Lathe Upgrade!

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:25 pm

Well, the old Enco finally bit the dust. I'm not sure exactly what happened, aside from the fact that it was a total piece of crap.

I bought a brand new Jet 9 x 20 metal lathe from Amazon.com, and it arrived last Thursday. It was $1000.99 and shipping was free!

I was able to salvage some parts off the old Enco, like the quick change tool post, and........... well, the quick change tool post was about it.

The Jet looks *exactly* like the Enco, except it's white instead of blue. But when I took my 4 jaw self centering chuck off the Enco, it wouldn't thread onto the Jet's spindle. So I just took the 4" backing plate off the 3 jaw chuck that came with the jet and put it on my 4 jaw.

It may look the same, but this Jet is a *much* better machine. For one thing it doesn't make any noise! They are both made in the same factory , but to *very* different specs, apparently.

I have been using it since last Friday, and I would highly recommend this lathe to anyone considering getting a smallish metal lathe.

This thing is the nuts! I am a happy man!

Rad

munkey · Post by **munkey** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:16 pm

Sweet, sounds like a nice upgrade, congrats!

NvilleDave · Post by **NvilleDave** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:17 pm

Congrats Rad! Definetly a great machine and can't beat free shipping on a 300 lbs lathe. I'm really happy with mine too. Enjoy!

Dave

magruder · Post by **magruder** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:53 am

Hi Rad,
I just went to Amazon tool and the Jet 9x20 is $1400.
How did you get that price?
Thanx,
Steve

munkey · Post by **munkey** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 4:39 am

Given my recent track record, I don't know if I should dare post a link, but here it goes:
Listed @ $1025

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:24 am

With free shipping, sounds like a darn good deal.

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 11:34 am

Good Munkey!!

Steve, that's a little more, but still a great deal with free shipping. The deal is they take a while to ship it.

I ordered mine in mid Oct. with a promised ship date of Oct. 24 to Oct. 31. That came & went, and I was notified that the new promised ship date was Nov. 15 to Nov. 22. It finally did ship and arrived last Thursday.

Well worth the wait to save $500.00. The ones for $1498.00 apparently come from a different company, and ship right away.

Rad

carthagena · Post by **carthagena** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:05 pm

Hi Rad !

Congrats for the new lathe

For weeks I'm thinking about buying a lathe but as I live in France, I think that the shipping will not be free

Did you buy some tools with ? Which tools do you use with this machine and where can it be find ?

David

magruder · Post by **magruder** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 1:59 pm

Thanx Munkey -it worked!

Rad- I understand that long wait/price now that you explain it.

carthagena-
Being in Europe, I would think some great German lathes should be available.
Perhaps Trever would have some ideas about getting a lathe in France :dunno:

Best to all,
Steve

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 3:25 pm

Did you buy some tools with ? Which tools do you use with this machine and where can it be find

Hi David,

i didn't buy any tools with it, since i already had what I needed. I use it for stems, and I grind my own bits for cutting tenons, and use some wood turning tools for shaping stems.

The wood turning tools I got from Grizzly.

Rad

carthagena · Post by **carthagena** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 5:39 pm

Thank you, Rad and Steve

You're nice.
I should contact some german pipemaker for advices about where get a good lathe. And I'm in contact with Trever : he is a really nice guy.

Happy pipemaking

David

LexKY_Pipe · Post by **LexKY_Pipe** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 6:24 pm

Rad

Are you using the lathe for stummel and stem work?

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:14 pm

Hi Craig,

Just stem work for now.

I've got a chuck (had it for 6 months) that I need to set up to hold blocks, but I can't seem to get away from the drill press. It's all a matter of what you're used to, I guess.

Rad

LexKY_Pipe · Post by **LexKY_Pipe** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:07 am

Hey Rad

You're right. I know that for those who started with a drill press the question is, "Why would you try to drill any other way."

I know you're going to love the Jet though for your stem work.