- Joined
- Feb 24, 2015
- Messages
- 1,382
I’ve decided it is time to upgrade my Lathe. I’ve been using a 9x19 Grizzly G4000 for the last 10 years and it has served me well, but it has always had a few shortcomings, insufficiently low speed, length and spindle bore. I don’t need one much longer, but I’ve stretched mine almost past its limits when threading a couple 16” rifle barrels.
I’m looking for a good quality variable speed medium size lathe not any heavier than about 500 pounds. Because of the size and nature of my shop, I need to be able to move it sometimes and I like being able to use a heavy tool chest as a base. Wheels has worked well on my G400, but I may make pallet height feet on the new one and move it with a pallet jack. But, I have to be able to move it. Lathe work is only a fraction of the tasks I do in my shop. Also, price is an object. I can afford about $2000.
I’m not interested in buying an old lathe that will need to be restored. First, I don’t know enough about lathes to trust that I’m up to a full blown restoration. Secondly, I have projects that need to be done on a lathe and that doesn’t include spending a half a year building a lathe.
Two lathes have caught my eye.
The 10x22 Grizzly G-0752 variable speed
and the new Sieg SC8 11x30 variable speed.
The Sieg SC8 is a tad longer than I’d prefer, but it has several very nifty features that appeal to me, such as a cross slide drive, dual drive screws and MT2 tailstock so I can use the collection of live centers and chucks I’ve accumulated for the Grizzly and my HF 7x14 Mini Lathe.
They both cost about the same. The Grizzly comes with more accessories, but the Sieg has more features. It is missing a steady rest and tailstock chuck, but those are easy and inexpensive enough to afford.
I guess the crux of my question is about the quality and reputation of Sieg lathes. I have two Grizzly machines and I know what to expect and they’ve performed well for my purposes. The Sieg looks good, but I just don’t know. The other thing is I’d like to upgrade the 5” 3-jaw chuck to 6” on either of them.
Any advise or experience with Sieg I’d appreciate. I am open to alternatives, but variable speed is a deal breaker. Unless the alternative already has it, or can be readily, reasonably and simply modified, I’m intimidated by that. I really want something I can use with just the average clean up and tune up right out of the crate.
I’m looking for a good quality variable speed medium size lathe not any heavier than about 500 pounds. Because of the size and nature of my shop, I need to be able to move it sometimes and I like being able to use a heavy tool chest as a base. Wheels has worked well on my G400, but I may make pallet height feet on the new one and move it with a pallet jack. But, I have to be able to move it. Lathe work is only a fraction of the tasks I do in my shop. Also, price is an object. I can afford about $2000.
I’m not interested in buying an old lathe that will need to be restored. First, I don’t know enough about lathes to trust that I’m up to a full blown restoration. Secondly, I have projects that need to be done on a lathe and that doesn’t include spending a half a year building a lathe.
Two lathes have caught my eye.
The 10x22 Grizzly G-0752 variable speed
and the new Sieg SC8 11x30 variable speed.
The Sieg SC8 is a tad longer than I’d prefer, but it has several very nifty features that appeal to me, such as a cross slide drive, dual drive screws and MT2 tailstock so I can use the collection of live centers and chucks I’ve accumulated for the Grizzly and my HF 7x14 Mini Lathe.
They both cost about the same. The Grizzly comes with more accessories, but the Sieg has more features. It is missing a steady rest and tailstock chuck, but those are easy and inexpensive enough to afford.
I guess the crux of my question is about the quality and reputation of Sieg lathes. I have two Grizzly machines and I know what to expect and they’ve performed well for my purposes. The Sieg looks good, but I just don’t know. The other thing is I’d like to upgrade the 5” 3-jaw chuck to 6” on either of them.
Any advise or experience with Sieg I’d appreciate. I am open to alternatives, but variable speed is a deal breaker. Unless the alternative already has it, or can be readily, reasonably and simply modified, I’m intimidated by that. I really want something I can use with just the average clean up and tune up right out of the crate.