Woodworker's Journal 1993-17-5, страница 55

Tool Review

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BENCHTOP LATHES

Six Machines That Won t Bust Your Budget

Photo 1: AMT 4370features heavy cast-iron construction, nine fixed speeds. Live ball-bearing tailstock is standard. Motor and switch are sold separately.

Photo 1: AMT 4370features heavy cast-iron construction, nine fixed speeds. Live ball-bearing tailstock is standard. Motor and switch are sold separately.

Scptemher/Ot-'Lohei 1993

h\ Jim Harrett

While I'm far from being an accomplished woodturner, I've always enjoyed puttering around on wood lathes when I got the chance. Most woodworkers do, I think. There's a certain sense of instant gratification you gel while watching a spindle lake on its curvaceous form under the chisels. Or maybe it's the anticipation of revealing a beautifully figured grain pattern hidden inside a bowl blank. Whatever the allure, lathes are a lot of fun.

But being the practical woodworker that I am. I've never been able to quite justify buying a lathe for my own shop. For one thing, I've always viewed them as expensive, somewhat frivolous, hobbyist machines with relatively few applications in general woodworking projects. For another, a full-size lathe can take up a healthy portion of shop space. Do my excuses sound familiar? Well, the fact remains that woodturning is a great hobby, and once you gel hooked on it, you'll be hooked for life.

With that thought in mind, 1 decided to review three popular benchtop models that I felt would fit ihe needs (and budget) of first-time lathe buyers: The AMT Model 4370: the Delta Model 46-700. and Sears Model 22816N. While each machine has its own set of unique features, all have sufficient capacity for a w ide variety of woodturning projects. They're also solid, well-made tools that will accept most standard accessories. Several other manufacturers offer benchtop units in the same general price range, but 1 didn't have the space (in this article or in my shop) lo review them. You can use the three 1 did review as a basis for comparison while shopping, however.

During my initial research for this article. I became intrigued with a relatively new category of wood lathes, which I'll call mini-lathes. 1 included

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Photo 2: Delta 46-700 has lever-operated variable speed control. which enables you to adjust speeds while the lathe is running.

'J Inset: Rotating head stock provides a 16 in. diameter outboard turning capacity.