Harbor Freight lathe

[Mark Burge]

What do y'all think? Is a four year old barely used Harbor Freight lathe with a 1/2 horse motor, 14 inch swing and 40 inch between centers worth $75.00 ? I've got a line on one and I might go take a look at it. I am looking for something to do bigger bowls with than my Jet mini will handle. Thanks for the input.

[Harlan Coverdale]

In a word, no. I don't think you'd get $75 worth of use out of it before you wanted a better lathe. That's just my opinion, and I do own some HF tools. I did own one of their lathes. It was given to me. I used it just long enough to realize it was not a tool I could actually make anything decent with.

[Gary Conklin]

NO. It retails full price no coupon for $149.00. Of the HF lathes that is not the one to get. The 34706 is the one most buy, but in all honesty you will want an upgrade in less than a year.

[Gordon Seto]

Run, not worth at any price.
Someone donated a barely used to our Club. We couldn't auction it off for $5 two years in a row.
34706 is the Jet 1236 clone, that is probably the only HF lathe that is less bad.

[alex carey]

1/2 hp and 14" swing. Your gonna drive yourself mad with that. I used to get mad that my 3/4 hp 12" swing was under powered.

[Jeff Rich]

HF has a NEW lathe which is a knock off the 1442 Jet.
Cast iron legs and all....
I have 2 of the 34706 lathes that have and still serve me well.
I could never get the headstock to tighten down enough to avoid a pivot action while doing spindle work.
However, I have made many bowls, goblets, tool handles and birdhouse bodies (recently) that turned out well.
But sometimes skill and luck can only overcome so much of a wobbly stand and thin sheet metal housings that rattle you into insanity, LOL.

[Mark Burge]

Thanks for the info. That was what I was thinking. I knew it was underpowered and that HF was a risk for a headache. Think I'll pass and save up my $. Thanks again.

[Ken Hensley]

Don't do it I have the HF lathe in my garage it is one of the most unsafe machines I have ever used as well as the tailstock has a 1/4" of play to the left and right (poorly made). Thank goodness I found a Delta 46-522 at a yard sale and fixed it up $50.

Ken

[Ken Hensley]

Don't do it I have the HF lathe in my garage it is one of the most unsafe machines I have ever used as well as the tailstock has a 1/4" of play to the left and right (poorly made). Thank goodness I found a Delta 46-522 at a yard sale and fixed it up $50.

[Bernie Weishapl]

I wouldn't give it a second thought. It is not even worth making a buffing machine out of it.

[Tom Giacomo]

I believe if you check that lathes lowest speed is around 1100RPM, too fast for bowl work.