- Joined
- Nov 16, 2012
- Messages
- 5,596
If you ask me, lathes up to 14-40 can still be used to turn small things. In a ballpark way, lathes between 9" and 14" have the same features, feeds and speeds -just different size chucks. The breakoff point really seems to be the 15 and 16" units where top speeds take a nose dive because nobody in their right mind spins a chuck that big at high RPMs. Not only is it not necessary, it's dangerous.
That said, most folks simply don't want the hassle of owning/moving a 14" lathe and believe me, you can do some awesome work on those little 1127's. My recommendations for specific units are a little different because, I know the machines pretty well. For all practical purposes, for the work that folks do here there are only 5 specific units that I recommend. -All of them are good and fine units but, from a hobbyist to serious garage shop kinda operation, there are only 5 units that make economic/functional sense.
Anyhow, let me know if you have specific questions as, I'm pretty familiar with that product line and I help Matt support the machines -especially the "small guy" buyers...
Ray
That said, most folks simply don't want the hassle of owning/moving a 14" lathe and believe me, you can do some awesome work on those little 1127's. My recommendations for specific units are a little different because, I know the machines pretty well. For all practical purposes, for the work that folks do here there are only 5 specific units that I recommend. -All of them are good and fine units but, from a hobbyist to serious garage shop kinda operation, there are only 5 units that make economic/functional sense.
Anyhow, let me know if you have specific questions as, I'm pretty familiar with that product line and I help Matt support the machines -especially the "small guy" buyers...
Ray