what's your dream lathe?

[seventhdevil]

i did find an old thread about this from 2011 but there were not many posts on it and i thought it's about time there was another.

post a picture if you can.


mine is the Wadkin RU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJC8uSzkRbo

[Twisted Trees]

Don't really have a dream lathe, A dream workshop would be Norm Abram's, New Yankee Workshop with the associated finishing room and wood store. Space around every machine and lots of empty assembly space too heaven! (though the rule is it will still be 1/3 of the size you need 

[Wood spinner]

Magma Titan 400  its not a dream its a reality 

[BrianH]

Sounds like a "Wrong end of the telescope" question to me. Its not the lathe I dream of its improving my skills to get the best out of what's available to me at the time.
Brian

[fuzzyturns]

I'd probably second the Magma Titan 400, but I've got neither the money nor the space.

[Lazurus]

Lucky enough to have got it after 20 years

[burywoodturners]

A better one than I have now.......

[Paul Hannaby]

When you consider a lathe is just there to spin a piece of wood while you poke sharp things at it there are many permutations available and I'm not sure there is one machine I would call a dream lathe. Some lathes have useful features which I think are useful and some have negative aspects I would rather avoid!

If I was buying a lathe this is what I would want it to have -
Large capacity in diameter and length
Adequate power from the motor
Minimum footprint to achieve the above
Electronic variable speed
Outboard turning capability
Precise and consistent headstock / tailstock alignment
Vibration damping or at least enough mass for it not to be a problem
Common spindle thread
Hollow spindle and quill
Zero play wear free bearings
Minimal maintenance
Durable finish
Easily adjustable height
Multiple indexing ranges


What I would avoid -
Bespoke / complex electronics which may not be supported in the future.
Useless gimmicks
Mechanical variable speed
Weak quill extension/retraction

As you can see I don't want much! 

[burywoodturners]

Do you want all that in one lathe? Does it make sense to have a 2HP motor and turn pens?
and how about that dream lottery win you will need to buy it?
Ron

[Twisted Trees]

Do you want all that in one lathe? Does it make sense to have a 2HP motor and turn pens?
and how about that dream lottery win you will need to buy it?
Ron

That is why a large workshop is key, if you only have room for one lathe then it has to turn both structural columns and pens.

[bodrighywood]

The argument is always that you can turn small things on a big lathe but not big things on a small lathe. Steve's dream Wadkin for example can be used to turn dolls house furniure but also pillars for a full sized house. There's one next door and it is not only big but also damned difficult to get parts. Had to have a chuck made for it for example. There will always be a better lathe than the one we have but in the meantime I'll carry on making the most of the ones I have.

Pete

[Mark Hancock]

I have it and it fulfills all of Paul's requirement, a Magma Titan 315G 

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

 Instead of wishing my life away by dreaming of things I will never be able to afford I adapt my turnings to what my lathe is capable of doing. I have a graduate, much better than many of the modern machines. It is nicely run in , everything slides easily and it is still accurate. It has variable speed with no loss of torque, at least none that you would notice. It is nice an quiet when running and I can still get spares should I need them. It is bolted down to 3 tons of concrete so very rarely is there any vibration. So no I would not change my lathe even if I had a choice, now the size of workshop is a completely different kettle of fish.

[Wood spinner]

When you consider a lathe is just there to spin a piece of wood while you poke sharp things at it there are many permutations available and I'm not sure there is one machine I would call a dream lathe. Some lathes have useful features which I think are useful and some have negative aspects I would rather avoid!

If I was buying a lathe this is what I would want it to have -
Large capacity in diameter and length
Adequate power from the motor
Minimum footprint to achieve the above
Electronic variable speed
Outboard turning capability
Precise and consistent headstock / tailstock alignment
Vibration damping or at least enough mass for it not to be a problem
Common spindle thread
Hollow spindle and quill
Zero play wear free bearings
Minimal maintenance
Durable finish
Easily adjustable height
Multiple indexing ranges


What I would avoid -
Bespoke / complex electronics which may not be supported in the future.
Useless gimmicks
Mechanical variable speed
Weak quill extension/retraction

As you can see I don't want much! 

Paul , Your requirements are a Magma Titan 400 

[Jaffa]

Hi am new to site looking for advice on which lathe to buy for a beginner thanks