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Grizzly Lathes

Keith Kilby

I've finally cached enough $ to buy a lathe. The Grizzly 14-40 gunsmith's lathe is the current top choice. Any of you guys have hands on experience with this or another model from Grizzly?

Before you gang on with the "go find a good used lathe" replies....I've looked. Cody WY is a wasteland for used machine tools and its a huge drive to get somewhere where they're more prevalent. I like the idea of getting a new machine with warranty, parts support etc. I have $10,000 max to play with. I don't need or want a larger swing or length but am open for suggestions on maybe a better lathe in that price range or good reviews on the Grizzly.

Thanks in advance,

Keith
 
With $10K budget, you should be able to buy a new 13x40 Sharp variable speed lathe.

I always recommend the used route, but you already said that you did not want to go that route. The lathe is the cheap part, the tooling will break you.
 
Erik,
I already have a lathe and all the tooling....looking to upgrade. I also do this as a "day job" but have always had a home shop. Its not that I wouldn't consider a used lathe but my geography makes it expensive to go shopping.
 
Listen to Erik C. a nice Sharp with DRO vari speed. That is what SPEED G. purchased for TSJC 3rd year program, I believe he still has his Sharp lathe. Throw a nice six jaw on it and maybe trav-a-dial you will be knocking those barrels out. If you already have a D4 config. your current chucks will fit.
 
Check this Precision Matthews PM-1340GT out. Very nice specs and a short headstock.

Still have several grand for tooling and a nice chuck or two!

http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM1340T.html
 
Already got chucks and tooling...chucks are all D1-5...including a TBAS. I could change the back plates but had rather just get a lathe with same spindle as my tooling.

Thanks guys -more options and possibilities to study
 
Take a look on ebay, there are a few brand new lathes around or a bit under your price range.

Does Gordy Gritters still use a Grizzly lathe or was that just for the video?

You might also look at the Lion / Mashtroy lathes made in Bulgaria, I own one and they have a lot of nice features and are very heavy. /

Why not buy a lathe on an online auction, ebay, or craigslist and have it shipped to your door?

Best of luck!!
 
The lathe I have at home is a Rockwell 11 x 36. The lathe I use at work is a Nardini 14 x 40. All the tooling I've bought that is spindle specific has been D1-5 and I use it at work on the bigger lathe. The Rockwell is a great small lathe and I have a bunch of stuff specific to it. It'll be on the market once I get another rounded up. I want a lathe in my home shop to match , spindle wise, the one I run at work.

Anybody in the market for a really nice smaller lathe?
 
I've looked at lathes on the online auction sites....I'm not buying a rusty used lathe that hasn't run in ages nor a used one I can't run before I spend the money.
 
I have the 0709 about 4 years now. It has chambered some really accurate barrels for me , but there have been some issues.
First the tail stock clamp was poorly machined so it did not bite well and I made a new one. The t post that clamps the qctp is flimsy as shit, again made a new one.
the motor is noisy as hell and would vibrate badly, showing up in the finish. I minimized this by removing one belt, and taking some time to align the motor pulleys better. It still humms , I plan to make some isolation bushings for the motor mount. If that doesn't work , I'm going to convert it to 3phase with a vfd. Hell I may do that anyway as the slowest speed is 70 rpm and when threading to a shoulder with a fast pitch, is too fast.
All in all its a good machine, but if I had to do it again, I'd buy the 0509 mostly for the additional mass and three phase vfd capability . A friends has one of these and it's really nice, it's in another class from the 0709.
 
Check out Eisen Machinery, they have 2 14"x40" lathes that would do you well. They are Taiwan lathes, and appear to be very good quality within your budget. I was very close to buying the heavier model (with a cast iron base weighs over 2000lbs) when I found an older Clausing Colchester. I am in a better location for finding used machines, but after 6 months I gave up on the local market. I hate to say it but I bought mine after seeing pictures and speaking with the distributor, it was a few states away so I didn't get my hands on it until it was delivered. Shipping was less than $400 fully insured which I was surprised about. The Eisen guys ship from California, seriously should check them out. If my memory is correct, shipping from California to Ohio was $7-800, again I thought that was pretty reasonable. I wish you the best of luck on a tough decision! JZ

The model I was looking at was the 1440GE. I just realized it has a D1-4 spindle, so wouldn't work for your desires. Sorry about that.
 
Knowledge, Tooling and proper Oils is what it takes to do good threading Or machine work. One thing money can't buy is KNOWLEDGE. ;D Larry ;D
 
I don't know the specific Grizzly you're looking at but I have some Grizzly experience as well as other Chinese lathes. They are a lot of work to get tuned up to work right but it can be done. However, there is a common weakness that is hard to correct and the Grizzly looks to suffer from it. The cross slide is a bit narrow and more importantly, the compound has a small footprint and stands high. This geometry significantly reduces tool stability. I've helped a friend try to work through this on his Jet and we've even considered trying to adapt a compound from an old Leblond or similar lathe.

Taiwanese lathes as have been suggested by others are much superior but I couldn't find a good photo of the compound on the Sharpe to make a call. Look for low and wide.

As you know, heavier is better. Look for a heavy lathe, preferably with a cast iron base as opposed to a sheet metal cabinet.

--Jerry
 
American or Asian :o

You get what you pay for. You want cheap American? You can buy it. You want good quality from China or Taiwan? You can buy that also ;)
 
A good Rockwell is a very nice gunsmithing lathe. D1-5 tooling is too heavy for an old man. I never use my 6 jaw. It was a big waste of money. I have a 14X48 Clausing and a 10EE Monarch. L00 and D1-3 tooling.
 
butchlambert said:
A good Rockwell is a very nice gunsmithing lathe. D1-5 tooling is too heavy for an old man. I never use my 6 jaw. It was a big waste of money. I have a 14X48 Clausing and a 10EE Monarch. L00 and D1-3 tooling.
Click to expand...
+1 I need a sky hook for anything bigger than a 8" D1-4
 
ridgeway said:
Check this Precision Matthews PM-1340GT out. Very nice specs and a short headstock.

Still have several grand for tooling and a nice chuck or two!

http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM1340T.html
Click to expand...

Isn't that just a Asian lathe?

Grizzly http://www.grizzly.com/products/13-x-40-Gunsmith-Lathe-with-DRO/G0776

This is what I have thoughts about acquiring, If I can talk Shiraz in giving a ten percent discount..


Ray
 
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