I was at a club meeting last evening, and an owner of the G0766 struck up a conversation with me. He had consulted with me about that lathe nearly two years ago. He told me he couldn't be happier with it, and that he just could not see putting twice the money in some of the more well known names [think mustard color ] and those lathes won't do any more than the G0766. We discussed the more advanced inverter than the other make, more horsepower, distance between centers, and the stellar performance. To say the least Marc is a happy camper, as am I, with my G0766, and even more so with my G0800! Do you have any happy reports after owning and working on your G0766 for a while now? How has it handled your projects, and how has it performed in your shop?
I've owned my G0766 for about 2-1/2 years (or is it 3-1/2?). It was an early production model built mid-summer. I initially wasn't satisfied with the banjo, the 25mm throat to the banjo, and the finish of the threads on the spindle. Also I experienced an early failure of the speed control pot and the packaging or bolt tightening left much to be desired. But over the next perhaps 6 months or so, I believe that all of those "deficiencies" were corrected. But, most importantly, Griz. stood behind their product. So, I got a new banjo, a new spindle, and the remaining things I corrected myself (25mm > 1.00", tightened bolts, new pot, etc.). Since then, the lathe has worked very well for me. I doubt that I will ever be able to justify to myself needing/getting another lathe (like an American Beauty or a Powermatic, etc.). My G0766 is just fine.
I am about 1 year in myself, thanks to Roger and like everyone else happy camper. Knock on wood it has NEVER let me down and from my own experience the lathe is stronger than my tools, don't ask how I know.
I, too, am coming up on my 1 year ownership anniversary. There is nothing that I have throw at this machine that it hasn't been able to handle. Heaviest piece, close to 150lb. Largest piece, 20 inch diameter BIAB, and 18 inch x 18 inch calabash bowl (from the 150lb blank) . Smallest piece, 2 inch finial with fine point and small details. In the past year I have made close to 50 bowls, vases and urns as well as small boxes and numerous practice spindles. I haven't found anything that stumps this machine. For what I paid 1 year ago I could buy 3 of the 766 with the same money I would spend on 1 mustard lathe.
Great stories so far! I don't know how the particular unit Brice speaks of got through the QC guys, but I'm really glad he stuck with it and now has a fine unit working for him. I saw a pic of his spindle......that should never have gone out the door, but Grizzly has stepped up where any issues did occur, and relatively speaking there were only just a small handful of issues that we have heard about, and those were addressed by Grizzly from what has been posted. Nothing negative in a long time, so I think Grizzly must have tightened up on QC at the factory.......good to hear only good coming out about the G0766 in the last year. I hope others will share their experiences with it.
Thanks for your comments, Roger. By experience, I have a significant personal experience machining threads into metal. I do it regularly. Also, I am an engineer by education and my psychic. So, I worked with Griz engineers on the spindle thread issue. I thought that it was fair that the spindle threads should meet the same standards that I would hold myself to (a hobbyist), in addition to being similar to my 45 year old Atlas/Craftsman lathe spindle - - an example of reasonable economic tolerances. Also, I thought that the spindle should at least - - be as good as a bolt that I bought at Home Despot. But in the end, they came through. I think that latter spindles were improved. So, maybe I helped out some others. IMHO, It doesn't cost anything more to make a close-fitting spindle that meets fairly high specs. I know that they eventually figured that out. So, I am a happy Griz owner. I think that the current G0766 lathe are very good.
I have had my 766 for 3 1/2 years now and have not had any problems with mine. mine was one f the earlier one that had the shot banjo but was shipped the new longer one a few months after I got mine. I bought all the parts to put the short one back together and I use it to hold a bowl steady I made. I am a member of a local woodturning club and I had the 2nd one in the club now we are up to 10 members now have the 766
Thanks Keith! Ten 0766’s in one club says something about this lathe! David Roseman’s club has a number of owners that have the 0766 as well. Maybe he will see this and give us the story on theirs. I think I was one of the first 5 owners, and had the short banjo at first. I replaced that banjo with a Oneway banjo, then Grizzly made the larger one and shipped it to us. The new banjo is every bit as good as the oneway.
New owner. Only a few hours on it. But, flawless out of the box. Like my other 5 Grizzly tools, I'm sure it's going to serve me well.
What would be interesting is if the politicians figure out the China tariff situation and the import tariff goes away - - I wonder if there might be a whole lot of people buying the G0766 at about a $400 discount.
