Looking to buy a lathe

**Russianwolf** · 03-04-2011, 08:39 AM

Do you want to turn bowls eventually? if so, you may want to go with one than can handle larger diameters and or has a pivoting headstock.

Big things to remember, the lathe is likely the smallest amount of money that you'll spend on turning. The turning tools, the chucks, the accessories for pens, it all adds up.

I have a Grizzly G0462 and love it. It's a great machine for the price. Is it the best, no. But I can't afford the $3-4k that I would need to spend on the "better" lathes.

If you are really just interested in pens for now, go to penturners.org there is a ton of info for people just starting out.

**smorris** · 03-04-2011, 08:42 AM

Thanks. Yes, it is entirely possible that I or LOML will want to do bowls in the future. I'll need to get 2 sets of turning tools I expect as she is already laying claim to lathe time and is going to sign up for a class at WC.

**Russianwolf** · 03-04-2011, 08:54 AM

I can tell you are already in trouble.......

You'll likely wind up with two lathes eventually. His and Hers.

If you go with bowls, you'll want a larger lathe and then weigh it down with sandbags to keep it from walking away if you have something out of balance spinning. You'll also want to be able to go at a very slow speed (out of balance blank + highspeed = BAD). You'll want a good scroll chuck (Oneway). You can get away without a chuck, use the faceplate that comes with the lathe and scrap pieces of woods to glue to the blank.

For pens, you'll want a way to cut blanks. a way to drill blanks (drill press or on the lathe), and a way to turn the blanks (mandrel or between centers), and finishing supplies.

Drilling on the lathe is more precise and required for some types of segmented blanks. Turning between centers with custom bushings is more expensive in the short term but leads to better results in my opinion.

And I could go on for hours and I'm not an expert.

**leehljp** · 03-04-2011, 09:00 AM

Along with the suggestion of the bowls, in which you said you might wish, I just want to point out something that I have noticed, along with Mike's suggetion: Most people try their hand at making bowls much more often than long spindles. If your preferences is already known, let the focus be on a lathe that allows for bowls - more than just a long bed.

Many long bed lathes still limit the bowl diameter to 12 to 14 inches. I will say up front that a 14 inch realistically permits roughly 13 inches maximum for a bowl, and a 12 in lathe realistically allows for 11 inches max. A lathe that allows for the head to turn outwardly or allows the chuck to be attached to the outside end - these will allow for larger diameters. Also, if you are planning on more than 14 or 15 inches, you need to look at the speed very close. Anything over 14 or 15 inches need to have a minimum speed of 300 to 400 RPM. Larger items will vibrate and be very dangerous at a minimum speed of 500 to 600 RPM.

However, a minimum of 600 RPM lathe with an out turning head will be a very good starter and if you decide that you want to turn larger bowls later, you can move up. No need to start with the more expensive lathes and then decide that is not what you wish to do.

One thing that some people overlook - make sure you get a late with an "MT 2" taper. It has much more options than other MT sizes for the average user.

**dbhost** · 03-04-2011, 09:49 AM

Not sure how you feel about Harbor Freight, but I have been VERY happy with my #34706 lathe from them. (Copy of the Jet JWL1236). It has done everything I have ever asked of it, accurately... Unfortunately I haven't tried pens yet. Been doing a LOT of spindle turning, some bowls and that sort of thing...

**coupeowner 2002** · 03-04-2011, 11:13 AM

I have been happy w/ my Rikon 1216vs so far. It does not have an available bed extension though. The bed is different from their other 1216 and nothing lines up. The "vs" version has a part steel/part cast iron bed, whereas the non vs has a more traditional all-cast bed. You can use the same stand though (mine is bench mounted). I do not have much turning experience so take my pleasure w/ the Rikon with a big grain of salt. I figure that if I want a larger lathe I will just go w/ the HF in the future (or if I can pull it off - something nicer). The turners that I have spoken w/ generally don't put an extension on their smaller lathes, and just end up having two lathes.

Also note that the variable speed is actually a 3-pulley system.

**smorris** · 03-05-2011, 03:02 PM

We decided that since we are not educated in turning by any unit of measure you might choose to use,that we are going to take a basic woodturning class at WC. This will let us try out both the machinery and the tools to decide what we both like and dislike. Seems like a better way to make a decision and we will also learn all the appropiate safety rules. We signed up for the May15 class and are both looking forward to it. Thanks for the feedback everybody, it was very useful and I learned somethings I had not considered.

**leehljp** · 03-05-2011, 05:44 PM

Originally posted by smorris

We decided that since we are not educated in turning by any unit of measure you might choose to use,that we are going to take a basic woodturning class at WC. This will let us try out both the machinery and the tools to decide what we both like and dislike. Seems like a better way to make a decision and we will also learn all the appropiate safety rules. We signed up for the May15 class and are both looking forward to it. Thanks for the feedback everybody, it was very useful and I learned somethings I had not considered.

Just a warning with the "class" situation: It's like fishing. You take your chances if the fish are going to bite or not. But in your case, you are the fish. When you go to a class, it is like the fish hook is already in the fish's mouth. All they (WC) are going to do is SET the hook! You are as good as "caught".

Seriously, you are doing the best thing! Go for it!

**eezlock** · 03-05-2011, 09:33 PM

looking to buy a lathe

I have the Jet 1014I not variable speed, but I do like it and plan on keeping it.
Also, have made a few smaller bowls, rosettes, yo yos, and tops and the like
it is a well built machine and very dependable. I also bought the bed extension
after a short time of owning the lathe,in the future I may turn some longer
spindles or chair or table parts and need the extra length.

The best part of these lathes is, it is a MT#2 taper and accessories are available all over the place. The only drawback that I see to these smaller lathes is the clearance over the bed....for me if I were to change anything, would be to make it a 12" bed clearance or make a provision for outboard turning and that way larger bowls could be cut on the opposite end of the headstock and no worry about clearances and such. But, there again move to a larger lathe ( plenty out there) and a larger price to go with it!

**dkerfoot** · 03-06-2011, 01:24 PM

Another option

I ended up buying a used Shopsmith Mark 5 for about the cost of a mini-lathe. I have never used it as a table saw since I have a 21829, but I love the power, capacity and variable speed. Makes a great, compact, turning/sanding/bandsaw station.

I posted a review here: http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=46195

If you consider getting one, be sure you get a MK5 (MKV) that is at least 1984 or newer so it has the double-bearing quill, which greatly reduces run-out. Unless you are into collecting restoring, you don't want a 10ER or some of the other very old variations. There is lots of info out there - educate yourself before you run to Craig's List and buy yourself a basket-case.

.

**capncarl** · 03-07-2011, 01:30 PM

smorris, I looked at an older slightly used older Craftsman 6 inch lathe on a nice bench with a lot of acessories and tools. I think that the price was less than the new prices above. Located in SW Ga. Pm me and Ill send his phone # if you are interested. Other tools were Grizley ts, jointer, planer, dust collector.
capncarl

**RMCWoodWorks** · 06-07-2011, 07:34 PM

Amen to the comments re: bowl diameter, limited bed length, and MT#2. For the chuck, I'd vote for the OneWay Stronghold - geared chuck, only one tool required for tightening, many options foe the future ...

Have Craftsman (older) and Jet (newer), don't know Rikon ...

Looking to buy a lathe

Looking to buy a lathe

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