I took advantage of the discount pricing Grizzly recently had and bought a G0733 to have in my second shop, at my MIL’s ranch in the TX Hill Country. It’s also my Christmas and birthday presents :-). There are scratches in four places on the bed, two sets on either side of the bed, most likely from the way the legs were packed within the crate. Have just started an email conversation with them about it. But I have a much larger issue. The height of the ‘business ’ end of the banjo, and the height of the supplied tool rest are such that the top of the tool rest, at it’s lowest point when in the banjo, is only 1/4” below spindle centerline. And as such, the only gouges I can cut with, at or slightly below centerline, is a 3/8” bowl gouge or a small spindle gouge. And a scraper. And I can’t keep the handles against my hip, which is customary for me (and probably lots/most turners).
On my early G0766, the cast iron tool post had the same issue. I chucked up the the shaft and removed about 3/8" of shoulder. I used a carbide (metal lathe type) brazed cutter and took small light cuts. Cast iron cuts easily. I made all of my body motions slow, and calculated to avoid getting wacked by the tool post wings that sounded like a propeller. It worked fine. I subsequently made a bunch of my own tool posts and my least favorite one is that big cast iron one that came with the lathe. So, my advice would be to either buy and make a better one.
I use all Robust rests now on my G0766 and my G0800. Thankfully, with the 8.75” total height of the rests from top rail to bottom of the posts, they will fit either lathe. Well, I do use the stock rest on the G0800, as it is high quality, and only use the Robust rests if I need a curved inside or outside bowl rest.
Brice, Roger, thanks for your replies. I too use Robust tool rests on my 0766. It just pisses me off to no end to have to buy/use someone else’s products in order to overcome what I perceive to be a pathetic design ‘decision’, and that I’m very limited in what I can do/turn on it ‘right out of the box’! Happy New Year! Stay safe, both within your shop and outside of it!
