Woo Hoo! It's Here!

[Bob Hallowell]

Just finished mounting the palmgren to it's new home. And turned a quick handle for the knock out rod Just so I try it out.

This thing is built like a tank compared to my grizzly. I am well pleased with it. The low end speed is real good, the reeves drive looks solidly built. No slop in the shaft on the tail stock. the centers match up perfectly. I mention all this cause those were some of the problems I had with the grizz.

I can't imagine how we got a lathe like this for $290. I can't even imagine how this only retails for $450.

I built this table for it, it's 30" high, 60" long and 18" wide. exect for the screw holding on the plywood top and bottom I used no bolts or screws everything is either mortised and tenoned with then doweled or dovetailed and doweled. I didn't want any of the joints to wobble. It's made out of some utility oak I surfaced done to 6/4. then I also put 150lbs of sand in the bottom.

Bob

[Bonnie Campbell]

Looks good! Very nice table ya made too (can I steal it? ;))

Still awaiting word on my order. No tracking info yet. But you give yours a good workout so all us that are waiting know how it'll do :)

[Mark Pruitt]

Way to go Bob! Git-R-Dirty!

[Bobby Perry]

Looks good Bob. Mine should be here tomorrow afternoon.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Go Bob Go!.............Congrats! What's it throw and low rpm?

[Bob Hallowell]

Ken,
I will turn a 15" inboard and a 20in outboard. and the Rpm's on palmgren website say they go down to 360. Which I beleive as it is much slower than the griz went.

Bob

[Steve Schlumpf]

Congrats Bob!! Looks like you are set to have a lot of fun! Looking forward to seeing some of your turnings from the new lathe!

[Andrew Eggleston]

That looks just like my craftsman lathe. I wonder who the real manufacturer is?

[Andrew Eggleston]

Bob,

The only thing I would warn you about this lathe is the main drive belt from the motor. It is a real pain to change out. In the two years I have had mine the belt has needed to be replaced twice. The small belt is about $30 bucks from Sears. Hopefully you can find another source.

I have turned at 14.5" platter with no problem without swivelling the head stock.

-andy

[Gilbert Vega]

I beleive that Palmgren builds the lathe for Sears.

[Dennis Peacock]

You go Bob!!!! Congrats on the new lathe!!! Now let's see some lathe curlies on that baby. ;)

[John Hart]

Congratulations Bob!! Looks like you'll be disappearing from civilization for a while! Nice Bench!:)

[George Tokarev]

Think seriously about extending the stand's footprint in front of the lathe to counter the thrust of out-of-balance pieces. Can be as simple as laminating a triangular piece of the same stock as the legs to them, so no big deal about breaking the stand down. Swing plus maybe 25% should catch the vector. That way you'll be able to forego weighting. Weebles may not fall down, but they still wobble.

After you use it a bit, consider whether elevating the lathe bed on blocks will get clearance to haul trash from between the ways. Perhaps you'll discover you started a bit low, or perhaps you have some legs to trim.

[Bob Hallowell]

Thanks for the info George, I allready thought about extending the legs but wanted to wait a see how it worked as I do need one more thing to trip on in my messy shop.
As to cleaning out between the ways, the plywood top does not go underneath the lathe it goes just past where the bolts are So I could clean it and adjust the bolt on the tailstock and the rest.

Bob

[Bonnie Campbell]

Bob, I don't want to hijack your thread... I'm still in the 'thinking stage' of building a table for mine. Is it better to leave an open space under the rails to let dust and chips fall through? I hadn't thought about that before...

[Gordon Seto]

Is it better to leave an open space under the rails to let dust and chips fall through? Bonnie,

A definite yes, wood chips would fill up between the ways very fast. They would interfere with the free positioning of your tool rest. One option is to lower the bench and use some blocks under the bolting holes to increase the gap between the ways and bench.

Gordon

[Bonnie Campbell]

Thanks Gordon. I'd just never thought about it with my smaller lathe. I just kept cleaning it out as I went along. I'll go ahead and figure the opening in the table design. I appreciate your help :)

[Bob Hallowell]

I used the open space design but I am sore blocks would be fine. You just need something.

Bob

[Gordon Seto]

I'd just never thought about it with my smaller lathe. :) Bonnie,

Bigger lathes do generate more chips. Especially in hollowing, the fine chips drop directly over the lathe bed. Don't feel bad for not having think about the chip clearance problem. The bench design from Nova DVR manual, which was supposed to be writen by people who knows lathe, has not addressed this issue either. Thanks to those who follwed the design and suggested some solutions in forums like this.

Gordon

[Mike Ramsey]

Congratulations Bob! This lathe tends to be a little noisy but you
get used to it....Happy turnings!

[George Tokarev]

I think you'll re-think the open area under the ways about the second time you drop a hollowing scraper bit down there or, if you're dumb like some people I know and try to change jaws on the lathe, drop a screw. I tried it for a while as a way to hitch the dust collector in a central gravity feed position, but it just didn't work out for me.

[Jeff Yates]

Well I hemmed and hawed about it for a couple of weeks...

Finally, just thirty mins ago, I pulled the trigger and ordered one of them myself...

I can honestly say this has now doubled the cost of my little shop...*laugh*

Now I just need some tools to learn with...Harbor Freight...here I come

[Daniel Heine]

Andrew,

Depending upon how old your lathe is, the problem with rapid belt wear was corected by Palmgren, and does not exist for lathes made now. I beleive the fix has been in place for about 2 years, and the instructions and kit for retrofitting your lathe can be aquired from Palmgren. Palmgren is the manufacturer of this lahe. I bought one last spring, and have been thrilled with it. I've been turning bowls, spindles, pens, and all other kinds of things. It has been a joy to use. I think this is one heck of a nice tool, especially with the sale price now. Not much more than a Jet mini!!!

If any of you Palmgren/Craftsman owners have problems, I encourage you to contact Palmgren via email or a phone call. They are very nice people, and have provided the very best service for anything I have wanted or needed.

One last point, there is an accessory called the Bowl Turning Rest that attaches to the lathe for outboard turning. You can see it here:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Power+Tool+Accessories&pid=00929848000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Lathes&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes

If you plan to do a lot of outboard turning, I would reccomend it.

Happy Turning,
Dan Heine

[Bobby Perry]

Still waiting for delivery. Was supposed to be here between 1 and 5 pm. I have a feeling it won't be delivered tonight. I live on a sand bar east of Galveston that you have to ride a ferry to get here.

[Corey Hallagan]

Sweet lathe and congrats. You sound so excited and I don't blame you. Be safe and have fun!

corey

[Bobby Perry]

Darn delivery company. Took them 2 days to get the lathe from Chicago to Houston. Now they have had it for a week in Houston and can't get it to me till Friday. 2 days Chicago to houston 8 days from Houston to Galveston. And it still is not here.

[Bonnie Campbell]

My lathe is still in the twilight zone, no information at all on tracking :(

[Bobby Perry]

Do you know if they shipped it with Eagle USA? If they did and you have a tracking number try this web page to track it.
http://www.eaglegl.com/

They give a little more information.
I just got a call from them they are putting my lathe on a special truck with one delivery ME. Should be here between 1 and 2 PM. Driver is to call me if he is going to be late.

[Bonnie Campbell]

Yep, supposed to of shipped Eagle. Can't track it on amazon OR Eagles site. Called Amazon and they 'know it must of shipped', but no idea where it's at or why the tracking number doesn't work....:confused: Oh well, eventually it'll get here.

[Bobby Perry]

At that address for EGL there is a contact number. It is a 800 number that will connect you to a live person that should be able to tell you where you lathe is at.

[Gilbert Vega]

At that address for EGL there is a contact number. It is a 800 number that will connect you to a live person that should be able to tell you where you lathe is at.

I called the number on the contact site and they said it will be delivered on Monday, the 8th. Very friendly and very helpful lady I talked to at EGL.

1-800-888-4949

[Bob Hallowell]

Guys, I hope all of yours comes soon. I live in Pa so I was a tad closer. I was able to track mine via amazon.

Bob

[Bobby Perry]

Driver just called he is on the ferry headed my way. Hope that darn ferry don't sink.:)

[Bonnie Campbell]

Well I just got a call before dinner. The lathe will be here tomorrow between 8 and 12. Now I know why they couldn't track it, it wasn't Eagle. It's Bestway Delivery :rolleyes:

[Gilbert Vega]

On my shipment, eagle was responsible to Houston then it's going to Carr Delivery for the final leg. I suspect others are the same.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Andrew,


If any of you Palmgren/Craftsman owners have problems, I encourage you to contact Palmgren via email or a phone call. They are very nice people, and have provided the very best service for anything I have wanted or needed.

Happy Turning,
Dan Heine

I agree with Daniel. I had problems with the one I bought from Sears. Big time problems to the tune of 4 service calls. Anyway the gentleman at Palmgren asked me for a model, lot number and serial number. I told him it didn't have one. We could not find a sticker with any info on it. So he called me the next day and said a brand new 2006 headstock was on the way overnight. I got it the next afternoon. So yea they do take care of their customers.

[Bobby Perry]

Mine got here today about 2pm. I got it all unpacked and mounted on the old stand. Now I am going to have to beef up the old stand. I also got a new 8" grinder I had to get set up. I was going to make some sawdust but sometime or other I have put my turning tools up and can't find them. I hate getting old.

EGL was who brought mine.

[John Hart]

Mine got here today about 2pm. I got it all unpacked and mounted on the old stand. .....

Oh no!!!!:eek: I've gone blind!!!:eek: Bobby got his lathe but I can't see it!!!!:eek:

[Bobby Perry]

I will take pictures tomorrow. Wife has my camera in the car and she is gone to Galveston.

[Bonnie Campbell]

Got mine today. The operators manual looks REALLY good. Hate when they just list parts (without pointing out what they are even) Even has turning directions! (Now THAT might help me a lot lol)

[Bob Hallowell]

congrads, But I guess it didn't happen cause I ain't seeing no pictures!! :cool:

Bob

[Tom Sweeney]

Mine is waiting for me at home! I think I ordered mine on 12/28 & I'm in eastern PA. LOML called me at work & said it was delivered & is sitting on the side porch under roof, which is good because it's raining here. She did say that the box was open & the driver said it just happened when he was unloading it at the house so I hope everything is OK. I won't be able to set mine up for maybe a couple of weeks so it's going to be killing me knowing I have a new toy & I can't play with it

[Bonnie Campbell]

Well, it's still in the box. Need to get a table built. But here's a boxed picture lol What do y'all use for cleaning that gunky grease off the parts?

[John Hart]

....What do y'all use for cleaning that gunky grease off the parts?

I used wood shavings.:D Cherry, as I recall.;)

Kidding...WD-40 and a paper towel does the trick - Congratulations!

[Bonnie Campbell]

Thanks John!:D

[Rylo Tomassi]

I found Sawmill while searching for a review of the Palmgren. I'm glad I did. :) I'm hoping to hear some of your impressions of the lathe before I order mine. It sure seems like an informative, friendly and respectful corner of the web here. Good luck to you all on the new lathes!

[Bobby Perry]

I found Sawmill while searching for a review of the Palmgren. I'm glad I did. :) I'm hoping to hear some of your impressions of the lathe before I order mine. It sure seems like an informative, friendly and respectful corner of the web here. Good luck to you all on the new lathes!Here is a picture of mine and so far I think it is very good deal. Sure beats the heck out of my old harbor freight cheapy.

[Tom Keyser]

Hi, I'm new to the form and have a question about the Palmgren lathe. I want to mount a Vega Duplicator on one I am considering purchasing and need to know where the motor is located. Is is beneath the headstock or is it located to the back side? The head of the duplicator needs to be able to pass along the back side of the headstock when the duplicator is mounted on the back side of the lathe. My old Delta has the motor located on the back side of the headstock which prevents me from mounting the Vega on the back side of the lathe. For those who are curious on why I want to mount the Vega on the back.. if the bed of the Vega duplicator is mounted on the back of the lathe, then you can use the banjo and tool rests on the front side of the lathe. Also, you put the cutting head in upside down when its on the back side and all the chip are thrown down at the floor rather than being sprayed upward and all over the shop. Much neater!

We have a small production shop and make culinary tools. You can see the old Delta lathe we're using for the Vega on our site in the Travels section.

www.culinaryrev.com

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Tom

[Bobby Perry]

I guess the picture didn't post

[Mark Pruitt]

Rylo, Tom,
Welcome! Glad you found your way here.

[Bonnie Campbell]

Okay, just about got the table done. Should finish it up today. Can someone tell me what the best distance to the edge of the table the first bolt measurement should be at? Gonna need a gorilla to hoist that motor up, so I want to make sure the outside swing is right.

[Gilbert Vega]

Well, I got my lathe yesterday. I got worried when the driver opened the lift gate and noticed the box was torn up. I inspected it closely and everything looked okay. Today, I was cleaning the lathe up and noticed a defect on the bed. I couldn't tell if there was a defect in the casting or someone had tried to weld it up. Called Plamgren and talked to the customer service about it. They had me send a picture and immediately told me they were sending a new bed. I asked when it would arrive and they said it would be in within a week. I asked if they could expedite the shipping and they agreed to send it 2nd day air. I was pleased with the response although it would have been better if they could have shipped it without the defect. Guess in the end, I'm happy.

Now to build a cabinet for the lathe.