Griz's new lathe

[fredbelknap]

I see that Grizzley has come out with a new lathe, looks like a clone of Jet.
www.grizzly.com/products/18-X-47-Wood-Lathe/G0698

[rhull]

I don't understand why it needs two speed ranges:

Speed range, high: 0-3200 RPM low: 0-1200 RPM

The high range is inclusive of the low range...what's the advantage there?

[sachbvn]

I wonder if it was misprinted. That - or.... it has more "torque"? in the lower range??? IDK - good question.


Zac

[admin]

Well Rob, that's actually a great question...

Could it be a reason to charge nearly $1300 for it? lol. "But sir, it has TWO speeds, you'll only use the faster one, but it's got another for when the first one wears out!"

Only weighs 547? And can turn a bowl probably 16" easy without much issue. You'd have to bolt the bloody thing to the floor or it'd walk out of the shop, across the street, and into your neighbors shop. Or at least it'll vibrate as far as the cord will reach!

Utility basket? I guess that's where ya store your utility while you're turning?

I still think you'd have to put some kind of serious weight box under it though. A 16" bowl blank of hardwood would weigh something like 60 pounds or so. Lot of rotating mass to be wrangling in.

[fredbelknap]

The high range is inclusive of the low range...what's the advantage there?[/quote]

Rob I think it's like having a high and low speed range on a truck. If you are doing large bowls and need more torque at low speed use low range. If you are doing spindles you would want to use the high speed. I think it is a good option on a lathe along with the VS.

[TDHofstetter]

I see the dual speed ranges in much the same way as I see dual speed ranges in a cordless drill. It's HARD to halfway accurately pick & maintain one of the lower speeds when you're in a high speed range, or to get tons of torque when you're in a high speed range, or to get up to small-object speeds when you're in a low range.

The low range provides extra torque for roughing big stuff. The high range provides extra speed for smaller stuff... and will give you COARSE speed control over the low range, but not the torque boost.

Like the "torque amplifier" on my old tractor. Pull the lever & it instantly drops you one gear to give you extra pulling power.

[rhull]

Dec 8, 2009 17:51:02 GMT -6 sachbvn said:

I wonder if it was misprinted. That - or.... it has more "torque"? in the lower range???

Torque's a great guess. I bet you're right.