Lathes say a lot about human nature. I think of them as Ford vs Chevy or Mercedes vs Lexus kind of thing. There's a lot of flaunting what you can afford and there's a lot of real cheapskates like me that don't want to spend a dime more than they have too. But in the end what really matters is that the lathes comes to life when you hit the start button. Watch a youtube video of Mike Mahoney coring oak bowls on one of his many Vicmarcs or watch one of those videos of some 80 year old Asian woman cranking out tea bowls on a machine that would scare the hell out of me. If you have the drive or desire to create wood turned art you find a way.
Curt,
I would agree. I started many years ago with a very used General 160. It was a great lathe, and they do a fantastic jobs on their castings.
I came across a used Oneway 1024 and it is an fantastic lathe, but I love my cast Iron (just personal feelings).
I saved and bought a Bare Vicmarc VL300, I can't believe those could be purchased for 1500.00 new. I did not have much money starting out after school, but I worked at Cincinnati Milacron R&D and was happy to buy used/not working old machines and put in sweat equity to build out my Shop.
My late wife was an artist, and we could sit in the booths together on the weekends. She often asked me if my hobby was woodturning/woodworking or Fixing old woodworking tools and selling them. I did marry up.....
Back to my cast iron, and I really like the Tapered Bearons in them. If you really think about, the business parts of the lathe are:
- stand (get to your height and stable)
- motor (steady and strong power)
- bearings - Hold your spindle and work
The Cast Iron's lathes give you a different "feel" (not saying better or worse, just different).
I love the Vicmarcs' rock-solid cast iron feel, the quality of the finish, and the tapered bearings, but I will be the first to admit it is a Ford/Chevy thing.
I really admire the "newer than mine" Vicmarc VL240, but with a VL150 and VL300 and I use my old Oneway 1018. I don't know if I will have space to add the VL240, and don't know what I would get rid of to add it
Enjoy whatever you end up and don't look back.
Michael