PM 3520 problems?

[Benjamin Dahl]

I have read many of the glowing reviews of the PM 3520 series and it seems to have a very loyal following. Anyone had bad experiences with it? not trying to rile people up with more mustard vs. mayo talk but just looking for some more opinions and have not seen many complaints. I did a search and did not find much either.
Thanks,
Ben

[Philip Duffy]

My original, American made, PM lathe was bought used and I paid a fair price. It has served me with great success for 8 years. It does not have any of the newer models "niceties", like a spindle lock or index system but it has wonderful speed control in two ranges and is as strong as an ox. I do not see how you could go wrong with a PM 3520B. Phil

[Chris Barton]

Ben,

I have a 3520a with every accessory made (except the LH bowl turning rest) and have never had a problem. I don't think you will find many who have had any kind of problem with this simple but, well designed and built machine.

[Mark Pruitt]

Benjamin,
I have one huge problem with my 3520B. There aren't enough hours for me to use it as much as I want to!:p Seriously, I've had mine since mid-February and the only problem was with the remote switch I ordered as an option. The remote switch quit on me; I bypassed it and continued using the lathe. WMH promptly sent me a replacement switch, which I have not yet installed.

[Rich Souchek]

Got 2 problems with my PM 3520B since it arrived about 6 months ago:
1. Have broken the screws on 2 locking levers for the tool rest. Got replacements coming.
2. It somehow magically creates huge piles of shavings. On a busy weekend, the shaving will cover the floor and mound up to and above the bottom of the bed rails. I just sweep or kick them up under the lathe, the mound goes leg to leg, back several feet, and up about 3'. Takes a while to get rid of all the shavings.
Rich S.

[Benjamin Dahl]

Everyone, thanks for the feedback. I guess my skeptical side was expecting some complaints but it is good to see so many positive comments.
Ben

[Dario Octaviano]

Ben,

I assure you...if someone encounters a major problem with it (or any other lathe)...it will be posted here and/or on other major turning forums.

I am actually waiting for such thing since there are so many PM3520B buyers and thinking there would be a lemon somewhere but so far none that I've heard of (thankfully).

Oh BTW, I am a happy PM3520B owner :D whose only problem is (like Mark) not spending more time with my lathe.

[willis martin]

Ben, I have 3 different size lathes The pm 3520 being the largest I love it.Enough said Willis Martin:) :)

[Dennis Peacock]

I had my 3520A for about 2 solid years now.....it's as faithful as the sunrise each day. Never a problem as I ALWAYS unplug it from the power source after each turning session due to any potential thunderstorms. I sure wouldn't want to have to replace the VFD on that baby!!!

[Jim Becker]

The PM 3520 is probably the best "mass market" lathe available to you relative to quality, etc. I also don't recall any real complaints on it.

[Dick Strauss]

Ben,
I turn on one almost every week (for part of a day) and love every minute of it. I don't own one but can definitely say it will be my next lathe. IMO it offers the best bang for the buck!!!

I have heard of a few problems with headstock bearings going bad prematurely, but PM was quick to fix them under warranty.

[William Bachtel]

I have one complain, and that is I didn't buy it sooner. I love mine.

[Martin Braun]

The only complaint that I have ever heard of, was the cast iron plate that held the headstock & tailstock to the bed when tightened down. If memory serves it was on a limited number of the first PM3520 sold. WMH went to steel since then and offered replacements parts for those already sold. One criticism is the index available for the 3520A only has 24 positions. After getting one, it seems to me they could have bin a little more generous and gave it higher resolution. Another is the tool rest is a little long, and I personally don't like the fact it does not have much clearance for an underhand grip (at least for folks with big hands ;) ). These are pretty minor, but since you asked ;). Otherwise it has been rock solid!

[Benjamin Dahl]

Once again, thanks to everyone for the feedback. I checked out a 3520b yesterday and it is really nice. dealer said they have not had problems with the lathe (some other PM tools they have issues with but not the 3520), also saw a couple of oneways, also very nice but more expensive. saw the big rikon but a little pricey compared to PM. need to sell some more pens.
thanks,
Ben

[Andy Livingston]

I just ordered a PM 3520B from toolnut (they beat a price I saw from toolzone.com, I got it for $2545.00, shipping included and tax free since I don't live in NY state). I see you live in Georgia. I am in Decatur just east of downtown Atlanta. You are welcome to stop by and give it a test run when it arrives. Especially if you are willing to help me unload it and put it together!!!!

[Martin Braun]

Benjamin - Andy brings up a good point. Maybe you have already moved this kind of thing before and I'm just preaching to the choir. Be careful moving the crate and unloading the lathe. It is very heavy. I got the delivery folks to set it in the garage for me. Then I got creative with 2x4's and car jacks to lift it off the crate and set it on the floor. My floor has been epoxy coated, so I was able to slide it to it's final destination and then floor jack it up on cement blocks.

One guy in the turning club down here was helping move a very heavy lathe (don't know if it was a PM), and got the tips of his fingers smashed. He had to go and get the tips of his fingers sewn back on.

[Reed Gray]

I have had my PM 3520 A for almost 8 years. It had a cast iron pressure plate for the headstock which did break on me while coring some nasty black locust. I have abused the lathe severely. I did go through 1 set of headstock bearings. Part of that is heavy use, and the other part is turning chainsawn blanks without a tailstock. This puts all the strain of turning on the headstock. I now have a big bandsaw that makes the blanks much more even so they turn easier and faster. The tightening screw set up for the tool rest is junk. Cheap pot metal handle on steel. The first one lasted me about 6 months before the hankle stripped, and the second one less than that. I had a friend weld me a T handled one and that has survived. If you hear a ticking sound inside where the pulleys are, there are 2 things that I have noticed that cause that. One is that a burr forms where the spindle lock goes into to the spindle. You can file the burr off. The other is that the set screws on the pulleys have come loose a couple of times and the pulley has moved a bit, but this also is easy to fix. The A model has a slower minimum speed than the B model, somewhere around 20 rpm to 50 rpm. I have had a problem keeping the speed adjusting knob on. It keeps working loose, but I have found it each time it has fallen into the shavings. My belt needs to be replaced, and the only way that can be done is to take the headstock apart. I wish that you could take the headstock spindle out as a unit like you can on some of the big lathes.
robo hippy

[Tony De Masi]

The only problem I've found with the 3520 is that it doesn't come with talent/skill. I've contected WMH and they said they will consider it on future models.:D

Tony

[Jim Stoppleworth]

The only problem I've found with the 3520 is that it doesn't come with talent/skill. I've contected WMH and they said they will consider it on future models.:D

Tony

...........and just how much did they think that accessory was gonna be!
I need to start saving BIG TIME:D :D
Happy mustard owner without problems to date other than lack of turning time.

Stoppy