I'm currently building out my shop and making room for a full-size lathe. (This is an upgrade from my current midi-lathe.) Currently, I'm only wired for 110v out there. So, I've been looking at the various 1 1/2 hp 110v lathes out there and trying to ignore the snazzy 220v models.
But now I've started thinking. If I'm going to upgrade my wiring and lathe plans, the time to do it is now before I buy that new 110v lathe. I remember my electrician telling me that a 220 upgrade would cost me a couple of thousand dollars. (It's a long wiring run to my home's service.) So, in addition to the more expensive 220v lathes, I'd have that wiring cost too.
Those of you who have used both top-line 110v lathes and 200v lathes, what kind of benefits might I see? I'll be turning 20ish 12" - 15" bowls a month and a handful of smaller bowls/vessels. Most bowl projects would start from purchased blanks, but some of will start from raw logs/blanks that I harvest (read: potentially heavy and wobbly). Before I seriously start adding $4-$5K to my budget, it would help to know that I'd see an appreciable difference. Thanks in advance!
But now I've started thinking. If I'm going to upgrade my wiring and lathe plans, the time to do it is now before I buy that new 110v lathe. I remember my electrician telling me that a 220 upgrade would cost me a couple of thousand dollars. (It's a long wiring run to my home's service.) So, in addition to the more expensive 220v lathes, I'd have that wiring cost too.
Those of you who have used both top-line 110v lathes and 200v lathes, what kind of benefits might I see? I'll be turning 20ish 12" - 15" bowls a month and a handful of smaller bowls/vessels. Most bowl projects would start from purchased blanks, but some of will start from raw logs/blanks that I harvest (read: potentially heavy and wobbly). Before I seriously start adding $4-$5K to my budget, it would help to know that I'd see an appreciable difference. Thanks in advance!
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