John Chandler
02-27-2007, 11:25 PM
I finally have a lathe. :D I had ordered the Rikon the first week in January. I had picked it because it had 2" larger capacity in both swing and between centers than the Jet 1014. It came in and I cleaned it up, and turned it on the slowest speed - pretty cool. Then I switched to the next higher speed and it had a rattle :( coming from the headstock area in the enclosed space between the pulleys and the faceplate. I tried all the speeds and the rattle was there in all but the lowest speed. :( :( I packed it back up and took it back the next day. By this time word had spread about the new Jet 1220 coming out and without hesitation decided to wait on one of them - they had gotten in 2 or 3 (or 4) of them and they had sold the last one the day before. This is what I would have bought had it been there at first. So here it is:
59102
I have the Rikon universal stand. After measuring I discovered the mounting holes in this lathe are too far apart (Rats!!) for the stand so I am going to mount each end to a 2x10, the mount the 2x10 on each end to the outside holes (there are 2 sets of holes left/right as well as forward/backward on both mounting plates on the stand) so the lathe will be direcdtly over the mounting plates with the boards bolted on. I didn't get to finish that tonight so it will be done soon (working around 2 kids' schedules with soccer and school.) I did turn on the lathe both on slow and high speed with a pen blank mounted and it works like a charm :) and with no rattle :D . So for $50 more than the Rikon, this lathe as 4 more inches between centers, comes with the built in light (I didn't know that when I ordered it), has a 3/4 hp motor (another unkown to me at the time), has both a 6" and a 10" tool rest (yet another nice surprise), and it has 24 position indexing (I had heard about the indexing but not that it was 24 positions). All in all I am quite excited and anxious to get started. Now all I have to do is sharpen some tools and start practicing.
I wish work didn't get in the way of so much important stuff.
I do have a question if you are still with me at this point: I have read various methods using various materials to protect the sled and various bare metal areas. I cleaned the oil off using WD-40. I have read about TopCote, Boeshield T-9, and paste wax and would like to some recommendations on what to use and why as well as anything to be aware of.
I'm looking forward to having some time to play - the weekend isn't too far off.
59102
I have the Rikon universal stand. After measuring I discovered the mounting holes in this lathe are too far apart (Rats!!) for the stand so I am going to mount each end to a 2x10, the mount the 2x10 on each end to the outside holes (there are 2 sets of holes left/right as well as forward/backward on both mounting plates on the stand) so the lathe will be direcdtly over the mounting plates with the boards bolted on. I didn't get to finish that tonight so it will be done soon (working around 2 kids' schedules with soccer and school.) I did turn on the lathe both on slow and high speed with a pen blank mounted and it works like a charm :) and with no rattle :D . So for $50 more than the Rikon, this lathe as 4 more inches between centers, comes with the built in light (I didn't know that when I ordered it), has a 3/4 hp motor (another unkown to me at the time), has both a 6" and a 10" tool rest (yet another nice surprise), and it has 24 position indexing (I had heard about the indexing but not that it was 24 positions). All in all I am quite excited and anxious to get started. Now all I have to do is sharpen some tools and start practicing.
I wish work didn't get in the way of so much important stuff.
I do have a question if you are still with me at this point: I have read various methods using various materials to protect the sled and various bare metal areas. I cleaned the oil off using WD-40. I have read about TopCote, Boeshield T-9, and paste wax and would like to some recommendations on what to use and why as well as anything to be aware of.
I'm looking forward to having some time to play - the weekend isn't too far off.