The tools from Harbor Freight that use replaceable brushes also work with the router speed controller. As do the Foredom set ups, I use a Foredom for carving and the speed controller of a router is better than the foot controller. You can set the speed and go to carving without leg cramps.
They also have the DGC Auto Switch on sale, this is a good thing for people that use dust collectors, turn on the lathe, it turns on the DC, whne you turn the lathe off, it stops the DC about 10 seconds after the lathe stops.
Switches in lathes go bad, that not theory that is FACT. I have started using a switch box, it is a plug in wired to an auxilliary switch that plugs in to the wall socket. This way I turn on the lathe with an auxilliary switch, not the lathe's switch. What I like the most is I put the aux. switch where I want it, not where the switch. With both the DC controller and the lathe all plugged in to one control box.