are these lathes any good?

[curtis rosche]

as you guys know i have been searching for a lathe for a while. i may be able to get one off of ebay. are any of these lathes any good?
or the ones that look similar?

[Paul Heely]

I would pass on those Curtis. From your other posts is appears that you like making bowls and platters and such. These lathes have a minimum speed of 800 RPM, way too fast I think to try and work an out of balance blank. Also take a look at how the tailstock and tool rest get adjusted. I would get tired of having to use a wrench to move these very quickly. The shipping costs are also as much or more than the lathe itself. When all is said and done your over $100 and more than half way to a PSI Turncrafter lathe @ ~$170.

I would save my money and keep looking. Sorry.


Good Luck!
--
Paul

[curtis rosche]

or this one?

.......i dind realize you couldnt post ebay links, sorry......... i guess i'll keep looking, but just to make sure, with the out of balance peices i do and bowls and platters i need something that will go from 0-about 1000 rpm, right? i guess i could find a motor thats cheep with enough power and then throw a home built variable speed kit in.

[Paul Heely]

My VS Jet mini has a minimum RPM of 500 and that was workable if I was very careful about getting blanks nice and round. I have it on a separate stand with 200 lbs of weight and even then, I more than once had to stand on the stand to keep the shaking down. You could always bolt it to a good heavy bench or cabinet but I think you would still be better off with something that has 500 or lower as a minimum RPM.

Do you have any turning clubs near you? My club had a mini lathe that could be borrowed by anyone that wanted to use it. Might be worth checking into what's around you.

--
Paul

[Scott Hubl]

No, No, and NO.

What happened to your Rikon deal?


I bought my Jet Mini used on ebay for $125.00, It was local so I went and picked it up and had no shipping charges added.

It was the older Jet Blue but was in perfect condition. With a GOOD set of chisels, and a bunch of pen blanks.


I just gave it, a HF set of chisels, a Nova Midi chuck and a extra woodcraft 8"slow speed grinder and Complete Wolverine system to my Brother last week.


Look for Quality at a fair deal, Not JUNK at no deal.


IF you lived close, I'd Give you a Delta 11" swing lathe from 1955 with a Craftsman motor and a Reverseing Switch, Free.

BUT, your Parents would HAVE to APPROVE.

If someone could "rucker" it out to you from my area they could pick it up anytime. Its a long shot, but if your Parents APPROVED and I can't stress that enough here, I'd send it on it's way.

[curtis rosche]

i asked them about getting a lathe, they said fine, my stepdad said he would even through in some of his oak or cherry if a trade was involved, if thats what it would take to get me out of his hair about using his lathe. i can get a lathe, its just the 10% money rule still applies though.

[Paul Heely]

Curtis you can also checkout something called Freecycle, www.freecycle.org. I belong to a couple of the lists in my area and you see all kinds of stuff being offered. The basic premise is that people can offer and ask for stuff with the stipulation that it is all free. I just got a load of butternut from the list. I took a quick look and there are a bunch of lists in PA. Its worth a shot.

You could also tell Scott that's its "only" 1400 miles or so round trip. That's only a days drive according to Google maps, if he doesn't stop :D:D:D

In all seriousness you could ask around if anyone in Scott's area is going to the AAW symposium in Richmond next month and see if anyone from your area is.....

--
Paul

[Scott Hubl]

I replied to your PM.

Again, your Parents would HAVE to APPROVE of this, And you would have to find a trucker woodworker or someone going through my area to yours to pick it up and deliver.

I'm NOT willing to crate and ship. Sorry.

[Scott Hubl]

This is not the actual one, but it is the same.

Yes it is old fashioned and only 11" swing but it works and has a switch to reverse it. And Free to you.

The tailstock is missing the steel block that rides underneath but last owner made one out of wood, it works. I don't think I have the wrench thats shown for the banjo, but a new normal wrench works just fine.

Needs alot of clean up it has been sitting.

http://images.craigslist.org/01150301161001030320080516430f871d3a9889130b00972a .jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/0115050102000116022008051690d3ead10a122b7b88004a69 .jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/010207010404011605200805161b4eafc2995a03d8130070dd .jpg

http://images.craigslist.org/01020001040001030520080516d0f470684243fa34d1004e76 .jpg

[Scott Hubl]

OR,
You could Choose THIS one.

This IS an actual pic on this Delta.

Not the best lathe ever Reeves drive is Noisy ( and may need some attention)but again I'd offer it to you Free.

( I need to get rid of a couple lathes. LOL)
http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/AmericanAndProud/46-700-2.jpg

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p59/AmericanAndProud/46-700-4.jpg

The chisels shown are already gone.