new G0632Z review

[Wes Ramsey]

Thanks for the comments guys!

Roger - maybe it was just the G0838 that I read somewhere was new. I honestly was so set on the G0766 I could easily have plumb overlooked this model. But after much soul searching i figured 16” was sufficient for 90% of what I will turn and the outboard rest makes up the difference.

I will have to check out the GMG. Thanks for the lead.

[Bill Blasic]

Wes when you say "Giant tool rest" are you referring to the optional Bowl turning tool rest?

[Alex Zeller]

One of the few things I don't like about my G0766 is the tool rest is cast. I've repeatedly smoothed it out but it always feels rough. I've been lazy but sooner or later I'm going to upgrade to a nicer one that has a harden steel surface for the tools. When I bought my lathe Grizzly had a coupon code that brought the price less than your limit including shipping. Then the tariff happened (I received it days before it took effect). I'm not sure now after the price increase. I started off looking at the G0462 but the slowest speed was still way too fast. Everyone I talked with said that you could add variable speed to it and it made for a nice lathe. But to do that would of cost as much, if not more than the G0632Z. Suddenly my budget jumped up. It wasn't that much of a jump and with the discount (I calculated it out to be about 18%) to the G0766. I don't think you are going to find that down the road you wished you got the G0766. Sure turning the headstock to do outboard turning is a little bit of work but not enough to me to justify the price difference now.

[Roger Chandler]

The stock toolrest on the Jet lathes is a cast rest, and so is the stock rest that came on the Powermatic 3520b's. Cast rests make for a lathe to be able to reach a price point, and I upgraded to Robust Rests years ago with my former G0698, and then when I got the G0766 I had to get new ones with longer posts. I still use the stock rest on my G0766 occasionally, but a premium rest made from steel with the drill rod welded along the top will cost a good bit more.

Now, my G0800 toolrest has a 1" wide x 1/4" thick piece of bar stock turned on its side and welded to the toolrest body, and it looks like the Robust rests as far as the slick drill rod on top, as the bar has rounded machining to look like its a rod, only it is far beefier than a rod, and I use it all the time.

I don't think we can expect a lathe to have all premium features for a moderate price. I liken it to wanting to purchase a Roll Royce on a Volkswagen budget......it would be nice, but the world just does not work that way. The cast rests are fully functional, but do require a touch up with a file if it gets dinged with a big catch. Normal operation.

In favor of the G0766, it does have a more advanced M series Delta Inverter/motor combo on it, [3 hp] and mine has worked flawlessly for 3+ years with pretty heavy usage. I feel I got a great lathe for the money and one that has served me very well. I have cored on it, turned big wood on it, and it has done everything I have asked of it, and done it well.

[Alex Zeller]

Wes, I'm sorry if I hijacked this thread, it wasn't my intention. I'm not complaining. I never expected my G0766 to be an equal to an American Beauty. I expect that I would have to make upgrades.

[Wes Ramsey]

Wes when you say "Giant tool rest" are you referring to the optional Bowl turning tool rest?

Yes, the accessory bowl rest is a bolt-on behemoth.

Wes, I'm sorry if I hijacked this thread, it wasn't my intention. I'm not complaining. I never expected my G0766 to be an equal to an American Beauty. I expect that I would have to make upgrades.

Not at all! I'm still quite happy with my purchase and don't feel that I made a bad decision at all Re: the G0766.

[Wes Ramsey]

Here are a few pics for those interested...

Me and my boys by the big green warehouse in Springfield with the new lathe strapped down and ready for the ride home. My father-in-law also had me pick up a new planer/moulder - that's the box on top.
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This is my old Delta lathe as I was moving it.
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Clean-ish and ready to move the new lathe in.
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Here she is! Assembled and ready for me to install new outlets.
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This is about as low as she will go...
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This is the bowl rest just kinda propped on the ways. In use the headstock would be between the 'legs' of the rest and rotated to face the rest.
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This is the tool rest after I filed and sanded it. When doing high-angle shear scraping my gouge tended to catch in the casting flaws. Only the deepest one remains, but it shouldn't be an issue anymore.
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