What would you buy and why

[ftgokie]

I know this has been asked I am betting at least once....anyways

I have a chance to buy either a Porper Model B that is slightly used, comes with everything when bought new, plus 2 extra facing knives, cutoff tool, boring knife.....tips, diff irish linen wraps for a steal of a price.....


Or, would you buy a new Hightower with all the bells and whistles?

 

[Jim Baxter]

I know this has been asked I am betting at least once....anyways

I have a chance to buy either a Porper Model B that is slightly used, comes with everything when bought new, plus 2 extra facing knives, cutoff tool, boring knife.....tips, diff irish linen wraps for a steal of a price.....


Or, would you buy a new Hightower with all the bells and whistles?

I can see advantages to each. I have a hightower delux, and love it. I have been around the porper and there are things I like about it also, but I'll stay with criss's. I have a new Brianna comeing into my shop, belongs to someone else, that has no place to put it for now, so I will get to se that 1st hand also. Jim

 

[pescadoman]

I know this has been asked I am betting at least once....anyways

I have a chance to buy either a Porper Model B that is slightly used, comes with everything when bought new, plus 2 extra facing knives, cutoff tool, boring knife.....tips, diff irish linen wraps for a steal of a price.....


Or, would you buy a new Hightower with all the bells and whistles?

Anytime you can pick up machinery for a steal..grab it..

 

[dave sutton]

hightower. but both would be nice. i hear problems with the porper. also i dont like how it works as much a s the deluxe. i dont like the back for shafts. i have seen even experienced cuesmiths turn on the porper and it all the way up and explode someones shaft. also i hear there are lead screw issues and it doesnt face well at all. with the deluxe u can lock down the carrige and face perfectly everytime. overall if its your first and only machine id buy the deluxe....

 

[Busbee Cue]

hightower. but both would be nice. i hear problems with the porper. also i dont like how it works as much a s the deluxe. i dont like the back for shafts. i have seen even experienced cuesmiths turn on the porper and it all the way up and explode someones shaft. also i hear there are lead screw issues and it doesnt face well at all. with the deluxe u can lock down the carrige and face perfectly everytime. overall if its your first and only machine id buy the deluxe....

I agree.
I have the Deluxe and it is a great lathe. If it had a better bed it would be a huge improvement.

 

[Rodney]

I know this has been asked I am betting at least once....anyways

I have a chance to buy either a Porper Model B that is slightly used, comes with everything when bought new, plus 2 extra facing knives, cutoff tool, boring knife.....tips, diff irish linen wraps for a steal of a price.....


Or, would you buy a new Hightower with all the bells and whistles?

I have the deluxe, and am very happy with it. With that said, I'd buy the Porper for a steal, and if I didn't like it, sell it make a little, then get the deluxe.

 

[ftgokie]

Anytime you can pick up machinery for a steal..grab it..

I partly agree with that, I dont want to spend money and wish I had bought the other. I am hearing too many things better about the Hightower.

I appreciate the feedback

Shawn

 

[ftgokie]

I have the deluxe, and am very happy with it. With that said, I'd buy the Porper for a steal, and if I didn't like it, sell it make a little, then get the deluxe.

Does anyone know if there will be a better bed for the deluxe? Or if Chris would upgrade the bed for some extra money?

 

[qbilder]

Email me the deal you can get on the Porper. I may be interested if it's a good "steal".

One thing to look for with the Porper is bed alignment. Everything else is an easy fix but bed alignment will screw you. Mine won't cut a straight dowel that is the same size on each end. Seriously, it's like .020" difference over an 18" piece of wood. That's extreme. However, it's easy to modify. I have made lots of mods to mine & it's barely recognizable as a model-B anymore.

Chris is in the process of upgrading the deluxe lathe but i'm not sure if there's a bed involved. The only issue with the aluminum bed is it dents & dings too easily & it does flex. That said, I have had mine for years & have no trouble at all. I use mine for facing & ring cutting, and that's about it. I use it to cut cores, too, because I can fine tune the tailstock to get a perfect straight cut on a dowel. The only thing I even use a metal lathe for is threading tenons & making joint pins.

I have both machines & use the hell out of each one. If I were going to have only one lathe in the shop, it would be the deluxe. You might wanna wait til after VF, though, because Chris will be unveiling the beefed up version of the lathe.