Started on another brain-burb of an idea, popped in a "salty's blow out" to get started and within a few seconds I smelled something...I thought...WTF kind of wood is this???? then looked over at the switch and smoke was coming out of the ports for where the wires enter. Pop it off and a cloud of smoke came out and it looks like the contacts might have been touch slightly and were melting. I cleaned it up straighten things up and restarted it and it seems fine but while it doesn't smoke it still stinks. I ordered a new switch for the hell of it.

Scott, wood was fine, I had an electrical issue that was stinking up the joint. I was wondering why the breaker didn't blow. I tested the circuit and it was fine, I think the plastic switch they used is crap. When I ordered a new one I notice that they replaced it with a different switch now.

What's the brand and model of the lathe? Just so those of us that have one can be on the alert for that and ready with a fire extinguisher. :fishslap:

Delta LA 200 (mini lathe)
It is about 2 years old.

the problem can be summed up in 3 words

Made in China

:hang::whackin::doh::smash::fury: