Yesterday I took delivery of my new lathe, the Delta 1440 IronBed,
while probably not my dream machine, it is one I've been looking
forward to for a while. I'll give my first impressions, but first to
set the perspective: I've been turning for about 10-months with a
variety of lathes. I used a 12"(?) Delta for a couple hours in my
first bowl class, then bought a Delta Midi. I've also used an old
Powermatic 11"(?) (Green) quite a bit, and a Poolewood Euro in a class
for a weekend. My Midi is mounted to a Workmate with a few extra
pounds of weight added. With this 'confession' you should realize
that I don't' have multi-years of experience or have lots of machines
to compare it to.

Now to the 1440. Between the time I shut off a "Tim The Toolman"
rerun - every now and then I watch some "inspirational" tv - and the
time I chucked up a piece to turn was about 1.5 hours. Assembly went
very smooth, the only tools needed are one wrench, but make it an
adjustable or open-end. I went with a socket and found that a couple
times the bolts were too close and the socket would bind, this is on
adjacent sides of the angle on the legs. This seems typical of
designers who don't actually use their products. Another 1/16 space
would have made all the difference in the world.

Placing the bed on the legs, and the HeadStock on the bed can be done
solo, but a second person would be handy. They are heavy, good! That
means a few less bags of sand to buy.

The first piece I turned was a roughed out bowl that had been drying,
This wasn't much of a test but I started getting used to the power
switch, especially using the 'safety cap' for shutting it down. The
switch is in a similar position as my Midi - over the headstock. I
probably will think of getting another switch and mounting it on the
right end of the lathe - and running them in series. I like the idea
of having an OFF switch close by when I'm working.

Now that I was accustomed to the on/off switch I tried a second bowl,
a 'chunk' of Maple. I eyeballed the center of this Maple, drove a
'drive center' into it and brought up the tailstock. I didn't want to
turn something way out of balance, but definitely not a perfect round,
so I thought this would be a fair test. The drive is stiff enough
that it didn't find it's own bottom - could it have been in perfect
balance? Well, started at slow speed I didn't feel any vibration - I
guess my eyeballs are centered.

So what do I think of my purchase? Having only used it a couple hours
I'm happy with it. It's lots more massive than the Midi, and I've
turned plenty with that little machine - 9" bowls. The drive isn't as
quiet as the Poolewood, but then what is? I wish the speed select
lever was rotated about 45-degree clockwise from it's current
position, it would be a bit handier. The instruction book also
doesn't have any direction on how to inspect or change the drive belt,
nor how to maintain the reeves drive. The tailstock has some lateral
play, so did the Midi. So I'll have to see where the correct 'center'
is. I haven't used the articulated arm on the banjo yet, but it looks
massive enought. The locking levers are a bit long for thier position
- they interfere with the banjo locking lever in one rotation, or the
tool rest in the other, shorter levers would be easier to use, but
also would not have the torque to tighten - hmmmm how to fix them.
But they're not plastic as on the Midi.

Both pieces I worked on went great. I definitely like a variable
speed, the digital control of the Poolewood is my dream. The extra
power and massiveness of the 1440 over the Midi made turning a dream.
The turned finish on both pieces was lots better than what I've been
getting (and sanding out) from the Midi. I'll agree with Tim the
Toolman - More Power (and add More Weight).

The biggest 'problem' with replacing the Midi with the 1440 was: How
do I put a 6' long lathe in the space used by a 2-1/2' long Workmate?
The next 'problem' is where do I put my tools? - I'd drilled (Forstner
bit) a shelf with 1" holes that I'd clamped to the back of the
Workmate, smaller holes for the mini-tools. I guess I'll have to
build something similar and mount it to the back legs of the 1440.
Sheesh, life should be so complex.

p.s. For those of you who don't watch tv re-runs - Tim The Toolman -
is a character in "Home Improvement" - a take off on Bob Vela(sp?)
and his tool shows. Some good advise from his neighbor Wilson Wilson,
and sometimes some fair tool tips.






--
Michael Vore, W3CCV M-ASA [Ka8]; WHIRL, ABC; CAW, CW, AAW
http://mike.vorefamily.net/ohmywoodness -Custom Woodworking
http://mike.vorefamily.net/thewoodenradio -The weblog

Mike,
I for one thank you for taking the time to express your first impression of the
Delta 1440. I have seen this model in our local woodworking stores along with
the Jets, General and Powermatics.your space sounds like mine, in a mobile home
park with just a 10 x 12 shed, 2 small lathes, band saw, scroll saw, drill
press, jointer and belt-disk sander, wood and all the support stuff. Good will
and good luck with your new lathe. Harold-In Michigan

I put together four of them recently. Three had troubles out of the
box. Be sure to check the speed changing lever, seems to be a weak
spot. When they work, they work great. But check your carton.

-Dan

On Tue, 22 Jul 2003 08:36:37 -0400, Mike Vore
wrote:

Yesterday I took delivery of my new lathe, the Delta 1440 IronBed,
while probably not my dream machine, it is one I've been looking
forward to for a while. I'll give my first impressions, but first to
set the perspective: I've been turning for about 10-months with a
variety of lathes. I used a 12"(?) Delta for a couple hours in my
first bowl class, then bought a Delta Midi. I've also used an old
Powermatic 11"(?) (Green) quite a bit, and a Poolewood Euro in a class
for a weekend. My Midi is mounted to a Workmate with a few extra
pounds of weight added. With this 'confession' you should realize
that I don't' have multi-years of experience or have lots of machines
to compare it to.

Now to the 1440. Between the time I shut off a "Tim The Toolman"
rerun - every now and then I watch some "inspirational" tv - and the
time I chucked up a piece to turn was about 1.5 hours. Assembly went
very smooth, the only tools needed are one wrench, but make it an
adjustable or open-end. I went with a socket and found that a couple
times the bolts were too close and the socket would bind, this is on
adjacent sides of the angle on the legs. This seems typical of
designers who don't actually use their products. Another 1/16 space
would have made all the difference in the world.

Placing the bed on the legs, and the HeadStock on the bed can be done
solo, but a second person would be handy. They are heavy, good! That
means a few less bags of sand to buy.

The first piece I turned was a roughed out bowl that had been drying,
This wasn't much of a test but I started getting used to the power
switch, especially using the 'safety cap' for shutting it down. The
switch is in a similar position as my Midi - over the headstock. I
probably will think of getting another switch and mounting it on the
right end of the lathe - and running them in series. I like the idea
of having an OFF switch close by when I'm working.

Now that I was accustomed to the on/off switch I tried a second bowl,
a 'chunk' of Maple. I eyeballed the center of this Maple, drove a
'drive center' into it and brought up the tailstock. I didn't want to
turn something way out of balance, but definitely not a perfect round,
so I thought this would be a fair test. The drive is stiff enough
that it didn't find it's own bottom - could it have been in perfect
balance? Well, started at slow speed I didn't feel any vibration - I
guess my eyeballs are centered.

So what do I think of my purchase? Having only used it a couple hours
I'm happy with it. It's lots more massive than the Midi, and I've
turned plenty with that little machine - 9" bowls. The drive isn't as
quiet as the Poolewood, but then what is? I wish the speed select
lever was rotated about 45-degree clockwise from it's current
position, it would be a bit handier. The instruction book also
doesn't have any direction on how to inspect or change the drive belt,
nor how to maintain the reeves drive. The tailstock has some lateral
play, so did the Midi. So I'll have to see where the correct 'center'
is. I haven't used the articulated arm on the banjo yet, but it looks
massive enought. The locking levers are a bit long for thier position
- they interfere with the banjo locking lever in one rotation, or the
tool rest in the other, shorter levers would be easier to use, but
also would not have the torque to tighten - hmmmm how to fix them.
But they're not plastic as on the Midi.

Both pieces I worked on went great. I definitely like a variable
speed, the digital control of the Poolewood is my dream. The extra
power and massiveness of the 1440 over the Midi made turning a dream.
The turned finish on both pieces was lots better than what I've been
getting (and sanding out) from the Midi. I'll agree with Tim the
Toolman - More Power (and add More Weight).

The biggest 'problem' with replacing the Midi with the 1440 was: How
do I put a 6' long lathe in the space used by a 2-1/2' long Workmate?
The next 'problem' is where do I put my tools? - I'd drilled (Forstner
bit) a shelf with 1" holes that I'd clamped to the back of the
Workmate, smaller holes for the mini-tools. I guess I'll have to
build something similar and mount it to the back legs of the 1440.
Sheesh, life should be so complex.

p.s. For those of you who don't watch tv re-runs - Tim The Toolman -
is a character in "Home Improvement" - a take off on Bob Vela(sp?)
and his tool shows. Some good advise from his neighbor Wilson Wilson,
and sometimes some fair tool tips.






--
Michael Vore, W3CCV M-ASA [Ka8]; WHIRL, ABC; CAW, CW, AAW
http://mike.vorefamily.net/ohmywoodness -Custom Woodworking
http://mike.vorefamily.net/thewoodenradio -The weblog