Subject: Objective review of the Grizzly G4000 9" x 19" Lathe

From: "Bryan A. Whitfield" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 08 Dec 1996 10:02:22 -0500

I am considering the purchase of a metal lathe to build scale size 
stationary steam engines.  I have a very limited budget but want a fully 
featured machine with adequate swing.

I have reviewed the last thread on the G4000 by the news group and found 
little help because the discussion turned personal and caustic so 
quickly. 

If you have personal experience with this lathe or the supplier and 
would like to share it, please respond. Lets keep personal biases not 
based on actual experience with the G4000 or Grizzly out of the 
discussion if possible.  

Thanks,

Bryan Whitfield
Royal Oak,

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From: [email-masked] (Steve Rayner)
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 1996 10:58:42 GMT

The information I have on this lathe, gives no hint of a back gear.  A 
back gear is essential if you want to machine cast iron & Bronze.  It's 
also handy for parting off.  The advertisment I have gives the lowest 
speed as 130 RPM.  The lowest speed on my Myford is 58 RPM, and I plan on 
installing a smaller motor pulley to reduce this to 43 RPM.  As it is, 
there are times when I hand crank it to get a very low speed.

Don't assume that you will only do one type of machining with it.  As you 
gain experience, you will use it for other jobs.  

If you start making model steam engines, you will soon find yourself 
working on castings.  Even the castings that look like brass, are really
gun metal, a tough bronze.  A light lathe like this must be run as slow 
as possible when working on these castings.

-- 
Steve. 

******************Knowledge is wasted if it is not shared.*******************

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From: "PyroWare" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 11 Dec 1996 09:01:31 -0600

> [email-masked] (Steve Rayner) wrote in article
<[email-masked]>...
> there are times when I hand crank it to get a very low speed.

Excellent advice.  A slow spindle (when needed) is a real plus.  Nothing
quite like threading to a narrow shoulder at 130 rpm.

Kurt Bjorn

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 9 Dec 1996 03:00:18 GMT

>based on actual experience with the G4000 or Grizzly out of the 

My advice would to be to regard one of these things as work in progress. I
have bought excellent stuff from Grizzly and I have bought stuff that need
work.

The dividing head I got from them need a complete dismantle to modify the
locking mechanism as it would not allow the head past 45 degrees. The
index pin for the quick index plate needed lengthening as the holes in the
index plate had varying countersinks. This pin would not lock tight into
some holes and I had to turn up a new pin slightly longer with a tighter
taper.

Based on this experience with the poor QC on a the dividing head, I would
suggest that Grizzly probably has little better quality control in their
lathes than does Jet. Buy on price and expect to do some cleaning up, or
buy a good used Hardinge (6 times the price) and never worry.

My Jet, the one reviewed in HSM that caused the original consternation
with off-shore versus on-shore is now a very competent and useful lathe. I
spent about 30 hours on it. I would have preferred not to, but I needed to
make parts and at the time I could not find used stuff for love or money.
Well in my price range then, anyway.

Peter

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From: John L Ferrell <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 08 Dec 1996 11:16:44 -0800

> based on actual experience with the G4000 or Grizzly out of the

I have the Jet 920 and the Grizzley catalog, they seem to be identical. 

The '920 needed the back plate on the 3 jaw chuck faced to take care of the runout.
It has also required a fair amount of adjusting on the various slides, I think it was 
greasy when assembled.

It does not have a leadscrew reverse so left hand threading will require a modification.

It does not have a power cross feed.

There has got to be a better toolpost than the two that com with it. 

Drill chucks & MT adapters are available from other vendors.

The 4 jaw chuck will not close on less than about an inch, need to shim/block to fit 
work that is smaller.

If you are used to South Bend or Clausing equipment you probably won't like it. If you 
are starting from scratch as I did you will love it. 

The 200 pound size is about as big as you can move around by your self, I have rollers 
under mine...yes I know lathes are supposed to have rigid mounts but it fits my needs 
best this way.

John Ferrell in Julian NC