Could be better in review
Mike, I looked around on the net and did not find many "Good" reviews for the lathe. But I have owned a few Grizzly tools and have always had good luck with them, but like Leo said most all the Reeves drive machines will give you troubles if they are not very well made. The cheap ones have aluminum or white metal cheap pulley systems and tend to get dirty and sticky more often than not, I say this from experience. That being said the old PM90's and other older lathes that have milled reeves systems work much better and have withstood the test of time in many high school shops for many years. Still most of them still have bolts to move the tailstock and tool rests, but any of them can be retrofited with a cam action clamping system if you want to take the time.
So my 2 cents are to try and find a really great deal on a PM3520 or a Jet1642 if you can. I have come across a few in my looking on CL and through other sales and auctions. You will still end up paying about $1000 or more even for a Jet, they just have not been around long enough to have any great used deals out there.
Make some things and pound the pavement and sell some turnings and save your pennies, it may be the only way, a prayer may help too!
Good luck,
Jeff
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