New Laguna lathe??

[John Keeton]

I thought I recalled a post on this lathe sometime recently, but a quick search didn't net anything.

I was at Woodcraft today, and they had received a new Laguna lathe. 20" swing, 600 lbs., 3 hp, 3 phase with an inverter. LOTS of cast iron. Nice smooth ways. The sucker was massive. Some of the castings were a little rough, and it was pretty plane jane - kind of industrial looking. Didn't have the good looks of the Jet or PM. They had it priced at about $2,700, with a 10% off introductory sale.

I looked on the Laguna website and didn't see it listed. Funny, the Woodcraft owner told me when they looked at the manual, it said "Congratulations on your new Craftsman lathe!!":confused: I guess the same factory is apparently making some for Sears.

Anyone else gotten a peek at this one?

[Roger Chandler]

John,

The last I knew of Sears, they were not any longer carrying any lathe with a craftsman brand................that may have changed. I know one could get a Jet lathe through them, but that was about all. This is an interesting development. Roger Corder posted that the Grizzly G0698 had been discontinued......Laguna had their version of the same lathe.............now I wonder if the two events are related and a new unit will be forthcoming for Grizzly and Laguna? Speculation on my part, but I find this interesting to say the least.

[John Keeton]

Roger, I never thought to check the Grizzly website, but they do have this lathe! It is their G0694 - exactly the same lathe.
http://cdn2.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg500/g/g0694.jpg

Obviously, I have not been in tune with what is out there. This lathe came out in early 2009 - sorry, but this is old news.:o

[Roger Chandler]

John,

I was on their website a couple of minutes ago myself, and I almost asked the question about this model........if it looked the same as the Laguna? I guess this is the one they will push now............I wonder if they would take a trade in on my G0698? :D

I am bummed out about them discontinuing the model I have, especially if I need service or parts in the future. I emailed them this afternoon about a lot of questions I have.

This lathe model [G0694] looks like it would match up with most units, but somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember a thread on that had at least one negative on the review, but I guess I will have to look it up. Maybe it was that there was no through hole in the headstock and a vacuum system could not be used.............maybe the one you saw, did it have a hole in the spindle?

[John Keeton]

Roger, I just searched the various SMC threads on this lathe, and apparently it does now have a thru hole. David Woodruff posted the specs back in December 2010 after a call to Grizzly. It is a lot of lathe, but depending on the price of the PM, it doesn't look like it would compete very well. However, if the PM is now up close to $4K, then that is another story. I can say it ran super quiet, but the fit/finish just is not PM quality.

[Roger Chandler]

Thanks John................I will await my reply from Grizzly on the continued support of the unit I have. I want to know if parts and service will be available in years to come. In my opinion they should never have started to carry this model if they did not intend to keep it at least for a few years, and intended to support it as long as customers need support and parts. Mind you, I have not heard anything other than they stand by their equipment 100 percent, but one can only wonder. I am hoping that Bill Crofutt will respond to my questions once again with some straight information.

We shall see...........

My G0698 has not had one issue in over a year I have used it.........in fact is has exceeded my initial expectations..........I just hope they will continue to support with parts and service in years to come.

[Jon Nuckles]

Looks like Grizzly's version is a little more than $2800 delivered, so roughly in line with the Laguna. I know the PM retail price is much higher than that, but I bought my 3520B in December for less than $2900 delivered during their big sale event.

Odd that Grizzly and Laguna both have this lathe. I had heard that Grizzly's G0698 was a copy of Laguna's 18X47 lathe; maybe Grizzly came out with this one in 2009 and Laguna did a knock off this time? The Grizzly's shipping weight is around 850 pounds, so that is a lot of lathe.

[John Keeton]

Jon, with the PM on sale, there is absolutely no comparison in these lathes. The PM would win hands down. It would be an easy choice - but, I am not in the market!

[Josh Bowman]

I looked on the Laguna website and didn't see it listed. Funny, the Woodcraft owner told me when they looked at the manual, it said "Congratulations on your new Craftsman lathe!!":confused: I guess the same factory is apparently making some for Sears.
John, I have their 14" SUV bandsaw, it's really nice. However comma, the custormer service is lacking some. They're very nice, but it looks like they have to get several approvals before they can take action and with that they tend to forget and not call you back. Having said that, I know the bandsaw is built like a battle ship! Very heavy, runs true and scary quite. If the lathe is anything like the saw, it should be nice.

[Reed Gray]

I was talking with the local Woodcraft Store owner, and they will now be carrying the Laguna bandsaws. Didn't know they would be carrying the lathes as well. Maybe customer service will improve. I do get a call from them once a year to offer me a deal on their bandsaw blades. I don't get them as I have a Lennox dealer here in town. Love my Laguna 16HD for bowl blank prep.

robo hippy

[Curt Fuller]

You know John, deep down in your heart, that same heart that loves working with wood, loves quality tools, loves everything about the woodworking experience, there is only Oneway you're ever going to be satisfied! ;)

[John Keeton]

Curt, I must admit, were I to develop a desire for an upgrade, Oneway would have to be in the running - though a Robust American Beauty would certainly be a close second - or, maybe first!

[Gary Max]

John think about service--------Mustard is less than 200 miles south of here.

[phil harold]

Jon, with the PM on sale, there is absolutely no comparison in these lathes. The PM would win hands down. It would be an easy choice - but, I am not in the market!
John,
I think it is time for you to buy a new lathe
;o)

[John Keeton]

Guys, I appreciate the encouragement - I really do! But, everytime this topic comes up, the question is always the same. What would a different/bigger/better lathe do for me? The fact is that I enjoy doing the relatively small artsy stuff, and the Delta is just such a joy to use on that type of work. Nothing heavy, good speed, good power, and it does what I like to do very well.

So far, I have turned a couple of things that were 12" or so, but those were the rare exceptions for me. My true love is multi-piece turnings and HFs on a much smaller scale.

Not to say that those type of turnings on a big ol' lathe wouldn't be fun, but there is SO MUCH that I can do with those $$$ - like buy more burls and Claro walnut!!!

[Josh Bowman]

[QUOTE=John Keeton;1641776]Guys, I appreciate the encouragement - I really do! But, everytime this topic comes up, the question is always the same. What would a different/bigger/better lathe do for me? QUOTE]
John! You speak heresy!! It just isn't American not to want "different/bigger/better"

[Roger Chandler]

The fact is that I enjoy doing the relatively small artsy stuff, My true love is multi-piece turnings and HFs on a much smaller scale. Not to say that those type of turnings on a big ol' lathe wouldn't be fun,


John.......wouldn't large multi-piece turnings, the kind that turn your head when you walk into a room, and just captivate one's attention be all the more fun! I have seen turnings that stood as tall as a man that made me stand in wonder of the process. One day, you will get bored with the same old small and want to go big..............and then with only that Delta in your arsenal, you will be struck with lathe envy..:eek:.....although only until your large lathe arrives that you ordered................:D

Even Mrs. K will understand! ;)

[John Keeton]

Roger, Ms. Keeton is not an issue - she would have no problem with a new lathe. The issue lies with me - just not there yet. Someday....maybe...probably....but, not anytime soon.

[Fred Belknap]

;)John surly you jest.

[Bob Borzelleri]

I can relate to John's view on this issue. After cutting my teeth on my Nova 1644, I spent a week with Jimmy Clewes and one of his PMs. As the week unfolded, I began to think that I was going to feel let down after returning to the Nova, but that didn't happen.

While the PM was a pleasure to use, it didn't allow me to do things (at my then level of proficiency) that I couldn't do with the Nova. Granted, the rheostat was quicker to turn than swapping pulleys to change speed, but that is simply a matter of time and convenience and I have a ton of time available. Once I got back to using the Nova, I got to thinking more about what was happening at my end of the handle as opposed to the hunk of iron in front of me.

That said, one day I will likely get a heavier/more powerful machine but, like John mentioned, I would probably bite the bullet for a Robust (or Serious if I wanted to turn parts for NASCAR). Until then, I'm happy with my Nova.