-
July 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn a Multi-axis Weed Pot! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Kent Reisdorph for "Sugarberry Bowl" being selected as Turning of the Week for July 14, 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.
what lathe??
- Thread starter weisyboy
- Start date
If you go yellow you're one happy fellowweisyboy said:
I vote Powermatic 3520... A little bigger than your largest projected size (always a good thing), but a dream machine with no equal for the money.
You didn't say what you are upgrading from and what a realistic budget might be. In addition to lathe cost you need to factor in the inevitable tooling upgrades.
Have you created a list of all the features you want (or don't want) in your next lathe? If you have then sharing it may get you more meaningful responses. If you haven't then asking "What features should I be looking for in a bowl lathe" might be more useful to you than asking "What lathe should I buy".
Anyway, to answer the question you DID ask.........in my unbiased and completely objective opinion you should buy a Powermatic 3520b.
Ed
Have you created a list of all the features you want (or don't want) in your next lathe? If you have then sharing it may get you more meaningful responses. If you haven't then asking "What features should I be looking for in a bowl lathe" might be more useful to you than asking "What lathe should I buy".
Anyway, to answer the question you DID ask.........in my unbiased and completely objective opinion you should buy a Powermatic 3520b.
Ed
Max Taylor
In Memoriam
What lathe
I am with Ed.Maybe it is because I have that one and am as happy with it as a tornado in a trailer park.[not original with me]
I am with Ed.Maybe it is because I have that one and am as happy with it as a tornado in a trailer park.[not original with me]
Last edited by a moderator:
Colors, colors, colors
Don't go yellow just because there's a lot of people with them. Don't go white, or black, or blue, or any other color for that reason either. Ed started out with a very good comment about figuring out your budget first. That's what will determine the color most of all. You said you wanted to turn 40 cm (~16 inch) bowls. There's lathes from under $2k to upwards of $6k USD that have that capacity. Most are either general purpose or more oriented to spindle turning (longer beds), and space may be a consideration for some of them. If you're certain you just want to turn bowls, there are at least two dedicated bowl lathes (Vega and VB), and some oriented more towards bowls (Stubby, Vicmarc and other short bed ones). If you want to maximize reuse of chucks and other things you have today, you've got look for the same Morse taper and that you can get threaded adapters for a new one. Don't forget spindle height - if a new one is too high or low for you, you'll have to always work around it. This is a piece of equipment you'll probably keep for many years, so consider what you will be comfortable using.
I spent almost two months figuring out what my budget, needs and requirements were, and then looking at what was on the market some years back, before picking what I would get. My wife then told me to forget about budget and get what I really wanted (I'm keeping her!), and I had to go back and do it all over again. I've posted what I got on previous threads, but am completely amazed how many folks consider this topic to be akin to religious wars or something. It's really simple and one color does not meet everyone's size!
Don't go yellow just because there's a lot of people with them. Don't go white, or black, or blue, or any other color for that reason either. Ed started out with a very good comment about figuring out your budget first. That's what will determine the color most of all. You said you wanted to turn 40 cm (~16 inch) bowls. There's lathes from under $2k to upwards of $6k USD that have that capacity. Most are either general purpose or more oriented to spindle turning (longer beds), and space may be a consideration for some of them. If you're certain you just want to turn bowls, there are at least two dedicated bowl lathes (Vega and VB), and some oriented more towards bowls (Stubby, Vicmarc and other short bed ones). If you want to maximize reuse of chucks and other things you have today, you've got look for the same Morse taper and that you can get threaded adapters for a new one. Don't forget spindle height - if a new one is too high or low for you, you'll have to always work around it. This is a piece of equipment you'll probably keep for many years, so consider what you will be comfortable using.
I spent almost two months figuring out what my budget, needs and requirements were, and then looking at what was on the market some years back, before picking what I would get. My wife then told me to forget about budget and get what I really wanted (I'm keeping her!), and I had to go back and do it all over again. I've posted what I got on previous threads, but am completely amazed how many folks consider this topic to be akin to religious wars or something. It's really simple and one color does not meet everyone's size!
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,540
- Likes
- 22
Revise Walt's price range a bit lower. The Nova 1624-44 is a grand, has a 400 mm capacity over the bed, and an outboard turn capability.
What's important to you depends on how you define your needs beyond capacity to other features. Then you can match them to dollars.
What's important to you depends on how you define your needs beyond capacity to other features. Then you can match them to dollars.
waltben said:
I could not agree more, MY offer was based on my personal journey and was not a cultist's response If the size requirements had been smaller, I would have suggested the Jet 1642, unless you figure you will NEVER want to turn between centers, which I admit is outside my ability to perceive, THEN consider one of the bowl lathes. IF so, you might consider the Fontwell Forge Lathe if there are any still available. I got a couple of videos from this source, learned a lot. The lathe is a great deal, I just didn't want to commit to bowls only...
When I bought my FIRST lathe, it was against the advice of Alan Lacer, he suggested a Jet 1442. It was outside my "budget." I bought a Delta Midi, a very good and reliable machine that (as he had predicted) I quickly outgrew.
I struggled with it till I got a windfall. With money in hand, I STUDIED the lathes, the features, their cost, both initial and future...
I took into consideration all of the things I had learned and the things that I heard which had been corroborated by my personal experience. The results of my investigation/consideration was to buy the Powermatic. It had all of the features I wanted, including a larger swing than I thought I would ever need (and the ability to turn over the end if I was wrong).
I don't know of a versatile option with a swing larger than the 40CM that is a better choice (IMHO), and I say bigger, because I found with the small lathe that you could put the wood on it, almost up to the 10 inches, but the swing was larger than the ability to turn the wood efficiently, and I can only assume that most (if not all) lathes will have the same issues.
End of the day, I still think that dollar per torque pound and standard features, based on the information initially provided, the Powermatic is an excellent buy/investment in a long turning future.
The only additional input that I provide (to BEGINNERS, when they ask) is find a club, try some lathes, get some input and if you are as thrilled as I was with turning wood, DON'T BOTHER BUYING A SMALL LATHE... Save that money for the bigger lathe, you're going to buy it anyway, and/or you could buy bigger tools with the money.
Join me now, "MUSTARD, MUSTARD, MUSTARD..."Ed_McDonnell said:.........in my unbiased and completely objective opinion you should buy a Powermatic 3520b.
Ed
Not really a chant, just an assertion of the seemingly obvious. Testing, comparison, done by independent sources say Powermatic best overall.
Same advice a for buying a computer. Save up till you can't stand it anymore and then buy the largest lathe you can from one of the majors. While saving, try out a Vic, Oneway, Powermatic, ect. because while all perform well, you may discover a personal favorite. Good luck and have fun!