Ridgid WL1200LS model lathe review

http://lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/projects/1150.jpg(this link will take you to a picture of my Ridgid lathe)

As requested by a fellow LumberJock, I am offering this review of my Ridgid 12 X 36 lathe. The twelve stands for the fact that the lathe can handle a 12” log or bowl over the bed or that there is six inches from center to the base and the 36 is the maximum length between centers that can be turned. Before I purchased this lathe the only lathe experience I had was to use a homemade treadle lathe which was foot and bungie cord powered(I wish I would have taken a picture of it). I must admit that the two main reasons I originally purchased this lathe were that it has a lifetime warranty and the price at the time was only, $125. This lathe is a tube type lathe and comes with its own stand. The instructions included are very complete and the lathe and bench are easily assembled. In the back of the owners manual is a very well illistrated how to,”basic lathe operations” manual. It has a 1/2 hp 110/120 volt motor, including a live center, drive center, 6” face plate, a small and large tool rest and did I mention a lifetime warranty! It has four speeds: 875,1350,2250 and 3450rpms. I use the 875 rpm speed for roughing in and 1350 rpms for sanding purposes. Caution must be used when setting the belt on the pulleys for the different speeds. I accidentally misread the scale when I first set it up and was spinning blanks at 3450 rpms when I was roughing them in. Well, let me tell you, I was covered from head to waist with shavings the first time I engaged my roughing gouge to the wood. I always wear a full faced sheild when turning!! I had one or two unbalanced pieces fly off the lathe before I realized my mistake. I can’t tell you the difference of turning on a pole lathe at about 300-500 rpms compared to 3450 rpms. Of course, please remember that I though I was turning at, 875 rpms. My first thoughts were…Good grief, this is 875 rpms!...I can’t believe that I have read of people turning at 1000 and 3000 rpms.

Warranty: I’ve only needed to use this feature once. One of the levers used to tighten one of the adjustments broke(after about 3 years of use) when I tighten it. I called the 1-800 number and without any questions I had a brand new lever heading my way. I got it in about 5 working days. This didn’t affect my use of the lathe because the socket end of the lever was still usable.

This lathe has performed flawlessly and has done everything I needed it to do. I cannot compare it to another lathe as far as operation since I haven’t turned with another lathe other than my homemade versions. But I did look at the Harbor Frieght brand and opted not to purchase it because I felt that its quality wasn’t satisfactory. The tool rest to bench assembly was very sloppy.

I hope that this review was informative and if I can answer any questions, feel free to ask.

-- Jesus is Lord!