New Lathe Purchase

[Brodie Brickey]

I've had my Delta 46-715 for about a year and a half now and I'm very happy with it. It has 14" swing on it and allows outboard turning, there are times when I wish I could get a larger swing over the bed, but it works good for most if not all my needs.
Issue of the day: My dad was over visiting and he got bit by the bug and is being reeled into the vortex. He'll have about $1000 between tools, chuck, and lathe to buy with. Which one should he get??
Nova 3000 (16" swing) 850.00
Delta 46-715 (14" swing) 616.00
Jet 1642 (if it can be found).

I've the experience with Delta and have no real complaints about it other than it'd be great to slow it down below 600 RPM for the big mother bowls and at 3/4 hp it may be underpowered for coring, but what about the others?

Anyone have experiences with the Nova 3000?

If I'm forgetting any lathes with over a 12" swing please let me know.


Thanks,


Brodie

 

[Dennis Taylor]

1442

picking up my Jet 1442 from Woodcraft....899.99 minus 10 percent tommorow, that was really about the average deal I could find from local dealers and online, online shipping kills ya, due to the lathe weight...Dennis

 

[Gynia]

Hi Brodie

For a grand I would sugest the Jet mini. I know it seams like the lathe should be bigger and all but if you start adding everything up you have about $300 - $400 for a lathe.

Sharpening system $200

Lathe tools $40 each 5 tools $200

Chuck $200

Safety equipment $100

Turning supplies, finish, sanding discs, mandrills... $50 - $100

Book, Video or hands on instruction $20 - $100

So you eliminate the chuck and you have $300 - $430 for the lathe.

Thanks

Richard

 

[arbud]

If you're not proud...

Good evenin', Brodie: Go to Harbor Freight's website and look at item 90265, their HSS gouges, and safety equipment. Go to ebay and search for Nova chucks. Go to woodworkers catalog and look at the Tru-grind shapening system.

About a week from this coming Mon. I'll be able to tell you about 90265, I ordered one yesterday w/bowl turning kit and free shipping.

 

[Bob Hadley]

I sincerely hope the Harbor Freight lathe you mentioned satisfies your particular lathe requirements. But one key thing others should know about that particular lathe before buying it -- particularly sight-unseen via mail order -- is the motor is a 110V universal-type motor. In other words, the motor is a brush-type router/portable planer motor.

I had the opportunity to look at that lathe when it was sold under the Sears/Craftsman brand (since discontinued, I think). On paper, the lathe is impressive to be sure: 2 HP, 15-inch swing, 42 inches between centers and best of all… electronic variable speed control. At under $400, this is amazing, especially when you consider the Jet 1642 with the 2HP motor is about $2k.

But, like I said, the motor is basically a router motor. When you flip the switch and crank up the speed, it is noisy. For me, the idea turning with that kind of noise in my face all the time would be downright aggravating.

The speed control system appears to be (or at least similar to) the potentiometer-controlled router-speed-control boxes you can buy for $15. Heck, these motors and controllers are so cheap HF has a VS 1 HP router for $30!

Soooo, all I am saying is be fully aware of what you are buying. Look beyond the spec sheets. Look under the hood. Get a demo. See it run. Above all, buy from somebody that not only understands what they're selling, but shares some passion for what you're doing. I see every now-and-again (in various online forums) about the "high prices" of retail stores over discount mail-order houses. But getting a great deal on a tool that, in the end, might bum you out, is no bargain.
BH

 

[Whit]

Brodie, back to your original question, which of 3 lathes; the Nova 3000, the Delta 46-715 or the Jet 1642.

I think you are just about the only satisified owner/operator of the Delta 46-715 I've come across (all right, folks, I know there are others, but in other threads there do seem to be an inordinant number of problems and complaints, not least of which are speed [slowest way too fast] and power).

I don't have any experience with the Jet 1642. I own and really like the Nova DVR 3000 and have done some turning on the Nova 3000 which I like just about as much.

There was some valuable advise in the previous response about really knowing what you're getting, not just reading the catalog and spec sheet. If I can't try it, I won't buy it.

Try the search function here and in other forums for more information about these and other lathes.

Whit

 

[Jim Becker]

Just a note that the Jet 1642 is a ~$2K lathe. The Jet 1442 is the sub-$1K lathe and got the nod for machines in that class in the March 2003 WOOD Magazine review. Obviously, the 1642 is the way to go of the three if the bucks are available...it's a substantial machine with true VS.

 

[Andrew]

The Jet 1642 is a good machine. It's basically the same (the legs are almost identical) as the 20" swing Powermatic but swings 16". The 1.5 hp motor is good but if I were doing heavy bowls in production mode, I'd opt for the 2 hp one if I were to have to stay in the ~$2k range. I can stall the 1.5 hp motor but it takes some SERIOUS attitude to be able to do it. I've not mounted a huge piece off the end of the lathe yet but I intend to do that soon. I know of 2 people that have this lathe and then I bought one a couple of months ago for one of my turning clubs (THANKS AAW Educational Opportunity Grant ! ... your article is being written).

The electronic variable speed is nice and smooth. You can hardly tell the thing is on from how quite it is. No swiveling head (which is a good thing!) as the head slides to the end of the lathe to make it a short bed lathe.

I think this lathe lists for $1900? You can get much better deals than that especially if you bring cash.

I've used the Nova 3k and DVR a couple of times. They're nice but I wasn't terribly impressed. I've heard good reviews from them and they should be quality machines. The Delta just didn't "feel" right to me. Can't say for sure what it was though. It felt cheap I think. Just wasn't substantial enough for what it cost and should have been able to do. That's all just subjective though.

If possible, get ahold of these lathes to take them for a test drive. It'll quickly become apparent that you can't live without the most expensive one of them.

 

[kenk1zyw]

Nova 3000

I own a Nova 3000 - for many your same reasons....

Less than 1k. It can grow w/ additonal bed add ons. The 1.5hp motor is awesome. I feel that the only compromise is the manual belt switching but I can always upgrade later.

It has all the features I wanted - 24 pin indexing, 16" bowl over bed and 29" bowl w/ outrigger, ready for vacuum chucking, cast iron compact and has a good history of support.

Did I say I am happy with it??

Let me know what you decide
Cheers
Ken Manuelian

 

[dkulze]

I'm with the suggestion for a Jet Mini. A new lathe would be in the works after a year or so but the mini will still be running and being used for small projects for years to come. Can't beat the quality and versitility for the price. No compromises on construction or performance for it's size. Plus, leaves room for spending more on accessories that will be used with any future lathe (and can use yours for large pieces for now).

Only other word of advise is this. You are just about guaranteed to get what you pay for. This is what makes the $200-300 Mini such a good investment (price varies with VS). It's the right amount of money for that size lathe. This is a truism that holds through all brands and models with rare exception. If you spend $400 on a lathe that seems to compare to a $1000 in another brand, you can expect to get $400 worth of lathe that resembles but does not work like the $1000 lathe.

IMHO
Dietrich

 

[Nappen]

I am with the mini lathe folks. I have had the delta and it was a nightmare. The reeves drive kept going out, the tool rest was low quality and it is too light weight.

Anyway, for the money, the mini will do a lot, leaves you money for everything else, and most important, it is a small investment while you learn what you really want from a lathe. Once that is figured out then it is time to look at the big boys...which we all eventually do.

 

[Andrew]

If you spend $400 on a lathe that seems to compare to a $1000 in another brand, you can expect to get $400 worth of lathe that resembles but does not work like the $1000 lathe.

Well said, Dietrich. Put another way that will make sense to people I hang out with ... You'll get $400 worth of a $1000 pig. It looks like the $1000 pig but you can't expect it to kiss like it. 'nuff said.