Yes, Exactly. They do not make the machines, and never did. They may have a small place and build something else, but not any of the machines in question or anything like them. I can't say much more on a public forum, but so many people are always under the impression that weiss is building these machines for all of these places, but they absolutely are not. They just have a web site and make it look that way. Same with our PM-25MV Mill, I get at least 2-3 calls a week from people telling me that its built in the same factory as the Grizzly, and want to know what makes it worth the extra money if its the same machine. Or they tell me that weiss builds it for us. Its one thing to ask a question, I will answer questions all day long. But you would be surprised how many people are very demanding with their information and want to argue about it. And I have no idea why. (Most people are GREAT to work with, but these calls come in every week, and it gets frustrating) I was even told this past week that I don't know what I am talking about, regarding where the machines are built. All I can do is laugh sometimes!
So weiss absolutely do not actually build these models for themselves or for anyone, or really anything at all other than maybe a few small things.
And our PM-25MV is absolutely not the same as the grizzly g0704 other than the look and size. It is a completely different factory, different castings, etc. A few parts in them might be the same, thats how it is done, but overall, a completely different mill.
Back to the 1228 Lathe though, I think it is going to be a great machine for us, especially with the quick change gearbox, and D1-4, I really like those features. I am going to check in to the speed controller, since I have seen it come up a few times. I ran the machine, and never noticed it to be a problem at all, but I will look in to it.