Folks,
I don't do bowls (at least not yet) and I don't use a lathe all that
much anymore (lots of craftsman furniture), but I still do turnings
now and then. I have done many turnings over the years that vary from
1/2 inch to 6 inches or so in diameter to over 3 ft in length.
Sometimes I had to splice two together to get the length I needed. I
have done all this with (ugh!) a 40 year old Sears Craftsman "tube"
lathe that I bought NEW. I tried a friend's Delta 46-715 and liked
it. I also know that Delta has a new midi 46-460 lathe that appears
to be very nice. The 46-715 has been discontinued, so I would
probably have to buy it used.
I don't want to spend over $600 or $700 (would prefer less) because I
don't use the lathe a lot, but I would like the smoothness and chatter
freedom that I can expect from a quality lathe. Although I know it
would be nice, I don't want a used 400 lb. behemoth. I have read
about the Grizzly and Shop Fox lathes, but I also heard the mixed
results. The Sears has made a smooth cut hard to do (possible, but
hard).
With these facts in mind, I would like to ask you-all what you would
suggest.
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:23:42 -0700 (PDT), eganders <[email protected]> wrote:
If your turnings (for now) are 10" diameter or less and 24" long, you can't go
wrong with a Jet Mini, IMO..
Wonderful little lathe that's got sufficient power, is very smooth and stable
and easy to get parts and accessories for..
Hard to find one used, though, as most turners still have ours along with larger
lathes because their just too nice a tool to give up.. YMWV
>Folks,
>
>I don't do bowls (at least not yet) and I don't use a lathe all that
>much anymore (lots of craftsman furniture), but I still do turnings
>now and then. I have done many turnings over the years that vary from
>1/2 inch to 6 inches or so in diameter to over 3 ft in length.
>Sometimes I had to splice two together to get the length I needed. I
>have done all this with (ugh!) a 40 year old Sears Craftsman "tube"
>lathe that I bought NEW. I tried a friend's Delta 46-715 and liked
>it. I also know that Delta has a new midi 46-460 lathe that appears
>to be very nice. The 46-715 has been discontinued, so I would
>probably have to buy it used.
>
>I don't want to spend over $600 or $700 (would prefer less) because I
>don't use the lathe a lot, but I would like the smoothness and chatter
>freedom that I can expect from a quality lathe. Although I know it
>would be nice, I don't want a used 400 lb. behemoth. I have read
>about the Grizzly and Shop Fox lathes, but I also heard the mixed
>results. The Sears has made a smooth cut hard to do (possible, but
>hard).
>
>With these facts in mind, I would like to ask you-all what you would
>suggest.
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "LD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> "eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Snip
>
>
>>>
>>> I don't want to spend over $600 or $700 (would prefer less) because I
>>> don't use the lathe a lot, but I would like the smoothness and chatter
>>> freedom that I can expect from a quality lathe.
>
> Snip
>
>
>>
>> Any of the Teknatool Nova line. I had a Nova 3000 for a number of years
>> and was very satisfied with it.
>
>
> I would like to find a Nova Lathe for $600 or $700, where did you get
> yours?
>
I bought mine new, but when I sold it several years later it went for about
that price. Keep in mind that the Comet and Mercury were also Nova lathes
"eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:4d0f82fd-0929-41a0-8bd3-f68baf95db94@l32g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
> Folks,
>
> I don't do bowls (at least not yet) and I don't use a lathe all that
> much anymore (lots of craftsman furniture), but I still do turnings
> now and then. I have done many turnings over the years that vary from
> 1/2 inch to 6 inches or so in diameter to over 3 ft in length.
> Sometimes I had to splice two together to get the length I needed. I
> have done all this with (ugh!) a 40 year old Sears Craftsman "tube"
> lathe that I bought NEW. I tried a friend's Delta 46-715 and liked
> it. I also know that Delta has a new midi 46-460 lathe that appears
> to be very nice. The 46-715 has been discontinued, so I would
> probably have to buy it used.
>
> I don't want to spend over $600 or $700 (would prefer less) because I
> don't use the lathe a lot, but I would like the smoothness and chatter
> freedom that I can expect from a quality lathe. Although I know it
> would be nice, I don't want a used 400 lb. behemoth. I have read
> about the Grizzly and Shop Fox lathes, but I also heard the mixed
> results. The Sears has made a smooth cut hard to do (possible, but
> hard).
>
> With these facts in mind, I would like to ask you-all what you would
> suggest.
Any of the Teknatool Nova line. I had a Nova 3000 for a number of years and
was very satisfied with it.
You also might want to post to rec.crafts.woodturning
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:23:42 -0700, eganders wrote:
> I don't want to spend over $600 or $700 (would prefer less) because I
> don't use the lathe a lot, but I would like the smoothness and chatter
> freedom that I can expect from a quality lathe. Although I know it
> would be nice, I don't want a used 400 lb. behemoth. I have read about
> the Grizzly and Shop Fox lathes, but I also heard the mixed results.
> The Sears has made a smooth cut hard to do (possible, but hard).
>
> With these facts in mind, I would like to ask you-all what you would
> suggest.
I bought one of the General mini-lathes with electronic variable speed
and a swiveling and sliding head, as well as outboard turning off one
end. I've been happy with mine. It weighs about 100 pounds.
They did have a problem early on with the electronics, but that seems to
have been fixed now. And they give a lifetime warranty. But I would
stay away from a used one unless it's quite recent. Here's a pointer:
http://www.general.ca/site_general/g_produits/lathe/25-200.html
It's about $50 over your limit, but it does go on sale from time to
time. Woodcraft carries it.
--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw
"LD" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "eganders" <[email protected]> wrote in message
Snip
>>
>> I don't want to spend over $600 or $700 (would prefer less) because I
>> don't use the lathe a lot, but I would like the smoothness and chatter
>> freedom that I can expect from a quality lathe.
Snip
>
> Any of the Teknatool Nova line. I had a Nova 3000 for a number of years
> and was very satisfied with it.
I would like to find a Nova Lathe for $600 or $700, where did you get yours?