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Values
below are taken from vendor's published specifications and/or from
actual measurements of unmodified units. (Grizzly, Harbor Freight,
Lathemaster, Jet, Enco, Cummins, Homier, etc. Among brands of the same
sizes machines are virtually identical except for paint color and/or
included accessories.) All machines include manuals and parts lists
(Grizzly manuals are the best.).
Prices
are not listed as they vary with vendor and sale prices. Prices often
include "value added" in accessories, quality of machine "out of the
box", and dealer support. Sometimes prices are independent of these;
shop around.
Where there is a best value parameter in the table, not purely dependent on lathe size, the value appears in red. Some
may not agree with the best weight but I like cast iron for rigidity and strength!
Atlas/Craftsman
6" & 12" and South Bend 9" lathes included as references for
out-of-production U.S. built smaller machines still available used and
restorable. Specifications are from specific machine series; these
lathes date as early as the '30's so there have been changes and
improvements. These three lathes are not included in "best value"
indications.
Late News! 12/31/07: I have just been given a heads-up by an interested reader of this review
(Thanks, John Loosemore) who is in the market for this 8x14 or the Lathemaster version. The Harbor
Freight website has changed the photo, online manual, parts list, and description
of this lathe, without changing the model number. This newly documented
HF lathe appears now to have only one prismatic way, at the front, with
a flat way at the rear. Also the tailstock now shares the front prismatic
way with the carriage. The parts diagram now shows the flat rear way. The
description still says the ways are stress relieved, as before, but, as
before, there is no way to tell if the ways are hardened until you get
it (although I suspect they are, having been stress relieved). The big
question in my mind is whether the bed is now shortened so that this is
truly an 8x12 rather than an 8x14 sibling of the Lathemaster as when it
was previously available. If someone knows for sure please email me (see
contact page). Also questionable is what Lathemaster's version will be
after the next inventory turnover.
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Parameter
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7x
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8x
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9x
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6" Atlas/Craftsman
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9"
SouthBend
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12"
Atlas/Craftsman
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Center-Center
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10", 12", 14" *
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14" *
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20" *
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18"
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17"-35"
(4 beds)
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24"/36"
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Swing over Cross-Slide
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2-1/8"
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4-1/4"
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5"
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3-3/8"
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5-1/2"
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7-3/4"
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Weight
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74 lbs.
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242 lbs.
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195 lbs.
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100 lbs.
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280 lbs. +
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320 lbs. +
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Carriage Travel
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8-1/2", 10-1/2", 12-1/2"
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15"#
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16"
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16"
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14"+
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22"/34"
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Cross-Slide Travel
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2-3/4"
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4-3/4"
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4-1/4"
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4-3/4"
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5-7/8"
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6-1/2"
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Compound Travel
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2-3/4"
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1-3/4"
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1-7/8"
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1-3/4"
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2-1/4"
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2-1/4"
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Cross-Slide Screw
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5/16"
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1/2"
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5/16"
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3/8"
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5/16"
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1/2"
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Compound Screw
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5/16"
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7/16"
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5/16"
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3/8"
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5/16"
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1/2"
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True Inch Screws
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Cross/Compound Dials - Marks
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40 / 40
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100 / 50
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50 / 50
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50 / 50
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100 / 100
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100 / 100
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Threading Dial
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Opt.
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Yes
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Lead Screw
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5/8"
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3/4"
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9/16"
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1/2"
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3/4"
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3/4"
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Chuck Size incl.
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3" 3-jaw
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4" 3-jaw
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4" 3-jaw
7" 4-jaw
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Opt.
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Opt.
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Opt.
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Spindle Bore
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3/4"
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3/4"
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3/4"
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17/32"
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3/4"
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25/32"
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Chuck Mount
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Plain Back Bolt-on
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Plain Back Bolt-on
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39x4mm or
1-1/2"x8 Thread
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1"-8 or 1"-10 Thread
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1-1/2"-8 Thread
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1-1/2"-8 Thread
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Spindle Flange
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3" Dia.
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4" Dia.
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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Spindle Bearing
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Ball
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Tapered Roller
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Tapered Roller
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Tapered Roller
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Cast Iron or Bronze Sleeve
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Tapered
Roller
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Spindle Taper
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MT3
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MT3
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MT3
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MT2
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MT3
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MT3
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Tailstock Taper
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MT2
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MT2
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MT2
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MT1
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MT2
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MT2
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Tailstock Ram Dia.
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7/8"
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1-3/16"
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1"
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3/4"
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1-1/8"
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1-1/8"
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TS Ram Travel
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2-1/2"
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2-1/2"
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1-9/16"
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1-1/4"
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2-1/8"
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2-3/4"
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Bedway Style
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Single Prism
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Double Prism
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Double Prism
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Flat
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Triple Prism
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Flat
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Bedway Condition
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Ground
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Stress Relieved
Hardened
Ground
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Hardened
Ground
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Ground
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Hand Scraped
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Ground
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Bedway Width
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3-1/4"
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5-1/4"
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4-1/2"
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4-1/8"
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5-15/16"
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5-3/4"
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Motor***/Voltage
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3/4 Hp/DC
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3/4 Hp / 110 VAC
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3/4 Hp / 110 VAC
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1/4-1/3 Hp
120 VAC
Opt.
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1/4 -1/3 Hp
120 VAC
Opt.
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1/2-3/4 Hp
120 VAC
Opt.
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Speed Change
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Electronic Variable
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Timing & V-Belts
Step Pulley
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Timing & V-Belts
Step Pulley
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V-Belt
Step Pulley
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Flat Belt
Step Pulley
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V-Belt
Step Pulley
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Speed Range
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<150-2900 RPM
Reversible
Infinite
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125-2000 RPM
Reversible
6 Speeds
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130-2000 RPM
Reversible
6 speeds
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54-3225 RPM
16 Speeds
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40-1400+ RPM
12 Speeds
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28-2072 RPM
16 Speeds
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Back Gear
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No, but 2 Speed Spindle
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No
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Quick Change Gear Box
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No
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No
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Half Set**
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No
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Opt.
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Opt./Std on late models
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Tumbler Lever
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Yes
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No
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No
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Accessories Included
Varies with some vendors, check it
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<3" 3-Jaw Chuck
<2 Sets Jaws
<Chuck Key
<MT3 Dead Center
<MT2 Dead Center
<Set Change Gears
<Wrench Set
<Tool Box (some vendors)
<4-way Tool Post
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<4" 3-jaw Chuck
<2 Sets Jaws
<Chuck Key
<MT3 Dead Center
<MT2 Dead Center
<Intermediate Gear
<Set Change Gears
<Wrench Set
<Tool Box
<4-way Tool Post
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<4" 3-jaw chuck
<2 sets jaws
<7-1/4" 4-jaw chuck
<Steady rest
<Follow rest
<MT#2 Dead center
<MT#3 Dead center
<MT#2 Live center
<4-way tool post
<Faceplate
<Extra C-type tool post
<Tool Box & Tool Kit
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<Faceplate
<MT2 Dead Center
<MT1 Dead Center
<Lantern Tool Post
<Wrench Set
<Change Gear Set
<Tool Bit
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<Faceplate
<2 MT2 Dead Centers
<Spindle Sleeve
<Wrenches
<Change Gear Set
<Lantern Tool Post
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<Faceplate
<2 MT2 Dead Centers
<Spindle Sleeve
<Wrench Set
<Motor Electricals
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.
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Grizzly 7x12 incl.
Faceplate, Stdy Rest
Cummins 7x12 incl.
Faceplate, Stdy Rest,
Follow Rest, TS Chuck,
Tool Bit Set
Micro-Mark 7x14 incl.
True-inch screws
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Lathemaster package also
includes:
5" 4-jaw Chuck
Faceplate
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.
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Spindle Indexing
System Built-in
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.
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Power Cross-Feed standard on L models and all newer 12"
Spindle Indexing System Built-in
10x version also
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Comments
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Generally
considered a "kit" except Micro-Mark 7x14 is ready to work out of the
box. But you can't beat the price/performance once you're up if the
size is big enough. M-M says their 7x14 is a different design from
others.
Large owner community with support and modifications.
Electronics board sometimes problematic.
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Lathemaster has best 8x
out-of-box ready-to-go
capability. HF a close
second but weak on
accessories included.
A very solid lathe with
superior specs. in
as-received condition. Not
a lighter 9x, but actually a
much heavier & more rigid
lathe.
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Every new owner rebuilds compound base first. A large following of serious machining types with loads of mods and
upgrades for DIY's. Good selection of pro vendors for base machine. Not a South Bend substitute but a good buy if you
want the size.
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Classic
but outclassed by 7x lathes in features list. Still has the longest bed
in a mini-lathe and can be easily restored to factory specs. A good
sized owner support group exists and keeps these machines running. Many
swear this is a better lathe than the 7x for serious use.
Mark I and later Mark II
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Expensive
to buy now, especially genuine SB accesories. A beautiful American-made
lathe and a classic. Factory support still available and a large owner
support group as well. Don't let the flat belt put you off.
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Does
anything & does it well. Base machine includes must have options
like QCGB, tumbler, back gear. Find one and restore it; the flat ways
allow simple rebuilding to factory specs. many times over. Still
factory parts (expensive) available from Clausing and a good owner
support group too.
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Bottom Line:
Notes:
*
7x10, 7x12, 7x14 are usually as numbered (some 7x10 are reported to be
7x12); HF 8x12 and LM 8x14 are both 14"; 9x19 and 9x20 are both 20".
Differences in vendors descriptions are the result of measuring
with/without chuck and/or live center rather than the standard
dimension using just dead centers.
Lathemaster has a new 9x30 lathe that is not included here.
** Asian 9x lathes with QCGB have half sets of ratios available; for a complete range some headstock gears must be changed
as in the 7x and 8x lathes.
*** Asian lathe motors are not generally quite up to the HP their nameplate states. Not directly equivalent to U.S. built
motors HP or reliability.
# 8x carriage travel with threading dial in place is 13". Removal increases travel by 2" to 15".
Go to HF 8x12 Review
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