Posted by:
roger wilson
(---.hsd1.mn.comcast.net)
Craig,
I used a 16 inch lathe for several years and it worked just fine most of the time.
However, this last year, I picked up an 18 inch lathe with an 18 inch bed extension.
The longer length and extension makes all of the jobs so much more convenient.
When putting handles in and out, inserting rods etc. it is so nice to be able to loosen the tail stock, slide it down out of the way, and then slide it back to lock up the tail stock.
But certainly a 16 inch lathe with an MT1 tail stock works most of the time.
But if you start with the slightly larger lathe with the MT2 head and tail stock, then you can buy all of your accessories in this size and not have to replace them all like I did this year.
Good luck
Roger
Here is a nice source to consider for either Lathes, or Lathe accessories.
If nothing else, by reading the catalog, you get a nice cross section of the type lathes that could work well for you.
[
www.pennstateind.com]
For example:
[
www.pennstateind.com]
A nice 10 inch lathe with bed extension. This one has variable speed, as opposed to a continuous speed change. But changing the belt is a very quick job.
