How do like the Rikon...talk me into it. For a replacement I'm looking at
Jet1015, PSI 10in. or maybe a Nova. Have made no decisions...just waiting for
the 10-15% discounts to show up and I'm buying something.
I have:
Rikon 70 -105 (for buffing wheels)
Jet 1015VS (for barrel trimming)
2 Jet 1221VSs w/ reverse (one for turning and one for drilling blanks when I don't use a drill press)
HF, smallest one they make for applying CA
They can all make pens - which is all that I turn - , but I don't like (too lazy) to change chucks.
I have found the quality and customer service of Rikon and Jet to be excellent. The
only thing that I don't like about the Rikon models is the pulley/belt ranges. My Jet's (all VS) allow me to sand, drill, turn, polish, apply finish without changing belts.
I like Rikon and have asked them to change one of the pulley diameters so that it can complete with Jet with respect to that feature.
If I had to own one lathe (and remember, I only turn pens), I would buy the 1221VS with reverse. However, if Rikon had the same pulley/belt ranges as Jet, I would buy Rikon because they are a little less costly and I like the paint job better (just being honest). I like the 1015VS for turning, BUT, I learned on the 1 HP 1221. After getting used to the 1HP, I just enjoy turning more on it. However, the 1015 turns just fine.
I had a fellow local chapter member come by who owned the small HF and she wanted a "lesson". We used what she owned (same small HF that I own for finishing) and her pen came out just fine. We used a mandrel (because she does), but only turned one barrel at a time.
I (and this is just me and I just turn pens - I am intentionally repeating myself because I don't experience what many other and more practiced turners experience, so my appraisal is limited to lathes and penturning) narrow it down to quality, VS and reverse, belt change ranges, and HP.
I hope you find this helpful and honest. Enjoy the hunt!
I only buy any of them when they offer 15% off.