How good could this lathe be
 

For the $$

I have bought some tools from HF before and they worked just fine, the specs look good with a 1/2 hp motor just a little slower on the max RPM then i would like. Plus there a 25% off coupon with 6.99 shipping. Just wanted to get some thoughts fro the experts here.



http://www.harborfreight.com/5-speed...the-65345.html

For $146.00 it's probably worth getting, just get a good spur for it and I think you will be ok turning plugs with it. Take a ride to the store in Fall River or Warwick and check it out!

It has gotten 275 reviews from actual owners, check those out? Says $6.99 shipping "most" orders, bet this isn't one of the "most" group? :smash:

It is buzzy, i put it in the cart and made sure. The reviews are compelling
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I have their floor model, it was my first lathe, and it is still going strong with never an issue. I actually enjoy turning on it. I have 2 others and kind of use this as my "go to" lathe.

That lathe looks almost identical to the old Jet 1014. I am sure it's worth every penny of the asking price.

looks like a great deal to me.

Had mine for a few years now. Changed the spur and added a vega midi. Just used it today punched out a couple dozen poppers. Works great was even thinking of getting another one to set up without the duplicator.
Rene
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There you go someone who has used it. seems to be good enough for plug building.
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I'm pretty sure the one you are looking at you have to move the belt onto a different pulley to get a different speed. The one they list for $129 has the rheostat that changes the speed which I believe makes it a bit more convenient if your going to be using your lathe to through drill stuff like needlfish etc.

The one you linked to looks way sturdier than the variable speed one. Changing belts is a pain but even with the VS one you need to change belts sometimes.

Anyway , I have a Rikon VS and VS is a nice feature but that $129 one looks a little lightweight to me. Also the one you linked to has 1/2 HP , the VS is 1/3 HP. $146 is a very low price!

I own this and would definitely recommend it to anyone! Thats how i bought it. waited till it was on sale and then used the 25% off coupon. its great. Swapped the spur for a PSI super drive center. Added the vega midi and i was off to the races. I set it up for the faster speeds and havent changed it since.

Update, the first one i bought was DOA had motor issues, returned it and i have never been happier, i have not set up my new dupe yet but i have been turning by hand and its been a blast. Thinking about getting a second one for the dupe so i can free hand on one nd dupe on the other.
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John I have the tool rest mounted on the back of the lathe, with dupe on the front, so I can turn it around to freehand or make adjustments to what I am working on.
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John be aware if you decide to mount yours on the back as Frank did you need to flip the cutter upside down! :uhuh:

Oh!
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Chit, thats a good idea! Had not used it yet, but I hope after a brief moment I might have recognized the problem.

Ok, new rule, dont take advice from Frank, he plans on spinning wood going the wrong direction lol poor frank, please make sure you wear a face shield bud.
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I just got one of these. Same model same deal but it came with the 6" rest. My 1st one so I have nothing to compare it to.
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If I mounted the tool rest on the back side of the lathe, key word "tool rest" that would mean I am going to use chisels to manually shape wood. Only some of those would have to be turned upside down. However, the straight edge chisels would be used much the same, no?
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You need the wood spinning towards the rest. You cannot hold the tool if it is spinning the other way.

Yupper
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Oh well, the best laid plans often go awry. Thanks.
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Frank, just mount the duplicator on the backside leaving the front for freehand work. put the dup bit in upside down.
Then your front is used with chisels going the correct direction for toolrest.

I believe Mac set his up that way
it's a good way to do it if you only have one lathe and don't want to swap out the duplicator back and forth if you want to or need to use the lathe conventionally. I have 2 lathes now but I used to set the duplicator up and take it off, but it was not one of the store bought ones.

Put the tool rest mount between the straps of your duplicator. Take the dup off use tool rest. Put dup back on. Everything done on the front with the wood turning in the proper direction.

Use the locking shaft collets so you can unmounts and remount the duplicator easily.