Rikon mini pen lathe?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Dan Masshardt

Dan Masshardt

Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2013
Messages
4,815
Location
Mechanicsburg, PA
I'm thinking about picking one of these up at woodcraft in sale for $250 to do a little pen turning in the basement when it's cold and to take on the road for demos etc.

Anybody have it? Any reservations?

My reservation is that it's not variable speed. I'm thinking if I like it generally the psi variable speed upgrade should work with it?

I have a couple bigger jets with all the features so this would be an occasional use on the winter / travel.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
Dan Masshardt said:
I'm thinking about picking one of these up at woodcraft in sale for $250 to do a little pen turning in the basement when it's cold and to take on the road for demos etc.

Anybody have it? Any reservations?

My reservation is that it's not variable speed. I'm thinking if I like it generally the psi variable speed upgrade should work with it?

I have a couple bigger jets with all the features so this would be an occasional use on the winter / travel.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
Click to expand...


Do you have a link Dan?? I am not interested in buying but always interested what is new on the market these days.
 
I like Rikon

I have a variable speed Rikon that WAS $250 at Woodcraft and it is my only lathe. I have run the wheels off of this mini lathe. Finally replaced the bearings and love it more. Same company, similar specs so I feel you should have equal success with your proposed purchase. The stand is good for several sizes of their lathes.

I yearn for a big studly lathe, but that will have to wait for now. Even after a newer lathe arrives, this lathe will be in use.

B61E7D37-8D65-45E2-98F2-5AEFFC198528_zpsrj7exmvh.jpg
 
Last edited:
Rikon gets a good rep so I am sure it probably is a decent lathe but to me, not sure what you are saving. It still weighs 75lbs. A VS lathe and something a little larger and you still can put it in the house. Want to move it around, do what alot of the turning clubs do. Mount the lathe on a board and then use a hand truck to move it around. Some actually build a hand truck type deal with wheels on it already. Just tilt it and roll. But that is just my opinion. I would not be without VS on a lathe today.

Actually what I was thinking was a smaller lathe to go along with those mini tablesaws, bandsaw, and miter saws.

That lathe is about as large as my Jet 1014 lathe.
 
Last edited:
Dan Masshardt said:
magpens said:
This might be it, John ... $249.99

Buy Rikon 10" x 18" Pen Lathe, 70-105 at Woodcraft.com
Click to expand...


Yes, that's it.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
Click to expand...

I have used one at the local WoodCraft for vet pens and a bowl class I took a few years ago. I thought it was a nice little lathe. Even though I am used to VS, not having it on this one was a minor inconvenience. I also have a Rikon Jointer and have been very happy with it.

Tomas
 
If you are going to travel with it, mounting it on a construction saw wheeled stand like Bonnie Klein uses would be good. She uses the bottom of a walmart cart under the lathe (blue plastic).

Wheel it around and most chips fall through the cart bottom.

She was using a Jet 1014.
 
I bought it a week ago (for $250). It is my dedicated "buffing system" lathe. I was going to buy the HF "equivalent", but I though for another $75, I rather own a Rikon and have a 5 year warranty. I am not one to change belts and I don't care for their belt/pulley/spindle (I don't know what to call them :-) ) intervals; they are too narrow for me. I like the lathe for what I use for; it also is finished nicely. My aversion to changing belts wouldn't make it a lathe that I would enjoy turning pens with. Belt changes are not difficult, but they have to be changed from the rear of the unit...still not bad, but not for me.
 
I have it and use it for every step. Have been since May. No isseus to speak of. I did have that one thread about vibration but since I reduced the drilling speed via belt changes I've had no issues. Almost to the point I can change the belt without looking.

Take that with a grain of salt because I don't know what I'm missing. Meaning I haven't used variable asked yet.
 
Thanks guys. I don't mind lifting 75 lbs around. No big deal for the few occasions I'll need to move it.

And for another $120 for the psi variable speed kit (if it fits) that would give me a electronic variable speed lathe for $370.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 
You could build a lathe transporter for your larger midi. It's what I did. Based on an article in AAW journal last year (Dec 2015 pp26, 27). But mostly from shop "scraps" by my good friend Gary Janes. Hardware was less than $70.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1756.jpg
    IMG_1756.jpg
    259.6 KB · Views: 286
  • IMG_1757.jpg
    IMG_1757.jpg
    236.2 KB · Views: 201
Yes that is what alot of club members do because they take their lathes to shows. I think Dan just wants an excuse to buy another toy. I see a new video coming soon.

By the way Dan it looks like they are out of stock till the 21st
 
I 7nderstand better thank you think Dan. I couldn't find a used 1221 or 1015 either. My woodworkers club didn't have any, but I will definitely buy a second 1221

Sent from my SM-G900T3 using Tapatalk
 
I not sure there is $2 worth of difference in that Rikon and the Harbor Freight version. HF sells for $220. With a 20% coupon you can keep about $75 of your hard earned $$ in your wallet. You might also check Craigslist. I have seen quite a few small lathes that appear to be cast from the same molds sold under various names for sale there. Just my 2 cents ....
 
PSI's variable speed kit should fit most mini and midi lathes without too much difficulty ...

YOU WILL generally need to make some modifications to your lathe to match up the mounting points for the motor and it's control system, in order to line the pulley up with your headstock pulley for proper operation. This will require you to drill some holes in your lathe base and footings, possibly also the apron. It's metalwork, and if you aren't comfortable doing that yourself, then get a pro to step in and handle the metalwork and possibly the installation.


If the motor ever goes out on my lathe, I plan to upgrade to the PSI's variable speed module, and possibly just build a new lathe around it.




by the way ... everybody keeps comparing this Rikon mini wood lathe to Harbor Freight's midi lathe ... I have no idea why. The Rikon is $250, The Harbor Freight Mini Wood Lathe (8x12) only cost me $109 after tax, with a 25% off coupon.

It's got a 1/3 HP motor, variable speed (all controlled on a dial - no belt changing) from 750 - 3200 RPM, #1MT spindle/tailstock seats, 3/4" x 10 spindle threads, and weighs in at around 50 lbs, I think. I keep mine on a Harbor Freight folding work table (the type with the clamping top), and it's really light duty.

I've had great turning experiences with this little lathe. My only issue with it so far has been the tailstock slipping while in use (slips away from the headstock). I've mitigated this by placing a small 6" bar clamp across the ways so that the back of the clamp rides against the back of the tailstock, to keep it from moving. Ever since I've started doing this, I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever.
 
Last edited:
Skie_M said:
by the way ... everybody keeps comparing this Rikon mini wood lathe to Harbor Freight's midi lathe ... I have no idea why. The Rikon is $250, The Harbor Freight Mini Wood Lathe (8x12) only cost me $109 after tax, with a 25% off coupon.
Click to expand...

They would be comparing it to this lathe
Benchtop Wood Lathe - 5 Speed

Which uses an identical casting to the Rikon lathe from what I can tell. I've owned the Rikon and I checked out the HF lathe in the store.

I'm still seriously considering the HF lathe with the PSI conversion. I kinda wish I'd pulled the trigger when they had the 25% off coupon last week. It would have been $165 bucks. The variable speed kit is $110 so less than $300 I could have had a VS lathe. Even still at $185 shipped for the lathe, and $105 shipped for the VS kit it would still be under $300 and I don't have to go out in the cold and snow. I'm selling myself more and more on this idea as I type.:biggrin:
 
I have the Rikon 70-105 that I purchased from Woodcraft for the sale price. My only regret is that it doesn't have a variable speed control on it.
Good Luck with your choice, I'm going to check out PSI for a variable speed controler.
 
I'm going to be getting the 10" HF lathe after Christmas. It is 219 before any coupons. It is identical to the Rockler Excelsior and Rikon 10" lathes.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
 
I started turning on the rikon last night. Now the rest will be - can I get fast with the belt changes? I do miss the variable speed greatly already. If any of you guys are talking about getting a first only lathe, pass on all these low priced manual belt change lathes unless you truly can't afford a better one. For an extra, I'm hoping i learn to like it well enough.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 
Dan Masshardt said:
I started turning on the rikon last night. Now the rest will be - can I get fast with the belt changes? I do miss the variable speed greatly already. If any of you guys are talking about getting a first only lathe, pass on all these low priced manual belt change lathes unless you truly can't afford a better one. For an extra, I'm hoping i learn to like it well enough.
Click to expand...

Consider keeping an eye out for used treadmill. In my area they're available for as little as $50. If you're handy and don't mind a bit of patchwork, those variable DC motors will work great on that type of lathe.
 
Cavediver said:
Dan Masshardt said:
I started turning on the rikon last night. Now the rest will be - can I get fast with the belt changes? I do miss the variable speed greatly already. If any of you guys are talking about getting a first only lathe, pass on all these low priced manual belt change lathes unless you truly can't afford a better one. For an extra, I'm hoping i learn to like it well enough.
Click to expand...



Consider keeping an eye out for used treadmill. In my area they're available for as little as $50. If you're handy and don't mind a bit of patchwork, those variable DC motors will work great on that type of lathe.
Click to expand...



I have a friend that did this. It certainly can work. Not an elegant solution but can be effective.

Although for the $120 (not even counting for a sale coupon) to buy the psi kit, it seems hardly worth doing the hack of the treadmill. To me anyway.

Good tip though!


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 
joshua_luther77 said:
I'm going to be getting the 10" HF lathe after Christmas. It is 219 before any coupons. It is identical to the Rockler Excelsior and Rikon 10" lathes.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...



Kinda yes but also maybe not entirely.

This reminds me of the conversations about the jet 14" bandsaws and their clones. It has frequently been asserted that they all came out of the same factory thus are the same. They may have come out of the factory and have the same specs, but quality control was not the same across the board on all the various brands.

With these lathes, there is much (most about them that are identical. The switch is different. Not sure why.

I also think the motor is partially or entirely different. The rikon motor has fins on it and I don't believe the harbor freight does. The speeds are indicated as similar but different. Is that because of different motor, differerent measurement or perhaps even a different pulley? I don't know...

One thing we do know is that the rikon comes with a 5 year warrantee while the HF does not.

I'm sure the HF will serve you well. Just wanted to point out these couple things. :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 
I have one that I use for small turnings (pen's & pendants etc.). I have a full size that I use for the bigger stuff. Works well to have two so I can have two projects going and then avoid working on either! :mad::mad:
 
Dan Masshardt said:
joshua_luther77 said:
I'm going to be getting the 10" HF lathe after Christmas. It is 219 before any coupons. It is identical to the Rockler Excelsior and Rikon 10" lathes.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...



Kinda yes but also maybe not entirely.

This reminds me of the conversations about the jet 14" bandsaws and their clones. It has frequently been asserted that they all came out of the same factory thus are the same. They may have come out of the factory and have the same specs, but quality control was not the same across the board on all the various brands.

With these lathes, there is much (most about them that are identical. The switch is different. Not sure why.

I also think the motor is partially or entirely different. The rikon motor has fins on it and I don't believe the harbor freight does. The speeds are indicated as similar but different. Is that because of different motor, differerent measurement or perhaps even a different pulley? I don't know...

One thing we do know is that the rikon comes with a 5 year warrantee while the HF does not.

I'm sure the HF will serve you well. Just wanted to point out these couple things. :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
Click to expand...
Thank you for this assessment. At the very least, I can use the Harbor Freight lathe for a little bit and if I don't like it, I can return it.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
 
joshua_luther77 said:
Dan Masshardt said:
joshua_luther77 said:
I'm going to be getting the 10" HF lathe after Christmas. It is 219 before any coupons. It is identical to the Rockler Excelsior and Rikon 10" lathes.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...



Kinda yes but also maybe not entirely.

This reminds me of the conversations about the jet 14" bandsaws and their clones. It has frequently been asserted that they all came out of the same factory thus are the same. They may have come out of the factory and have the same specs, but quality control was not the same across the board on all the various brands.

With these lathes, there is much (most about them that are identical. The switch is different. Not sure why.

I also think the motor is partially or entirely different. The rikon motor has fins on it and I don't believe the harbor freight does. The speeds are indicated as similar but different. Is that because of different motor, differerent measurement or perhaps even a different pulley? I don't know...

One thing we do know is that the rikon comes with a 5 year warrantee while the HF does not.

I'm sure the HF will serve you well. Just wanted to point out these couple things. :-)


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
Click to expand...
Thank you for this assessment. At the very least, I can use the Harbor Freight lathe for a little bit and if I don't like it, I can return it.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...



Yeah. Functionally It's likely the experience will be the same.

It's good to have a second lathe around eventually too.


Sent from my iPhone using Penturners.org mobile app
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom