Anyone with a Penn State Midi Lathe tell me if they received instructions, parts list and warranty information with their lathe? Just got mine and there's no documentation with it at all. Perhaps there's someplace to download a PDF of the manual?

I've emailed Penn State but thought I'd check here... can't figure there not being a warranty card and parts list included. Box was pretty rough, guess the manual may have fallen out?

i recieved mine in EXACTLY the same shape, minus a lock ring. called the factoty, got a sale rep(?) on the phone and though he was not very eager about it all, i got the manual in the mail about 10 days later. was real ho-hum about it all. also-they sent me a flyer advertising the new 4 jaw chuck they are pushing. went online to order it, are back ordered until april. REALLY wish i had bought a JET. oh well, maybe next time.

I had excellant service from Penn State and my lathe was delivered with full manual warranty, etc as were other items that I have ordered from them. Sounds like you got hold of a bad employee. Maybe you should ask for a supervisor!!

Mike

I called them to and was asked to call back when I could talk to a 'tech'. I'll be working tomorrow but my wife is going to call. Hopefully they'll take care of things ASAP. The 3 jaw chuck I ordered was backorder too.

Have you had much time to use your lathe yet? I just turned the rear grip for a spinning rod, and, ran into a couple new little dilemmas. One thing just leads to another I reckon.

I've been using it for a few months and have nothing but praise about it!! Quite a few guys who frequent this board use one and these are the only 2 complaints that I have ever heard about it. What kind of dilemma's are you running into???

Mike

Mike, I'm not complaining about the lathe - I'm happy as heck! Been wanting one for 2 years. I'd almost bought the Grizzly Hobby lathe a couple times but knew if I did I'd just end up wanting something to turn wood on, so, I held out till I could swing the Penn State.

I just turned a rear grip using Andy Dear's mandrels and it's the smoothest grip with the least glue lines I've ever turned out. The problem I ran into was reaming the grip out fit the blank -- I just need to get more various sized reamers put togather I believe. Other little thing I've got to work out is the butt cap. All the rods I've made till now I've turned the handle down with the cork rings glued to the blank. I'd sort of come up with a routine to turn the cork down for the butt cap -- I just need to come up with a new routine.

I'm sure Penn State will get me a manual and the warranty info. Pretty much decided to purchase it from recommendations here. And, if you got a few months head start on me using this lathe..... well, hope you'll answer some of my sure to come amature questions.

Thank ya,
NT

Neil, one thing that may help on your reaming problem is to pre drill your rings to about the same ID as the smallest area they will set on the blank. This will allow a minimal about of reaming for a tight fit.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/2005 08:15AM by Doug Moore.

Neil,

Doug beat me to it!! That's the way to do it! I'm still a novice with wood but feel free to ask any questions you have here, or just e-mail me.

Mike

Thanks for the advice. Think I was just a little over catious and drilled out the rings smaller than needed to begin with.... so much to learn!

As for the manual for the Penn State lathe (for anyone considering one), my wife called the company today and they knew what she was talking about before she'd even finished a sentence. They said that was a packing problem from the manufacturer and they'd send me the manual and warranty info right away. Guess the gal she talked to was nice and helpful.... so, I'm tickled pink.