With perfect timing, just weeks before the tariffs came along I bought a new Grizzly lathe. I had no idea that the price would jump another $269 the next month, but having owned and operated the machine for a couple of months I have to say I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to pay the extra fee. As somebody who makes part of his living on a lathe, this machine has performed beyond my expectations. Delivered to your door, it currently runs $2,233.25 including freight and tariff fees.

Here's what I like...
It has a 3 HP, 3-phase motor with an inverter so it runs on standard 220 volt juice (20 Amp), and it accommodates work between centers up to 42". But one of its best features is that I can remove the tailstock and slide the headstock along the ways all the way to the tail end. Then I can theoretically turn something outboard that's about my own height in diameter.

Here's what I didn't like...
Not a lot of complaints here, but I did have a small issue with the controls. When you get this almost seven-foot long, cast iron behemoth with a 3-phase motor, you might be forgiven for expecting the controls to be pretty rugged, too. They're not. They're just small plastic knobs - I had to replace the forward/reverse knob and the reostat (speed control) within a week or so. But in keeping with our experience with Grizzly (we've purchased many machines including a large table saw, 20" thickness planer and 8" jointer), the customer service was impressive and I had replacements within two days.

I also discovered that adapters for using 1" chucks on this 1-1/4" spindle are not satisfactory, in my opinion. There's a little wobble. I turn long, thin Blackwood finials for vessels, and the adapters didn't hold up. So I got a new Vicmarc chuck and all is well.