Three year update on Harvey T-60s

[John Hicks]

For anyone interested. I have had the T-60s for three years now.
I turn a few pieces a week and wet core many bowls. It has held up great, with only a couple complaints. The banjo had to be replaced twice; Once from a crack, once from a warped bottom.
The remote off on switch went bad at about 2 years, and was replaced without any cost to me, even though the warranty had expired.
Lots of power and very smooth.
Nice and heavy
Love the swing away tailstock bed.
Don't like the spindle lock being on the side where I cannot see it. Too many starts with it locked, resulting in a burned up belt.
If you order Robust tool rests, they have to be made up as the post has to be longer than the longest one they have.
If you have any questions about it, just message me.

 

[Odie]

If you order Robust tool rests, they have to be made up as the post has to be longer than the longest one they have.

That tool rest does look very long, John. Makes me wonder if it was repurposed from a lathe with a shorter swing......?

BTW: Is that a swivel/sliding headstock?

-o-

 

[Dean Center]

Thanks for providing an update, John. Almost always people forget to follow up when we've had an interesting new lathe discussion. It's really valuable to have this kind of information.

 

[Michael Anderson]

Good to know, John! Thank you for the update.

 

[robo hippy]

I have yet to play on one. Maybe in Portland next year.... I believe that headstock both pivots and slides.

robo hippy

 

[John Hicks]

I have yet to play on one. Maybe in Portland next year.... I believe that headstock both pivots and slides.

robo hippy

The T-60s just slides. I believe the T-40 does both

 

[Dwayne Watt]

T-40 rotates only, It does not slide. Theoretically, you can turn up to 22" diameter plates/bowls with the head rotated, but very light cuts are required. The torque rise is marketed at 300% (3X) which I believe but still I can stall the motor on 10+ inch pieces by being aggressive with a gouge on dry wood. My guess is there is a current limit that times out after X seconds because a reset allows work to commence immediately. I do really like my T-40 lathe overall.

 

[Travis Pagel]

I’ve had my “wife’s” (she took it over) t60 since since April. It’s been a joy to use (sharing the lathe time with my wife is hard) . And I really appreciate the note on the robust rests. They’re in my backyard saving to buy my lathe haha, but I plan on ordering the rests.

 

[Mike Novak]

I’m taking a class at Snow Farm this week. They have T40 lathes. Very nice lathe. Smooth and quiet. Much more so than my Powermatic 3620.

 

[Dwayne Watt]

Just for anyone's information, the T40 takes standard 1" diameter rests with 4" posts. The rest that is standard on the Harvey lathes is very similar to Robust tool rests.
Also, today I was demoing for a class at our club using a 1.5 hp Jet lathe. I was mildly surprised that I was easily able to bog down and stall that lathe in comparison to my customary usage of my T40. That tells me I just might get a bit too "aggressive" with the gouge at times.

 

[Rick Doganiero]

Thanks for the update. I've had my eye on a T40 for a while

 

[Stan Pressner]

One late update, I got my T60 a few weeks ago, and it is quite fabulous in all way but one: The banjo is too short for a lathe this size leading to the need for all new tool rests, Steve sinner did a great job for me on the straight rests, which needed a longer post than he usually makes. The solution that occurred to me after I ordered from Steve was to just get a new Oneway banjo. It would have been cheaper in the long run as all my old rests would have worked.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Looks like a beast!

 

[Dan Marion]

Does the servo motor deliver more power than other 2hp lathes? Particularly in regard to coring.

 

[Stan Pressner]

Does the servo motor deliver more power than other 2hp lathes? Particularly in regard to coring.

It seems to be delivering a bit more power than my laguna 2hp 18/36

 

[John Hicks]

I've had my T60-s for going on five years. No problems other than a cracked banjo, bad remote switch. Cores, turnes very smoothly. One of the best lathes for the money. Customer service is top notch. Unless they have a better banjo now; I'd seriously reccomend the one way banjo if you don't like it.

 

[Todd Bowen]

Thanks to everyone in this Forum. Let's say you could get a Oneway, lightly used, 2hp for $4K. Or a new Harvey T60 (has warrantee). Would you say they would be equivocal purchases? Or could the Harvey be better because of the ability to move the head stock and the swing away tail stock. I'm working in a 10x20 shop and the size of both is of concern but the T60 seems slightly smaller. Also, hoping to do SOME production turning wine stoppers, pens etc. Both seem like a large lathe for such small projects. Bowls, and hollow forms are in the future.

 

[Brian Gustin]

Thanks to everyone in this Forum. Let's say you could get a Oneway, lightly used, 2hp for $4K. Or a new Harvey T60 (has warrantee). Would you say they would be equivocal purchases? Or could the Harvey be better because of the ability to move the head stock and the swing away tail stock. I'm working in a 10x20 shop and the size of both is of concern but the T60 seems slightly smaller. Also, hoping to do SOME production turning wine stoppers, pens etc. Both seem like a large lathe for such small projects. Bowls, and hollow forms are in the future.

If I had the choice, I'd take the ONEWAY. Hands down.

 

[Kris DeVault]

I've had my Harvey T60 for 6 months now and turned maybe 20 bowls. I have to say its been a pretty amazing lathe and I am impressed every-time I use it. 1 negative point which looks like its been brought up before is the banjo does seem to be almost too short for my Robust tool rest as well as it is definitely too short to use with my McNaughton coring system I just got.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Thanks to everyone in this Forum. Let's say you could get a Oneway, lightly used, 2hp for $4K. Or a new Harvey T60 (has warrantee). Would you say they would be equivocal purchases? Or could the Harvey be better because of the ability to move the head stock and the swing away tail stock. I'm working in a 10x20 shop and the size of both is of concern but the T60 seems slightly smaller. Also, hoping to do SOME production turning wine stoppers, pens etc. Both seem like a large lathe for such small projects. Bowls, and hollow forms are in the future.

You and I have the same size shops. In your example, I'm buying the Oneway because I'd rather have my machines be built in my backyard rather than around the globe. And I know the engineering, manufacturing, and quality control of the Oneway is second to none. Sliding headstocks and swing away tailstocks are fine (I think Oneway has a swing away tailstock rig, don't they?), but I want the best possible engineering and manufacturing possible, and in my opinion, that does not come from Harvey's home location. Can I back that up? (Read the opening message of this thread.) Personally, no, but it's my subjective opinion, I don't have to back it up.

Caveat- I've owned three lathes manufactured even farther from me than the Harvey plant- Vicmarc, in Australia. The 3 bears of the Vic family- VL300/200/100. I still own the 200, the 300 went to a home where much bigger work than I made was produced, and the li'l VL100 (no longer made) went to a ceramics artist who utilised it in her work. And I also own a Oneway 1224.

If the movable headstock and a swing away tailstock are more vital to have, and if the swing fits your style, I'd look at the Vicmarc VL240. Won't be cheap. Comes as a bench-mount or on the factory stand.

Lathes | Vicmarc

www.vicmarc.com

 

[Dave Sander]

One late update, I got my T60 a few weeks ago, and it is quite fabulous in all way but one: The banjo is too short for a lathe this size leading to the need for all new tool rests, Steve sinner did a great job for me on the straight rests, which needed a longer post than he usually makes. The solution that occurred to me after I ordered from Steve was to just get a new Oneway banjo. It would have been cheaper in the long run as all my old rests would have worked.

I just got a T60s as well. Sitting in my garage waiting to be out together. Let me know if you have any tips on that.

 

[hockenbery]

Let's say you could get a Oneway, lightly used, 2hp for $4K.

I’d buy the ONEWAY. You can probably sell it for $5k if you don’t like it.

Whenever I called ONEWAY -symposium questions or to order something one of the Clays usually answered.
You get the same personal service from Robust either from Brent English or his close and personal salesforce network.

Craft supplies answers the phone too and one of their techs helped me troubleshoot a woodfast lathe they sold me 30 years before.
Packard answers the phone too bought 2 ONEWAY lathes from him.

 

[Chris Lawrence]

I've had my Harvey T60 for 6 months now and turned maybe 20 bowls. I have to say its been a pretty amazing lathe and I am impressed every-time I use it. 1 negative point which looks like its been brought up before is the banjo does seem to be almost too short for my Robust tool rest as well as it is definitely too short to use with my McNaughton coring system I just got.

For the McNaughton I had the same problem with my Grizzly G0766 the longest post they sell for it was not tall enough. I contemplated getting a oneway banjo but got lucky my turning club had a few guys with metal lathes. It was easy for one of them make me a longer post with a top that the turret would fit and lock on.

 

[Kris DeVault]

For the McNaughton I had the same problem with my Grizzly G0766 the longest post they sell for it was not tall enough. I contemplated getting a oneway banjo but got lucky my turning club had a few guys with metal lathes. It was easy for one of them make me a longer post with a top that the turret would fit and lock on.

Great idea! I have a friend who could make me one. Can you send me a couple photos?

 

[Chris Lawrence]

Great idea! I have a friend who could make me one. Can you send me a couple photos?

All he did was use a pair of calipers on the old post and transferred the dimension to a longer piece of 1 inch round bar. All you need to do is turn the top down to the correct diameter for the hole in the turret. Then cut a groove where the set screw sits in to keep the turret from coming off the top of the post.

 

[Stan Pressner]

I just got a T60s as well. Sitting in my garage waiting to be out together. Let me know if you have any tips on that.

Buy the oneway 24"banjo

 

[John Hicks]

I've had my Harvey T60 for 6 months now and turned maybe 20 bowls. I have to say its been a pretty amazing lathe and I am impressed every-time I use it. 1 negative point which looks like its been brought up before is the banjo does seem to be almost too short for my Robust tool rest as well as it is definitely too short to use with my McNaughton coring system I just got.

Mcnaughton has to send yo the correct post. They did not respond when they sent the incorrect post for my t60-s. I sent the coring system back. The T60-s requires a longer post

 

[Dave Sander]

So my T60s is up and running and I have recovered enough to start using it. So far, I am really impressed with the machine. There was a small learning curve to make sure I had things tightened down enough but once I figured that out, it works like a champ. My only issue is with the banjo. The hole is only 5 thousands of an inch larger than 1" so a couple of robust tool rests I tried don't fit. Harvey Customer Service said that it was within their tolerance so not an issue the can fix. I disagreed, saying their banjo should fit multiple brands of tool rests, not just the one tool rest they carry. In any case, I will have to have it machined out a bit or get a new one. I like the Oneway but I don't want to spend that right now. All in all, I like it and am glad I made the purchase. It sure is pretty too!

 

[Stan Pressner]

So my T60s is up and running and I have recovered enough to start using it. So far, I am really impressed with the machine. There was a small learning curve to make sure I had things tightened down enough but once I figured that out, it works like a champ. My only issue is with the banjo. The hole is only 5 thousands of an inch larger than 1" so a couple of robust tool rests I tried don't fit. Harvey Customer Service said that it was within their tolerance so not an issue the can fix. I disagreed, saying their banjo should fit multiple brands of tool rests, not just the one tool rest they carry. In any case, I will have to have it machined out a bit or get a new one. I like the Oneway but I don't want to spend that right now. All in all, I like it and am glad I made the purchase. It sure is pretty too!

Dave,

I am 6 months in to my T60 and I went for the Oneway banjo when I realized that their banjo is so low that even if my robust rests would fit, their posts were not long enough to get them to the correct height. So check that before yo machine it.

Stan

 

[Dwayne Watt]

So my T60s is up and running and I have recovered enough to start using it. So far, I am really impressed with the machine. There was a small learning curve to make sure I had things tightened down enough but once I figured that out, it works like a champ. My only issue is with the banjo. The hole is only 5 thousands of an inch larger than 1" so a couple of robust tool rests I tried don't fit. Harvey Customer Service said that it was within their tolerance so not an issue the can fix. I disagreed, saying their banjo should fit multiple brands of tool rests, not just the one tool rest they carry. In any case, I will have to have it machined out a bit or get a new one. I like the Oneway but I don't want to spend that right now. All in all, I like it and am glad I made the purchase. It sure is pretty too!

Offhand, 0.005" over size sounds about right to me for a 1 inch post. Robust rests fit my Harvey lathe perfectly as does the original rest.

 

[Dwayne Watt]

I got curious this morning and decided to measure the diameter of the shafts on my Robust and Harvey rests. I learned two things. First, the diameters are virtually identical (within 0.001" of each other). My caliper indicated 0.996" - 0.997" on the tool rest shafts. The Robust is possibly 0.0005" larger which I believe because it fits ever so much tighter in the banjo. I would not guarantee the measurement values are accurate, only that the measured parts are virtually the same size. This was verified by locking the caliper and attempting to pass it over the respective parts like a go-no go gage.
Second, I learned my vernier caliper readout precision from ID to OD is garbage. The banjo ID read smaller than the ID shafts which is impossible because the rests both fit perfectly. It is most likely the ID nibs on the caliper are damaged. Accuracy on my caliper is close enough for wood work. For you purists out there, yes, the ID should be measured using a telescoping gage or a bore gage, not a caliper. Same thing with the shaft diameter (micrometer or snap gage) but you use the tools on hand.

 

[Dave Sander]

Offhand, 0.005" over size sounds about right to me for a 1 inch post. Robust rests fit my Harvey lathe perfectly as does the original rest.

I was able to make it work without machining the banjo. The robust rest just had a burr on it that was getting hung up. A couple seconds on the grinder and problem solved!