Hello. I’m new to this forum. I’m looking to get into turning. I have a little experience at it. Currently I own a wood floor business. We install hardwood, sand and finish. I’ve hurt my back and think it’s here to stay but can’t see myself leaving the wood business. I enjoy making tables but want to add another level of custom to it by turning bases and the occasional legs. I also would like to dabble in burls. My problem is I don’t have a lathe and would like to buy one big enough to do anything I want to do. It can be used but in good working order. Any recommendations to me? Thanks.

Edited March 15, 20215 yr by Chris Brown

Welcome to the forum. I'm not a turner, but there are a lot of really talented ones that will be here shortly to suggest a lathe.

Welcome aboard Chris, glad to have you here.

Welcome Chris.  There are a lot of good lathes out there.  Let us know what you run across used and we can evaluate it for you.  Pictures always help along with Make and Model.

I moved this to the main Woodturning Forum for more exposure.

 

 

A couple of things to look for-

You mentioned table legs so the length of the bed will need to be considered.

A lathe that has electronic speed control is really nice and they usually can be adjusted down to really slow RPM's and reversible, which is nice for applying finish and sanding.

A heavy lathe will have less vibration when turning off balance pieces.

 

Our other turners will be along shortly with additional suggestions

It depends on your budget as much as anything. To get a lathe "large enough" to do anything you want is a pretty general statement. A friend of mine likes to turn bowls is excess of 20" diameter. A lathe to do that kind of work will run you something over 5K and could easily flirt with 10K for one of the names, ie, Robust, Oneway, or Vicmarc. It's also important to know, figure on spending your initial investment again in tools and accessories, the bigger you go the more heavy duty everything needs to be and costs go up accordingly.  I would recommend starting with something smaller, a Laguna or Jet 12 or 14" swing. Decide where this is going to take you and then upgrade or not as needed. I say that because a few years ago I wanted to turn bigger items and found a used 24" powermatic. It's a great lathe but anymore I seldom turn any thing larger than 12".

Edited March 15, 20215 yr by Steve Krumanaker

It would be helpful to know your budget. You don’t have to spend thousands to get a lathe that will do large items. I just bought a new lathe that cost just under $2,000. It will turn a 16” bowl over the bed and up to 39” outboard. It will turn a 24” spindle and with the bed extension I think 42”. Let us know your budget and an idea of what you want to turn.

My budget is about $3000

Here you go.  

 

 

She does great work! I bet that lathe is out of my range. I have a table build for a client coming up soon. I would love to have the option to give them a pedestal base if they want it. 

In one of her blogs she admits she would never do it again. Time wise it was a total loser apparently and about half way into it they realized how dangerous it was. As far as lathes Chris, 3000 should get you a pretty good medium duty lathe. As previously mentioned all the big brand names will be over double that for a heavy duty lathe. Grizzly markets a heavy duty that will be about 4000 by the time they get it to you. If you are going to do large turnings it boils down to mass. You need a very heavy lathe and a big motor. Good luck on your quest and welcome to the forum !

Paul

On 3/15/2021 at 1:24 PM, RustyFN said:

It would be helpful to know your budget. You don’t have to spend thousands to get a lathe that will do large items. I just bought a new lathe that cost just under $2,000. It will turn a 16” bowl over the bed and up to 39” outboard. It will turn a 24” spindle and with the bed extension I think 42”. Let us know your budget and an idea of what you want to turn.

Thanks Rusty and everyone else that’s given me advice. Which lathe did you go with?

49 minutes ago, Chris Brown said:

Thanks Rusty and everyone else that’s given me advice. Which lathe did you go with?

I went with the Record Power Coronet Envoy. I have only had it for two or three weeks and really like it. It will turn 16” over the bed, 39” outboard and a 24” spindle. You can buy a bed extension and turn a 42” spindle. What sold me was being able to pivot the head to make it easier to turn the inside of a bowl and the pendant controller. The lathe cost me $1999 plus $75 delivery. The outrigger to be able to turn 39” outboard was $179.

 

I purchased a Jet 1840 last year. It is turning out to be a good choice for me. I am doing segmented turnings. I like the variable speed.

 

Phil

Edited March 17, 20215 yr by Phil H.

I cannot say about lots of lathes but your price and what you want to do eliminates Powermatic, Robust, Oneway and Vicmarc. Now lets look at what you can do. Jet 1640 our club has one and it is a good lathe. Operates on 110v. It does have a extension available to make it 60 inch bed. The extension also apparently fits the 1840 which has a larger motor and runs on 220v.

 

Just do some google searches on specifics for the lathes in your price range and we will be glad to answer questions on the ones we have experience or have heard about. Almost all models have had some sort of problems and many more success stories to be told. My experience with Jet and Powermatic has been very good.

 

The PM2014 is in your price range but 20 inch bed with 13 inch extension.

 

Lastly as Steve said you will have lots of accessories to buy and that can easily get to 1000 plus but may be able to get fundamentals for 500. That is a chuck, bowl gouge ,spindle gouge , parting tool (can make that easily), Face shield and dust protection.

20 hours ago, Phil H. said:

I purchased a Jet 1840 last year. It is turning out to be a good choice for me. I am doing segmented turnings. I like the variable speed.

 

Phil

 

Phil, please post up some of your work!

I haven't really had the need to turn anything over 10 inches bowl wise.  I wound up going with the Delta bench top 46 460 Midi lathe.  Its ultra quiet with reverse drive and you can add on extension beds to it.  I've been using it for a while now and I like it quite a bit.  Easy to work out how to use and set up.  It runs right around 700 bucks so if youre not looking to spend a ton of money on a lathe this is a good one to get.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Delta-12-1-2-in-Mini-Wood-Lathe-with-Variable-Speed-46-460/203313763

Another path you might want to consider is to pick up an inexpensive used lathe to get started and get the basics down and start gathering the accessories you will need. It’s not the quality of the lathe as much as it is the skill of the turner. You can turn out some great turnings on just about any lathe. The most important and beginning concept that you will need to master is sharpening your tools. Setting up a sharpening system is the key to having a great turning experience. Dull tools make for a very frustrating time. Check and see if there is a local turning club. They are a great resource for learning the basics and also seeing what lathes, sharpening systems etc are out there. A little hands on instruction is invaluable in getting the basics down. It will save you a ton of time and also help you avoid some of the pitfalls. YouTube videos are great but no substitute for hands on experience. 
Paul

1 hour ago, Masonsailor said:

A little hands on instruction is invaluable in getting the basics down. It will save you a ton of time and also help you avoid some of the pitfalls.

So True!  When I first started turning, the Internet was a 300 baud modem- no You Tube videos! No turning clubs, either. I bought a book from Ernie Conover and started in. Lots of mistakes and relearning- especially in the sharpening department. I did get the original Tormek sharpening system and eventually learned to sharpen my tools. I got hooked on Easy Wood Tools and do almost all my turning with their products, now.

2 hours ago, Masonsailor said:

Another path you might want to consider is to pick up an inexpensive used lathe to get started and get the basics down and start gathering the accessories you will need. It’s not the quality of the lathe as much as it is the skill of the turner
Paul

I too will echo Paul with an exception. Sometimes if the second hand lathe is not good it will turn a new turner off. If you are not in a hurry You will find a Jet, PM < One Way or others we have mentioned on Carigs or listed in a forum for much less than your available. I just sold a Jet 1442 for 990 .