new Harbor Freight lathe.... Did i goof?

First off, I don't own one of these, I have just shopped for one, so this is just my impression of it.

....

To me, this always seemed a very fast "slow" speed for use with a 3/4 hp, 12" swing lathe. I mean, a 9 1/2" diameter chunk, say, 12" long on my Jet mini, whirling around at 500 rpm is going faster than I really like, but I deal with it. To put an even larger piece on a lathe at 600 rpm seems a bit much, IMO. But I've seen some offshore lathes with the "slow" speed at over 1000 rpm, so 600 doesn't seem so bad, comparatively.

Sorry, I have no actual experience with this lather to offer, just my

2-denarius'-worth on the speed settings.

-- Chuck *#:^) chaz3913(AT)yahoo(DOT)com Anti-spam sig: please remove "NO SPAM" from e-mail address to reply. <

September 11, 2001 - Never Forget

Hello all

Well I did it... I just bought a new laithe...

Its a harbor freight....

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD Pivoting headstock for extra-large bowl turning capacity. Headstock rotates and locks in position at 45°, 90°, 135°, and 180°. Includes stand, tool rest, drive center, 6'' disc, and Allen wrenches. a.. Swing over bed: 12'' b.. Motor: 3/4 HP, 120V, 60 Hz c.. Speeds: 600, 750, 910, 1080, 1260, 1460, 1680, 1910, 2150, and 2400 RPM d.. Turning distance between centers: 33-3/8" e.. Shipping weight: 184 lbs.

Item #: 34706-3VGA take a look see... tell me if you think I blew it?

have a jet mini... wanted something larger for lager boles and longerturnings...

I was in harbor freight store in Indy... looking around tonight... saw this lathe... its super heavy duty... (nearly 200 lb.) my wife wants a new turned four poster bed... (how I justified the new lathe)

Note: it has an extension for the bed that is designed to go behind the headstock... but I think I can make a stand for it the same height as the main bed and be able to turn 7 foot post for the bed and 8 foot turned 4x4 post for the front porch railing she wants

not as nice and smooth a finish as some of the high dollar lathes I have looked at but it looks to be well made. But the price is what got my attention...

normally $279. was on sale for $169. including the table...

I figure that with the $19 extended warranty... I have 15 months to play with it... and can return it NO QUESTIONS asked for a new one... so I bit...

does any one have any feedback on this unit and did I make a mistake?

Now I just have to get up early in the morning and go take the thing out of the box and assemble it.

can't wait... like a 51 year old kid on new years eve....

Mike

SNIP

Bill, You can ease the edges of the skew. Use a belt sander or grinder, and just slightly grind the edges. That should reduce the digging into the toolrest. Martin

Anonymous wrote: snipped with interspersed replies:

I should have been more specific. If you call the order number you can order them based on your lathe model and serial numbers.

Frequently the threads are non-standard for lathes, sounds like you lucked out.

The stores have about 40% of the catalog on hand. The extra lathe parts are ordered from China as needed. That accounts for the lag time.

You may have problems finding a toolrest that will fit your banjo, again it depends on the individual lathe.

They are pricey, but frequently they are the only choice around. That roughing gouge is impressive when used properly.

Enjoy your new lathe. Dave in Fairfax

Take this for what it's worth, but I've been told not to smooth the bed or wax it as the tail stock will be more prone to slippage. Mine doesn't because I've done neither.. so I'm not an 'authority'. Any comments?

Tom

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for your feedback and tell you about my day with the lathe... and make comment about some of your remarks...

After spending the best part of the day assembling my lathe... including building a sand box that is mounted under the bottom struts, toped with a shelf on top of the bottom strut... placed another piece of wood on the back of the lathe (end to end) which extends 13 inches up from the bottom shelf... a second smaller (narrower) shelf was added end to end just about 8 inches under the lathe... I used 3/4 Formica covered particle board (HEAVY!) for all, (gave me a place to hang and lay my stuff and after adding 3 bags of sand in the sand box... it took away all movement out of the stand ... thing is rock solid...

As for the comment about the wobble... I placed the face plate that came with the lathe on and noted a small amount of wobble... switched to some of my JET accessories... and had NO wobble...

Was excited to find out that all my accessories for my JET (which I have used extensively for 2.5 years... before that I had a sears mono tube.... ) before that... 2 or three others... been turning since I was a kid in my grandfathers shop... I am now 51

Onaway talon church- super nova chuck... screw chucks, face plates Jacobs chuck, Mini Expanding Chuck.... everything fits ( #2 Morris taper and 1x8 threads) my pen mandrels... etc.

Head Center and point on the tail live match perfectly...

I did have to do a little adjustments on the tail stock and tool rest... tighten better now... all in all I think I will like the unit...

tomorrow I will take a sanding disk to the bed... get out all the machined marks and Wax it good with good old turtle wax... then buff the bed.

While I am at it... I will dress the tool rest with a file and wax it also... A few strokes with a file and the tool rest will be slick as a whistle...

As for turning tools... Do we ever have enough? I lived near Woodcraft store in CA I was pulling down killer $$ (and some crowns) I wanted the whole set of Sorbys... I bought at least one per week for ... a while... I told my wife that if I die she can sell them all off on eBay... :O) go a long way towards her retirement... I agree with the Comment about them being made of gold... at least your would think so considering the prices woodcraft charges(and some crowns) and Misc. as well as a good assortment of home made stuff... ... anyway... I am probably set for life with turning tools...

I just wanted a bigger lathe for bigger natural edged bowls and segmented bowls, and to make that new four poster my wife has been asking for... Now on Disability and trying to live cheep in the mid west...Did not want to spend the $ for a quality lathe... figured that with some after market accessories and a few upgrades... this one would suffice... most of my turning will likely still be on the Jet...

Thanks for the information about the belts... I will do the switch to the link belts when these go...

Mike

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Just in case you decide to change the tool rest, the diameter of the stem is

25 mm. S> snipped with interspersed replies:

Thank you!

I tried out the lathe yesterday on a small bowl... the biggest drawback about the lathe is as you guessed... the tool rest.... I thought about buying an aftermarket tool rest I found on the woodcraft web page... its expensive but has lots of accessories available... what do you folks think...

Perhaps as you suggested I could have this banjo reamed out to accept these accessories and tool rest?

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============================ There are several companies, as well a some individuals on this news group, that offer replacement/upgrade toolrests. A Google search of this NG will get you to some sources. I remember 2 here, Art Ransom and James R. Johnson, who do toolrests.

Ken Moon Webberville, TX

I checked in person and on their website today and they simply aren't to be found there. The store clerk I spoke with was surprised that the face plate came with the lathe but he pointed out their 800 number for me. I tried calling them at their 800 number but they were closed.

I also went to 3 Sears stores and a JC Penney to buy a 3-jaw chuck. No joy.

I've got some pieces started that will benefit from a 3-jaw so I may end up at Woodcraft after all.

Bill

To get the faceplates, I call 800-444-3353 M-F 7-4:30 PST (parts)and using the number off the exploded parts diagram that came with my lathe, #29 - but probably different on yours, the serial and model numbers of the lathe, order a faceplate. To order other parts I use the other numbers from the diagram. The people in the stores have nothing to do with the process. They don't have a clue about getting parts or ordering anything that isn't in the catalog, and frequently not even then. I found a chuck, idependent, 4-jaw on the website, a couple actually, although the other jaw design would work easier. The question is the shape of the wood that you are putting into it. Make sure that your diameter and thread match if you buy a chuck elsewhere.

Dave in Fairfax