I know that this subjuct has come up many times but I have a question to ask. When purchasing a lathe is it necessary to get one that has indexing on it? Looking on line to try and find a good but inexpensive lathe to turn the foam cores. Any suggestion would be helpful.

I don't have an indexing head on my lathe, so no you don't have to have one. With that said, since I have had my lathe there have been a couple of times that it would have been really nice to have. It would depend on the price point, if you can find one with in a few dollars I would purchase one with the indexing head. If the price difference is $50.00 or more I would probably pass on it myself.

I don't have index indicator on mine.........Like Mark at times I wish I had one but I get thru it OK......so I would pass also.....

Like Mark said, nice but................ I would definately go vith a variable speed one though. Keep in mind that the lathe is just the beginning! Chucks, mandrels, tools, etc. If I were going to do JUST foam cork, EVA, etc I would think about the Grizzley hobby lathe. I used one for years and it works great! [grizzley.com] I would recommend the 1/2 drill from them also to ensure that it's a good fit. A nice feature is that you can simply mount it on a board, take outside and set it on saw horses. Very light and portable [www.rodbuilding.org]

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/06/2008 09:57PM by Mike Barkley.

I'll suggest the Jet Mini.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Check out PSI they make a varible speed for 279.00 it works great I have one

For me, it would be a necessary feature for buying a lathe. I currently use a lathe without it and am going to replace the lathe with one with the indexing. My use for the indexing head is to lock the head to allow use of a small router mounted on a slider to cut mortised seats. I also turn legs and bowls and could use the indexing head for those applications too. If you are just going to sand round stuff maybe it is not necessary now, but why limit your future use of the lathe.

The little Rikon is an excellent value in a little lathe and has the variable speed and a indexing head.

The Jet Mini's made now have the indexing head on it as well - labeled as the 1014I. I have one and the indexing is a nice feature if you have a need for it as stated above. I think for most people there are other features that are much more important - variable speed being one of them.

I have the Turncrafter Pro from Penn State and am VERY pleased with it. The variable speed model wasn't available when I bought mine, but I recently added their variable speed conversion kit and LOVE it. What a difference! The conversion kit will fit the Jet and others also.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

one feature of the rikon over the jet is in the indexing. i have a jet and highly recommend it, but he rikon has indexing marks on the headstock the jet does not. it is not necessary, but would be nice to have for certain projects. the jet does index,but there are no marks on the headstock that make for easy recognition.