• November 2025 Turning Challenge: Wall Hanging! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Craig Morton, People's Choice in the October 2025 Turning Challenge (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Andy Chen for "Mesquite Vase with Polymer Clay Millefiori" being selected as Turning of the Week for November 3, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Need a lathe

T

TylerV

Joined
Feb 26, 2006
Messages
2
Likes
0
I've been turning for a few years and have struggled by with a Craftsman 15" lathe. It's just not sturdy and large enough for what I want to do. I've looked at a few good lathes but really don't have personal experience with any. I do mainly bowls and lamps. What's your recommendation? Thanks. TylerV
 
Tyler,

I have turned for the past 5 years on my Delta 14" and it served me well but I just upgraded to a new PM3520B. Made that decision based on all the research done on that lathe here on this forum. I found nothing but praise for this lathe here from it's users and if this model interests you I'd suggest you check out all the past threads regarding it. I just don't know how I could be happier with it :) . I still have the Delta and will most likely keep it as my wife wants to begin turning as well :) .

Many thanks to all the PM3520 owners who posted and helped me to this decision :D .
 
jbell64@earthlink.net said:
How much do you expect to spend?
Click to expand...
I haven't checked a lot of prices yet, but I know $2500 and up is not unusual. Is it worth checking into used lathes or is that just going to be a problem? Thanks.
 
Cyril - I'm glad the forum could help you out. The 3520b is a good lathe and should last you for many years to come. The first time you move that headstock down to the "close" end of the lathe and do the inside of a bowl without bending over will be a very enjoyable experience.
 
Cyril, by my experience, you're gonna have a hard time finding a used lathe at that level that's worth the money. There are the occasional exceptions, such as an owner dying and the spouse selling it off, but not too many. By the time folks buy into that level, they're usually looking for their final lathe.

Dietrich
 
If you are happy with the size and just want much better quality, look at the 16" jet. It has much more stability, way better variable speed, and is heavy enough to turn some pretty serious pieces. I haven't looked lately but I think it's around the $1800 dollar mark.
Finding a used lathe that's bigger than 12" swing is hard to do. It does happen. When I upgraded I had a Nova 3000 for sale.
 
Other stuff?

Tyler
John may be on the right track for you. I to long for the Powermatic but I am happy with my Jet 1642. Don't forget the accessories you need to replace when you change taper and spindle threads. It will have a huge impact on your budget for a new lathe if your scroll chuck, and your drill chuck, and your drive centers etc. etc. don't fit the new machine. I know I have spent an amount equal to the investment in the lathe on accesories to fit the lathe. Sorry I think I just doubles your budget.
Frank
 
Check the thread below about the 1642 for around $1600.

The Jet 1642 is a nice machine sort of a 16 inch version of the 20" powermatic with about 200lb less weight.

If jet, as it now seems, prices it more than $400 below their powermatic
they should sell a bunch.

when the the Jet 1642 was $2000 and the powermatic was $2300 it was a no brainer to buy the powermatic.

-al
 
Last edited:
Al summed it up, I went for the little extra and love my 3520. With a lower price the 1642 could be tempting.
 
Dietrich,
If you'll check above, I'm not the one considering a used lathe. I've got a new PM 3520B :D .

How come you're not after all my cherry burls to save me from turning nirvana :p ? We got about 40 more this morning.
 
Cyril, ya bastidge. Why you taunting me like this? It hurts, man. It just hurts. Heck, you're not even in driving range. How the heck am I supposed to do a property raid (midnight burlectomy) with you out there in "aaayuh" land?

Dietrich
 
Ahhhh, Dietrich, bummer that you're too far to stage a raid. Hope you're sleeping well cuddled up with those dusty exotics :D .

Fact is, this morning I awoke to an email from my fellow burl gatherer with a link to the USFS site that says what we have collected are actually classified as galls :o .
Still dang pretty though :) .
 
Looks like we have some major wood envy going on. And all I ever git is free texas leftover wood.

Hey Dietrich - I'll pick you up and we can just sneak into Cyril's backyard! That is....after you mail me all that toxic 4 year old exotic horribly dusty wood that you are trying to get rid of.

On a semi-serious note - it would be cool to see a pic of those 20 burls you collected Cyril.
 
Jeff,
I'll try a photo but not sure if my computer skills are up to it. Will start a new thread so as not to hijack this one any further.
 
You're on Jeff. I'll meet ya in the middle and we can pull a major snatch and run.


And, Cyril, I know what you're talking about. Cherry can have burls or galls. The galls are growths caused by injury or insect damage and are mostly pitch and air. Really cool to turn, though. Just use a light touch and a really high lathe speed if you can.

How big are these suckers?

Dietrich
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top