Steve Schlumpf
12-09-2006, 11:07 PM
It’s been 1 month since getting my new lathe and thought I would share some thoughts.
As I posted a month ago, it was no problem for one person (me) to haul the lathe sections into my shop – located in my basement. I set the bed on a couple of saw horses and then attached the legs. Slid the lathe over to where it was going to permanently located and then slid on the headstock, tool rest and tailstock. I used Dominic Greco’s advice on building a ballast box and when completed filled it up with 7 bags of quick-set concrete (+280 lbs). Should put the total lathe weight around 700 lbs.
52208
I upgraded from a 1954 Craftsman mono-tube lathe. Works great but there are only 4 speeds – the slowest being 875 rpm. Not really having any options – that is the speed I would rough out and finish turn bowls at. The operative word for this is Exciting! So far during this month I have turned a couple of dozen bowls and some candleholders and have to admit I am still thrilled every time I turn the lathe on! At first I was somewhat apprehensive as the lathe is physically massive compared to what I was used to and it has 2 hp motor instead of ˝ hp. The weird thing is that I wanted the variable speed so I could dial things in instead of being stuck on 875 rpm or 1400 rpm, etc. First thing I realized was I didn’t have the faintest idea what speeds to use. Referred to a few charts and played around with the speed a lot with the first few bowls and now find I rough bowls out close to 450 rpm and finish them around 800.
The lathe operates very smooth but I found that even at 700 lbs if you spin an out-of-round blank - it will still shake! Nice thing now is all you do is turn the speed down a little bit and the shake disappears. Life is good! :D
Just a couple of things I wish were different on the lathe:
The spindle lock is a push button – spindle is locked as long as you hold the button in. Even my old craftsman had a locking spindle – but… No big deal except when you want to thread the chuck onto the spindle, screw a bowl blank onto the woodworm screw, power sand on only one spot on the bowl, etc. Would be nice if you could push the button in to lock the spindle and then push it again to unlock.
Would like to see an after market remote switch assembly that you could magnetically attach anywhere on the lathe. Would just be more convenient –not to mention safer - to not have to reach around whatever is spinning at the time.
So, bottom line on the lathe is that I have become very comfortable around it and really enjoy using it! If you are thinking about getting a 1642 and have any questions – I will do what I can to answer them.
As I posted a month ago, it was no problem for one person (me) to haul the lathe sections into my shop – located in my basement. I set the bed on a couple of saw horses and then attached the legs. Slid the lathe over to where it was going to permanently located and then slid on the headstock, tool rest and tailstock. I used Dominic Greco’s advice on building a ballast box and when completed filled it up with 7 bags of quick-set concrete (+280 lbs). Should put the total lathe weight around 700 lbs.
52208
I upgraded from a 1954 Craftsman mono-tube lathe. Works great but there are only 4 speeds – the slowest being 875 rpm. Not really having any options – that is the speed I would rough out and finish turn bowls at. The operative word for this is Exciting! So far during this month I have turned a couple of dozen bowls and some candleholders and have to admit I am still thrilled every time I turn the lathe on! At first I was somewhat apprehensive as the lathe is physically massive compared to what I was used to and it has 2 hp motor instead of ˝ hp. The weird thing is that I wanted the variable speed so I could dial things in instead of being stuck on 875 rpm or 1400 rpm, etc. First thing I realized was I didn’t have the faintest idea what speeds to use. Referred to a few charts and played around with the speed a lot with the first few bowls and now find I rough bowls out close to 450 rpm and finish them around 800.
The lathe operates very smooth but I found that even at 700 lbs if you spin an out-of-round blank - it will still shake! Nice thing now is all you do is turn the speed down a little bit and the shake disappears. Life is good! :D
Just a couple of things I wish were different on the lathe:
The spindle lock is a push button – spindle is locked as long as you hold the button in. Even my old craftsman had a locking spindle – but… No big deal except when you want to thread the chuck onto the spindle, screw a bowl blank onto the woodworm screw, power sand on only one spot on the bowl, etc. Would be nice if you could push the button in to lock the spindle and then push it again to unlock.
Would like to see an after market remote switch assembly that you could magnetically attach anywhere on the lathe. Would just be more convenient –not to mention safer - to not have to reach around whatever is spinning at the time.
So, bottom line on the lathe is that I have become very comfortable around it and really enjoy using it! If you are thinking about getting a 1642 and have any questions – I will do what I can to answer them.