I understand that the main issue brought up by many concering rotating head lathes is center re-alignment. I am not concerned about that.
My concern is whether the lock down on better quality rotating head or slidng and rotating head lathes ( I am most interested in the Jet 1640 at this time) (excluding the Vic Marc) is such that once locked down, there is no movement whatsoever. If I get the Jet 1640, I have no intention of using the rotating head; but, I do intend to use the sliding head feature.
In other words, once locked down are the currently marketed name brand rotating/sliding head lathes (particularly the Jet) as steady as a fixed (bolted) head lathes?
I guess the sliding only headstock lathes like the Powermatic and the Revo must have some side to side movement when not locked down in order to allow it to slide. Would the lock down be the same as on the rotating/sliding head lathes like the Jet, making both types (sliding only and rotating/sliding) the same as far as stability in lockdown?
As an aside, are expert turners using rotating/sliding headstock lathes, and if not, why not?
My concern is whether the lock down on better quality rotating head or slidng and rotating head lathes ( I am most interested in the Jet 1640 at this time) (excluding the Vic Marc) is such that once locked down, there is no movement whatsoever. If I get the Jet 1640, I have no intention of using the rotating head; but, I do intend to use the sliding head feature.
In other words, once locked down are the currently marketed name brand rotating/sliding head lathes (particularly the Jet) as steady as a fixed (bolted) head lathes?
I guess the sliding only headstock lathes like the Powermatic and the Revo must have some side to side movement when not locked down in order to allow it to slide. Would the lock down be the same as on the rotating/sliding head lathes like the Jet, making both types (sliding only and rotating/sliding) the same as far as stability in lockdown?
As an aside, are expert turners using rotating/sliding headstock lathes, and if not, why not?
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