Replies

1. 
   Troy | Jan 30, 2006 09:10pm | #1

   I am not an expert turner buy any shakes but have used the older PM lathe and I thought it was a nice tool. They one in the school shop at my Com College and it has taken a lot of abuse and still works well.

   Troy

1. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 31, 2006 12:58am | #2

   Troy

   Thanks for the solo reply.

   Jeff

2. 
   bedrockman | Feb 01, 2006 12:32am | #3

   Jeff: I have a Powermatic Model #90. In my opinion there is none better unless it would be the model #45 gap bed Powermatic.  I have an angle iron bed extension and have turned one piece high poster bed posts. I have turned 30" diameter table tops off the outboard end. Its' mass and weight allow vibration free turning on about anything you can mount on it. I recommend it highly ! David Turner

1. 
   JeffHeath | Feb 01, 2006 01:17am | #4

   David,

   Thanks alot for the vote of confidence.  I believe I'm going to buy it this weekend.

   Jeff

3. 
   philip | Feb 01, 2006 12:29pm | #5

   Jeff, if it is real cast iron, heavy as possible (ie the accountants haven't issued orders to shave bits off in the interest of saving lots of raw material)and has big balls in the bearings then it is starting to sound good.

   Philip Marcou
4. 
   Tony Z | Feb 03, 2006 01:58am | #6

   You guys aren't going to like this reply (better than calling this a gloat), but I got a Model 90 for $35.00 from a local school auction.  Only issue is that it was 3 phase, but the motor changeover was easy and the new 1HP motor only cost $150.  The lathe is built like a tank (had to be to survive school use).

1. 
   Troy | Feb 03, 2006 02:26am | #7

   I would say that was a steal especially if it had all the parts like the tail stock.Troy

2. 
   bedrockman | Feb 03, 2006 06:43pm | #8

   Yep, Tony, that was a steal. I too bought mine from a high school. I am sure like in the Detroit area, school's are not providing any woodworking courses any more and therefore they are just looking for someone to remove these large, heavy things. It is a shame for the young that would like the WW training but it is great for those of us that are willing to move these giants. David Turner

1. 
   tinkerer2 | Feb 07, 2006 09:48am | #9

   David Turner,

        Where are you from?  I know a David Turner who works in WW.

3. 
   philip | Feb 07, 2006 12:06pm | #10

   Theft on a grand scale.Philip Marcou

1. 
   Tony Z | Feb 11, 2006 01:35am | #11

   Not really.  The school had three.   All equipment was 3 phase. and I was interested in the Unisaw and 8" jointer (which I also bought, along with a pedestal grinder and drill press).  The guy watching over the sale said know was interested in the lathes (I wasn't either, since I figured they would go in the $4 - $500 range and that would blow my budget for the other items). 

   It was 4:00 in the afternoon and the bid acceptance closed at 5:00.  He said bid whatever I wanted and I would have a good chance of getting one, as there were no bids at all in.  So....$35.00 it was!  All in all I spect some $1200.00 for all of the above items.  I put a new 220 volt Baldor industrial motor on the jointer (Delta) and it is a gem!  I've run the Unisaw at my business on 3 phase, but have yet to convert it to single phase.  I sold the drill press for twice what I paid for it to pay for the jointer motor and the grinder is in my basement.  I have the 3 phase motor off of the lathe but have yet to buy a single phase for it.

    

    

    

1. 
   bedrockman | Feb 11, 2006 08:13pm | #12

   Tony: My phase convertor only cost $69 plus shipping. I bought it on e-bay. They say it cuts down the horsepower by about 1/3 but I have not noticed any power loss or need for more horsepower on my Powermatic Model #90. David Turner

1. 
   Tony Z | Feb 11, 2006 09:33pm | #13

   I've considered both rotary and static phase converters, but have decided to go with single phase conversion.  I have accumulated quite a few tools over the years and have stuff in my garage and in my basement.

   If I didn't already have a table saw (actually two others, one a Grizzly 1023 and the other a really beat-up Unisaw), I would be in a hurry to get all the equipment running, and I also have an old Craftsmen wood lathe, so, if it takes two to three years to complete the conversions so be it!