I am in the market for a new wood lathe. I have never used a lathe before although I have lots of friends who use them. I will be using it mainly for legs, approx 20-36 inches long and the occasional bowl. I have a budget of about $250 cdn. Any suggestions, I am a real Delta fan although their lathe’s seem to be a little expensive. I have seen a beginners lathe at Busy Bee Tools in Canada, it is model number B2077, I have attached a pic of it. Anybody have experience with this lathe?
Edited 10/14/2004 3:30 pm ET by donnybongo
Replies
I recently bought a 1963 Rockwell, now Delta, lathe, on a great stand with a bunch of extras for $500. It is a lot heavier and therefore less vibration prone than a new one. So I would look for a woodworker near you wanting to sell a used one. Lathes are about the simplest power tool known to man and just don't wear out.
Stephen J. Gaal
The picture you sent looks like a similar model that Harbour Freight sells. Avoid it at all costs, a real piece of junk. It weighs about 50 pounds and is impossible to actually use. Disclaimer: Harbor Freight does make an "OK" lathe but this one ain't it. Stay away from anything made out of sheetmetal. Look for cast iron parts.
Used is good. Check the classifieds of your local paper. Ask around down at the lumber yard.
Donny -
You don't sound (currenly) like a dedicated wood turner. Therefore I'd suspect that you don't feel like you need a very sophisticated lathe. I'd warn you, though, that once you've started turning things, a cheap inadequate lathe will prove to be a huge source of frustration.
Lathes are one kind of tool I shop(ed) for "by the pound". All other things being equal, the heavier it is the better. One can, of course, purchase a lighter benchtop model, build a sturdy stand with a shelf on the bottom and load the shelf up with sand bags or concrete blocks. But mass is the essential necessity for handling out of balance pieces for turning (eg bowls).
The one thing that needs to be 'accurate' on a lathe is the alignment of the tail stock center with the head stock spindle. When you put a spur drive in the head stock and a cone or other pointed center in the tail stock, the two points should meet perfectly. That's something you should check when or if you decide to purchase a used machine.
Next, but not particularly in any order of importance are:
How easy is it to change speeds? A variable speed motor is a real asset but not necessary. If I didn't have a lathe with a variable speed motor, I would opt away from a variable speed device such as the Delta bench lathe that uses a variable pulley type mechanism. I'd rather change the belt on the pullies than use this kind of system.
For small spindle turning as you describe you could probably do OK with 3/4hp but .... if you decide (and you will! (grin)) to do any kind of large bowl turning, up to the maximum of the lathe swing, you'll need a lot more when it comes to hogging out all that material.
What's the maximum swing over the bed you anticipate needing? Here in the US a lathe swing over the bed is given as the maximum diameter that will clear the bed from the center of the headstock. In other countries, as I understand it, the swing is measured from the headstock to the bed, essentially the radius of the maximum stock that can be mounted. Just so you understand the terminology. If I've got that wrong, someone please correct me.
Rotating headstock lathes make "outboard" turning easier rather than working off the "back" of the headstock but .... I had the Delta benchtop lathe for a while which had one. It was a pain in the neck to get re-aligned with the tailstock when I had rotated the head. I didn't care too much for it.
Determine, on any lathe you research, what the headstock and tailstock tapers are. Morse #2 tapers are quite common. This will open up a broader choice of accessories in the future when (not if) you become addicted to turning (grin)
On a used lathe, check the headstock spindle bearings as best you can. There should be no perceptible 'slop'. These bearings can be easily abused by people who seat a workpiece on a drive center while it's on the lathe. Be sure if at all possible to see a used lathe running.
The bed on a wood lathe isn't quite as critical as the bed on a metal lathe with respect to wear but it shouldn't be dinged up. The tool rest holder (banjo) should slide easily along the entire length.
Now, after saying all that, I doubt seriously that you'll be happy with anything (new) in your budget. I suspect you're limiting yourself to a good used machine and at that, I'd be surprised if you find one at that price. I hope I'm wrong for your sake.
From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
Dennis
It's my belief that turning is one of those things that some people are good at and some people aren't. To find out which category you are in I think your first step should be to take some turning lessons. That will also give you the chance to experience a decent lathe (I don't think you will find anything like the one in your pic in a teacher's shop).
It may well be that you have what it takes to be a turner, but your budget is going to restrict you to machines that look like lathes but which are virtually unusable, unless you get lucky and find a good second hand machine
John
I found this at the Woodturners Guild of Ontario WGO.ca. this is near Toronto. it is a great place to learn about turning and meet fellow turners.
16 INCH SWING, 36 INCH CENTERS 1 H P MOTOR D C VARIABLE SPEED ( ELECTRONIC CONTROLL) LATHE IS MOUNTED ON A STAND WITH DRAWERS MACHINE
1YEAR OLD AND IN GOOD CONDITION
PRICE $550 O BO. CONTACT ARNOLD AT 416 787 0421
Thanks woodcrazy. I actually live in Nova Scotia and there is a wood turners guild here, actually a friend of mine is in it, I think I will talk to them.
When you do talk to them, ask if any of the members have a lathe they're going to be selling soon.
You'll probably be able to get a decent lathe at a fairly good price.
I've got an old Rockwell Delta Standard model that does a great job on spindle work.
If you've a choice, I'd suggest one with variable speeds rather than a belt-and-pulley system, much easier to use for bowl work.
Good luck,
Leon Jester, Roanoke VA
Q: How do you know when a politician is lying?
A: His lips are moving.
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