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what's your dream lathe?

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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!  ;D

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:

--- Quote from: burywoodturners on June 24, 2019, 07:53:11 PM ---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

--- End quote ---

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.

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