looking for a wood lathe with variable speed

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hanau

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thomasville, nc, USA.
I am starting to look at new lathes what are my options for a mini lathe that has variable speed(don't want to move any belts).

I currently have a shop fox w1752 10 " lathe 1/2 HP.

I order that motor upgrade from PSI but didn't realize it still needed it belts moved around so it was shipped back.

I was looking at the Delta Industrial 46-460 but you still need to move belts.

Also looking at the JET JML 1014VSI, it doesn't look like you need to move belts around any.

what other ones should i look at.
 
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The Nova lathes (at least the two I looked at) are 100% electronic variable. I saw somewhere that has the midi on sale. The only thing I don't like is no through hole on the head stock.
 
What size lathe are you looking for, what do you want to turn? Jet 1014vs is eletronic variable and so is the Delta. Most lathes have one belt change needed for low speed/high torque and hi speed/low torque.
 
I have the Jet 1014VS. It has been a good lathe but there is a belt change for speed ranges. If I were buying a small lathe today I would seriously consider the Delta 46-460. It not only is variable speed but it also has a reversing switch.
 
Jet makes a mini lathe that you mention in the onset that has a DC motor and its a variable speed it's a tad underpowered but a good lathe.

I had a jet mini lathe with belts and they are really easy to change. I either had them on high or on low and you get so good at it just takes a few seconds to split the belts but the jet DC is true variable.

A/C motors gives you a little bit more power.

I also have a jet 1236 larger lathe that's variable speed with no belts. It uses to:cone wheels that open and close on the belt, but all you have to do is turn up handle it's all done automatically.

Seems like you have covered the bases and now it time to choose, unless someone knows of another I don't.
 
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I have the Delta and leave the belt on the highest setting .... With the variable speed dial it works for everything I want to do in Penturning. I only change the belt (which only takes seconds) if I need slower speeds for bowl work.
 
I'm pretty much with Lenny. I will sometimes go to the medium belt setting (Delta 46-460 has 3 belt settings) if I want to drill slower than the high setting allows. But I leave mine on high at least 90% of the time.
 
NotURMailman said:
The Nova lathes (at least the two I looked at) are 100% electronic variable. I saw somewhere that has the midi on sale. The only thing I don't like is no through hole on the head stock.
Click to expand...

Unless I missed something, the head stock is a standard hollow MT2. I know the tail stock is. I guess I'll find out for sure when mine arrives in a few days.

And FWIW, I have one of the PSI VS kits on a Delta Midi and I have yet to move the belt off the fastest range. Turning the knob down to slowest possible here is plenty slow for both drilling and sanding. My only complaint is that I can bog it down unless I'm going full bore.
 
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Jeff-in-Indiana said:
Nova DVR XP is on sale at Woodcraft right now .. pricey, but brought a lot of awesome to my humble garage. And, you can grow into it.
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That is a little out of my price range. Would like to have a full size but may be a little over kill for a pen. Pus don't think I ever will go bigger than a pen on a lathe.
 
hanau said:
Jeff-in-Indiana said:
Nova DVR XP is on sale at Woodcraft right now .. pricey, but brought a lot of awesome to my humble garage. And, you can grow into it.
Click to expand...


That is a little out of my price range. Would like to have a full size but may be a little over kill for a pen. Plus don't think I ever will go bigger than a pen on a lathe.
Click to expand...

I said the same thing ... for about six months .. :laugh: .. good luck !
 
I also have the Nova DVR XP. It is an amazing lathe, completely electronic. I turn very tiny things on it and large things. Quiet, smooth and it is on sale.
 
Nova Comet 2 is only $454 as WoodturningZ.com and that is with shipping! I am with Billy though and won't get mine for a few day!
 
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