I know this topic has been beat to death, but I'm still on the fence between a Laguna 2436 and a Powermatic 3520C. I've spent countless hours researching old threads on the topic from various forums.
I am a woodworking/engineering/computer aided drafting teacher at a high school and have a 3520C at school, it's a great lathe! My thought is to buy the Laguna for at home turning for a bit less money, more HP and bigger swing since my main goal is to turn large bowls. In terms of equipment, I already have a dust collector (I 3d printed one myself), a grinding station and all the tools I would need minus a coring system and a captured hollowing system but those will be bought at a later date.
If I ever outgrow the lathe, my plan would to to make a custom one myself since I know how to weld and machine and have access to a metal shop.
Is this realistic or should I just pony up and get the PM knowing it's a great lathe with an incredible resale value if I do ever outgrow it?
I am a woodworking/engineering/computer aided drafting teacher at a high school and have a 3520C at school, it's a great lathe! My thought is to buy the Laguna for at home turning for a bit less money, more HP and bigger swing since my main goal is to turn large bowls. In terms of equipment, I already have a dust collector (I 3d printed one myself), a grinding station and all the tools I would need minus a coring system and a captured hollowing system but those will be bought at a later date.
If I ever outgrow the lathe, my plan would to to make a custom one myself since I know how to weld and machine and have access to a metal shop.
Is this realistic or should I just pony up and get the PM knowing it's a great lathe with an incredible resale value if I do ever outgrow it?