Lathe question

[ChrisD]

Lathe Experts,

This is probably my first time to post in this area. There's a lathe on Craigslist in Chicago that caught my attention: http://chicago.craigslist.org/tls/100192196.html

Would this be a good starter lathe? Is the price fair?

Thanks in advance!

[bmyers]

I'll answer this anyway.
I am no lathe expert but I did own that lathe. I'd say pass on it. For 50-60 bux more you could have a brand new HF lathe with a cast iron bed instead of the mono-tube.
HF even sells that same lathe for $140 regular price, new. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38515

I quickly out-grew that lathe with all it's short-comings and moved on to the 4706 HF lathe in about 6 months. I got it on sale for $170.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=34706
Go garage sailing and see what you find there.

Bill

[RayintheUK]

I'm with Bill on this one - pass on it! I started out with one of those (they're branded NuTool over here) and it was a real dog - the locking levers were dreadful, the single pole bed seemed to induce vibrations, even when bolted down really well and it was generally poor quality.

Any cast-iron bed lathe will out-perform it and a double-tube bed will be significantly better than its mono-tube construction. I'd prefer you to save up and wait rather than have your first turning experience marred by a poor machine. JMTQW

Ray.

[ChrisD]

Bill, Ray: Thanks for the advice. I really do want my first turning experience to be an encouragement and not a disappointment.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Chris,

Were I you and just interested in trying out turning, I'd give that second link Bill provided a look. I know a lot of folks that have bought the HF lathe, a set of their windsor tools to get started. It's pretty similar to both a Grizzly and Jet lathes that it looks like. I am not a big turner, so it's been more than enough for anything I've needed so far.

That lathe, along with the Grizzly chuck and drill chuck in the links below should get you a long ways.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=H6265

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2005/main/266.cfm?

[ChrisD]

Dave, I will absolutely consider it. Although I do not have a specific project in mind, I do want to concentrate on turning furniture components (legs, feet, pulls) as opposed to stand-alone turned objects. It looks like the HF lathe is versatile enough to do both.

[bmyers]

For things like furniture legs, you wont need to buy a scroll chuck for. Thats center turning and the basic lathe with have what you need for that. Pulls on the other hand, depending on what you mean by "pull" might need a scroll chuck because to really finish the top of the pull, it's a "face turning". But get a scroll chuck later anyway.

I wasn't sure if I'd like playing with a lathe or not. It's so very different than hacking stuff up on a table saw. It took a few minutes of chisel time to learn that I was gonna really like it and open up another MONEY PIT. (you think a table saw is a money pit, wait till you get a lathe)

Anyways, at this point I've made numerous holiday and birthday gifts for pennies on the dollar and enjoyed the heck out of it.

http://www.wpsee.com/gallery/view_al...umName=album13

Have a look at some of my scratchings if you like. It'll show a pretty good progression over the past few years. Bowls, pens, boxes etc. Then go check out the REALLY nice stuff by KWG or Jim or many others on this board.

Visa Moments;
Price of the Lathe: $180
Chisels: $200
Chucks: $130
Chunk of ash stock: $2.50

Smile on my son's face when he wakes up and the first thing he wants to do is play baseball with me and the bat I made?

Priceless.

Bill

[ChrisD]

So, my friends: Does HF have a history of putting the 34706 on sale every year? Even at the regular price, I think it's a steal especially if it's comparable to the Grizzly and Jet models. But if I can save $100, then it's like getting a starter turning tool set for free.

[foneman]

quote:Originally posted by ChrisD

So, my friends: Does HF have a history of putting the 34706 on sale every year? Even at the regular price, I think it's a steal especially if it's comparable to the Grizzly and Jet models. But if I can save $100, then it's like getting a starter turning tool set for free.

Chris,

The 34706 is on sale right now at the stores for $199.99. The 20% coupon ends October 5, which would get it for $40 more off. Not bad for $160 plus tax and no shipping charges.

Edited to extend the date on the coupon.

[ChrisD]

John,
I called HF in Arlington Heights earlier today and the guy that I talked to said it was still $280. I looked at an HF flyer just now and the one that is on sale is the 36066 for $85. I'll call again tomorrow to confirm.
Thanks for the info!

[ChrisD]

John, you're killing me, man!!! I couldn't wait so I called the Arlington Heights store again but they were closing for the night and had shut down their computer so couldn't do a price check. So I called the Pasadena store: It's still at $280.

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Chris,

I checked their website ( www.harborfreightusa.com )for their older flyer and my current flyer. I don't see the #34706 on sale right now, which is the lathe you want. Just be patient, as it goes on sale quite often. I would advise you to keep up with the 20% sale and see if the lathe comes on sale while the 20% coupon is still going on. You can also watch for the lathe going on sale on the www.harborfreight.com website , which is their national shipping outfit. If you print out the sale from either website, they'll usually honor it at the local Harbor Freight.

If not the lathe is still a great buy at $200.00. Here's a link to the desireable turning set. I've never seen this on sale, but it's pretty much the same HSS set that Grizzly sells for a lot more. It's not Robert Sorby, but it is a good set to learn on.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47066

[ChrisD]

Thanks, Dave. I'm in no hurry at all (yeah, right...). But after doing some research over lunch today on this forum and elsewhere, I'm pretty much convinced that the 34706 will be my first lathe. So you bet I'll be watching for that price dip!

[foneman]

Chris,

Here is a copy of the ad:

[ChrisD]

John, you're the best!!! I'll print this out right away. Pardon my ignorance on HF (I've never bought anything there) but this should be good at any store, correct?