Evenin folks I've been lurkin for a few months and this looks like the place
I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best lathe
for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and read some
bad reviews on both. ( some good ones too ) as for use I might want to turn
pens, bowls, table legs etc so I want something heavy and that can handle
around 40" length, but still be precise enough for small light work?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
John

Hi John,

I also looked at both and ended up with the Delta. It works good but wish I
would have spent the couple hundred extra and bought the heavier Jet.
Nothing beats a good heavy lathe. The less tendency to vibrate the better
finish you can put on with the tools themselves. If you tall like me the Jet
is a little higher. I did build a platform for the Delta and clamp the feet
down to stop some of the vibration. I also built two sets of drawers under
the lathe to hold tools and that also helps in keeping the vibration down.
The Jet is just heavier all around.

Tim


"John Stout" wrote in message
...
Evenin folks I've been lurkin for a few months and this looks like the
place I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best
lathe for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and
read some bad reviews on both. ( some good ones too ) as for use I might
want to turn pens, bowls, table legs etc so I want something heavy and
that can handle around 40" length, but still be precise enough for small
light work?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
John

I bought the Jet 1442 about a year ago. My price point was about he same as
yours. I'm pleased with the purchase. There are better lathes, but I could
not find one at that price.

-Steve


"John Stout" wrote in message
...
Evenin folks I've been lurkin for a few months and this looks like the
place
I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best lathe
for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and read
some
bad reviews on both. ( some good ones too ) as for use I might want to
turn
pens, bowls, table legs etc so I want something heavy and that can handle
around 40" length, but still be precise enough for small light work?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
John

Get the Jet 1442, 14 in swing, 42in bed. Heavy cast iron. About $850


STEMO

My first lathe was a 14" Delta. After about 6 months I sold
it for half what I had paid and bought a Jet 1442.
The Jet is far and away a much better machine in all aspects.

The following article may help in your decision.

http://www.rd.com/americanwoodworker.../TT_Lathes.pdf

In article ,
"John Stout" wrote:

I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best lathe
for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and read some

A used one, IMHO. Depends what you can find. Old used North American
cast iron is usually a better long-term bet, and often less out of
pocket than new imported stuff. Sometimes you might need a new motor, or
new bearings, or a VFD to run a 3-phase unit if you don't happen to have
3-phase at home, but you can often do those things and still come out
ahead, $ wise and lathe wise.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

"John Stout" wrote in message
...
I want something heavy and that can handle around 40" length, but still be
precise enough for small light work?


I have a VIC300 that weighs in at around 900 pounds.
I can still make a 1/4" miniature vessel, so thin I almost
can look through it.

You can make anything on a large lathe that you can make
on a small one, but not the other way around.

Bjarte

"Ecnerwal" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"John Stout" wrote:

I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best
lathe
for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and read
some

A used one, IMHO. Depends what you can find. Old used North American
cast iron is usually a better long-term bet, and often less out of
pocket than new imported stuff. Sometimes you might need a new motor, or
new bearings, or a VFD to run a 3-phase unit if you don't happen to have
3-phase at home, but you can often do those things and still come out
ahead, $ wise and lathe wise.


Used is a real good option. Bear in mind, anything which is cast iron and
broken/missing will likely not be replaceable. Bearings, pulleys, screws
and handles come off the shelf or can be fabricated.

It's rigidity, not weight which counts, so while you're shopping, make sure
that the unit has good, positive locks to keep its components in line and
constant reference to each other. If you want weight, you can add it, up to
the weight of mother earth, when you bring it into the shop.

Another nice thing about used lathes is that a lot of them include other
goodies like tools.

John,

I fly a Jet 1442. Had it about 18 months and am still tickled with it. It
ain't perfect, but its darn good. If you watch, you might get a sale at
Woodcraft--Washington's birthday or such.

I'd buy it again if I had the chance. (But it only cost me $700 when I
bought it!)

Walt C


"John Stout" wrote in message
...
Evenin folks I've been lurkin for a few months and this looks like the
place I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best
lathe for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and
read some bad reviews on both. ( some good ones too ) as for use I might
want to turn pens, bowls, table legs etc so I want something heavy and
that can handle around 40" length, but still be precise enough for small
light work?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
John

"George" George@least wrote in message
...

"Ecnerwal" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"John Stout" wrote:

I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best
lathe
for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and read
some

A used one, IMHO. Depends what you can find. Old used North American
cast iron is usually a better long-term bet, and often less out of
pocket than new imported stuff. Sometimes you might need a new motor, or
new bearings, or a VFD to run a 3-phase unit if you don't happen to have
3-phase at home, but you can often do those things and still come out
ahead, $ wise and lathe wise.


Used is a real good option. Bear in mind, anything which is cast iron and
broken/missing will likely not be replaceable. Bearings, pulleys, screws
and handles come off the shelf or can be fabricated.

It's rigidity, not weight which counts, so while you're shopping, make
sure that the unit has good, positive locks to keep its components in line
and constant reference to each other. If you want weight, you can add it,
up to the weight of mother earth, when you bring it into the shop.

Another nice thing about used lathes is that a lot of them include other
goodies like tools.


Your statement, " It's rigidity, not weight which counts " - true words of
wisdom! Piling sand on the base doesn't turn a flimsly lathe into a quality
lathe.
billh

On Mon, 9 Jan 2006 07:21:53 -0500, "George" George@least wrote:

snip
Used is a real good option. Bear in mind, anything which is cast iron and
broken/missing will likely not be replaceable. Bearings, pulleys, screws
and handles come off the shelf or can be fabricated.

It's rigidity, not weight which counts, so while you're shopping, make sure
that the unit has good, positive locks to keep its components in line and
constant reference to each other. If you want weight, you can add it, up to
the weight of mother earth, when you bring it into the shop.

Another nice thing about used lathes is that a lot of them include other
goodies like tools.


For sure... and even better than tools, I've bought a couple of used power tools
and had the owner throw in jigs that he'd built to use with the tool... great
jump start..

Another advantage of buying used is you get to see how it stands up to use...


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

"Ecnerwal" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"John Stout" wrote:

I can ask a newby question without too much flack. What is the best
lathe
for under 1,000.00 to start with? I've looked at jet and delta and read
some

A used one, IMHO. Depends what you can find. Old used North American
cast iron is usually a better long-term bet, and often less out of
pocket than new imported stuff. Sometimes you might need a new motor, or
new bearings, or a VFD to run a 3-phase unit if you don't happen to have
3-phase at home, but you can often do those things and still come out
ahead, $ wise and lathe wise.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by


I couldnt agree more,
Go to school auctions and check out the old Iron they are getting rid of.
I got a Rockwell/Delta 46-450 (12" swing 14" over gap 36" between centers
500+ lbs.) for $25.00. I did some minor cleaning and bought a used VFD and
I have a great heavy lathe under $200.00.
Worst case scenario, I may have had to buy some bearings, 1 phase motor and
I would still have been ahead.
As for parts, it appears that I can get everything for it except the 7/16"
tail stock spindle clamp.(SO I make one out of a $2.00 piece of allthread.)

Around here a lot of the schools have discontinued shop programs, and
the machines they get rid of have often been severely abused and
neglected.

Rick Cox wrote:

I couldnt agree more,
Go to school auctions and check out the old Iron they are getting rid of.
I got a Rockwell/Delta 46-450 (12" swing 14" over gap 36" between centers
500+ lbs.) for $25.00. I did some minor cleaning and bought a used VFD and
I have a great heavy lathe under $200.00.
Worst case scenario, I may have had to buy some bearings, 1 phase motor and
I would still have been ahead.
As for parts, it appears that I can get everything for it except the 7/16"
tail stock spindle clamp.(SO I make one out of a $2.00 piece of allthread.)

I do agree that you need to check for obvious signs of abuse and neglect,
however, that old iron can take alot and still be as true as a new $800.00
jet 1442.

I will admit that the lathe I picked up was neglected and cosmetically
abused. I spent about 3 hours cleaning and shining up the parts and she
isn't the prettiest girl at the dance but she is a joy to play with.

One side mention: I really love having the lathe with the Reeves speed
control and the vfd on this lathe. It really give you a wide range of
control. I especially like the soft start of the vfd.

"Mike Berger" wrote in message
...
Around here a lot of the schools have discontinued shop programs, and
the machines they get rid of have often been severely abused and
neglected.

Rick Cox wrote:

I couldnt agree more,
Go to school auctions and check out the old Iron they are getting rid of.
I got a Rockwell/Delta 46-450 (12" swing 14" over gap 36" between centers
500+ lbs.) for $25.00. I did some minor cleaning and bought a used VFD
and I have a great heavy lathe under $200.00.
Worst case scenario, I may have had to buy some bearings, 1 phase motor
and I would still have been ahead.
As for parts, it appears that I can get everything for it except the
7/16" tail stock spindle clamp.(SO I make one out of a $2.00 piece of
allthread.)