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Time for a new lathe?

C

Carvendive

Joined
Nov 1, 2005
Messages
11
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0
Location
Port Orchard Wa. and Soon Shawano Wi.
I've been using a Grizzley HD lathe (14 or 16" I think) turning hundreds of spindles plus hundreds of "In the round" carving blanks. I don't consider myself a turner as I've not educated myself on the topic other than to satisfy my carving and architrive needs.

Unfortunately I didn't know that I shouldn't press the stock into the drive on the head. So, the bearings are getting noisey. I also have several other issues with the lathe so I'm thinking of looking for a new one rather than replacing the bearings.

I did several searches on the site to see if there was any mention of any all-in-one lathe review that compaired brands. Not knowing all the brands available I thought this would also be a good way to find some models that are unknown to me. Nothing except specific individual machines.

Do any of you know of a GOOD source of review information on a wide variety of lathe's?

In case you need to know what "type" of turning I do in order to point me in a direction... I've done several 8" oct. base x 5' tall spires (two segments), hundreds of 2x2 to 4x4x29 spindles, bullet blocks, stacked plates (multi layered medallions), solid vases, capitals and column blanks as carving blanks. I usually turn Bass, Mahogany, Cherry, Oak, Lignum, Cedar, and Poplar. I RARELY turn items smaller than a mallet or maybe the top piece of a medallion.
 
You've given us the indication of what you turn, now give us a price range. You can go for an upgrade from $900 all the way to $10,000. Keep in mind too, that a good set of new bearings from a bearing supply will always be cheaper than an entire new machine. 😉

M
 
I can't justify much beyond 2-2500.

I know the bearings are my cheepest way out but the castings have other problems. Tailstock looks like it was milled twice with one of the borings looking like it was out of alignment. So inside where the MT2 seats, there is a spiral grove that tapers to a maximum of about 1/2" wide and maybe 3/16" deep into the casting. Also, the headstock has had a (IMO) balance induced vibration ever since I got the machine (new). Yea, pulleys and shafts are cheep also but it might become - where does it end?
 
Carvendive said:
I can't justify much beyond 2-2500 where does it end?
Click to expand...

You have settled in the best area, and your lathe of choice is the Powermatic 3520A (if you can find one) or the new "B" model. Running second will be the JET 1642evs at about $1,700.

M

ps. Oh, It NEVER ends 😀

PPS: Before you leave WA, check out JET's home office in Redmond where I believe they may have a Scratch & Dent showroom for both lathes. Couldn't hurt. 😉
 
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Mark Mandell said:
You have settled in the best area, and your lathe of choice is the Powermatic 3520A (if you can find one) or the new "B" model. Running second will be the JET 1642evs at about $1,700.

M

ps. Oh, It NEVER ends 😀

PPS: Before you leave WA, check out JET's home office in Redmond where I believe they may have a Scratch & Dent showroom for both lathes. Couldn't hurt. 😉
Click to expand...

I'll go check it out - Thanks!
re: your IT NEVER ENDS statement is really applicable for carving chisels - makes a $2500 lathe look cheep!
 
I would include the General 25-650 and Teknatool Nova DVR. There is a General dealer in Poulsbo and one in Sumner (Sumner Wood Worker Store). There is also a Nova (Woodcraft) dealer in south Seattle (George Town).

I really should remember the name of the dealer in Poulsbo, they are right across the bay from me. But I got the feeling when I called them they had almost nothing in stock.
 
Carvendive

I have the Jet 1642 along with a 20" bed extension. With that combo you should be able to turn your 5' tall spire in one piece. With the regular bed, you can go 40"-42", then you have the choice of 2 different bed extensions. One is 20" and the other is about 57" with another leg (meaning it's good to around 8'). I don't know about bowl type turning but for spindles, this one works great for me. Only real complaint I have (both Powermatic and Jet) is the lack of effective indexing on the headstock. Unless you really need that, the rest is beautiful.

Paul
 
Mark Mandell said:
...

PPS: Before you leave WA, check out JET's home office in Redmond where I believe they may have a Scratch & Dent showroom for both lathes. Couldn't hurt. 😉
Click to expand...

Are you certain? My foggy memory was that when WMH bought Jet, they moved headquarters, I know the office in Tacoma is gone. When I checked the Jet web-site the office they gave for contact was in Elgin IL.
 
Mark Mandell said:
...

PPS: Before you leave WA, check out JET's home office in Redmond where I believe they may have a Scratch & Dent showroom for both lathes. Couldn't hurt. 😉
Click to expand...

Are you certain? My foggy memory was that when WMH bought Jet, they moved headquarters, I know the office in Tacoma is gone. When I checked the Jet web-site the office they gave for contact was in Elgin IL.
 
n7bsn said:
Are you certain? My foggy memory was that when WMH bought Jet, they moved headquarters, I know the office in Tacoma is gone. When I checked the Jet web-site the office they gave for contact was in Elgin IL.
Click to expand...

No, I'm not sure. The info may be "old," and I haven't needed to contact them in several years. The corp office is, indeed now listed in Elgin, but they may still have the S&D store in the WA area since I seem to remember they were using Seattle as POE to avoid LA. A toll-free call solves the question.

M
 
n7bsn said:
I would include the General 25-650 and Teknatool Nova DVR. There is a General dealer in Poulsbo and one in Sumner (Sumner Wood Worker Store). There is also a Nova (Woodcraft) dealer in south Seattle (George Town).
Click to expand...

The 25-650 is on sale this month for $1769. For what you get, I think it's one of the best for the money today.

16" swing, electronic variable speed with digital RPM display, outboard turning capability, 1 1/2 HP, reverse, 36 indexing positions.

http://www.general.ca/pagemach/machines/25650a.html

I just bought mine, and am waiting for it to come in.

-Joe
 
Joe Fisher said:
The 25-650 is on sale this month for $1769. For what you get, I think it's one of the best for the money today.

16" swing, electronic variable speed with digital RPM display, outboard turning capability, 1 1/2 HP, reverse, 36 indexing positions.

http://www.general.ca/pagemach/machines/25650a.html

I just bought mine, and am waiting for it to come in.

-Joe
Click to expand...

Joe, I dono if I wanta tell you but Island WoodCraft (Vancover Island and Vancover) has it for $1560 USD (plus shipping)
 
n7bsn said:
Joe, I dono if I wanta tell you but Island WoodCraft (Vancover Island and Vancover) has it for $1560 USD (plus shipping)
Click to expand...
Thanks! Next time we get together, be sure to kick me in the shins a few times, too. 😱

It doesn't matter, anyway; I still would have bought it locally. Is it really worth an 11% savings to have to deal with a shop in a different country? Buying it locally I can walk in and talk to people.

Support your local businesses. It's worth it in the long run. If I only keep the lathe for 5 years, I've spent an extra $40 a year, brought money to a local business, and gained a shop I can go to for advice or help if I need it.


-Joe
 
Joe, I can't argue with you. If my local shops were offering a similar deal I wouldn't consider further out. But since the locals want $1850 to $1950 taking a couple hour drive to save $400 isn't out of the question.
 
Carvendive, I drove over to DSC in Poulsbo today, he doesn't have any General lathes in stock, but he does have the Jet 1442 instock for a reasonable price (~$870??). I would say his prices are "normal" to " a little high", but he has the largest stock of power tools I've seen in the county, bigger even then Eagle had (before Lowes bought them and dropped thousands of items). He is in the business park that replaced the old BigBear Drive-in (between Poulsbo and Suquamish)
 
Picked up a magazine over the weekend that had some references to the Vegas WW show. Said that Grizzly was coming out with a 20" EVS lathe, about 43" bed sometime soon and it going (I believe) for about $1400. I'm at work now but I think it was Popular Woodworking (One with the chest of drawers on the cover).
It will be interesting to see when it comes out.

Paul
 
Thanks for all the information guys. Looks like I'll have to wait for a bit as I just got another order that'll make for 3-4 months of 16 hr days (200 4x4 spindles and another carved fireplace surround). I have a fulltime job and now this turning/carving thing is starting to pick up. I know, I know, ...count my blessings!

With my current tools I know my current setups, jigs, production rate and my 24" toolrest has all my layout file marks so I'm reluctant to do the switch in the middle of a job.

Thanks for the Oneway info. But for my needs the only entry point I'd consider would be the 2036. Given My needs and what's available, unless I find a used one (the preverpial chickens tooth) I'm most likely looking at the PowerMatic.
 
n7bsn said:
This may be the time to get that PowerMatic, have you seen Amazon's price on the 2530 of $2300 ?
PM 3520
Click to expand...

I'd do some more shopping. That appears to be a 3520A. With a bit of searching you may be able to beat the price on a "closeout-the-old-model" sale. 😀

M
 
I don't know if this is of interest or not with you job. I picked up a used Vega duplicator and I use it on my Jet 1642. It came with 12" mounts so I had to get the mounts for a 16" to use it on this lathe. I've made some 4" table legs and some splayed back chair legs (bottom only turned) using this lathe with a Vega duplicator. It actually goes very quick and easy with the Vega, though I usually do a little 'touchup' by hand.

Paul
 
Paul, if you're referring to me and my job, I'll sell (anyone) my duplicator (a Grizzly) for cheep just to get it out of the shop. For me, doing them by hand and eye is much faster and unless you bring out a caliper you do not see any differences. When spinning 4x4 balusters, what takes about 60 minutes with the duplicator takes me about 20. But then I've spun (hundreds, maybe thousands) so many that sometimes I'm spinning them in my dreams :-(

But then of course that lathe doesn't look nearly as impressive without that duplicator!
 
Carvendive

I hear you on a cheap duplicator. I had a PS unit that I got rid of a while back. I happened upon this Vega unit and gave it a try. It was night-and-day different between the two of them. I had a job making a number of replacement chair legs and they literally came out with a caliper to insure they all were exactly the same dimenstions. I got the job because of it plus it cut down my time for the job tremendously.

I was originally hesitant to try it out but it's proved it's worth to me. If it doesn't earn it's keep, it doesn't stick around.

Paul
 
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Ah, I see! Yes, if I ever get a job doing "percision" parts I'm sure I'd look at the Vega. My stuff is ALL non-percision. Mostly I do Balustrade packages. I have my own custom molder that among other shapes, does hand and bottom rails and then I spin the balsuters. I do inside and outside sets (attached is a photo - the only one I currently have on the computer) of part of one of my jobs. This one is 110 lf with about 190 balusters.

Then the other item I've been doing a few of lately has been fireplaces with various mantles that have surrounds and overboards comprised of vauses (sp) that I carve with acanthus leafing, egg and dart, and beading, topped with bundled reed columns, which is then topped with Iconic capitals. Here's one being stained.
 

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That mantle is absolutely gorgeous, and the railing is none too shabby either! I envy your ability to carve like that. I'm just a hacker, I can cut in a piece of wood for a repair and carve it usually so it's passable but never that nice.

Well done

Paul
 
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Joe Fisher said:
The 25-650 is on sale this month for $1769. For what you get, I think it's one of the best for the money today.

I just bought mine, and am waiting for it to come in.
Click to expand...

I just came across an ad for this "new" General lathe and am VERY intrigued. Especially since there's a General dealer about 30 minutes from here (Wilke Machinery).

Can you give us a critique of the General 25-650 Joe?
 
3520

You can't beat the 3520. I have used and abused mine for 5 years now as a professional turner. Presently glueing up a 18" by 9'6" column to be turned on it/ I made my own bed extension to 10' an it has handled everything I have thwowned at it. Heaviest thing I have turned was a 430 lb oak finial.
 
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