[Neillarson]

Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

[Olebiker]

On Jun 7, 8:52 am, Neillarson wrote:
I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

You would be much better off to buy an extension bed for your Jet Mini.

[Toller]

"Neillarson" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

I saw the ads, $90 for a lathe?! Check out how many amps the motors are;
probably less than your mini.

[dan cordes]

HI,

There are two HF lathes to consider. The first is #45276, it's ok and
will do what you want but it's construction is a aluminum sheet metal and a
bit too flexible.
The second is #34706 this is the one with a reversible headstock. This
is the one you want. It uses all the standard sized accessories such as
chuck threading (1x8) and uses a MT2 in the tail stock. This is a beefy cast
frame and housing. Others sell this same unit for twice the price. So I
would definately go with this one.
Just to let you know I have the first one and do spindle work from x-mas
ornament to candle stick to baseball bats and pens. And do chuck work such
as bowls and lidded boxes. All get done, but with some frustrations to get
it set up each time such as changing speeds and vibration control.
My buddy has the 2nd lathe and he does the same but without the
frustration.. If I had to do it over again I would buy the #34706
I hope this helps.
Dan


"Neillarson" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

[cyrille de Brebisson]

hello,

the first (cheap one) is in my opinion too flexible and vibrates too much,

the 2nd one ("expensive":$200 on sale) is great for the price and a good
deal if you want to get into larger turning without the high cost of
entry...

regards, cyrille

"Neillarson" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

[CW]

Why not just put the bed extension on the Jet?

"Neillarson" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

[Dr. Deb]

Neillarson wrote:

Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

Neil, there are good reasons an extension on the Jet would not be as good as
the HF 34706, of which I have had three. Basically though it all comes
down to weight. There are things you will like turning better on the Jet
and others better on the HF.

The best reason to go for the HF 34706 is that it gets you into another
aspect of turning (and uses a common size chuck and tailstock) cheaply. If
you like that area of turning you will upgrade in about two or three years
to a heavier lathe. But in the meantime, you will hone your skills and
have a lot of fun doing it.

My last HF (still in the box from a warranty exchange on #2) went to a
friend of mine, who is now doing something he had always wanted to do but
just could not see spending over $700 to do it. It has been replaced with
a Jet 1442, which may be finding a new home in a year or so, as I again
upgrade.


Deb

[Toller]

"Dr. Deb" wrote in message
...
Neillarson wrote:

Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

Neil, there are good reasons an extension on the Jet would not be as good
as
the HF 34706, of which I have had three. Basically though it all comes
down to weight. There are things you will like turning better on the Jet
and others better on the HF.

The best reason to go for the HF 34706 is that it gets you into another
aspect of turning (and uses a common size chuck and tailstock) cheaply.
If
you like that area of turning you will upgrade in about two or three years
to a heavier lathe. But in the meantime, you will hone your skills and
have a lot of fun doing it.

My last HF (still in the box from a warranty exchange on #2) went to a
friend of mine, who is now doing something he had always wanted to do but
just could not see spending over $700 to do it. It has been replaced
with
a Jet 1442, which may be finding a new home in a year or so, as I again
upgrade.

What you say is true, but applies equally well to buying used equipment.
He can probably buy a better used lathe for the same equipment.

Check out ebay and the newspapers. I just picked up a new (cosmetically
challenged) Craftsman 15" variable speed for $100 on ebay. They also had a
used Jet 12" variable speed that went for $205. While not a good a bargain
as the one I got, it is probably a great deal better than the HF.

[woodman]

I purchased the HF 34706 last year as my first lathe and I've been very
happy with it. It is well made and almost an exact clone of the Jet 1236.
I've not heard good things about the other HF lathe, however. The HF 34706
I bought is weighed down with 250# of sand and is very solid. It has a
reeves variable speed drive and an adequate motor, although the motor will
stall when putting a lot of pressure on a large bowl. The head and
tailstock align very accurately. The banjo lock is OK but not great, but I
resolved that by removing it and scoring the surfaces that touch the ways,
so now it grips fine. I can turn a 12" bowl blank between centers and the
lathe can handle it. It is also set up to do outboard turning by rotating
the headstock and it has an outboard tool rest that allows the banjo (with
an included extension) to be used on either side of the bowl. I got it on
sale for $170 with coupons, and for the money it can't be beat. Now that
I've gotten better I am considering upgrading to a larger lathe, but the HF
is a very good lathe for the money.

Chuck


"Neillarson" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?

I have a jet mini that I use for my pens and small bowls, goblets,
etc. But, i have a need once in awhile to do 30 to 32 inch spindles.
These are cheap, but if they are of decent quality, maybe worth the
price.

Thanks

Neil Larson

[Leo Lichtman]

"woodman" wrote: (clip) It is also set up to do outboard turning by
rotating the headstock and it has an outboard tool rest that allows the
banjo (with an included extension) to be used on either side of the bowl.
(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Beware of that outboard extension toolrest. It is no9t strong enough for
the task, unless you provide it with extra support. When it breaks, you can
get hurt. (The extra support would consist of somne kind of prop that
reaches the floor.)

[Patriarch]

"Leo Lichtman" wrote in
:


"woodman" wrote: (clip) It is also set up to do outboard turning by
rotating the headstock and it has an outboard tool rest that allows
the banjo (with an included extension) to be used on either side of
the bowl. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Beware of that outboard extension toolrest. It is no9t strong enough
for the task, unless you provide it with extra support. When it
breaks, you can get hurt. (The extra support would consist of somne
kind of prop that reaches the floor.)


By the way, the same warning applies to the Jet equivalent. Not just the
HF copy.

Outboard turning is just a little bit more exciting...

Patriarch

[BillinDetroit]

Neillarson wrote:
Any experience with either of these lathes?

14'' x 40'' LATHE WITH 6'' SANDER

or

12'' x 33-3/8'' WOOD LATHE WITH REVERSIBLE HEAD?


The 14" sounds good until you take a close look at its lightweight
square tube bed. Take a pass.

I have the 12" lathe and it has served me well for bowls, spindles and
pens, etc.

It could use a lower speed for larger diameter work, but, even so, it is
worth the money.

You are not buying a first class lathe. But it will spin wood around and
around and around.

Bill


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[Neil Larson]

I actually found a Local Harbor Freight store, about 20 miles from my house.
It was on sale (Father's Day) for 199.99 and I saved shipping, so, It is now
in the midle of my shop.It was a BIT*H to build by my self, tho my wife
showed up and was able to support one end (I had the head stock, banjo and
tailstock all at my end). Turned my first bowl out of some glued up old
maple, real old and dry. It is kind of pretty as long as I only let people
see one side of it. Now I gotta learn how to do bowls.

Thanks for all the advice.


"Patriarch" wrote in message
. 136...
"Leo Lichtman" wrote in
:


"woodman" wrote: (clip) It is also set up to do outboard turning by
rotating the headstock and it has an outboard tool rest that allows
the banjo (with an included extension) to be used on either side of
the bowl. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Beware of that outboard extension toolrest. It is no9t strong enough
for the task, unless you provide it with extra support. When it
breaks, you can get hurt. (The extra support would consist of somne
kind of prop that reaches the floor.)


By the way, the same warning applies to the Jet equivalent. Not just the
HF copy.

Outboard turning is just a little bit more exciting...

Patriarch

[woodman]

I'm curious about this. I haven't used the outboard tool rest (really an
extension of the ways on the opposite side of the headstock) on my HF lathe
yet, but I'm wondering why you feel that it might break.

Chuck


"Leo Lichtman" wrote in message
...

Beware of that outboard extension toolrest. It is no9t strong enough for
the task, unless you provide it with extra support. When it breaks, you
can get hurt. (The extra support would consist of somne kind of prop that
reaches the floor.)

[Leo Lichtman]

"woodman" wrote: (clip)but I'm wondering why you feel that it might break.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Two reasons:
1.) The extension that holds the toolrest for outboard turning has to reach
around the headstock--it is a "cantilever," (like a diving board.) A diving
board is flexible--it can bend without breaking. The toolrest cantilever is
cast iron, which is good in compression, and very weak in tension. If you
get a moderate catch, the downward forces on the cantilever will break it.
2.) Numerous users have reported that it's happened to them.

The solution, for most people, is not to use it. If you do need to use it
for outboard turning, cut a 2x4 or a piece of pipe to fit between the bottom
of the toolrest and the floor. Or make or buy a free-standing toolrest.
You can even use the 2x4 AS THE TOOLREST. Don't laugh--I've seen it done.
Our club periodically has a demo by some turners from a small Mexican town,
using a lathe built out of heavy timber. Very primitive, but they do
beautiful work.

[Toller]

You can even use the 2x4 AS THE TOOLREST. Don't laugh--I've seen it done.
Our club periodically has a demo by some turners from a small Mexican
town, using a lathe built out of heavy timber. Very primitive, but they
do beautiful work.

I took out the only book our library had on turning; it was about 40 years
old.
It said that wood lathes were much better than metal lathes because lathes
need some flexibility.
I didn't even try to follow his reasoning, nor did I bother reading the
book.

[Arch]

Leo & Chuck,

My specialty is to confuse things further.

A friend gave me a H.F. outboard bed extension. If this is the from the
same model lathe that's in question, the regular tool rest and banjo
would probably be transferred to the short outboard extension and not
cantilevered around the headstock. If so any added stress would be due
to the tool post being extended slightly higher above the banjo for more
swing. I'd think any added stress there would be minimal.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

[Leo Lichtman]

"Toller" wrote: (clip) It said that wood lathes were much better than metal
lathes because lathes need some flexibility. I didn't even try to follow
his reasoning, nor did I bother reading the book.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Good for you. You think that's bad? Try reading the numerous threads on
flexibility in the bicycling newsgroups. NO WONDER there is a placebo
effect--people are so suggestible.

[Leo Lichtman]

"Arch" wrote: (clip) A friend gave me a H.F. outboard bed extension. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Arch, are we talking about the same thing? The Jet 1236 and its HF clone
both have a head that rotates around a vertical axis. By swinging the head
CCW, you can do outboard turning, but you have moved away from the
banjo/toolrest, and that's where the cantilevered cast iron banjo extension
comes into play. There would be no use for an outboard bed extension.
There is no provision on the handwheel side of the spindle to attach a
faceplate or chuck. There is only a ******* LH 1/2" thread.

I'm sure the bed extension you got must be for a different lathe. Correct
me if I'm wrong.

[BillinDetroit]

Leo Lichtman wrote:
"Arch" wrote: (clip) A friend gave me a H.F. outboard bed extension. (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Arch, are we talking about the same thing? The Jet 1236 and its HF clone
both have a head that rotates around a vertical axis. By swinging the head
CCW, you can do outboard turning, but you have moved away from the
banjo/toolrest, and that's where the cantilevered cast iron banjo extension
comes into play. There would be no use for an outboard bed extension.
There is no provision on the handwheel side of the spindle to attach a
faceplate or chuck. There is only a ******* LH 1/2" thread.

I'm sure the bed extension you got must be for a different lathe. Correct
me if I'm wrong.


Leo, I own the HF lathe under consideration he Consider yourself
corrected. ;-)

While I do NOT see the advantage of the LH extension since it's mounted
at the same height as the regular ways, it's there.

Now ... if HF wants to drop those mounting holes a few inches ...

Bill


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