Replies

1. 
   user-64052 | May 17, 2011 07:42pm | #1

   depends

   on what you want to do on it

   ron

1. 
   JennAdams | May 27, 2011 10:50am | #2

   vintage lathes

   want to be able to turn large table legs mostly. Do the vintage ones have more HP or are they unreliable?

2. 
   RalphBarker | May 28, 2011 04:55pm | #3

   options

   Here's a review from May/June 2007 FWW:

   https://www.finewoodworking.com/fwnpdf/011191074.pdf

   Missing from the list, however, is Oneway.

   http://www.oneway.ca/

1. 
   JennAdams | May 31, 2011 04:13pm | #4

   What about vintage lathes? Ones that are like 50 to a 100 years old. Are these better than the newer ones as far as power and durability go?

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 31, 2011 07:03pm | #5

   oldies but goodies?

   That depends entirely on the specific machine, the degree to which it was used or abused, and the level of care/maintenance it received during use. Restoring "old iron" often requires a fair amount of work, along with the associated special skills - things like welding cast iron, which some say can't be done, while others do it on a regular basis. Ever poured a Babbit bearing?  ;-)

   If you want to start turning fairly soon, I'd suggest you look at the current commercial offerings, appropriate for the type of work you want to do, from Delta, Jet, Grizzly, Powermatic, Oneway, etc.