Big Lathe Upgrade Time

I got the Grizzly G0766 and am happy with it. 22” swing and 42 long. Too big is scary anyway.

-- "PLUMBER'S BUTT! Get over it, everybody has one"

I have the Powermatic 35-20C, am very pleased with the lathe, it’s heavy and stable, the head slides anywhere on the bed, the controls for the vfd are on a cable and can be moved where its convenient. and a tail stock swing away att. is available, this is great for hollowing out large bowls.

-- Colombia Custom Woodworking

+1 for the Powermatic 3520C … I’ve had mine for about a year-and-a-half, and couldn’t be happier.

I’m pretty sure it will be the last lathe that I ever buy!

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

I went thru the same thing you are going thru now for a few years and finally pulled the trigger last February. My shop is full of manuals I downloaded. Some makes are buying parts from the same factory in China. They seem to work OK, but all had issues I didn’t like. For instance, Grizzly had a serious import tariff charge. Baily uses some of the same parts as Grizzly. I made a list of features I wanted such as 220v, variable speed and torque, sliding headstock and tailstock, 3 phase converter, self ejecting tailstock and responsive customer service. My decision was Laguna 1836 and I am very happy with it. Some of the figures you mentioned were twice the price of the Laguna. Good luck. I am sure you will be happy with your choice because it seems like you are being cautious with your decision.

-- Mike, Massachusetts

I made the move about 10+ years ago to the PowerMatic 3520. It was almost half the price then that it is now.
I can’t think of a single thing I would change about it. I have turned items from small pens to 18” bowl with no problem. Oneway and Laguna both make good lathes so it comes to what size and features you want.
Good luck

-- Les B, Oregon

The Powermatic 2020 is cheaper than the 3520c by $800. From what I am reading it is the same lathe on a smaller platform. I really want to turn big bowls, would a heavy outboard stand on the 2020 be more sensible than the 3520c. If Im not mistaken, the outboard stand is an extra accessory for both lathes. Powermatic is becoming a more appealing option now.

Btw are you all moving these things with a shop crane or something?

Only one would throw out of the mix is the Oliver. Only reason for that is not the same company that built great woodworking machines once. Just like the rest of the companies listed here are tool importers, but unlike the other no track record for handling problems. Not saying other companies have stellar customer service & support but at least have track records!

Oliver 2018:
https://woodworker.com/oliver-clasic-lathe-2hp-1ph-220v-mssu-175-124.asp

Oneway 1640
https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/oneway16401-12hplathe.aspx

Grizzly G0766
https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G0766-Variable-Speed-Wood-Lathe/dp/B0121UXCYW/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=77928002401361&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=grizzly+g0766&qid=1574373655&sr=8-1#customerReviews

PM 3520C
https://www.amazon.com/Powermatic-1353001-3520C-Lathe-Risers/dp/B077Q9LYQT

PM 2020 if buy this lathe forget about the outboard stand, you can build a better and safer one yourself.
https://www.amazon.com/Powermatic-PM2020-30V-Short-Lathe/dp/B00Q7SE8XY

Outboard stand:
http://www.powermatic.com/us/en/p/outboard-turning-stand-heavy-duty-for-jet-models-3520-3520a-3520b-3520c-4224-and-4224b/6294732

Revo 18/36
https://www.amazon.com/Laguna-Tools-MLAREVO-1836-Lathe/dp/B00YX8162Q

-- Bill

I don’t know how much the bed extension is, but another 18” coupled onto the 20” bed would give you 3 more inches than the 3520. It would also give you a few more inches in swing, and could still use the banjo. Powermatic is a good lathe. ....... Jerry (in Tucson)

-- Jerry (in Tucson) www.woodturnerstools.com

The Powermatic 2020 is cheaper than the 3520c by $800. From what I am reading it is the same lathe on a smaller platform. I really want to turn big bowls, would a heavy outboard stand on the 2020 be more sensible than the 3520c. If Im not mistaken, the outboard stand is an extra accessory for both lathes. Powermatic is becoming a more appealing option now.

Btw are you all moving these things with a shop crane or something?

- blueridge

We got the 2020 (and some accessories) for my wife earlier this year during the 10% off/free shipping sale. The 2020 comes in a big box and we moved the parts around on a stool: head stock, bed, and legs. We purchased some 800lbs casters for it, but haven’t put them on yet.

-- I always knew gun nuts where afraid of something, just never thought popcorn was on the list.

Hey Jerry, think OP talking about outboard turning stand which sells for $500 to $540, versus bed extension selling for $425+change most places.

You definitely right bout that longer thingy!

-- Bill

So I own the Jet 16X42 and it has been a fine machine.
However if I was to buy another and budget permitting I would pick the Laguna 24X36.
I have used the 24×36 many times now, and love that lathe.
And with the reduced budget. which is my reality I would go with the grizzly GO766.
While I have not used that lathe, I have several friends that own it. and it has worked very well for them.
I really did not know about Grizzly at the time I purchased my Jet. And so I did not give it the consideration that it should have.

So I have no opinion about Oliver, although looking at it just now it looks like a beast.
I have some limited time using a Oneway lathe, and a PM 2020B. And own a couple Oneway chucks, that I really like.
All the lathes I have time on, other than my Jet.
A PM 2020, Oneway, and the Laguna 24X36. Are the lathes that Jimmy Clewes has in his shop.
Living in the same city as Jimmy has given me the opportunity to turn with him frequently.
And since he added the Laguna. I grab it every time I go there. lol,

So what I like about the Jet, Laguna, Grizzly and PM over the Oneway, and Oliver. Is that the head stock is adjustable, in that it will slide down the bed.
The PM and the Laguna have shorter Beds. The PM 2020B is only 20” between centers. And if all your ever going to do is bowls that will work fine. Now not to rule out PM, they have lathes with longer beds,

But with the longer bed you have the option to do more if you want. ( long tool handles, big vase or even spindle work). And Just last week I did a little hollow form, and had the head stock moved all the way to the end of the bed. way more comfortable standing at the end, than leaning over the bed.
If you look at all these lathes, for the most part the only real difference is the Swing of each model, and paint job of the brand.

So the Laguna features that I like, what makes it different. Is the Drive unit itself. I am tall, and I really like the angled controls right up on top. easy to see and operate. And the drive spindle has the cone shape to it. That has been a really cool feature too. Gives you more room to work. And last, the 24X36 I have used has a second remote control panel. When working at the end of the lathe, sometimes it is nice to not have to reach past you spinning work to adjust or stop the lathe.

Wild wood, great info you got there.

Well, a little long winded read here. Hope it helps.

-- John

Hey Jerry, think OP talking about outboard turning stand which sells for $500 to $540, versus bed extension selling for $425+change most places.

You definitely right bout that longer thingy!

- Wildwood

I made my own outboard turning stand using a small tire filed with cement, a 1 1/2” pipe with reducer fittings to bring it down to a smaller pipe at the top that accepted the stem of the tool rest. Drilled and threaded a couple of holes in the pipe to use a 1/4X20 star head bolt to lock the tool rest in position. Tire was free, a bag of premix cement, some pipe and fittings; don’t recall the cost but it was probably less than $50. I have used this same combination to make a movable stand for my grinder, using a flange to mount a board on top to hold the grinder.

-- Les B, Oregon

I have a Luguana 18-36 and I am pretty happy with it. There are some things I would like to change, but all in all for the price it is unequaled. If I would have had a 4500.00 budget, knowing what I know now, I think I would look at the powermatic 35-20. Maybe the grass is greener on the other side, but I have turned on one multiple tiimes and it seems very nice. The Laguana has a lousy positioning for the speed control and is easy to bump, but I needed wheels and the Powermatic wheels are not well designed in my mind, but if you can sit it down and basically never move it, it is an extremely nice lathe. I also did not have a metal lathe at the time, so I made some adapters for the 5/8 post tools rest with files, they seem to be the right size but worked terrible. The tool rest tightener is really touchy…..in retrospect, get rid of anything that is not a 1” tool post, at least if you have a Laguana.

-- Mike

Moke I am confused about your comment on tool posts. Please clarify your last statement. On my Laguna the tool rest tightener requires a strong turn or the tool rest could move. I wonder if other owners experience this. I know Grizzly has an odd diameter tool post and no after market items are available.

-- Mike, Massachusetts

Mike many folks with grizzly lathes have taken the 25mm (63/64”) hole in tool rest base and drilled out to 1”.

Think with all info and opinions posted OP has to decide between long or short bed lathe and brand. Guess like most posters in the thread long bed the way to go but not our choice!

-- Bill