Well, I got the flagship lathe in the Grizzly lineup into the shop yesterday, the G0800 24x48 Heavy Duty lathe.
IMG_1019.jpg It took a good bit of work, totally rearranging my shop. I moved out my radial arm saw, and a work bench, moved my G0766 and my Delta 46-460 midi to the other side of the small shop, and set up where I can turn on any of the 3 lathes at will. Had to re-do the dust collection to the new G0766 position, and put the new G0800 in the former location of the G0766. Also had to run a new 240v circuit from the panel for the new 0766 position. In the process, I got my table saw back where it is not stacked with everything, and can use it as needed!
IMG_G0766-1027.jpg Lots of other work in reorganizing, and cleaning to prepare for the new arrival.
Now, I have not had time to turn on the new beautiful beast as of yet, but did go through the thing with some serious study, and look forward to turning a few big things next week, time permitting.
Initial impressions: I have been around a lot of lathes, and have turned on many different models, including Jet 1642 evs, PM3520b's [eleven of them, some multiple times] a Robust American Beauty, a Serious SL2542, and numerous midi's/mini's, and been up close when others have turned on a Oneway.
Let me say this...I have never seen a better build on a lathe for pure mass, and precision for tolerances. This thing is heavy! Shipping weight was 845 lbs. The castings are thick, the precision ground ways are beautiful. The banjo is massive, as is the tailstock.
The quill moves like a precision watch, and the lock down on banjo, tailstock and headstock is rock solid. The centers line up to an exacting degree. The legs are splayed in a wide and stable set, and even the leveling feet are machined from studs, much heavier than any lathe I have owned. Beefy in every respect as to build. It is also quiet and very smooth.
I was really thinking about saving for an American Beauty, and really like the Serious SL2542 - but after evaluating my personal preferences for sliding headstock, and diving deep into the schematics for the G0800, and seeing the massive bearings [3] in the headstock, and seeing the features, and also considering the great performance and service I have gotten from my two former Grizzly's the G0698 and the G0766, then I knew the value would be there. I feel up front that this G0800 has exceeded my expectations in the build...I expected it to be heavy duty, but I think this flagship model is actually extra heavy duty!
If the turning goes like I anticipate, then the performance will also match the build....I will check that out in the next few days and have more to talk about after getting hands on turning done. For now, just thought I'd share because a number of folks asked me to once I got it setup.
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Originally Posted by carl mesaros
