Buying new lathe for bowl blanks

[Perry Hilbert Jr]

My lowest lathe speed is 300, and not slow enough for large rough blanks. So my view, would be to get something that offers speeds down to almost zero. I don't turn enough large bowls to make it worth while switching to another lathe.

[Mark Greenbaum]

I currently have my G0766 set on the low speed pulleys, and can run easily down to about 50 rpm, and it's pretty steady. Once I get the corners knocked off of a rough log piece, and steadily increase speed to as much as I feel safe. The only stalling I've ever noticed is when I get a catch, and the spur drive drills into the wood. The lathe does not stall, the wood does.

If I am turning spindles or small lidded boxes, I go to the high speed pulley setting. Lowest speed on that combination might be about 100 rpm.

[William C Rogers]

Thanks for the info, do you guys think the older Powermatic 45 and 90 are out of the question for serious bowl turning? I see them for sale quite often but i didn't know about low speed and power.

I had a PM90. I don't think this is the lathe you want. Most are three phase and usually the ones for sale do not have a VFD with them. Most are 1 hp, where 2 hp is much better. The PM 90 has a 12" swing meaning 11" bowl is the biggest you could turn. I raised mine to 18", but this is another mod and expense. For bowls, having a sliding headstock is very nice and the PM 90 headstock does not slide. They are great lathes, but you give up several features vs newer lathes. I have sold mine and bought a Laguna Revo 18-36. I like the Laguna much better having features the PM 90 did not.

[Ray Hammer]

What is Grizzly's projected next shipment of available to purchase units due to hit the US?

Per grizzly customer service, they will start filling back-orders May 29th!

[Mark Greenbaum]

Per grizzly customer service, they will start filling back-orders May 29th!

That CL listing looks pretty tempting with all of the additional tools thrown in. Maybe $5-600 worth of extras if you had to go out and buy them.