The best lathe: What is the best woodworking lathe out there?
2001409
Like with many tools, it depends on what you want to do. I started with a used Atlas lathe that didn't have variable speed but step pulleys and learned that it didn't go slow enough for an out of balance bowl blank. It was fine for spindle turning just not safe for faceplate. If you're just playing with the idea of turning find a used one on Craigslist with variable speed and a 10/12" swing. Jet mini lathes are quite popular with new trurners. The best lathe is a matter of opinion-I'm partial to a Oneway 1640 but unless I could justify it with making money off of it I would go for the Jet 1642, 2 hp. I also have Delta 460 midi.
448724
You know, I don't know I can give you a great answer. I just know I loved my other Makita tools before this purchase, and I liked the feel of this unit when I saw it in stores. Works excellent, btw. Very easy to handle and weight distribution is nice. I was routing through redwood, so soft, but it felt like it had plenty of power for harder woods.
184444
All the info on this lathe can be fount here http://www.woodstockint.com/SHOP-FOX%C2%AE-16-X-46-Wood-Lathe-with-Stand-and-DRO/w1758
766478
I'm a member of the Dallas Maker Space. We replaced the standard cutter head on the Dewalt with the shelix cutter head. There are over 700 members and the planer gets a lot of use and abuse. It has cut everything from pallet wood, with the occasional nail, to purple heart or hard maple. It runs nearly constantly during the evening hours and it has run flawlessly. We've replaced a few belts and several of the blades but the shelix has been an awesome upgrade. I highly recommend it.
991023
I'd say carpenter sharp but not furniture maker sharper, it probably would take a shaving out of the box. Mine had machine marks on the back that needed polished out and a decent 25 degree primary bevel. It sharpened and polished up very quickly and has been awesome in my #5.
346733
I've been happy with the premium (japanese) mortise chisels from lee valley. You can probably use any brand successfully if you have enough time to re-hone the chisels.
910714
I opped for the Mikita after reading a review posted by a banjo maker who planed hard maple ( banjo necks ) . I know a couple guys who make insterments and it is a precise art and I knew if it suited them it would be fine for me . It is well suited for small to medium jobs not churning out hundreds of board feet . I've planed about 600 ft of quartered white oak and its AWSOME ! Pluse some precise patch work for antique repair . Very happy with the Mikita unit
1004396
Yes, that one is, and probably because they often just use file-folder shots for Amazon ads. In my reviews of the saw (on a couple of woodworking sites) I used photos of my own saw, which I have modified considerably. The main mods were the installation of a non-collapsible support at the rear to handle longer boards being ripped and a zero-clearance throat plate for 90-degree cuts. I also stiffened up the dust port outlet and replaced all of the plastic knobs with solid wood knobs that I made myself. I also installed a second, paddle-type on-off switch on the right side of the saw for convenience sake. Not only is the 4500 different from the 2400, but the stand is, too. The 4510 has a superb zero-gravity stand (similar to the Bosch jobsite saw stand), and has a riving knife (instead of a simple splitter). The motors are probably the same (the same as that of the 1290 sliding-compound miter saw, too, but with different drive arrangements, of course), but the fence may be the same already quite good one. I think that either saw would work just fine, but of course only the 4510 can be obtained new. A decent, used 2400 unit would probably do the job as well, and should cost less, too. Howard
2007150
You really don't want variable speed on this lathe...either way it is a very dangerous piece of equipment if you are a "Tim Taylor" type. Shaping wood requires RPM, very sharp cutters and even sharper focus. That is all.
411039
Festool ct 36 e is the best workhorse there is . I have the ct 36 and also porter cable but prefere festool .had issue with porter cable burning out the auto switch twice.festool makes the best tools period.you get what you pay for.
236131
A Radom orbital sander would be a better choice of tools for sanding wood. Preferably with dust collection attached to the sander. Exposed nail heads or screws could prove to be a problem with the sanding discs though.
386297
I compared all of them. I did not care for the saw on the side. Grandson likes tools not woodworking. That was the big difference I noticed. I looked on eBay also but this was the best.
1830046
I have turned over 1000 bowls on this lathe and I have not discovered any "defects". It has worked well. I have two other lathes so I have a good comparison. I would prefer the lathe to have a bigger swing so I could turn larger bowls, but that is not a defect.
874588
Rotary tool hands down. They're are lighter and faster (sharp bits are the key) on pre hung wall materials of any kind. But if you want a fantastic jigsaw. Buy the makita.
294695
That's beyond both my pay-grade and level of expertise. Mebbe Makita can answer, but a reciprocating saw with the wider variety of specialty blades would seem a good answer.
1571156
It depends on your application. You can just get used to where you set the rheostat for certain applications. At the same time, for this price and lathe size, I feel there are much better options available these days that do have the digital readout, and the reverse feature in the similar Jet model, and the Comet II. I am not brand loyal on my lathes. I go for the best bang for my buck when buying a new one. That means features and customer service and price.
1257096
What you really need with this lathe is a duplicator and template, doing it free hand is very difficult I have tried a few time to do it without a duplicator and its very hard even if you know what your doing. Using the duplicator allows you to cut exact pieces. It's still difficult but not impossible.