Desperate !!! New lathe needed?

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JAB1

JAB1

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Messages
204
Location
Utopia, Texas
OK....I am going to make the plunge....either I find a way to upgrade my cheap Craftsman Mini Lathe, or a new lathe.....here is my dilemna:

I want to continue to make pens, keychains, etc...BUT I want to learn to make other turned items such as small bowls ( to 10 inches), wine glasses ( able to swing out or hold a chuck). I do not have the ability with my cheapo Craftsman Mini Lathe to make much larger than 4 inches. Plus, I am having trouble finding a chuck large enough to hold a 3-4 inch diameter blank ie...for wine glasses, etc...
If there is a chuck made where I can do wine glasses, etc...I may buy it.

However, I know I am limited with this lathe. I think the handwriting is on the wall, so to speak.

I want opinions on the BEST value in a lathe to buy for the money...up to 450.00. Again, I want to be able to turn bowls, make pens, etc.....

Is variable speed the way to go?.....

Is it Jet, Grizzly, Delta, Ricon, ......please give me your best opinion on which one YOU would buy......
 
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I think the new Delta Midi is the way to go in that size range. It is pack with features and allows for pretty good sized turnings.

Its a bit more than your price range though.

VS is very nice.
 
I hold very large bowl blanks with a 3 inch faceplate. What you are going to run into here is easy. You don't have enought $$$$$ to spend to get everything you want.
Bast answer (which you ain't going to like) keep saving.
 
Delta 46-460... Best Midi on the market... Costs a little bit more than your budget max so save a little bit more and get the best.... stretch for the best!
:cool::cool::cool:
 
I'm with Gary - a face plate with 5 or 6 screws is a very secure method of holding fairly large blanks. Save for a quality upgrade. You won't be sorry.
 
My 2 yen: Get a 12 in lathe. When rough cutting a bowl, you need about 1 inch play at least to get it round. For me, I start with a 11 1/2 in diameter rough cut blank and by the time it is round, I am down to 11 to 10 3/4 diameter.

If you have a 10 in, the largest you can start with is about 9 3/4 and it will be down to 9 by the time it is roughed out round. As you get experience with cutting bowl blanks, you can refine the process a little but not by much.

Just my experience.
 
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Bree said:
Delta 46-460... Best Midi on the market... Costs a little bit more than your budget max so save a little bit more and get the best.... stretch for the best!
:cool::cool::cool:
Click to expand...

If I was going to buy a lathe today--thsi is the one I would get.
The BIGGGG bonus-----5 year warranty
 
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