Replies

1. 
   JeffKurtz | Feb 09, 2003 03:52am | #1

   Nick,

   Check FWW #158 (October, 2002).  Andy Barnum did a nice report on the various midi-lathes on the market.

   His and his students' favorite was the Nova Mercury (available from Woodcraft).  Distance between centers is 8" with a 8" swing, outboard turning capacity, and electronically controlled variable speed.

   Jeff

2. 
   Splintie | Feb 09, 2003 05:04am | #2

   I have Grizzly's mini-lathe for $120. (I see the price has gone up since last year.) It made the pots you can see in the thread on scrap wood (4" diameter x 2" tall), and it turns out pens and such without a hitch. The nylon gear that drives the toothed belt cracked when a too-aggressive cut was attempted, but Grizzly paid for that learning curve, as it was under warranty. Very quiet, too. No wobble in mine, so i don't think reproducibility would be a problem.

   Here's a review on the Nova--made me a little skeptical.

3. 
   vinced4 | Feb 11, 2003 05:03am | #3

   Nick--i elected to go with the Mercury lathe...but can't sing its praise or note any problems as it hasn't yet arrived.  Woodcraft is backlogged (i assume due to the shipping strike).  Newest projected arrival date is 2/14 (soon, but a long time since its pre-Christams [present] purchase.    PS--Teknatool did up the power to 1/2 hp as suggested in the earlier review.