Anybody got any info on Rikon mini-lathe(good or bad)

I don't have one but here's some info, one heads up, it still has only

1/2HP motor.

Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Taunt wrote:

Hello Taunt. This lathe has been bandied about a bit, mostly with good reviews. I was highly interested when I saw it last year and posted the following at the bottom of this thread from a year ago. Since then the Woodcraft guys have told me that they have the normal quality control issues with the lathe that they do with any tools, so it seems OK to them. The 1/2 hp motor still seems to be a sticking point for those that want to turn near capacity sized bowls, but according to them most purchasers seem happy with the lathe and the amount of machine for the money.

This was almost exactly a year ago and I just copied it from the group archives. >>Everything advertised in the most recent issue of Fine Woodworking. I'm planning to

Reply Rate this post: Text for clearing space

From: snipped-for-privacy@aol.com - view profile Date: Sat, Oct 29 2005 12:30 am Email: snipped-for-privacy@aol.com Groups: rec.crafts.woodturning Not yet ratedRating: show options Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Remove | Report Abuse | Find messages by this author

Just saw one at Woodcraft today. The good news is they thought of a lot of things to make the lathe a little nicer.

Good news first:

- There are carrying handles that are built into the base

- I have two Jet minis- boy does this lathe look bigger! The larger capacity is evident

- More horsepower

- Drilled and ready for a bed extension

- Comes with a 6" tool rest

- All the handles are chromed metal, no plastic! And they are large enough to grip!

- Belts look easy to change for different speeds

- Two year warranty

- Comes with a 3" faceplate that may have been steel, not cheap cast iron

- 1X8 spindle means no looking for accessories

- Tailstock looks nice and heavy and also has a ruler built onto it. Really handy for someone like me that drills with his lathe on occasion

for different projects

- Best thing about it, WC sells it for $249

Not so good news:

- Seems odd... not really a mini, or a midi, but a really large looking

lathe. It is kinda like someone sawed the bed off one of the old Jet

1236 models.

- Not sure the motor is big enough to turn something chucked up at the capacity of the lathe. And if a really out of round bowl blank of 12 actual inches were chucked up, you better have this thing bolted to a really heavy cabinet. You are playing at the bottom of a full size lathe capacitly on a midi sized frame

- But on the other hand, this thing is too heavy to be easily portable,

too heavy to wag around solo. My Jet minis go where I go with me carrying them. I don't think you will carry this one far by yourself (no meeting with the boys at a central location to turn ornaments or taking this one to demos)

- Manufacturer's fit and fit was strictly Chinese. Some joints were great, some were poor. The indexing built into the spindle was stamped

into a sleeve and looked like an afterthought - nothing to depend on

- Castings were rough, but the machined ways looked OK. At least as good as the other Chaiwanese stuff we see all the time now. The tool rest was so rough it would need to be filed smooth before using

- In person, the paint colors were kinda ugly. Looking at my lathes with the bangs, stains, chips, and different finishes all over them, I think in the long run this probably wouldn't be a problem. But right now...

- No handwheel. There is a small chrome stub that sticks out, but it is hard to find, hard to grab, and feels like your hand is too close to

the machine when you grab it. I use the ones on my minis all the time,

every single time I stop the lathe. This one made me nervous

- 12" capacity lathe needs a bigger motor. Since just about all the

1/2 hp Chaiwanese motors used on this type of machine are the same, you

probably won't have enough motor for a big chunk of wood (what's the point of capacity if you can't use it?)

- No one knows EXACTLY who will handle warranty issues for Rikon. This

is really important to me since my experience with my Jet mini was it took three to get it right. I would say buy it from WC and take it back to them if it goofs up

According to WC management today, WC is hoping that this lathe will be the new flagship of their small lathe line. They have had a lot of problems with the Delta products, and they were looking forward to having a lathe that would have higher capacity than the Jet.

Since most folks never put their lathe in the truck and demo or turn with their buddies, this may make a nice shop lathe. In my opinion I would still probably go with old tried and true Jet mini, but at $249 it might be a pretty good shop lathe for a lot of people.

BTW, this lathe has been around for awhile. Sharper eyes than mine on this group ferreted out its origin:

Let us know how you like the machine if you get one.

Robert

I work part time at the local Woodcraft and we carry both the Rikon and the Jet minis. BTW, the Rikon is on sale this month at $220.

Both are good lathes, according to both customers and employees who have used them. I used the Jet a little, but not the Rikon - I already have a Nova Comet at home.

Most pen turners seem to prefer the Jet for its variable speed control. Most bowl/spindle turners seem to prefer the Rikon for its greater capacities. Note that these are my summaries of what I've heard, I'm sure there are some dissenting opinions as well :-).

The Rikon weighs 11 pounds more than the Jet, at least as shipped. Extension beds are available for both. Both are 1/2HP.

At least during the times I've been at the store, we haven't received any complaints about either that I remember. But as I said, I'm only there part time.

Jack,

I've had one since last November and it has performed well for me. The only issue I've had has been that the spindle lock loosened on the shaft and I had to get in there to tighten it up. Other than that, nice little lathe. I have done some max capacity stuff on it, up to 3" x 12" mahogany and it does fine. Something that large that was unbalanced may be different, but we are talking a SMALL lathe here, not a 3520B......... I use a G3 on mine, although my dad has the same lathe and has a SN2 on his and uses it with no problem.

As far as warranty goes, I contact Rikon USA directly and get very fast results. Very nice folks to deal with, appreciate feedback, and what few parts I've needed (not the lathe, a switch for my stationary sander), have seemed to appear almost instantaneously............

Another poster mentioned the handwheel. Having nothing else to compare to, I've found it easy to use. I wish it was larger, but it still works well for me.

Belts change quick. Castings were Chinese for sure, but cleaned up fast with a file under the ways. My dad bought an extension for his for turning walking sticks and it installed pretty easy.

All in all, well pleased, almost bought another yesterday at the WC in Greensboro, NC, but managed to keep money clip in my pocket..........:)

Let me know if I can help.

Richard Jones Rice, VA

Thanks to all who responded,

I've decided to buy the Rikon.

Now I've got to decide on tooling to buy for this lathe (spindle chuck, drill chuck, HSS tools, etc.). I've been adding it (tooling) all up and it will cost about twice the cost of the lathe.

Thanks again, Jack

Taunt wrote:

a friend has one and its a good lathe for the money BUT.... pay close attention to the tailstock live center. have heard a few including my friends have gotten bad ones. the bearings have seized after a week or two causing the mandrel to bend. check it often and you should be fine. woodcraft will make it right in any event.

skeez

Try a small piece of insulating felt to stop that rattle. But make sure it is the cover and not the setscrew of the top pulley. That's been known to loosen and cause a rattle. If it is the setscrew, a little LocTite will solve that problem :-).

I've got a Nova Comet that cost a bit more than the Rikon and the *&%#@ index pen won't hold on it either! Maybe it's a common minilathe problem :-).