mini -vs- midi

[Mike Jones NM]

Still looking at various smaller lathes and am getting a bit confused.
Just got a "Penn State Industries" catalog and in looking at the specs of the smaller machines I find that the Delta "midi" is pretty much identical in specs to the Jet "mini" as far as swing over bed, HP, distance between centers etc.
So, my ?? is, is there any industry standard in what a mini is versus a midi?
Thanks

[Bernie Weishapl]

Mike I was as confused as you when I first started looking at lathes. I found I don't worry about the midi/mini anymore. I look mainly at hp and swing. Most of the midi/mini's are a 1/2 hp with a 10" swing except for what Bruce and I call a true midi the Rikon which has a 12" swing.

[Bill Boehme]

No, but there are some really small mini lathes that could only be used for things like pens and bottle stoppers -- so I suppose that may be the reason that Delta called their lathe a midi.

In general, industry standards apply to things such as wire and metal sizes, fasteners, materials, and interchangeability of parts and assemblies (ex: machine tapers).

Bill

[Jim Becker]

"Marketing"........

[Don Fuss]

Here's another one to add to your confusion. General has a "Maxi-Lathe" with a 10" swing.

[Frank Fusco]

Here's another one to add to your confusion. General has a "Maxi-Lathe" with a 10" swing.

That refers to the price tag. :D

[John Timberlake]

The real answer is timing. The Jet mini was on the market before the Delta. When Delta came out with theirs, the added the ability to extend the bed and called it a midi. Jet than added the ability to extend, but kept the name mini. Personnally, I like the Jet better. Find it to be smoother.

[Corey Hallagan]

Most of those Midi's/Minis like the Delta, Jet and PSI lathes with the 1/2 motor have a frame that is almost identical to each other. If you are going to do pens, stoppers, small bowls, weed pots etc. any of these will work. I have made half a dozen boxes, nearly a hundred pens, some vases, goblets, lidded bowls and my PSI Turncrafter Pro hasn't skipped a beat since January. Any of them will work for you. I all you want is to do this type of work and can afford it then go for the Jet which is considered the top of the line of Midi/Minis. If you ever want to go to a bigger lathe, you will want to keep the Jet. Then again, that new General looks like one sweet new lathe with moveable headstock and VS and 12 inch swing!

Corey

[Curt Fuller]

Still a pretty good deal for a mini.......

http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/cgi-bin/shopper?preadd=action&key=092-2100

Woodcraft might still have their deal going too.