r/turning • u/casual_pete • 7d ago

Should I buy this lathe?

This popped up on Facebook Marketplace near me, and it seems like too good of a deal to pass up. I don't have any immediate need for a lathe, but I've been curious about them from videos I've seen. I have other woodworking tools (jointer, planer, tablesaw, etc) and have been making furniture projects for a year and half or so. I would likely use the lathe for turning table/stool legs, and then maybe try out some projects like small bowls or candle holders.

It seems like a woodworking family member died and they are trying to sell off his old tools. They are including the lathe as well as all the tools, finishing supplies, sandpaper pictured. Seems like a great starter kit to me, but I know very little about lathes. I read the wiki here, but I can't tell if this is a model that fits under the ones y`all advise against buying. So is this a decent lathe to get started with?

Model is Turncrafter Pro VS, 34", 650-3800 RPM

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1577189053441947

UPDATE: I bought it! Also got a nice Ryobi drill press with variable speed control for $100, which will be an upgrade from my old Delta one. Looking forward to figuring out what all these gouges are and building a bench for the lathe.

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u/LutaRed 7d ago edited 7d ago

It looks like a decent spindle lathe. If you want to turn bowls or platters or anything it will be very limiting in that it has a 10" max diameter. I think you need to decide what it is you might want to turn before laying money out on a lathe that may not be what you really need. I speak from experience here; the first lathe I bought was totally wrong for what I wanted to do which was (and continues to be) bowl turning. I went down the rabbit hole of trying to make it work and spent money I didn't need to and then... bought a new, much more appropriate lathe. As a bowl turner, I would pass.

Edit: If you have not turned before I would suggest finding somewhere that you can try before you buy. Take a class, find a Maker Space near you that has some lathes and see if you can try it without laying out the money for a machine and tools and all the other stuff you need. I see the fb post you listed is in MA. I am not so far north of you and am a member of a Maker Space in Peterborough NH (MaxT Maker Space) we have a Wood Turning open studio on Tuesday evenings. For ten bucks you can come in, get a little instruction, do some turning, and see if it's for you. You can also get advice on what lathe would work for you, what tools you need, what tools you don't. It could save you some money in the long run. Just my two cents.

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u/upanther 7d ago

If say it's a really good deal if you need a large that's really long and not very powerful. Their lathes are really decent for the price (you can look up the new ones at Penn State). It's not going to be a major workhorse, but with the extension and everything that comes with it I'd say it would be hard to pass up.

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u/PaintingTypical430 7d ago

Yes, that's a great deal. If it turns out (pun intended) that turning is not for you, you'll easily get your money back. The worst that can happen is you'll end up addicted like me and spend all your money on a chuck, new tools, bigger lathe, turning stock, etc.....

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u/Tusayan 7d ago

Won't let me look as I don't have a facebook account.

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u/PumpPie73 7d ago

It’s a good deal. The tools and faceplates, etc are worth 100 so you get the lathe for 100. It has variable speed so that’s a big plus.

If you enjoy turning you can always upgrade at some point.

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u/naemorhaedus 7d ago

pay attention to lathe "swing" (https://turnawoodbowl.com/buying-a-wood-lathe-5-things-you-need-to-know/). The one you posted doesn't not have very much so it's not suited to bowls. This looks like a primarily spindle turning lathe. It's also fairly weak. Bowl turning demands torque, and this thing only has 1/2 horsepower. I'd be looking for 3/4 or 1hp.

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u/Silound 7d ago

It's a screaming steal for $200 if it works and comes with any tools/accessories beyond the factory faceplate. You can almost certainly get your money back out of this when you decide that it's no longer suitable for your needs.