Is one lathe enough?

[Dan Hintz]

What I have found to be a better investment is a bunch of chucks.

Agreed... I have several strongholds and a couple of Talons, and sometimes things stay in the chuck for a while. For example, right now I have a Maple vase in a Stronghold.

[John M. Smith]

I have 3 lathes. PM3520b, Powermatic 90, And the most recent addition, Delta 46-460. I won't be getting rid of any. And I am a flat woodworker. Now I think it's time to start collecting chucks. Up to 4 so far.

[Harry Robinette]

I keep my 18" General,Vega2600 and Jet 10-14. The General for mostly spindle work,Vega for bowl work and Jet Mini for pens and small stuff.
More then 1 lathe is very nice but not a must have,it's more a convenience.Making HF and lid on one and doing the finial on the other.

[robert baccus]

That depends on how many lathes your shop will hold. Lathes and turning tools must never be rationalized---bad habit. I have only 3 chucks but have probably 30+ vases/bowls on the shelf drying on glueblocks/single screws. Also I have and love a dozen steel dovetail rings which stay on bowls or glueblocks. Also a friend has made me some goods heavy faceplates. When sanding/finishing I often have 6-8 pieces in a merrygo round---easy on, easy off even while wet with finish. Yeaaa anything that makes it easier. Looking at lathe #3 now thanks to J. Keeton.

[Bernie Weishapl]

I have a DVR XP and a Jet 1220. I wouldn't part with either.

[David C. Roseman]

A second lathe is also great if you want to have a friend or family member turn with you from time to time.

David

[jared herbert]

I started out with a delta midi. I used it for several years then bought a 3520A. I kept the midi thinking it would be of use at some point. I put it on the shelf and I have never used it, not even once. Night and day difference, even on the small items such as pens, turkey calls etc. I am somewhat limited on bench space so that is something to consider. The only reason I keep the midi is at some point I will give it to my son when he has a place to set it up, otherwise turn it into cash. Jared

[Robert Henrickson]

Likewise, I had a Jet mini then bought the 1642. Put the mini on the shelf 5(?) years ago and haven't plugged it in since. But I don't intend to get rid of it, since it might be useful for demos or something. As for the bed extension for it -- that could go.

[Dan Hintz]

A second lathe is also great if you want to have a friend or family member turn with you from time to time.

If I could only convince my wife to join me...

[Roy Turbett]

A second lathe is also great if you want to have a friend or family member turn with you from time to time.

David

Ditto. I have three Powermatic 90's and a Jet mini and lots of friends that like to come over to turn.

[Matt Mackinnon]

My $0.02. I can see the increase on my electric bill when I use my Jet 1642. So, when I turn pens and other small stoppers/finials etc, I rather use the Jet Mini. BUT there is no reason that I couldn't turn pens on the 1642. In fact, when I was teaching my son, we had them both running. Takes 10 times the electricity to run a 2 hp motor vice a 1/4 hp motor.

I don't understand that comment. The size of your motor should have a negligible difference in the cost of running. An electric motor only draws as much current as is needed to spin. so a 1/2hp motor spinning a pen will use close to the same power as a 3hp motor spinning the same pen, not 6x. Yes it will be a little bit more as it's rotational friction is greater, but not by much.

[james bell]

Like a lot of y'all, I started with a 46-460 a wife was upset when I purchased it since she said I was "wasting my money on something I would need to upgrade", but at the time I did not know if I would either like turning or be able to do it.

after a year, purchased a 3520b, and thought about keeping the delta, but a neighbor was getting into woodworking so sold it. Probably would have used it, but the money is definitely better - allowed me to buy more tools!

[Mark Detrick]

I just got a 3520B but if I can find the space, I hope to keep my old lathe for applying finishes ( I use a lot of CA finish on pens ) and other messy tasks.

[Jim Underwood]

I bought a Jet 1014 when I started out, and used it for years until ToolNut had a sale on the Jet 1642 ($1600 w/free shipping), and now I could probably do without the mini if I really had to. I do use it for projects where it's just easier to have two lathes. I also use it for demos at shows or workshops, since the 1642 is just a tad difficult to move around...