upgrading
 

If you have a chance to upgrade to a delta 10" midi from a http://www.harborfreight.com/5-speed...the-65345.html would you?

no I would not buy any power tools from harbor frieght

so you would not upgrade to the Delta? FYI my HF lathe has been flawless for a year now.

just speaking from my experience
your mileage may vary

If you upgrade look at some of the newer Jets. My small Delta just cooked it's motor after a liast of small ails.My big drill press eats belts. My Jets are all still going an I've got a couple of them with no probs.I'd go with a 1 hp if I went with a Delta as that motor is bullet proof. The cheaper lathes have cheaper bearing.

Pending on frequentcy of use. HF products are great for the occassional user. They do offer warrantys and seem to honor them w/o questions. I do have a few hand tools in which are not used much but serve the purpose. I do use 2 Jet lathes and have to say flawless. I looking to replace my old floor drill press because of a worn M#2 spindle. HF models look too "cheap". Grizzely has reasonable products and at the woodshop i work at, has a few floor model products. Check out their mini lathe.

the few times I bought anything at hf i was disappointed.....needlees to say i'll never go back. I also never bought a power tool from them. every time I walked in there I wondered if that's what china smells like??? I have a bunch of jet tools and love them.

If you are looking to upgrade your lathe this is the best benchtop on the market!!! http://www.rikontools.com/productpage_70-100.html

I would stay with the lathe you have. The Delta will do nothing for you that the HF lathe will not do. I owned the old Jet 1014. The HF machine looks to be the same exact castings. Run the HF machine into the ground.

Always buy the best you can afford, even if it means postponing the purchase until you can afford the tool......

here is a comparison of 4 of the most popular models
http://www.wood-lathe.org/best-mini-wood-lathe/

I have a General that I am very happy with

Thanks for posting the link Chris, the Rikon is the #1 benchtop lathe, I sold mine to get the larger Jet 1220 and what a mistake it was. The 1/2 horse motor on the Rikon had far more power and torque than the 3/4 horse on my Jet, also much smoother and no vibration, would turn anything you could fit on it. I have other Jet products but when it comes to lathes and Bandsaws Rikon is the way to go.

Another member had scored a rikon, it was an impressive piece.
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I have a small jet and its a nice little machine. I've read before that the price almost doubled since five years ago without many improvements.
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And if you want to score one of them try:

Ferguson Tool and Supply, NO money down, Carry out only!! :doh:

Woodcraft has the rikon midi listed for 549.99 new in their catalog.
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