How about a Jet Mini lathe with a 24" swing? Well, then it wouldn't be a
mini, would it?

Barry


"Arch" wrote in message
...
My armchair is so comfortable for these old bones that a current
discussion re best lathes got me to musing instead of turning. My
position, as usual, is squarely on all sides. I remember thinking, and
not long ago, that it just couldn't get any better than a Myford, Delta,
Oliver, Harrison, and other successors to Dunlap, Beaver & Coronet.

The "ne plus ultra's" that we knew would be all the lathe we could
possibly ever want soon became stepping stones to 'better' lathes. (an
awful lot of us still stand on those stones, but humor me for sake of
argument). You know what inevitably happened, and an even 'greatest
generation' is sure to follow Oneway, Stubby and their cousins. We think
that pride of ownership, price, weight, specs, elegance, convenience,
durability and all things that make us lust for that final machine has
reached a zenith. I don't see useful objects or even art forms getting
much larger than the people who use and enjoy them, but don't bet on it.

What will the lathes for the 2010 season be like, assuming that we are
still using them for wood art, architecture and _fun? Maybe new
materials, integral threading & ornamentation, lasers, air bags, vacuum,
compressed air, copying, dust control, automatic speed changing,
spindles that hold everything without pins, chucks or spurs will
obsolete today's very best. The BMW of lathes, whew! The ultimate all or
none (dehumanized?) turning machine.

I have made fun of the absolutely best lathe. Now it's time to make fun
of me.
What do you guys want or expect to see in woodturning lathes for 2010?
Arch

Fortiter,