As typically happens I’ve been bitten hard by the turning bug and am already looking at upgrading my lathe.
I have a Rikon 70-220VSR, 1hp, 12" swing, variable speed, reverse.
Options I'm looking at:
Record Coronet Herald: 14” swing, 1.25 hp, swivelling head stock, variable speed, reverse. $1750 CDN $140 shipping. Total with taxes $2007
Laguna 1524, 15" swing, 1.5hp, sliding head stock, variable speed, reverse, $2800, $300 shipping. Total with taxes $3458
Record Coronet Envoy: 16” swing. 1.5hp, swivelling head stock, variable speed, reverse. $2900 CDN. $450 shipping. Total with taxes $3752
Nova 1624II: 16” swing, 1.5hp, swivelling head stock, no variable speed. It is on sale locally for $1570 inc. taxes. A VFD conversion to get variable speed would set me back another $500. Total with taxes $2070. I may be able to negotiate a couple hundred off the price of the lathe as I have a good relationship with the store manager.
The Laguna and the Envoy are too expensive for me at this point, and $1400 and $1700 respectively seem like a lot of money over the Herald for an extra inch or two of capacity and .25 hp.
So the dilemma is the Record Coronet Herald vs the Nova 1624II.
I have looked at the Nova in person and the fit and finish is OK but not amazing. I think my Rikon has better fit and finish. But the banjo and toolrest lock solidly and move easily. Tailstock is very smooth and is really beefy.
Folks who have the Nova 1624II seem to love it. An informal poll of eight 1624 owners on the Teknatool Facebook group showed that four of eight either bought with DVR or did a VFD conversion. The others said they had no issue with belt changes. Doing a VFD conversion is familiar territory for me as I converted my vertical metal mill to 3-phase motor and VFD.
Having spent a fair bit of time turning on my Rikon I can say that I really like the variable speed. Dialing it up to the shake speed and then down is a treat. But maybe I'd fall into the "it's not hard to change the belt position" camp.
Folks also like their Record machines. The Herald seems to get good reviews. I'm just not sure if its a big enough 'upgrade' in either swing or weight from my Rikon for the money.
The other consideration is footprint. The Herald has a slightly smaller footprint than the Nova and that is consideration as my shop is small.
I should add that I live on an island and used lathe options are basically non-existent unfortunately.
I have a Rikon 70-220VSR, 1hp, 12" swing, variable speed, reverse.
Options I'm looking at:
Record Coronet Herald: 14” swing, 1.25 hp, swivelling head stock, variable speed, reverse. $1750 CDN $140 shipping. Total with taxes $2007
Laguna 1524, 15" swing, 1.5hp, sliding head stock, variable speed, reverse, $2800, $300 shipping. Total with taxes $3458
Record Coronet Envoy: 16” swing. 1.5hp, swivelling head stock, variable speed, reverse. $2900 CDN. $450 shipping. Total with taxes $3752
Nova 1624II: 16” swing, 1.5hp, swivelling head stock, no variable speed. It is on sale locally for $1570 inc. taxes. A VFD conversion to get variable speed would set me back another $500. Total with taxes $2070. I may be able to negotiate a couple hundred off the price of the lathe as I have a good relationship with the store manager.
The Laguna and the Envoy are too expensive for me at this point, and $1400 and $1700 respectively seem like a lot of money over the Herald for an extra inch or two of capacity and .25 hp.
So the dilemma is the Record Coronet Herald vs the Nova 1624II.
I have looked at the Nova in person and the fit and finish is OK but not amazing. I think my Rikon has better fit and finish. But the banjo and toolrest lock solidly and move easily. Tailstock is very smooth and is really beefy.
Folks who have the Nova 1624II seem to love it. An informal poll of eight 1624 owners on the Teknatool Facebook group showed that four of eight either bought with DVR or did a VFD conversion. The others said they had no issue with belt changes. Doing a VFD conversion is familiar territory for me as I converted my vertical metal mill to 3-phase motor and VFD.
Having spent a fair bit of time turning on my Rikon I can say that I really like the variable speed. Dialing it up to the shake speed and then down is a treat. But maybe I'd fall into the "it's not hard to change the belt position" camp.
Folks also like their Record machines. The Herald seems to get good reviews. I'm just not sure if its a big enough 'upgrade' in either swing or weight from my Rikon for the money.
The other consideration is footprint. The Herald has a slightly smaller footprint than the Nova and that is consideration as my shop is small.
I should add that I live on an island and used lathe options are basically non-existent unfortunately.
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