I've been turning now for 2 years and have a Jet mini VS which I love. I'd like to get a bigger lathe so i can experiment on some larger items. Unfortunately my budget for this is in the roughly $600.00 Any recomendations? I've been looking at Delta and some new Grizzley models. The Delta I'm leary of as My brother had to replace his bearings after a few years.
I'd also like to one day build a vacuum pump system so the head stock would need to be able to accept that. There are no local wood working stores here on Long island so i can't just go and check them out.
Used is fine if thats the best way to go. I'm not in a rush and can wait for a good one to come up for sale.
I would wait for a used one if I could. That being said, a little over 10/12 years ago I waited for a couple of years for a good, clean used lathe to show up. Never did. I bought a new one instead.
I don't know anything about the Grizzly lathe, except some hate them and some love them.
But - in our club, a couple of guys have these:
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and just love them. It is a big, heavy lathe, and the machining seem pretty nice. It has a lot features that you would expect on a much more expensive lathe. The only drawback I see with this one is that it was loud, due to the type of motor. Both guys wear ear protection anyway as a habit in the shop, so for them it isn't a big deal. And they both turn out some really nice work on this thing.
I've had the Delta 1440 for about 5 years with no complaints. I use it several hours a week on anything from pens to large, wet Aspen logs. I added a box with 200 lbs sand to the frame to keep it from walking with the Aspen. I also added 4" spacers between the stand and bed to get it to a height better suited for me 6'2".
It's far from the best lathe, but at the price I don't think there's much better. Jet has a 12" in the same price range, BIL has one and its not any better or worse.
The sliding/rotating headstock is the best feature for me. Bad back doesn't like leaning over the ways for hollowing. Rotate about 30 degrees or so and hollow away, without any funky banjo extension, or remove the tailstock and slide the head to the other end for better stability.
On Feb 12, 8:14 am, BillB wrote: I would second the idea of going with a used lathe. You can generally get more of a lathe for the money. Best way to find a good used one is to find a local club and ask. There is always some one who is going to upgrade. Checking the tool section of the paper, auctions and estate sales, or Craigs list can also yield results. Grizzly industrial tools are better quality than their 'recreational' tools. A lot of them require some tweeking to get running right. Variable speed is a wonder accessory to have if you can get it. Once you have it, you wonder how you lived without it. A reeves drive seems to need regular maintenance to run smoothly. The one thing about the Jet that I don't like is that the motor is on backwards. It sticks out past the headstock, and can get in the way of some pieces, especially natural edge ones. Also, the intake on the motor for cooling it is right where sanding dust will be coming off. I did start with a $400 lathe before getting serious. I have a PM, and will be getting my Robust in about 2 months. Kids and their toys....... robo hippy
Depends on what you mean by larger. If you want more length between centers, I believe both Jet and Delta have something in that price range.
If you want more swing for bowls and such, I'd suggest the General Maxi VS. IIRC, it can swing a 19" bowl outboard. Electronic speed control, pivoting and sliding head, and nice solid ways. Only drawbacks I've found is that it doesn't reverse and the stand isn't as sturdy as I'd like.
Need more info on what you want to turn and how much bigger, but I can tell you what I did..
When I added a bigger lathe, (never try selling a mini, they're great to keep), I decided that moving up from a 10" swing to a 12" swing wasn't cost effective and I'd probably want to move up sooner.. I shopped 14" swing lathes (about 3 years ago) and the best lathe for the money at that time was the Jet 1442 VS..
It was about $850 out the door-new at the time and I've seen a few used ones of sale in the $400 to $600 range, usually with extras like chucks , bed extensions, etc..
You mention the Delta.. I don't want to knock them, but that's what I was going to buy back then... The difference between the Delta and Jet 14" VS lathes was almost $200 and I couldn't see any advantages in the Jet that justified the added cost..
Luckily, my wonderful wife went online and read reviews of both lathes and told me to GET THE JET.. lol Apparently, Delta was having a lot of problems with their lathes at that time and there were lots of complaints of bearing failure, handwheels falling off, etc.. And she said that it was very hard to find anything bad at all in the comments about the Jet..
As always, YMWV.. have fun and be safe.. If I can help you with a vac system, let me know... I mention that because I bought my stuff for the vac system from Bill Noble very inexpensively FOR the mini, then used it on the 1442 when I got that.. I just added a 16" Nova lathe to the shop and the same vac pump is now being used by both the Jet and the Nova..
I was actually thinking of a 14" machine. Most likely one day if skill and funds permit I'll upgrade to a bigger one, but it seems to me that a 14" lathe will be nice for at least the next few years. My goal is to turn bowls/platters etc. possibly segmented once I learn how. So
14" and a motor with enough power not to stall that much. I can run a
220VAC line over to it if need be. If i need to wait and save a bit more for a decent 14" VS a cheaper 12' Thats what I'll do.
I have been watching Craigs list and Ebay for a few weeks now. There have been some good deals but all pickup only and none in my area.
So the Jet 1442 is good, and older Delta? 5+ years old is OK?
Sorry i forgot to ask, On the 15" Craftsman, is it stable? I do not have a band saw so all my blanks will be cut with a chainsaw. As I'm not that good with that yet either, they typically are not all that balanced...
SNIP For chainsawn pieces up to 14 inches, you want a starting speed of 100 rpm or so. Most VS start in the 500 rpm range. It can be done, but you may have to chase your lathe around the shop. A very heavy lathe stand and bed helps. SNIP
Well, not really. If you chainsaw the blank and undercut the endgrain portions to appoximate the slope of the curved portions you can get reasonable balance. If you are able to turn over the bed, you can use the tailstock to tame it further. I swing reasonable 15" stuff at 360 with little problem on the 3000, with the reserve of 180 for those times when I dummy up and cut a pair of blanks where one side was down and wet and the other up and dry. You can countershaft an old four-pulley lathe to get into that range easily.
As far as weight goes, you'll notice that the lathe is always bolted to something to get it off the ground. You can bolt it to a box of rocks if you care to, but a properly constructed stand is a better solution. Rigidity is the _sine qua non_ of a good lathe. All the parts should lock firmly to one another, which whole can then be bolted to a stand with proper geometry and/or weight.
For used, the place online that I use the most is Kijiji and there is one in NYC at
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The only lathe they have is a bit more than your budget will allow at $90,000. However, in Canada I've had good luck with them. A lot of people in the US use CraigsList at
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The seem to list a few more. Try a google search for online tool sellers in your area. The normal warnings apply. Be wary of online only, it's best if you can see it in person and see it running, etc. I've had good luck with finding things online. YMMV
Well, I can't speak for the Delta, Mike, but the Jet has been a great lathe.. I not only turn several pieces a day, but I tend to abuse equipment and it's held up really well... I'm using it mostly for buffing now and it should do that well for many years..
I agree that you should go to a 14" machine... 12" isn't going to be much different than your mini and you'll want a larger lathe sooner.. Also, the 14" is heavier and more powerful but takes up just about the same room as a 12"..
For the difference in price between a VS and EVS you can BUY a bandsaw.. ;-]
When I bought my 1442VS the EVS was almost twice the price..
Ok, I now have EVS and love it, but I don't think the OP has the need or budget for it.. I know it took me 2 years of wanting the damn EVS before I got myself to put up $2,000 for it..
My brother also had a 1442VS and just moved up to a 1642 EVS and likes it a lot.. It lists for about $1,500...
" snipped-for-privacy@aol.com" wrote in news:5c7c08a9- snipped-for-privacy@f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:
Hi Robert, I have the older version of this Craftsman lathe (all metal, no plastic) and I think D. Fellmate turns on the newer version. It is indeed very loud, but I really like it. The OP mentioned he wanted to be able to mount a vacuum chuck on any lathe he purchased. I don't see how a vacuum chuck can be mounted to this lathe. Regards, Hank
Darrell - do you have that Sears model I linked to above? Don't be fooled by the picture, they are giving away a copy attachment device with it now as a promo.
Just wondering. I have folks ask me from time to time about lathes, but really don't have anywhere to point them except the used market for something that is usable.
If it is the same model, what kind of motor is that? Is yours noisy?
Inquiring minds, sir....
I would love to point somebody that can't afford a $1000 (or more as mentioned here) for a lathe only in a good direction. If you don't have the scratch, you just don't have it.
I have a 60 year old Delta 12" lathe that I bought three years ago at a high school auction for $200. I sandblasted it, repainted it, replaced the bearings and motor. I also replaced the oak bed that had rooted away. I was even able to get the owners manual on ebay.
I couldn't be happier. Well maybe if I had an AC inverter with direct drive and an infinitely variable speed controller.
I don't know. I have NEVER seen a copier do a good job. Ever. On anything.
The motor is reportedly 2 hp but I
That must be what these guys have. It sounds like a jet taking off when then use their lathes - it is unpleasant, distracting and annoying when the turn theirs on.
The lathe in your video is certainly tolerable, and no louder than most. That would seem to make that lathe a pretty good machine, and a nice buy to me.
I bought the Rikon 12" lathe and really have liked it.
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For $350 (you can catch it on sale for less), I'd do it again and recommend it to anyone looking for a lathe of this size. But....... like Mac mentioned, I'm ready to move up to a lathe that gives me the ability to turn large pieces. Perhaps something with outboard ability. JD
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