Precission Mathews or Grizzly lathe

[Rich S]

Still deciding what lathe to purchase. Based on comments on other threads I'm looking at the PM lathes in addition to Grizzly. I'm mainly looking at the PM 1440B and Grizzly G0709 and G0776. The PM has 16 speeds (40 - 1800 rpm) vs 8 (70- 2000 RPM) on the Grizzlys. The PM also has a 2 inch bore in the spindle vs 1.5. For what I plan to do I dont know the larger bore will be a benefit.
The PM 1440E-LB has similar specs to the G0709 except includes the DRO and has a 2" spindle bore for about the same price. It is the PM version of the 8 speed 70-2000 rpm lathe. I did not see the spindle length listed for the PMs but they appear similar to the Grizzlys.

Anyone using these PMs? Any recommendation on who to contact at PM? Any comments are appreciated.

I haven't ruled out a used lathe (old US or import) but have not found one with a short head stock, in good condition and well tooled. Most of my limited experience is on newer lathes (1440 Republics) and a LeBlond (1552 Servo) that is in good condition. I'm not real confident I'd pick up on all the issues with a used lathe. I've drove to look at a couple that turned out to have issues or were missing components. I also have a used equipment dealer looking for me.

Thanks
Rich

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I know the grizz works and has good service

 

[bigngreen]

Precision Matthews hands down, been running a PM 1340GT for a number of years and it's been a sweet machine, had a couple little issues that Matt dialed me in on, one needed a part and it was at my door fast the other was just a loose wire and he talked me into it no issues. Lathe came with DRO and VFD installed and ready. They sell and service machines and know them well and back that with a good warranty, when I was shopping we got on an issue my father in law was having with a Grizzly lathe and they knew how to fix the issue.

 

[Pablo]

I have a GO709. Shortly after buying, it developed a vibration that showed up in the work. I had a friend (electric motor guy) check it out and he discovered the run capacitor was bad. After changing the capacitor it was pretty smooth but while researching what was wrong with it I noticed several guys had put insulators on the motor mounts for a significant improvement. I did that next and it's very smooth now. There are a lot of guys that say Southbends and other domestic lathes are a better option. If you could buy one that was new that would probably be true. After growing up working on old tired South Bends, Clausings, and Atlas lathes I can assure you that a new GO709 is a superior machine. It may not last as long, but for the price, it's very good.

 

[myownman]

I'm trying to decide between a PM and a Grizzly as well. The only reason I've been leaning more to the precision Mathews is that the 13X40GT is supposed to be made in Taiwan. From what I've read the difference is very noticeable. An acquaintance of mine purchased a Grizzly last year and had a lot of issues.

 

[Scott Harris]

Ive used a PM 1340-GT for several years. It has a vfd with 3 phase motor. It's perfect for gunsmithing IMHO

 

[hoz53]

Ive used a PM 1340-GT for several years. It has a vfd with 3 phase motor. It's perfect for gunsmithing IMHO

I'm in the same quandry-- My 1st Lathe a South Bend 13" is in many pieces in my shop in need of a restoration. I'm trying to decide on either the Griz 0709 or the PM 1340-GT-- I'm just having trouble pulling the trigger on one or the other. Griz I know has excellent service and parts are available and will always be available. PM I kinda think is the superior machine but will I be able to get parts down the road--dont know--That skinny headstock on the PM sure sounds nice though. I'm thinking of buying both-- What the heck-- couldnt ever have to many lathes. Hoz

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

Search this forum. A lot of us have had input on these 2

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I cant look at the PM lathe without thinking harbor freight and containers with these lathes just piled in coming from a sweatshop in a poor area of china

 

[bigngreen]

I cant look at the PM lathe without thinking harbor freight and containers with these lathes just piled in coming from a sweatshop in a poor area of china

And where do all the Grizzlies come from, there are only a few shops that make Chinese lathes and odds are strong if it from there their coming in from the same place!

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Grizzly lathes look cheap too but not that bad. You dont even need to see em in person just look at pictures on their website

 

[hoz53]

Grizzly lathes look cheap too but not that bad. You dont even need to see em in person just look at pictures on their website

I believe I'll try the Griz first. Really pretty safe bet with their parts and service. Though my SB 13 weighs about the same it sure seems Heavier Duty. I bet the 0709 will do just fine for me though. Time will tell

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I use a sb13 99% of the time

 

[bigngreen]

I would compare the spec sheets and warranties to see how the manufacture feels about the quality of their product!

 

[Steelnecktie]

I have a 1973 Sheldon, recently I visited the grizzly showroom in Springfield, Mo. I went there to look at some tooling and lathes. I brought my interapid test indicator with me on a NOGA mag base. I set it up on spindle/chuck in different places to check what I could without disassembling machines, the salesmen were curious as to what I was measuring and why.
After checking out the lathes and questioning the salesmen, I found out that "some" of the grizzly lathes are made in Taiwan and some in China. The ones made in Taiwan are made at same factory as Southbend, but the similarities stop at the castings. The Southbend lathes have better spindle bearings, ect... Just a lot more quality control than the Grizzlies received. For the price, the Grizzly is a great bargain, but I have to say, after looking at 20+ lathes on the showroom floor, the only one I would consider buying is the new Southbend lathe. If you guys went and put your hands on them lathes and turned the dials, carriage, tail stock, ect... a blind man could tell you which one to buy.
I know a lot of people here have Grizzly lathes and do "world record" benchrest work on them, im not denying that, just giving my honest opinions of what is available from Grizzly. If you guys have the chance to take a drive, I would recommend you spend a little gas money and go look for yourselves before buying a machine that you've never seen or compared to anything.
Thanks, Dave

 

[hoz53]

I have a 1973 Sheldon, recently I visited the grizzly showroom in Springfield, Mo. I went there to look at some tooling and lathes. I brought my interapid test indicator with me on a NOGA mag base. I set it up on spindle/chuck in different places to check what I could without disassembling machines, the salesmen were curious as to what I was measuring and why.
After checking out the lathes and questioning the salesmen, I found out that "some" of the grizzly lathes are made in Taiwan and some in China. The ones made in Taiwan are made at same factory as Southbend, but the similarities stop at the castings. The Southbend lathes have better spindle bearings, ect... Just a lot more quality control than the Grizzlies received. For the price, the Grizzly is a great bargain, but I have to say, after looking at 20+ lathes on the showroom floor, the only one I would consider buying is the new Southbend lathe. If you guys went and put your hands on them lathes and turned the dials, carriage, tail stock, ect... a blind man could tell you which one to buy.
I know a lot of people here have Grizzly lathes and do "world record" benchrest work on them, im not denying that, just giving my honest opinions of what is available from Grizzly. If you guys have the chance to take a drive, I would recommend you spend a little gas money and go look for yourselves before buying a machine that you've never seen or compared to anything.
Thanks, Dave

 

[hoz53]

Hi Dave. Thanks for the hands on at Grizzly. Could you tell us what the spindle runout was on a G0709? I see Grizzly has the SB 1052 for $11,838 right now. Did you look at that one. Of coarse if you spend that much you start thinking you could by a Sharp ect ect and I don't know when it ends. Also the spindle length with 4 jaw on the SB1052 is 25"+. Decisions decisions. Thanks Again

 

[Steelnecktie]

Hi Dave. Thanks for the hands on at Grizzly. Could you tell us what the spindle runout was on a G0709? I see Grizzly has the SB 1052 for $11,838 right now. Did you look at that one. Of coarse if you spend that much you start thinking you could by a Sharp ect ect and I don't know when it ends. Also the spindle length with 4 jaw on the SB1052 is 25"+. Decisions decisions. Thanks Again

Well, just because that machine run out was a certain amount, doesn't mean all machines will be that way too. Just for the curious minds, .00025" on every grizzly, .0001" on the Southbend I was looking at which I believe was a 14x40. When machines were in neutral, the noise of just spinning the chuck by hand, you could tell a difference in spindle bearings between the Grizzlies and Southbend. I'm not trying to start a pissing match about the machines, it's just even with imports, I believe the same thing holds true...... "You get what you pay for" ...... The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of a cheap price.
Thanks, Dave

 

[scope eye]

Man that South Bend for 11 grand is making loose sleep at night.

Dean

 

[hoz53]

Well, just because that machine run out was a certain amount, doesn't mean all machines will be that way too. Just for the curious minds, .00025" on every grizzly, .0001" on the Southbend I was looking at which I believe was a 14x40. When machines were in neutral, the noise of just spinning the chuck by hand, you could tell a difference in spindle bearings between the Grizzlies and Southbend. I'm not trying to start a pissing match about the machines, it's just even with imports, I believe the same thing holds true...... "You get what you pay for" ...... The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of a cheap price.
Thanks, Dave

Thanks again Dave--I just wanna get as much info as I can and I hope it helps the OP to answer his question. Appreciate you supplying it. definitely I'd say you get what you pay for with these. There must be some reason people pay more. I sure wish the grizzly showroom was closer to me. I think it's good you pointed out to the OP that it's tough to make a decision based on opinions you read on the Internet.