G0698 18" X 47" Wood Lathe

[Rich Aldrich]

Anyone have a chance to check out this lathe? I know that many turners do not necessarily like the Grizzly lathes, but this one is interesting due to capacity and price.

One thing that is interesting is that it has single phase output. Almost all of the VFDs are three phase out. If I remember correctly, the drive is more complicated and I dont know that it is as reliable - I heard of manufacturers getting away from this type of drive.

My first real consideration is the Jet 1642. However, this one is interesting.

[john lucas]

Rich I believe it says the motor is 3 phase which means the output of the VFD is 3 phase. I believe they are trying to tell you it runs off of 220 volt single phase. They are calling it a single phase VFD but I'll bet that it's simply single phase in 3 phase out just like all the other lathes.
I don't know where you heard that other lathes were dropping these drives. If anything more manufacturers are picking them up. The New Delta mini for example uses a VFD.
As far as the lathe goes I've been trying to watch peoples responses on the Grizzly lathes and don't get huge amount of really bad press but not a lot of great press. It's a good price and probably worth the money. Grizzly products have improved since I owned several but I don't think they are at the top of the game yet.

[Steve Worcester]

the Griz works the same way, has single phase input to the VFD and the VFD converts it to 3 phase for the motor.

While not a fan of Grizzly, it looks a lot like the Powermatic.

[Roger Chandler]

Hello, I am new to this forum, and have owned a lathe for about 7 years, which recently broke a gear shaft[craftsman 351.217170] and cannot get replacement parts to repair it. I ordered the grizzly G0698 18x47 lathe on new years day. I did a lot of research, and it is the same as the Laguna 1847 and the Craftex 128 buy busy bee, only made to Grizzly's American specs. After over 3 years of manufacture they should have all the bugs worked out, and as far as I know it is manufactured in the same plant as the Jet and Powermatic's are, and has the features that are state of the art.
While I would like to have purchased a 3520b powermatic which is considered a "cadillac" lathe, this one is probably a pretty good 'Buick," so I believe that I can do well with it and Grizzly has an excellent reputation for customer service should any service be needed in the future, and the price was great at $1295.00 plus shipping.
It is scheduled to be shipped around Jan. 25th and when I get it set up [I have to change a circuit in my shop to 220v] I will give my initial impressions, and some ongoing reviews as I am able to use it to do new projects along.

[Rich Aldrich]

Originally Posted by Roger Chandler

Hello, I am new to this forum, and have owned a lathe for about 7 years, which recently broke a gear shaft[craftsman 351.217170] and cannot get replacement parts to repair it. I ordered the grizzly G0698 18x47 lathe on new years day. I did a lot of research, and it is the same as the Laguna 1847 and the Craftex 128 buy busy bee, only made to Grizzly's American specs. After over 3 years of manufacture they should have all the bugs worked out, and as far as I know it is manufactured in the same plant as the Jet and Powermatic's are, and has the features that are state of the art.
While I would like to have purchased a 3520b powermatic which is considered a "cadillac" lathe, this one is probably a pretty good 'Buick," so I believe that I can do well with it and Grizzly has an excellent reputation for customer service should any service be needed in the future, and the price was great at $1295.00 plus shipping.
It is scheduled to be shipped around Jan. 25th and when I get it set up [I have to change a circuit in my shop to 220v] I will give my initial impressions, and some ongoing reviews as I am able to use it to do new projects along.

Roger,

I look forward to your appraisal of this lathe. Given my budget, I can buy a Jet 1642 and that is it. If I could buy the Grizzly, I could afford turning tools, sharpening guide, and a new slow speed grinder right away. I could probably even afford a chuck.

[Roger Chandler]

Hi Rich, I believe this lathe is a large cut above what a lot of the lathes in grizzly's line up have been in the past. A number of owners of the laguna and the other versions from busy bee [canada] and hare & forbes [austrailia] have been very pleased with the smooth and quiet performance and the power of the lathe, as well as the variable frequency drive which allows for a lot of torque at low rpm's.
Although this lathe is newly carried by grizzly, the machine has a track record of over 3 years world-wide and from what I understand the machining is first quality. Probably for the money, you won't find more lathe, more features, or more value. Grizzly is supposed to have first rate customer service, and should stand behind this 100%.
I did a lot of thinking and comparing and research before I took the leap, but I feel pretty good about it, and at $1295.00 I don't think I have made a decision that I am likely to regret. I am a stickler for precision and quality, so it won't take me long to get a sense of quality and performance. - good luck!

[Rich Aldrich]

Originally Posted by john lucas

Rich I believe it says the motor is 3 phase which means the output of the VFD is 3 phase. I believe they are trying to tell you it runs off of 220 volt single phase. They are calling it a single phase VFD but I'll bet that it's simply single phase in 3 phase out just like all the other lathes.
I don't know where you heard that other lathes were dropping these drives. If anything more manufacturers are picking them up. The New Delta mini for example uses a VFD.
As far as the lathe goes I've been trying to watch peoples responses on the Grizzly lathes and don't get huge amount of really bad press but not a lot of great press. It's a good price and probably worth the money. Grizzly products have improved since I owned several but I don't think they are at the top of the game yet.

All of the lathes that I have read about are 3 phase output. There are versions of drives - not on lathes - that are single phase output which are being used less and less on equipment. They are more expensive and problematic than the 3 phase output versions. In searches that I have done, I can only find one company and it is in England that actually make the single phase output VFD drive any more.

You are correct that more and more lathes are being offered with VFD, but with 3 phase output. I try to be careful and not read more into an advertisement than is being said. I have been burned one too many times making the add say what I want it to say (also I have read adds wrong before) - I have learned to take it literal and ask questions - make the salesperson earn their money. I would hope that they are trying to stress that the input power required is 220V single phase. However, their ad is not clear, if that is what they are trying to say.

I just emailed Grizzly customer service to get this question cleared up. You are correct, the catalog and the add on the website both say that it is a 3 phase motor. I read it incorrectly last night before I made the original post. Sorry for the confusion. I think I know what the response will be.

[Bill Boehme]

Originally Posted by Rich Aldrich

There are versions of drives - not on lathes - that are single phase output which are being used less and less on equipment. They are more expensive and problematic than the 3 phase output versions. In searches that I have done, I can only find one company and it is in England that actually make the single phase output VFD drive any more.

Actually, single phase drives are still in wide use, but for very specialized applications. Their primary application is for systems that have essentially zero starting torque and where load torque is constant and proportional to motor speed. A common example of this type of application would be air handlers in an HVAC system. Also, pumps with zero starting load torque would be another example. These motors have low power output. It will not work with the typical capacitor start induction motor. Typically the motor would be a shaded pole induction motor. The cost of a single phase drive would be lower than a three phase drive, but the trade-off is that three phase motors are cheaper than single phase motors. With the cost of drives coming down, I can see the cost factor tipping in favor of using a three phase motor and drive in new installations.

[Roger Chandler]

Hi all,
I took a few minutes and did my first turning on my new Grizzly G0698 18x47 lathe. I had a piece of burl, and chucked it up, and was able to true it round at a higher speed than I ever could on my craftsman 15" lathe. The power and performance are definitely there with this machine. It was very smooth, and the tool rest, headstock and tailstock all locked on the ways very solidly.
I was able to turn at high speed, even though the burl was warped, but the machine did not vibrate or bounce, just solid quiet performance. The speed indicator shows my machine to go up to 3280 rpm's on the high belt setting and on the low setting it went to 1320 rpm's. It also looks to me that as the machine is run a while, the belts are getting "broken in" and the machine is getting just a bit quieter than when I first turned it on [this may be due to the cold weather, and the belt warming up as it runs.]
Based upon my initial impressions and my first turning session, it is my opinion [and I am truly trying to be objective] that I have made a good decision in my purchase, and the value is certainly there as well. To me quality and performance are everthing [the same with my automobiles and other woodworking tools] and from what I can tell so far, I am very pleased with my purchase.
Time will reveal the true quality and I have to say, the customer service of Grizzly Industrial has exceeded my expectations. They got my lathe to me earlier than they were supposed to, as I explained I had an upcoming trip out of town when it was scheduled for delivery, and they got it done for me on an early delivery! they have always been engaged in my questions as if they really wanted me to have a good experience with my order and my logistical problems for delivery.
If I had to do it over again, with just the current experience with this lathe, I would jump at it because of the value for the price, the quality I see in the lathe, and the professional level of customer service so far, and no I am not a grizzly employee, but an avid woodworker of 20+ years [just in case you were wondering . . . L.O.L!!!]
So far, so good! YEAHHH BABY!!!

[Vaughn]

Congrats on the new lathe, Roger. (I went from the 15" Sears lathe to a PM 3520B, so I sorta know how you felt the first time you powered it up.)

That lathe sure looks pretty good on paper...glad to see it's looking good in person, too. May it serve you long and well.