|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Plug Building - Got Wood? Got Plug? |
 |
|
01-21-2006, 04:09 PM
|
#1
|
Electrocutioner
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: sicklerville, NJ
Posts: 216
|
Need A New Lathe What Would You Suggest?
As you know, I recently started making plugs. Well I went out and bought a new band saw and a disk/belt sander and other tools new. I did not have the extra cash so I found and bought a used drill press and lathe.
The chuck keep falling off the drill press  , fixed that. Started turning my second blank on the lathe and smoke started pouring out and the motor went.  This was not a good lathe anyway it is made by Chicago tools. I thought it would get me going until I saved up to get a good one. THIS IS WHY I HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT EVERYTHING NEW!  Should not have changed the way I have always done things.
What would you suggest as for a new lathe? I do not want to spend more than $500.00.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:28 PM
|
#2
|
Registered Papa
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: "Da Cape"
Posts: 368
|
Vince,
Although I'm new at this also here is my experiance. I bought the Jet 14" mini lathe off Amazon it was something like $260 with free shipping. I am very pleased with the lathe and how well it turns, its heavey and nicely made. I am very pleased with the results. No complaints at all.
Good luck with your choices.
Kevin
|
Quote:
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles"
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:33 PM
|
#3
|
Permanently Disconnected
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,647
|
Jet mini will last you many many years. It's a very nice machine for the money. There are clones out there too, some cheaper but IMO you can't beat the Jet because you can easily call them and get parts etc for it.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:36 PM
|
#4
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Delaware Co., PA
Posts: 210
|
Are there dupi's made that fit the Jet mini lathe? I've spoken with Vince and I know he's hooked big time. I'm sure a dupi is in his future.
I'm also interested in the responses to this thread.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:40 PM
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maine
Posts: 4,547
|
You can mount a vega mini dup on the front. It won't mount on the back due to the placement of the knob on the back of the tailstock.
A Delta midi lathe (same size as the jet mini) allows you to mount the duplicator on the back of the machine. This way you don't have to remove it to work in the tool rest side.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 04:49 PM
|
#6
|
Afterhours Custom Plugs
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: R.I.
Posts: 8,642
|
jet mini is a workhorse. the folks at jet are great to deal with, got 4 or 5 jet tools and will buy more.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 06:17 PM
|
#7
|
Registered Papa
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: "Da Cape"
Posts: 368
|
The professor was nice enough to spend some time with me showing me how he did his. Not set up to work with metal though I made a similar duplicator in wood and it works nicely. I am still trying to get used to it grabbing the workpiece though but as time goes on it grabs less as I get more control with it. They do make commercially produced duplicators for it and the drill chuck for it is easy to come by also (thats my next purchase for through drilling). Heck I figure I'm only at $80 a plug by now oh the addiction at least I don't get hung over this way.
|
Quote:
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles"
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 06:21 PM
|
#8
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: jerseyshore
Posts: 4,949
|
I don't own a duplicator or a Jet or Delta.Mac did a thread a while ago or maybe it was Artisticsensiblities.In it was how to mount the vega on the back.this like mac says allow u to turn on the front an use the backside for dup's.This way sounds Ideal to me.If I where to just buy the lathe i would go with the Jet.U can probably get a replacement motr for the one u have if u just wanna make do for a while.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 07:43 PM
|
#9
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Uh, in a spot....
Posts: 5,451
|
Got my Jet from one of the members of this board via the Classifieds. It had hardly been used and came with a Jacobs chuck and the bed extension for $200.00. I use it every day. Smooth running and well built.
|
Why even try.........
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 07:53 PM
|
#10
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,945
|
my 'cave' ain't no show palace, but...it works
New is nice, but, I have had some amazing good luck with old.
I have a new drill press, real old lathe, scored a used (like new) band saw, and belt sander from a relative... so far my total outlay, (also I am a cheap bastage  ) is under $300, the gouges and skews came with the lathe...
my lathe might be old, but, I am sure it will outlive me, if the motor craps out, I'll just buy another universal one.
Last edited by Karl F; 02-05-2006 at 10:15 PM..
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 08:00 PM
|
#11
|
Afterhours Custom Plugs
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: R.I.
Posts: 8,642
|
clean karl- how long that take ya? nice shop.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 08:26 PM
|
#12
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,945
|
Thanks Don...but
I ain't showing the dirty side, Don,
the bandsaw came with it's own "dust collector" a mini shop vac built underneath it. I did vac before that pic... Trust me, the basement is a freaking zoo... just took the "good angles" 
|
|
|
|
01-21-2006, 08:43 PM
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Hard aground
Posts: 1,362
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl F
New is nice, but, I have had some amazing good luck with old.
I have a new drill press, real old lathe, scored a used (like new) band saw, and belt sander from a relative... so far my total outlay, (also I am a cheap bastage  ) is under $300, the gouges and skews came with the lathe...
my lathe might be old, but, I am sure it will outlive me, if the motor craps out, I'll just buy another universal one.
|
Yer a neat freak
Bring your dust pan my way....
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 01:02 AM
|
#14
|
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Uh, in a spot....
Posts: 5,451
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl F
New is nice, but, I have had some amazing good luck with old.
I have a new drill press, real old lathe, scored a used (like new) band saw, and belt sander from a relative... so far my total outlay, (also I am a cheap bastage  ) is under $300, the gouges and skews came with the lathe...
my lathe might be old, but, I am sure it will outlive me, if the motor craps out, I'll just buy another universal one.
|
Leapingf Lesbians there Karl! Too clean and organized. I'd be lost!  That is some collection of tools for the lathe, you scored big time! 
|
Why even try.........
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 08:32 AM
|
#15
|
Keep The Change
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The Road to Serfdom
Posts: 3,275
|
Mini lates are nice, but for little added cost you can get a full sized machine. You'll have the flexibility to do bigger turnings if you ever decide to..
|
“It’s not up to the courts to invent new minorities that get special protections,” Antonin Scalia
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 08:37 AM
|
#16
|
Oblivious // Grunt, Grunt Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: over the hill
Posts: 6,682
|
On a different scale (and to show how tools once were made), here's what I got. It is a Garvin, made in NY, bought used (without a tool rest and with a 3 phase motor) for $300. Check out the tailstock. I'm not sure how practical it is, but it sure makes me happy when I touch it.
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 08:55 AM
|
#17
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Hard aground
Posts: 1,362
|
Quote:
I'm not sure how practical it is, but it sure makes me happy when I touch it.
|

|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 09:34 AM
|
#18
|
Registered Papa
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: "Da Cape"
Posts: 368
|
|
Quote:
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles"
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 09:41 AM
|
#19
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 183
|
I have a delta midi no problems bought it at lowes they haved one left for 168.00 got to check out and made some noise (lol) about a part missing and the manager ordered me a new one for 168.00 retail is 299.95 , so I walked into that one. Its a real work horse also bought a vega dup and the advantage to that is u can mount on back.otherwise I have all table top bandsaw, drill press , belt&disc sander all delta.. 
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 09:41 AM
|
#20
|
Electrocutioner
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: sicklerville, NJ
Posts: 216
|
I thank you for all your responses.
So it looks like the Jet and Delta are the two that most recommend.
For the guys that have these two what do you like and what don't you like?
What are the model #'s of the two?
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 09:47 AM
|
#21
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 183
|
delta is delta midi pennstate cat is #Del 46-250 299.95 but shop around for best price 
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 09:59 AM
|
#22
|
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: NJ
Posts: 183
|
sorry price went up old cat 309.95 go to www.Penn State Industries take a look they have Jet , Delta ,and a few others its whats u can afford and how deep in the addiction u are 
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 10:56 AM
|
#23
|
Certified Mass-hole
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Jackson, NJ but born and raised in Massachusetts.
Posts: 1,223
|
FWIW; Penn State Ind. has a Jet clone they sell under their name Turncrafter Pro. It sells for under $200 and is everybit as good as the Jet or Delta. The Vega mini dup will mount in the same manner.
I own the Jet variable speen mini. I have a vega dup on it. My bench is against the wall so I have to remove my dup when I want to turn manually. I have designed some fixtures that can be atached to the dup that will allow you to put it right back where it was so the changeover is very fast! I just need to make them
You can get a real nice lathe with a bed extension etc. for under $300.
Good luck.
Last edited by Charleston; 01-22-2006 at 11:02 AM..
|
|
|
|
01-22-2006, 06:00 PM
|
#25
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: jerseyshore
Posts: 4,949
|
U don't need anything extravagant if this is a hobby.
The delta an jet mini's as stated are a good choice.
If u want a good lathe the grizzly 1495? on page 2 is a good one.or u can go with the full size jet.I would try to stay away from variable speed exta cost not needed.
|
|
|
|
01-23-2006, 09:49 AM
|
#26
|
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Libtardia
Posts: 21,692
|
I run a Vega on a teeeney weenie fire engine red carbatech.
Im saving for a jet, as the carbatech struggles with hard maple.
I want numbskull's lathe 
|
|
|
|
01-23-2006, 06:34 PM
|
#27
|
Seldom Seen
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,543
|
I scored a Shopsmith at a yardsale. Awesome combo machine. Have a jointer with it too. Worth a search in the local want advertiser, especially this time of year.
|
“Americans have the right and advantage of being armed, unlike the people of other countries, whose leaders are afraid to trust them with arms.” – James Madison.
|
|
|
01-23-2006, 07:28 PM
|
#28
|
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Maine
Posts: 4,547
|
I have the Jet 1236 (shown in above link) It works pissa  can't beat that price either
|
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 04:33 PM
|
#29
|
Registered Grandpa
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: east coast
Posts: 8,592
|
This is a no name lathe.  Too old to have a name but still drills true.  Use the Jet for turnin.
|
" Choose Life "
|
|
|
01-24-2006, 04:47 PM
|
#30
|
Boston Anglah
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sitting on top of the world with my legs hangin free
Posts: 3,322
|
JPI with a pic of BF hanging in his cave...... 
|
Used hard and put away dirty....
|
|
|
 |
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:49 AM.
|
| |