JOEHILL7
Member
I ONLY TURN PENS AND NEED A NEW LATHE. IS THERE A FULL VARIABLE SPEED(NO CHANGING OF BELTS) MADE BY ANY MANUFACTURE?
THANKS IN ADVANCE
JOE
THANKS IN ADVANCE
JOE
NEED NEW LATHE
- Thread starter JOEHILL7
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Well there is the Nova DVR XP which will go 100 to 3500 and has no belts at all.
If you only do pens, and small bowls / spindle work you could go with some of the two step systems like the Jet 1642 / Powermatic 3520 (I forget what the equivalent Grizzly / Steel City versions are) and just use the highest range.
If money is no object, one of the smaller Oneways like the 1220 could be run on the highest of its two belt positions. A friend used his Oneway 1640 for years on only the highest range to do everything from pens to 12" bowls.
And finally, a left field sort of answer, you could go with one of the 7x12 metal working mini-lathes which can go 100 to 2500 with no belt change. They do have a Hi/Lo lever, but no belt change. You would want to add a woodworking toolpost to the carraige which you can get from LMS for around $36.
If you only do pens, and small bowls / spindle work you could go with some of the two step systems like the Jet 1642 / Powermatic 3520 (I forget what the equivalent Grizzly / Steel City versions are) and just use the highest range.
If money is no object, one of the smaller Oneways like the 1220 could be run on the highest of its two belt positions. A friend used his Oneway 1640 for years on only the highest range to do everything from pens to 12" bowls.
And finally, a left field sort of answer, you could go with one of the 7x12 metal working mini-lathes which can go 100 to 2500 with no belt change. They do have a Hi/Lo lever, but no belt change. You would want to add a woodworking toolpost to the carraige which you can get from LMS for around $36.
Last edited:
kirkfranks
Member
Yes.
My Turncrafter (the smaller one) is variable speed with no belt change.
BUT it is also MT#1 which I always advise against.
Same lathe is also copied by some of the others such as Wilton and Grizzley I think.
To be clear I have this lathe and DO NOT recommend it.
I think if you just turn pens then the Jet VS on one of the belt setting would give you an acceptable range of speeds.
My Turncrafter (the smaller one) is variable speed with no belt change.
BUT it is also MT#1 which I always advise against.
Same lathe is also copied by some of the others such as Wilton and Grizzley I think.
To be clear I have this lathe and DO NOT recommend it.
I think if you just turn pens then the Jet VS on one of the belt setting would give you an acceptable range of speeds.
J
jackrichington
Guest
TO MY KNOWLEGE even the variable speed lathes need belt changing to get in various speed ranges...I have a jet 10x14 I leave it on the middle setting and the speeds are just finre for pens
amosfella
Member
If all you want to turn is pens, a taig lathe will do that job wonderfully. You'd have to find one on ebay with a vs, or make one yourself. It cost me $120 to rig up a vs for my taig metal lathe. I'm still waiting for the parts.
tdibiasio
Member
Joe,
I was in the same delima and thought I had decided my way out of this .........
I researched all my options for a variable speed lathe and decided the Nova DVR was hands down my dream machine, but the price was a deal killer. So I settled for a Jet 1220 VS. Actually I already owned a Jet 1220 manual and loved it, so I put the 1220 manual up for sale on craigslist and waited for a buyer. Long story short - I found a buyer that offered a fair price so I sold the manual and headed out to woodcraft to order my 1220vs. Low and behold they were having a 10% off all power tools sale and were not going to charge me any shipping to get the machine to their store. Out the door price with the tax and the discount was $578...... Good deal by any account !!!! I thought I was done and just had to wait the week for it to arrive at the store. Just got off the phone with the store manager and he told me that they have been back ordered at Jet until some time in April. However he would offer me a brand new Nova DVR for $1599 + tax ( $1710.00 out the door) So now I sit here trying to decide what I should do - and hoping you good people can figure out the words to explain this to my wife so she understands the DVR is the right choice even at $1000 more than the Jet!!!
Well seriously - Please give me your thoughts on if I should just wait for the 1220VS or spring for the DVR??? Did not mean to steal your thread Joe but thought it was along the same lines of your original question.
I was in the same delima and thought I had decided my way out of this .........
I researched all my options for a variable speed lathe and decided the Nova DVR was hands down my dream machine, but the price was a deal killer. So I settled for a Jet 1220 VS. Actually I already owned a Jet 1220 manual and loved it, so I put the 1220 manual up for sale on craigslist and waited for a buyer. Long story short - I found a buyer that offered a fair price so I sold the manual and headed out to woodcraft to order my 1220vs. Low and behold they were having a 10% off all power tools sale and were not going to charge me any shipping to get the machine to their store. Out the door price with the tax and the discount was $578...... Good deal by any account !!!! I thought I was done and just had to wait the week for it to arrive at the store. Just got off the phone with the store manager and he told me that they have been back ordered at Jet until some time in April. However he would offer me a brand new Nova DVR for $1599 + tax ( $1710.00 out the door) So now I sit here trying to decide what I should do - and hoping you good people can figure out the words to explain this to my wife so she understands the DVR is the right choice even at $1000 more than the Jet!!!
Well seriously - Please give me your thoughts on if I should just wait for the 1220VS or spring for the DVR??? Did not mean to steal your thread Joe but thought it was along the same lines of your original question.
I recently upgraded from the 1220 Manual to the DVR XP and am very happy with that decision. Since I do a mix of pens and bowls and other stuff, the extra capacity and more rugged construction of the DVR in almost the same form factor is a real plus. The spindle height of the DVR is very close to the 1220, so as long as your 1220 spindle was at a comfortable height, you can put the DVR in the same spot with equal comfort.
randyrls
Member
I've used the DVR in the local woodcraft store. I drool when ever i think about buying it.
*BUT* my wife and I came to an agreement some time ago. I can buy whatever tools I want, but for each tool I buy, I have to sell one of my tools. :frown:
*BUT* my wife and I came to an agreement some time ago. I can buy whatever tools I want, but for each tool I buy, I have to sell one of my tools. :frown:
J
jackrichington
Guest
If $$$ is the over riding factor a REEVES drive lathe rquires no belt changing..all manufacturers still make a model or two like that...you just move a handle to change the speed..
kevinbrown22
Member
Go for it.
"Can't stand her cooking and she ain't good look'in."
"Can't stand her cooking and she ain't good look'in."
MorganGrafixx
Member
wizical
Member
You may only start turning pens, but when you are getting into bigger projects, then a mini lathe will not suffice. It is better to get a bigger lathe(if you can afford it) cause when u want to start turning bowls, plates, stuff like that. Those mini lathes will not suffice.
I have a nova DVR and it is a great lathe, it has great horsepower and torque, and have great accessories that go with it. good luck