Hello, I am a new member of Sawmill Creek and this is my first forum post. I am looking to buy my first wood lathe and am hoping you will share your thoughts on some options I have found. My interest is in spindle turning for furniture, and, naturally, I am wanting to spend as little as possible initially while I test out the craft.
Vintage machines interest me, but I want to steer clear of things that do not have a #2 morse taper. There are two used machines that caught my attention recently. One is a Delta 46-111 which I can probably get for $200.
46-111.jpg
The other is a Delta 46-541 with variable speed that I can probably get for $300.
46-541.jpg
These are not photos of the actual machines for sale, but representative of their models.
I can handle rebuilding the reeves drive on the 46-541 if necessary. I also don’t have reservations about setting up either machine with a 3 phase motor and VFD for variable speed.
The question is, would either of these machines be good for my needs, and/or would one be better than the other?
I thank you for any opinions you can offer.