Ernie — I’d like your advice/recommendation on purchasing a lathe. I’m a generally proficient woodworking, but a complete newbie when it comes to turning. But I’d like to start incorporating turned elements into the furniture I make — spindles, knobs, feet, and other decorative elements. I’d also like to be able to make tool handles, mallets, etc. for my own use. I don’t currently have plans to make large turned items like bowls, but to the extent possible I’d like to have a machine that would allow me to do that if I chose to. As far as budget, while I can’t say that money is no object, I do believe very strongly in buying a tool that I won’t have any regrets about. Also, since I’m a part-time woodworker I’d prefer not to spend my limited shop time fussing with a tempermental (low quality) machine. So, that said, if you were in my position, what would be your short list for machines?
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Answering your question is not easy as there are many fine lathes out there today. I think it is important to look at this from a position of price points. Let’s throw out all the mini and middy lathes in the market as they will not do what you want. Going from there we have lathes less than $1000 which we can also throw out as not meeting your requirements. When we go to Lathes between $1000 and $2500 we start to get some players. Delta, Jet and Nova all have good machines in this price range. I fear they may be less than your requirements though. To really get the lathe you describe you need to go to more that $2500. Powermatic, Jet and OneWay are all machines to look at in this price range.
You might consider looking at The Lathe Book, written by yours truly and published by Taunton. I go into some facts of machine design that are too involved for this forum. It is worth noting; however, that vibration is directly proportional to stiffness and inversely proportional to mass. Nothing beats a nice big chunk of cast iron. Also look at controls, levers and such and if they fit your view of work. That being said humans adapt to a new machine quickly. Good luck!
With best regards,
Ernie Conover
Thanks for your response, Ernie. I will take a look at your book.
If you don't mind me asking, what lathe/s do you have in your shop?
For students we have Nova DVRs. I demonstrate on a Powermatic 3520B which I had a hand in the design of and it is my current favorite. I just completed a for post Sheridan style bed with 7/-11" posts and it handled it nicely.With best regards,
Ernie Conover
Ernie, Where is a good place to find a used Nova or Oneway? I have a friend looking to purchase a lathe this year as a upgrade from his Grizzly. So Cal area.
Thanks
Tony
Edited 1/2/2007 4:49 pm ET by TonyCz
Either a Nova DVR or a OneWay are going to be hard to find used. They are sought after lathes and command a premium price--even used. You might try the usual sources ebay and such. I cannot be of much help beyond that. With best regards,
Ernie Conover
What are the features that you contributed to the Powermatic Lathe? Are these the changes made when the 3520A was upgraded to the 3520B?
I'm wondering how much of a difference a few mods can make in perhaps moving a lathe a step up in performance. Can a lathe like the Nova DVR XP if mounted on a hefty stand (perhaps an old lathe bed or a steel wide-flange beam) then be in the same class as the Delta, Jet, or Powermatic? Can enough ballast be added to make a difference or is the limitation more in how it was designed to perform? I am guessing that if you added enough mass to absorb/dampen vibration and stiffen the frame enough so the the bed extensions did not flex it would be a marked improvement.
I'm supposing it could not be made to be a viable competitor with say a $4000 and up design regardless of what we do. At some point I assume I am getting what I pay for. Do you agree with this?GREG
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The B model has the improvements that the design team, of which I was a member, came up with. They are many: larger and wider spaced bearings, improved access around the headstock, storage in the tailstock, centers at the rear of the headstock and tailstock for holding spindles for reference during duplication, better outboard capacity in the form of the extension bed having a low position, to name a few. The Nova is a very fine lathe but it is not as heavy in the bed, headstock and tailstock department. You can do much with a beef up however. It all boils down to whether you want to spend time saving money or the other way around. With best regards,
Ernie Conover
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