Need A New Lathe What Would You Suggest?

[Bay Stalker]

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.

[outnumbered]

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

[UserRemoved1]

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.

[FlukinUki]

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.

[MAC]

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.

[afterhours]

jet mini is a workhorse. the folks at jet are great to deal with, got 4 or 5 jet tools and will buy more.

[outnumbered]

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.

[NIB]

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.

[Flaptail]

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.

[Bay Stalker]

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?

[jomlt9@AOL.COM]

delta is delta midi pennstate cat is #Del 46-250 299.95 but shop around for best price

[jomlt9@AOL.COM]

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

[Charleston]

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.

[NIB]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=...&Go.x=8&Go.y=7

This is the result of a search on amazon for lathes.

[Bay Stalker]

How do you use the Vega if it is mounted on the back of the lathe, I am lost on this one.

[Bay Stalker]

Thanks for all the info it has been a big help!!