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dan cordes dan cordes is offline
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Default HArbor Freight Lathe

Hi All,

The penn state benjamin's best is a nice pen turning set. For other work
you'll want something more substatial in length for better control. Penn
State's 8 pc set is identical to the HF 8 pc. set only $25 more. Several
other retailers sell this same set, some are as high as $70.

Dan

"Ralph E Lindberg" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"cyrille de Brebisson" wrote:

hello,
Does anyone have comment on the $200 lathe from Harbor Freight (sale
price)?


A point worth noting: If the Reeves drive is stiff, it's bad. A good
Reeves drive operates smoothly.

Can you enlighten me here? what is a "Reeves drive"? and how to I test
it?

You'll want a scroll chuck, tools, and some way to sharpen your tools.

I imagine that I should have a 3 or 4 linked jaws chuck, the HF one, with
4
independent jaws is probably not a good idea, isn't it?
Do you have advices on a cheap OK chuck?

I strongly recommend the HF tool set that frequently runs about $40. No
nifty brand name, no cachet, but I've been using mine for nearly two
years
and they've stood up to the abuse this newbie has imposed.

HF has 2 set of tools, one with a wood handle and one, $10 more or so
with a
deep burgondy red color handle and steel that look thiker.... they apear
to
be of better quality... which one do you advise?

The HF tool set is a good start, but I really like Benjamens' Best
(from places like Penn State). You can get specialty chisels for little
money. Are they as good as $150 one, nope, but for those of use that are
learning.... See http://www.pennstateind.com/store/la...isel-sets.html

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