chapter to experience a broad range of options. Turning on a good lathe will spoit you, and make you a better turner. I know excellent turner who do amazing work on minimal lathes, but they are very dedicated and talented.
Good luck with your search. I am sure you will get mucho opinions.
David
 
Nice Bill said:
Hello Eric,
I would never have thought you would be one to give up!!
Click to expand...

Hey! No one said anything about giving up!!! I'm just checking up on various options. :rolleyes: I'm trying to not confuse too many topics in a single thread :wink:

Nice Bill said:
Posting the question for a lathe recommendation, will surely set the record for replys. There are a great number of good lathes on the market, and an equial number of not so good ones; I didn"t want to say junk. Why not take some time and go out and look at some lathes that you think would sute you and your wallet. Get some hands -on experience, visit a wood turning club, see what others have, more often than not you will get an invite to a members shop/studio to give it a go on what they have. When you think you have found something that will sute you, check the history on the posts to see all of the pros and cons of your selection. But, what ever you do, don't just buy one from a catalog because it looks good.
Click to expand...

I had hoped to focus the discussion slightly by trying to focus on the lathe per se rather than the base, motor, accessories, etc. Not sure if this makes sense, but that was my attempt.

I'm familiar'ish with the mid line versions of Jet and Delta as these are carried at my local woodworking store. But using Conover as an example my hope was to draw out some of the less know, higher quality lathes that might be candidates. 5 years ago, the Conover was the one I was drooling for. But it was a bit too expensive for me and I was more interested in bowl turning. Coming up for air the first time in 5 years, I was a bit bummed to find out they had gone out of business. I was wondering if another group had surfaced to the market to fill this gap.

Your and PapaDoc's (excellent) suggestion about joining some local turners group is a good one, and one I expect to follow-up on.

I must admit, however, I've gotten more information in the past week from this list on my lathe rebuild than the past 5 years periodically talking to local folk. I figured with this thread I'd try again to draw insight from this group :)

Nice Bill said:
I like a good treadle lathe myself - cheep to run :)
Click to expand...

ha! the 'run' pun is killing me!

--eric
 
Eric,
you seem to be in the same situation as me. Someone suggested that I check on the web for 'home made lathe' which I did. The 'Lynch Lathe' will bring up the details of making your own. Those willing to learn metal casting can put together a great lathe. However, after hours of following links and reading about home made lathes (and having a prearranged welding lesson this weekend) I have decided that the best solution for me is to get a good motor, and some pulleys (sp?). All I need is to build a stand and I can do that out of 2x4, 2x6 and the like. Believe me, you will see so many variations on the web that you will easily come up with your own idea of something adequate and quick to build.

Since you want to do bowls there is no need to worry about ways and tail stock etc.

When I put mine together I will post a pic.

Good luck.

r
 
Hey, Eric. S'me again.

I'd reccomend going ahead and ponying up the 7-800 for a mid line Jet, I think the 1436 or some such. You get a new machine, fully warrenteed, all the latest bells and whistles, and you're set for a pretty good while.

Unfortunately, unless you want to go with HF, lathes get pretty expensive pretty fast, especially the nice ones.

Dietrich
 
You've had some good advice so far. My suggestion would be to forget using the 1/2 HP motor. It would disappoint you. My experience with the Jet mini-lathes with 1/2 HP, used in some of my classes, is that I can stop the lathe with a moderately aggressive cut with a bowl gouge when turning a 7-inch bowl. 1 HP would be a minimum on a 12-inch swing lathe, 1-1/2 on a 14 or 16.
 
check the local club

If you have a local chapter of the AAW, join the club and see what lathes the members have and what they have for sale. I inquired about lathes at our local club, The North Coast Woodturners, I found several used ones in good condition to choose from. They were selling for about 2/3rds to 3/4rs the cost of a new lathe. There are many reasons these lathes are for sale. Some turners want bigger lathes, some want the newest technology, and others just fall in love with a different model. I picked up a used Nova 3000 with a 1 Hp D.C. variable speed motor. The previous owner wanted to move up to the Nova 3000 DVR. I feel I got a very nice lathe for less than $ 1000. I know that there are at least 3 other lathes in the club for sale.
If I sound like a broken record and keep repeating in my posts, "Join the local AAW chapter", it's because I believe it's the best resource a new turner can have.
 
Tom, perhaps you could have your members post their lathes for sale in the want ad section. There are many of us who would be interested and would pay what it costs for shipping......

Ruth
 
Home made lathe

Eric, check out my thread in the want ads, Bud has posted some interesting info there about building your own lathe.

Ruth
 
lath selection

Hi All
Here is my $.02 worth. If you want to get into bowl turning as cheap as posible go to HARBOR FRIGHT. they have a lathe under $200 I think. Cast iron bed, 3/4 hp motor, 12" swing 36" between centers, and stand. I can't remember what all it comes with or exact price. And I am prety sure the quality will be low. But It will get you into turning with out having to build a lathe around your low speed 1/2 hp motor.
Keep this in mind. And keep asking yourself this question for a few days. What is my goal. What do I realy want to do. Do I want to turn bowls. OR Do I want to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. If your goal is to turn bowls then quit fooling around and get at it. If you don't have the money then welcome to the club I ain't rich either. How about a second job untill you can save up enough. Have you looked into grants. The AAW gives out grants every year. Art foundations give them too. If you have a strong enough desire you will find the way.
The advice given on this fourm and the others is sound advice. Collectively we have all been there and done that. We bought or made the cheap lathe. The under powered, the poor quality, the small size, and Got hooked on turning. Then spent more money to up grade to a larger one. Found out it was lacking to in some way. So we bought a larger one. In the end we could have saved lots of money and aggravation if we had taken the free advice in the first place.
Forgive my ramblings. It's past my bed time and my back hurts.
Duane
 
I have Jet 1442. I am pleased with it. It may not be the final lathe I ever own. But so far my skills are the limiting factor and not the lathe.
 
1236 for sale

Eric,
check the classifieds in woodcentral. There is a Jet 1236 for sale in NH for $250.
 
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