Midi-mini...what's the diff?

[Steve Culbertson]

Still trying to figure out what to buy, what is the difference between mini and midi lathes?

Steve

[Bob Noles]

Steve,

Only difference is the letters d and n. :D

Seriously, they really are pretty much the same from all I have learned and been able to tell.

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Whether MIDI or MINI you can't go wrong with a JET or a Rikon, for that matter. If you want VS, go for the JET!

My pretty much informed opinion, having used Delta, Jet, Wilton, and Rikon Lathes and looked closely at what is available at HF.

Bruce

[Andy Hoyt]

Minis come to mid thigh and midis come to mid calf. Of course, a mini is also a cooper.

Coopers are woodworkers. Calves aren't.

[Jim Becker]

Andy...what kind of tea were you enjoying today?? :)
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Mini and Midi are marketing terms dreamed up by the manufacturers to "differentiate" their product. Delta will have you believe that their machine is, umm...more robust 'cause it's a "midi". The measuring tape will indicate "not a lot of difference". ;)

[Steve Culbertson]

Thanx everyone that clears things up. :eek:

[Mac McAtee]

Midi is a marking word that some sales weasel thought up to make his machine stand out from the other ones called mini. That is in the hopes that buyers will think it is different or bigger than a mini.

[John Bailey]

I hate to throw this slant in here, but General sells a "maxi." Is that any different or just another marketing ploy.

John

[Christopher Pine]

kindof like "nude" or "totally nude"... :) Don't take offense please :)

[Gil Jones]

I have the General Maxi-Lathe, and it is the same size as a Jet Mini, but not VS. This is a lot of marketing BP.:)

[Charles Bjorgen]

Curiously, Oneway refers to their 1224 Lathe as a "mini" on their web site. Somehow that comes across to me as an understatement with a bit of class. I've turned on one those. Not like any mini I've ever used.

[Andy Hoyt]

I used to have a OW 1018.

But who remembers the OW 1015? That really was a mini.

[Jim Becker]

I used to have a OW 1018
Ditto...another Creeker now owns it. Excellent machine that was in a class by itself. The 1224 continues that legacy with a little more capacity for the money...which is not insubstantial for the size of the machine. (My 1018 with the bed extension and the extra ballast probably weight in at 500 lbs...not bad for a "mini lathe"!!)