And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Have the belt drive version, with a stand, its ok for the money, cheaper Taiwan manufactured, had to accurize it though, understandable due to price, of course level it, my reason going for it had to do with getting it off the truck into the shop, no fork truck my shop is part of a barn. Rolled it on planks and pieces of plastic pipe for rollers. Not a bad lathe, it just isn't a Browne and Sharp. Got it dialed in so I can get down to .0002 reliably. A set-true chuck is a must. Bored and sleeved the tail stock, the ay it came was way too sloppy, used an R-8 boring head held in the chuck, that made the z axis dead nuts centered.
Pretty much spot on. BUT, that said, there is zero excuse for a machine tool to need any work out-of-the-box. If it does, not worth the price.
Look instead at the Precision Matthews 1236: for a lower (but comparable) price, you get US quality control on a highly regarded Taiwan (not mainland) machine, and superb customer support. PM has a great reputation in the high-end hobby/prototype world. Grizzly does not.
I can't say anything about that machine but I do know that the larger lathes above the smaller table top models are very well made and capable of very precision work. I have been through their Springfield showroom a number of times and really looked over their gunsmith lathe and similar sizes and would buy one if I didn't already have a fully equipped shop. They also have in stock every replacement part for all of their products. If nothing else you should request their free green catalog as they have a lot more then machinery. Have fun!
The Grizzly guy was a tool salesman, Lebanese or Syrian I believe. He took up the guitar, then offered decent guitar kits, same with surfing, so he offered surfboard kits, he took up target shooting and offered a gunsmithing-centric lathe. I think his daughter has the reins now.
Indeed, he should be admired. But recognize what the company is selling: mediocre machine tools from mainland China, made to a price point, not a quality standard.
Have the belt drive version, with a stand, its ok for the money, cheaper Taiwan manufactured, had to accurize it though, understandable due to price, of course level it, my reason going for it had to do with getting it off the truck into the shop, no fork truck my shop is part of a barn. Rolled it on planks and pieces of plastic pipe for rollers. Not a bad lathe, it just isn't a Browne and Sharp. Got it dialed in so I can get down to .0002 reliably. A set-true chuck is a must. Bored and sleeved the tail stock, the ay it came was way too sloppy, used an R-8 boring head held in the chuck, that made the z axis dead nuts centered.
ReplyDeletePretty much spot on. BUT, that said, there is zero excuse for a machine tool to need any work out-of-the-box. If it does, not worth the price.
DeleteLook instead at the Precision Matthews 1236: for a lower (but comparable) price, you get US quality control on a highly regarded Taiwan (not mainland) machine, and superb customer support. PM has a great reputation in the high-end hobby/prototype world. Grizzly does not.
I can't say anything about that machine but I do know that the larger lathes above the smaller table top models are very well made and capable of very precision work. I have been through their Springfield showroom a number of times and really looked over their gunsmith lathe and similar sizes and would buy one if I didn't already have a fully equipped shop. They also have in stock every replacement part for all of their products. If nothing else you should request their free green catalog as they have a lot more then machinery. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteI wrote about the lathe below before I saw your post.
DeleteUsed one like that for some time in a factory back in the 70's where good tools as I recall.
ReplyDeleteThe Grizzly guy was a tool salesman, Lebanese or Syrian I believe. He took up the guitar, then offered decent guitar kits, same with surfing, so he offered surfboard kits, he took up target shooting and offered a gunsmithing-centric lathe. I think his daughter has the reins now.
ReplyDeleteAn American success story.
Indeed, he should be admired. But recognize what the company is selling: mediocre machine tools from mainland China, made to a price point, not a quality standard.
Delete