Hmmm, I wonder...

[Chris Barton]

Many ask about a best starter lathe. I know nothing about this machine but, if it is anything approaching decent then at the advertised price this would be a bargain. Just throw a couple of hundred pounds of sand bags across a 2x10 on the bottomj of the stand and...

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2006/main/107

PS: I am talking about the G0462...

[Travis Stinson]

Grizzly sure does some weird things. Why have an RPM readout on a fixed speed reeves drive? And 600 RPM is a little high for the minimum speed.:confused:

[George Troy Hurlburt]

Chris you get what you pay for. The cast iron tool rest & banjo may break under stress or with a catch. This is my opinion. GT

[Jim Becker]

"2hp" motor that is listed for "110v" and 18 amps...and the breaker size recommended is 15 amps on the spec sheet. "Something" doesn't add up... ;)

[Chris Barton]

I agree but, 2hp and 300lbs of cast iron delivered to your door for less than $400 is impressive if it is anywhere near decent.

[Andy Hoyt]

I was about to like it too, Chris. Then noticed that the low end speed on both machines is 600 rpms.

There are times when I'm turning something in the medium to big size and I never get that fast even towards the end of the process.

This fact coupled with with the rotating headstock (to allow larger and heavier work pieces) proves that the manufacturer has never spoken to anyone who does facework.

But if I wanted to just do centerwork - you betcha.

Note to Papa Griz - Strongly suggest that you design a lathe, and then engineer the motor and controls to operate it. Rather than designing lathes that will accomodate existing motor designs.

[Chris Barton]

"2hp" motor that is listed for "110v" and 18 amps...and the breaker size recommended is 15 amps on the spec sheet. "Something" doesn't add up... ;)

I would normally agree but, did you notice this statement in the "insert"


The Model G0462 is very similar to the Model G0584 with only a few differences (motor size, digital RPM
display, tailstock, and swing). Besides the parts breakdown and machine data sheet, the information in the
Model G0584 manual is the same for the Model G0462.
This insert is intended to be used WITH the Model G0584 manual, not as a replacement for it. Before operating
your new machine, you MUST read and understand the entire Model G0584 manual.

[Chris Barton]

I was about to like it too, Chris. Then noticed that the low end speed on both machines is 600 rpms.

There are times when I'm turning something in the medium to big size and I never get that fast even towards the end of the process.

This fact coupled with with the rotating headstock (to allow larger and heavier work pieces) proves that the manufacturer has never spoken to anyone who does facework.

But if I wanted to just do centerwork - you betcha.

Note to Papa Griz - Strongly suggest that you design a lathe, and then engineer the motor and controls to operate it. Rather than designing lathes that will accomodate existing motor designs.

I guess what I am saying is, I would like to hear from someone that actually has used this machine. Many posts come to this forum asking for advice on a starter lathe and often these folks are very money ristricted but, they want to try doing lathe work. In the past (as recently as today) I have suggested that they wait and save the money.... But, had that been the case for me from the outset I would have probably never turned anything (which may have been a blessing in disguise). I agree that 600 rpm as a bottom speed is high but, it's not completely unreasonable. I also don't like the articulated tool rest on the banjo, just a receipe for disaster. However, it looks like your can take the arm off and attach the tool rest directly to the banjo. Oh well, just the musingings of an old fart.

[Andy Hoyt]

But good musings nonetheless.

I'm gonna think about this over some you know what. Later.

[Ernie Nyvall]

I agree but, 2hp and 300lbs of cast iron delivered to your door for less than $400 is impressive if it is anywhere near decent.

That I see as a problem as well as what Jim mentioned. Think about it, the over all size of the lathe... the bed is cast iron and the legs are cast iron and the actual weight of the machine is only 287 lbs. Seems like mighty thin cast iron. You can scratch using the extension on the tool rest if they're still making them as they did a year ago. I broke 3 or 4 of them. The banjo is inadequate for anything bigger around than about 8-9 inches.

I would think you could get a pretty good mini for about that price and actually do better.

Don't mean to sound like I'm slamming your thread Chris, but I have the G1495 an so some experience with the Grizzly lathe workings.

Ernie

[Andy Hoyt]

Okay Chris. I've spent the last couple of hours consuming mass quantities of you know what and am now ready to respond - with a curve ball and in the form of a question.

What if - instead of focusing on helping someone find the best lathe and essential gear at a specific budget point - we instead ask the following question.


"How much time, money, and energy are you willing to devote to learning a bit about turning without
purchasing anything you can keep, other than the resultant experience and knowledge?"


Whatcha think?

[Chris Barton]

Okay Chris. I've spent the last couple of hours consuming mass quantities of you know what and am now ready to respond - with a curve ball and in the form of a question.

What if - instead of focusing on helping someone find the best lathe and essential gear at a specific budget point - we instead ask the following question.



"How much time, money, and energy are you willing to devote to learning a bit about turning without
purchasing anything you can keep, other than the resultant experience and knowledge?"




Whatcha think?

Sir, you may have asked what many would call "THE QUESTION." I wonder if any of us knows the answer....

[Jim Dunn]

I think "The Question" should be posted as a sticky with those lathe essentials lists. Very good job Andy, now send me some of that brain stuff you consumed, you can hide it in the shaving with my wood.

[Andy Hoyt]

Sorry Jim, but it's all gone. Was a batch of home churned Mocha Kahlua Chip, and with all that alcohol in it it really doesn't stiffen up good enough to maintain it's form for shipping. Besides, I heard MO was a dry state.

[Jim Dunn]

Dry around here anyway's. I thought it was some coffe of some sort:)

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

I do notice that the motor and the headstock has a step pulley on it, if you like the lathe, but the speed is a bit too high, maybe you could swap pulley(s) to reduce the lowest speed...?

Just a thought.....

Cheers!

[Steve Miller]

I have been using the G0584 for about six months. I consider it an excellent starter lathe. I have turned wet bowls as big as 12 inches on the faceplate and had no trouble. I do rough out the blanks on my bandsaw, but I have put some pretty out of balance pieces on it and it handled them fine. I have a couple hundred pounds of sand on the bottom, and I have not had any moving problems. The only trouble I have had is the handle to tighten the tool rest. I managed to strip the threads, but I now have a set of pliers that I use to tighten and loosen it.

I would recommend it as a starter. Eventually, I would like to put some serious money towards a bigger machine, but this will serve me for years to come.

Good luck!

[Chris Barton]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the feedback. The G0462 that I am talking about is essentially the same as your lathe except with more than double the HP of the G0584 and only $20 difference in price. With so many folks wanting to get into turning but, being on a strict budget, the G0462 may be a very good option. Sure, I would like to wish everyone could wait until they could afford a (Oneway, PM, Stubby, Poolewood etc...) but, reality is that for lots of folks if they have to save $50/month for 10 years to get a lathe they will just give up. On the otherhand, if they can get a new 16x43 machine with variable speed drive and 2hp delivered to their door for under $400 then they might just jump in!

[Keith Burns]

OK, I normally don't post anything when it comes to recommending lathes for newbes or experienced turners either. As far as the Grizzly lathe I have read a couple of posts from users and they said they are happy with it. My experience is this: My first lathe cost $100.00, a cheep 12" square tube import. Did it work, yes. Was it a quality lathe, no. Did I do some decent turnings on it , yes. The most important thing to me was that I learned that I like turning and that it was something I wanted to persue. What did I do next ? Sold it for $50.00 and bought a better 12" lathe, then sold it and bought a yet better 12" lathe. Well guess what, I sold that one and bought yet another better 12" lathe. On all three lathes I sold I got between 50 and 80% of my money back. Would I like to have a Oneway, sure. Would I like to have a PM, sure. Am I ever going to have one, probably not. Not everyone is going to continue with turning no matter how good or poor their lathe is. Bottom line I guess for me anyway is it's not so much the lathe produces good work as it is the operator. Just my dimes worth.

[John Hart]

I like the way Keith's thinking....The real value is between ones ears and in the hands. I think it's great that you can get 2 HP for $400.

3/4 HP would become "too small" after a shorter time if one wanted eventually turn larger stuff.....But 2 HP would go a lot longer before the turner decided that it was no longer adequate for their needs. IMHO:)

[George Summers]

Except for the cast iron legs, this looks just about like the 'in'famous HF 34706 (which I have) and the original Jet 1236 it was cloned from. I bought the HF 34706 because of the many good reports as a good starter lathe. I know that there are a couple of other differences (continuous bed, etc) but the headstock is basically the same.

George