Grizzly G9972Z gets delivered tomorrow

[etoymaker]

Also been looking at the G9972Z but the "Light Duty" in the heading is scaring me off. I realize that the term is relative, but "light duty" comparing it to say a heavy 14 X 40 I can understand but "light duty" comparing it to say other 10 or 11 inch lathes is a different matter. Have you turned anything yet and if so what's your impression. I had a heavy 13 X40 and a Bridgeport on the farm that I sold when I moved to Orlando 6 years ago. I'm looking for something small to tinker with since space is limited to a single car garage. Your impressions please.
Etoymaker

[ScrapMetal]

Don't let the "single car garage" limit your choices ...



I've got an 11" South Bend lathe in there, a HF bandsaw, the drill press is now on a table in the left, back corner, I put a set of shelves in the right corner, and I have a 16" shaper sitting on the other end of the lathe. It's a little snug but I want to machine stuff not do jumping jacks.

-Ron

[Mayhem]

(12-10-2013, 10:22 PM)ScrapMetal Wrote: ...I want to machine stuff not do jumping jacks...

That is gold Ron

[marfaguy]

I've been using it steadily for quite sometime now and have no complaints. In fact it's the Lathe referred to in these posts;

Is .0005 runout in 10" acceptable?
http://www.metalworkingfun.com/showthread.php?tid=1467

Building John "Doubleboost's" ER-32 collet chuck.
http://www.metalworkingfun.com/showthread.php?tid=1699

First thread turning.
http://www.metalworkingfun.com/showthread.php?tid=1502

I wouldn't try hogging off .1" with it but it'll do .030 - .040" in steel with no complaints as long as the bit is sharp. I use a modified
ground bit for this as described here;
http://www.machinistblog.com/grinding-la...lt-sander/
so my rougher has more acute angles than a standard ground bit. I then normally use HSS inserts once I'm down to my final passes.
Just to clarify, thats .030 -.040 in diameter so .015 -.020 each side in steel. It would probably do .030" per side just fine I've just
never pushed it. I'm a hobbyist not in production. I've no doubt it would do .10" in aly or brass.

It's very accurate for what I do and so far has done everything I've asked it to. The 3 jaw chuck has surprisingly little runout and the
4 jaw is well made. The steady rest could use a bit more capacity. 3" diameter won't quite fit. You'll have to turn it down to 2 7/8" or so.
I've not used the steady rest.

[EdK]

(12-10-2013, 09:58 PM)etoymaker Wrote: Also been looking at the G9972Z but the "Light Duty" in the heading is scaring me off. I realize that the term is relative, but "light duty" comparing it to say a heavy 14 X 40 I can understand but "light duty" comparing it to say other 10 or 11 inch lathes is a different matter. Have you turned anything yet and if so what's your impression. I had a heavy 13 X40 and a Bridgeport on the farm that I sold when I moved to Orlando 6 years ago. I'm looking for something small to tinker with since space is limited to a single car garage. Your impressions please.
Etoymaker

If you'd like a lathe that is a bit beefier, this one is only two inches wider. But it costs $2850 delivered versus $1745.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-x-24-...athe/G4002

Ed

[marfaguy]

(12-11-2013, 11:12 AM)EdK Wrote:

(12-10-2013, 09:58 PM)etoymaker Wrote: Also been looking at the G9972Z but the "Light Duty" in the heading is scaring me off. I realize that the term is relative, but "light duty" comparing it to say a heavy 14 X 40 I can understand but "light duty" comparing it to say other 10 or 11 inch lathes is a different matter. Have you turned anything yet and if so what's your impression. I had a heavy 13 X40 and a Bridgeport on the farm that I sold when I moved to Orlando 6 years ago. I'm looking for something small to tinker with since space is limited to a single car garage. Your impressions please.
Etoymaker

If you'd like a lathe that is a bit beefier, this one is only two inches wider. But it costs $2850 delivered versus $1745.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-x-24-...athe/G4002

Ed

Be aware it's also 220V. That's the main reason I went with the G9972Z. Getting 220V to my shop would have entailed upping the service to the house, something that was not in my budget. The G9972Z is the largest I could find at the time that was 110V, may still be.

[EdK]

If 220 volts is a problem, and even if it isn't, this Precision Matthews lathe has a bunch of nice features. A separate feed rod rather than using the half nuts for feeding is a nice feature. Variable speed on the fly and a tachometer are a couple more.

http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM-1127-VF.html

Ed

[stevec]

(12-11-2013, 02:28 PM)marfaguy Wrote: Getting 220V to my shop would have entailed upping the service to the house, something that was not in my budget.

Marf, you have a home with a 110V electrical entry???
I didn't think that was possible in this day and age.

[marfaguy]

(12-11-2013, 03:52 PM)stevec Wrote:

(12-11-2013, 02:28 PM)marfaguy Wrote: Getting 220V to my shop would have entailed upping the service to the house, something that was not in my budget.

Marf, you have a home with a 110V electrical entry???
I didn't think that was possible in this day and age.

I didn't express that very well. I should have said, getting additional an
additional 220V circuit run to the shop would have meant increasing the service to the house.
And I may be mis-quoting my electrician as to what the issue(s) were. I'm no expert on that.
In any case he advised me what setting up another 220V machine in the shop would cost as far
as Service, breaker panels, etc. It was beyond budget.

[marfaguy]

(12-11-2013, 03:19 PM)EdK Wrote: If 220 volts is a problem, and even if it isn't, this Precision Matthews lathe has a bunch of nice features. A separate feed rod rather than using the half nuts for feeding is a nice feature. Variable speed on the fly and a tachometer are a couple more.

http://www.machinetoolonline.com/PM-1127-VF.html

Ed

Those are nice. I remember looking at those and now I can't remember why I chose the Grizzly over one of them. I do remember there was a reason, I just can't remember what it was.