I went with a 3/4 hp last time to save 400 dollars and it works fine for pens etc. but not enough muscle for bowls. I purchased this one last time with 1 hp and it maks all the difference . Never slows , is very smooth, easy to change speeds with reverse for sanding. Had it about a month and absolutely love it.
One addition I've made since this video is, I attached a thin piece of wood to the upper belt access door that covers the spindle lock. Even with the change in color, I still occasionally reached for the spindle lock instead of the Off button. Now, to lock the spindle, I have to open the belt door.
I wanted to send you more info on the Laguna 1216 tail stock issue you mentioned. I have a very sticky quill on my new 1216. I did everything to get that quill to move in and out. After all my effort Laguna Tool sent me a complete new tailstock. PROBLEM! The quill extends and retracts like butter. Super smooth. The problem was that it would not slide down the way rails. I am talking DRAGGING. I had to put it away because I was exausted. Today the next day I put blue tape on the way rails to see if I could find the drag. I found a problem. There is a small burr that drags on the inside lip of the way rails. My pals lifted the tailstock up when sliding it back and forth. It was still dragging. Under closer inspection we located that burr. Tomorrow we are going to file the entire inside guide on both sides of the tailstock. Not on the machine bed ways but file on the tailstock. Bottom line said kindly. Laguna Tool makes very nice machines. They do. For a sub $1,000.00 dollar lathe you get a lot. They do have a problem in quality control. That is a fact. Regardless of what you pay you should not need to tear down machinery and file it down smooth. Last! The BIG question that still remains unanswered is this. Why on earth would you switch from the international standard of Green for Go & RED for STOP on your power switch? They had the power switch red & Green for a couple of years. Now on ALL Laguna Lathes the power switch is white for run & Black for stop. Then the spindle lock is bright RED! Can anyone please explain this reasoning to me in detail? The 1216 is a sweet lathe. Before you take it home open it right at the store and check it out well. Extend and retract the quill. Slide the tailstock back and forth. Run the machine by moving the poly belt on the pulley assembly. Watch your RPM indicator. Listen for noice. Make sure all the extra parts are included. Save yourself and your wife or partner the headache about this and that. You don’t need the box anyway right? That’s how I would do it. GOOD LUCK! Yes I would buy it again. I have very smart friends that are true engineers . Thank you very much & please be smart & be safe. Laguna Tool customer service DID pull through. ACES!!!
Probably too late, but is the burr on the ways on the underside or on the sides of the channel? With my first lathe, I had trouble moving the banjo because the travel in the lock was too great. Snugging it up closer to the bottom of the ways solved the problem. There is a wee bit of side-to-side slop in the tailstock on my Laguna, just enough to make centering the live center variable within 1/32 of an inch. I'd go easy on filing the space between the ways if that's where your problem is. I suspect any lathe at any price will require a bit of tweaking. I'm happy with my 12/16.
I totally agree with everything you pointed out. I added the wheel as well on the left but I bored a whole through the middle so I can tap out on the spindle. I like the clamp banjo but it is very hard to fit other tool rest. The tolerance is very small and has caused me a lot of work. I found the outboard extension and tool rest is a lot harder to maneuver around the larger bowl. I had the exact same problem with the tail stock being hard to turn and I used emory cloth to make it smoother and now I can turn easier. I wish the wheel was larger on the tail stock as it is a pain when using a forstner bit to drill into a bowl. Still, I like the lathe and it is a good value for the money.
My handwheel has a hole for the knockout bar, too. Essential. My quill started binding again. I took it apart and wiped it down and now it moves freely again. Cleaning the tailstock assembly is now part of my routine maintenance.
This was and is my top contender choice so thank you so much for your review. I am working on a Beaver/Rockwell at the moment so definitely identify with your first part of the video haha I worry that this model is not enough of a size increase but only experience on one of the big lathes would tell. My biggest issue on this lathe is there appears to be no tailstock support when turning on the outboard. right? When turning the biggest pieces you'd want the safety/support and not have it. Seems odd. Last note I see on LeeValley they showed current model shows a forward/reverse switch where you can tell which position it is in. I wonder what other fixes they have had :)
I now have a 20-inch bed extension which is long enough for a blank, banjo AND tailstock. Eager to try it out but too busy with other projects right now.
@@OregonOldTimer That's awesome! I'll have to be sure to keep checking back in hopes of seeing what you come up with. Recently I was reminded that even with a longer outboard extension the tailstock would need a 2" raise on that side to work. I wonder if they make risers or how to solve that. Happy turning!
@@perrys5954 Thanks for the dope-slap prompt. It hadn't occurred to me that I'd need a two-inch riser for the tailstock. Oh well, at least I'll have more room for the banjo and tool rest.
Sorry to be so long in responding. Maximum spindle length with Laguna spur drive and live center without the bed extension is 13.5 inches. Bed extension adds ten inches. You can get another inch to either configuration if you back the tailstock off the bed an inch, but that may not be a good idea. Maximum spindle diameter is 12 inches.
I actually think that Laguna's older 1524s have the green and red buttons, and the newer versions have the black stop button. You can see older videos on RUclips with the green and red and the newer videos have the black.
To improve grip on tool rest post lever between lever nut and casting add: loop of fat ss wire, then washer. It will concentrate lever force on the casting. .." Tight as Dick's hat band!"
I went with a 3/4 hp last time to save 400 dollars and it works fine for pens etc. but not enough muscle for bowls. I purchased this one last time with 1 hp and it maks all the difference . Never slows , is very smooth, easy to change speeds with reverse for sanding. Had it about a month and absolutely love it.
Great honest review. Thank you for sharing.
Glad it was helpful.
Thanks for the video. Good points and things to consider.
Glad it was helpful.
thanks for good solid review I'm about to buy one. Cheers from Australia
Glad I could help.
Superb honest review. All your feedback for laguna sounds helpful and practical.
A fellow Oregonian saying hello!
Thank you, and backatcha.
Thanks. I've been looking at this one.
One addition I've made since this video is, I attached a thin piece of wood to the upper belt access door that covers the spindle lock. Even with the change in color, I still occasionally reached for the spindle lock instead of the Off button. Now, to lock the spindle, I have to open the belt door.
Great review. Kudos
I hope it helped. Thanks.
I wanted to send you more info on the Laguna 1216 tail stock issue you mentioned. I have a very sticky quill on my new 1216. I did everything to get that quill to move in and out. After all my effort Laguna Tool sent me a complete new tailstock. PROBLEM! The quill extends and retracts like butter. Super smooth. The problem was that it would not slide down the way rails. I am talking DRAGGING. I had to put it away because I was exausted. Today the next day I put blue tape on the way rails to see if I could find the drag. I found a problem. There is a small burr that drags on the inside lip of the way rails. My pals lifted the tailstock up when sliding it back and forth. It was still dragging. Under closer inspection we located that burr. Tomorrow we are going to file the entire inside guide on both sides of the tailstock. Not on the machine bed ways but file on the tailstock. Bottom line said kindly. Laguna Tool makes very nice machines. They do. For a sub $1,000.00 dollar lathe you get a lot. They do have a problem in quality control. That is a fact. Regardless of what you pay you should not need to tear down machinery and file it down smooth. Last! The BIG question that still remains unanswered is this. Why on earth would you switch from the international standard of Green for Go & RED for STOP on your power switch? They had the power switch red & Green for a couple of years. Now on ALL Laguna Lathes the power switch is white for run & Black for stop. Then the spindle lock is bright RED! Can anyone please explain this reasoning to me in detail? The 1216 is a sweet lathe. Before you take it home open it right at the store and check it out well. Extend and retract the quill. Slide the tailstock back and forth. Run the machine by moving the poly belt on the pulley assembly. Watch your RPM indicator. Listen for noice. Make sure all the extra parts are included. Save yourself and your wife or partner the headache about this and that. You don’t need the box anyway right? That’s how I would do it. GOOD LUCK! Yes I would buy it again. I have very smart friends that are true engineers . Thank you very much & please be smart & be safe. Laguna Tool customer service DID pull through. ACES!!!
Probably too late, but is the burr on the ways on the underside or on the sides of the channel?
With my first lathe, I had trouble moving the banjo because the travel in the lock was too great. Snugging it up closer to the bottom of the ways solved the problem.
There is a wee bit of side-to-side slop in the tailstock on my Laguna, just enough to make centering the live center variable within 1/32 of an inch. I'd go easy on filing the space between the ways if that's where your problem is.
I suspect any lathe at any price will require a bit of tweaking. I'm happy with my 12/16.
I totally agree with everything you pointed out. I added the wheel as well on the left but I bored a whole through the middle so I can tap out on the spindle. I like the clamp banjo but it is very hard to fit other tool rest. The tolerance is very small and has caused me a lot of work. I found the outboard extension and tool rest is a lot harder to maneuver around the larger bowl.
I had the exact same problem with the tail stock being hard to turn and I used emory cloth to make it smoother and now I can turn easier. I wish the wheel was larger on the tail stock as it is a pain when using a forstner bit to drill into a bowl. Still, I like the lathe and it is a good value for the money.
My handwheel has a hole for the knockout bar, too. Essential.
My quill started binding again. I took it apart and wiped it down and now it moves freely again. Cleaning the tailstock assembly is now part of my routine maintenance.
This was and is my top contender choice so thank you so much for your review. I am working on a Beaver/Rockwell at the moment so definitely identify with your first part of the video haha
I worry that this model is not enough of a size increase but only experience on one of the big lathes would tell. My biggest issue on this lathe is there appears to be no tailstock support when turning on the outboard. right? When turning the biggest pieces you'd want the safety/support and not have it. Seems odd.
Last note I see on LeeValley they showed current model shows a forward/reverse switch where you can tell which position it is in. I wonder what other fixes they have had :)
I now have a 20-inch bed extension which is long enough for a blank, banjo AND tailstock. Eager to try it out but too busy with other projects right now.
@@OregonOldTimer That's awesome! I'll have to be sure to keep checking back in hopes of seeing what you come up with.
Recently I was reminded that even with a longer outboard extension the tailstock would need a 2" raise on that side to work. I wonder if they make risers or how to solve that. Happy turning!
@@perrys5954 Thanks for the dope-slap prompt. It hadn't occurred to me that I'd need a two-inch riser for the tailstock. Oh well, at least I'll have more room for the banjo and tool rest.
What is the size of spindles you can turn with this lathe? What do you make with those spindles?
Sorry to be so long in responding. Maximum spindle length with Laguna spur drive and live center without the bed extension is 13.5 inches. Bed extension adds ten inches. You can get another inch to either configuration if you back the tailstock off the bed an inch, but that may not be a good idea. Maximum spindle diameter is 12 inches.
I actually think that Laguna's older 1524s have the green and red buttons, and the newer versions have the black stop button. You can see older videos on RUclips with the green and red and the newer videos have the black.
Best on power tools is a large red button you can slap without looking to shut down in a hurry.
To improve grip on tool rest post lever between lever nut and casting add: loop of fat ss wire, then washer. It will concentrate lever force on the casting. .." Tight as Dick's hat band!"
Interesting idea. I may try that.