My background revolves around machining in industry, so I'm not a good source of advice where selecting a home shop lathe is concerned. That's not to say I can't give you some guidance, but I tend to see things differently than the guy that has never worked in the trade.Jackotrades05 wrote:Just which do You recommend ?
I'm also not one of the guys that thinks old American iron is always better. It may or may not be, and you can end up with a piece of junk that isn't capable of doing anything you hope to accomplish. Many have had that very experience and regretted making the decision to buy American.
That being said, I strongly endorse American made equipment, and would make such a machine my first choice, all conditions being equal. Unfortunately, industry in the US took a serious turn a long time ago, and has, for the most part, entirely abandoning the making of home shop equipment. That leaves you with making some tough choices.
Rather than advise you on such a matter, I truly believe that you'd be far better served to continue reading the forum (and others, assuming you feel you might benefit), until you get a clear picture of what will serve your needs. I also advise you to avoid the recommendations of those who can't separate their biases from reality. To them, a clapped out American machine is far better than a Chinese import. I don't agree, and many others don't agree, either. What really matters is what will serve your needs best. Just know that when you make a decision, you'll have a whole board of readers to aid you in determining if you're going in the right direction.
To aid you in making the right decisions, there are some very desirable features that make a lathe more user friendly and functional. I will list a few things that are quite positive.
A cam lock (D type) spindle is very good.
A lathe equipped with a quick change gear box (threading and turning) is almost mandatory. Having to change gears limits your ability too much.
A three phase motor is quite desirable, although that demands a phase converter, or three phase power. Instant reverse is a very useful feature, not commonly found with single phase lathes.
A lathe that is too small for your needs will wear out its welcome quickly. Buy a lathe large enough to deal with things you hope to do, but don't buy one that is a great deal larger. Large machines tend to have poor speed selections for small work, and holding small items can become difficult because large machines have large chucks that have limited gripping capability.
A 12" lathe is a very nice compromise. A minimum of 20" between centers is recommended, with more (30" or 32") quit desirable. You don't use the length often, but it's nice to have when it is needed. Think of drilling a hole in a long piece of material. You must have room for the drill and chuck, plus the material.
Hole through the spindle--the larger the better. A 12" machine often will accommodate at least 1½", and is a reasonable choice.
The ability to single point metric threads is a nice feature. Not all lathes are capable, in particular, early American iron.
There's more, so if you find something that holds your interest, maybe we can kick it around on the forum. Could be a reader has the same machine and can lend a reliable opinion.
Luck!
Harold
PS---You are a lucky man! A supportive wife. I, too, am so blessed.