Would this work?

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As I understand it. NO. I am sure someone else can go farther into the technical reasons. I was told NO unless I want to fry my motor on my lathe.
 
Here is what I found. Hope it helps.

Will not work with soft start or variable speed routers. Will not work with "AC capacitor start induction" type motors.
 
A router has a rather higher-speed motor that your lathe's; it would be better to get a controller designed for the correct type of motor.

I'm not finding enough information on the motor in that lathe, just that it's 3/4 HP, 1725 RPM, single phase 110VAC. The type of speed control you need is dependent upon what kind of AC motor it actually is, and the Delta/Porter Cable site doesn't say.

It's likely to be either a capacitor-start or one with a start winding and a centrifugal switch. If the motor starts at a low hum followed by an audible click and a higher-pitched hum, it has a centrifugal switch. If it starts low and runs up to high pitch smoothly with no click, it's probably a capacitor-start motor, and there should be a capacitor hung on the outside of the motor as well.

If you can get all the specs from the data plate on the motor (a clear photo would be best), we can probably figure out what the motor is and what sort of variable speed control *will* work for you.

Something along these lines would probably work for any type of motor you might have in that lathe, but it's a bit more costly:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/DART-CONTROLS-Adjustable-AC-Voltage-Supply-5JPF3
 
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This one come up about every few months -- Sounds good until you look at the details.

The router, sewing machine, foredom, dremel motors are call "universal motors" and are designed for light torque and speed - they use these kinds of contolls.

Standard lathe motors are capacitor start constant speed motors. The capacitor kicks them forward in the correct direction and the running capacitor balances the speed.

Most of the lower cost variable speed units are permanent magnet DC units with the AC converted to an approximation of DC -- they want to run with torque at middle to higher speeds. Power dropps off petty fast at lower speeds.

Variable Frequency drive is the higher priced higher torque on the low end. several different configurations, but the better ones use single phase 220 imput and contol the a 3 phase motor
 
Thanks everyone for the info. I guess it would have been better to buy the VS Delta and be done with it. At least the belt changes on that lathe are pretty quick.
Happy New Year to all!!!
 
If you really want/need the variablespeed, look at the Penn State kit. It installs on the jets very quickly and easily and are actually much better than the motor that came on the jets and older Deltas I have put them on
 
In a word, NO! The problem lies with converting ac voltage to dc voltage, and then back to ac voltage. Can it be done? Maybe. Should it be done? NEVER! Many bad things WILL happen.
 
Not to kick Jerry in the shins, but I have heard some horror stories about the PSI VS converstions. There are still belt changes involved and I've heard the motor stalls in the cuts under moderate pressure. Just what I've seen discussed.
 
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