For the price, the 1442 is a great lathe.

In my opinion, the biggest issue with the 1442 is the relatively high low
end speed. The first time you put that 10"+ diameter chunk of wood that is
not perfectly balanced on there you will wish for slower bottom end. You
can work around the problem, but there really is no good substitute for a
lower bottom end.

I personally don't like the orientation / location of the motor. It
ocassionally gets in the way and I have to wonder how it will hold up to a
constant barrage of chips and dust. I've been running mine daily for over a
year and I haven't had any problems. Still, I wonder............

My opinon on tools is to buy fewer better quality tools. Better steel means
less frequent sharpening.

Don't overlook a good sharpening setup.

MH