Lathe shopping: Opinions on Record CL-3?

Hello Sanaka,

I had a Record CL-3 for a number of years and liked it very much. An 18" bowl is a bit large for the CL-3, I never trusted that 3/4" spindle nose for heavy loads. An 18 platter would be fine. There is hardly a comparison when you step from the CL-3 to the Nova 3000, which I did about 5 or 6 years ago. Everything was more solid and hefty. The tool rest banjo on the CL-3 was such a pain that I replaced it with one from the Sorby lathe. I had a CL-3-48, so you have to add one or more bed extensions to have the between centers capacity on the Nova 3000 that I had on my CL-3. I never regretted the upgrade.

Fred Holder

Sanaka, I only have praise for the CL3.

I use it daily in my business and have turned successfully items up to the maximum of 30 inches, mind you it does get a bit scary! It has coped very well with out of balance pieces including those where I have left the shop in a hurry for fear of the thing taking off! Please buy one with the bowl turning extension you will regret it later if you don't.

It would be nice if it were fitted with variable speed as standard but it can be updated with a kit OR purchase the CL4 which is the CL3 with the kit fitted ex-works.

Go for it you will not be disappointed,

Regards, Peter Charles Fagg Freshwater, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.

Each can do but little! But if each DID that little, ALL would be done!

Hi Sanaka, I don't know what a CL-3 is, but there are a couple of clubs in Hawaii, and I'll bet there are some members there who would be glad to show you what they are turning on. Don Hart

Thanks Fred and Peter

I suspected the Nova might be couple notches or so up in quality, but the price jump is out of my class right now. For ~$2k I can have the CL3, scroll chuck with a few jaws, stand, tools, and outboard bowl stuff. Large bowls and such would be very occasional for me.

Peter, at this webpage:

's a photo showing the CWA180 'tubular bowl rest' which issitting on a sort of 90 degree extended arm. Is this setup the bowlturning extension you mention? I.e. I should get the 90 deg. arm andthe tubular bowl rest? Thanks!

Peace, Sanaka

Hello Sanaka,

I did not mean to imply that the Nova was a much higher grade machine than the Record CL-3. What is so impressively different is the 1/2" larger diameter spindle and the availability of No. 2 Morse Taper. I noticed a significant increase in the stability of my mounting. I also think the Nova bearings are better than those use on the CL-3. They are both pretty good lathes and the Record may suit your needs just fine.

Fred Holder

Sanaka, Yes that is exactly the piece I referred to, personally though I rarely use the tubular toolrest, I prefer to use a second 10" cast toolrest for most operations. This is because with large uneven pieces the steel tube post was flexing and giving me frights, the solid cast rest proves more than adequate, even though it needs to be moved more often.

Regards, Peter Charles Fagg Freshwater, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom.

Each can do but little! But if each DID that little, ALL would be done!

Sanaka skrev i meldingsnyheter: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com...

'> What do folks here think of the CL-3? Would it be OK for the

I use a CL3-36 since 2001. I do not like the round steel rods. They vibrate and bend too easily. I do not like the thin spindle or the #3 morse taper. The bearings make variable noise. I do not like the tool-rest banjo. It _is_ a pain. And 3 speeds is too little for my needs.

I am upgrading as soon as I can afford a longbed Vicmark.

Bjarte

Thanks all.

I am strongly leaning towards the Nova 3000 now. I've seen on the net just as many folks not quite satisfied as ones all happy with the CL3/4. Mostly the problems cited here - spindle a bit undersized and the bearings not always doing their job. In fact, I learned that Richard Raffan himself lurks hereabouts, as he was gracious enough to email me with his very strong recommendation to go with the Nova over the CL3. Upon some more, really careful, price comparisons I find I can go with a Nova 3000 setup for the same as the CL3, except with no outboard arm. That can wait 'til I learn more, however, especially since the Nova has 16" swing - plenty big for now.

Now I'll inquire, on a separate thread, about the pros/cons of which stand to go with a Nova :-)

Peace, Sanaka

Bjarte, I have just read you reply to the question on the Record CL3. Why has your CL3 only got 3 speeds, I have 5, plus the #3 Morse Taper, mine has #1 Morse Taper! I agree with you on the banjo but there is a kit available to change it to an over centre locking mechanism, I haven't tried it myself but it sounds like a good idea. Hope all is well with you, og God Jul! Hilsen Peter