Customer Reviews

Powermatic 1791254 Model 4224 24-Inch Swing 42-Inch between Centers 3-Horsepower Woodworking Lathe with Digital Spindle RPM Readout, 230-Volt 1 or 3-Phase

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've owned one of these big boys for approximatly 2 years, If you want to turn little things get a little lathe but if you want to turn big things(and little things) then you should get this machine. The variable speed is a dream come true just dial your speed. All of the controls are right where you need them. Take a nickel and stand it on edge on the head stock and fire it up and turn a bowl and when you get done pick up your nickel (still standing on it edge) Its approximatly 960 pounds and rock solid for sure. You won't have to chase it around the floor. I use it for every thing up to 48" on the outboard end and down to pens on the other end.

I've been using this lathe for over 2 years now and it sure is a heavyweight. I turn mostly bowls in the 14-20 inch diameter range and this is the machine to do it on. I moved up from a Jet that required the foundation that came with it to be anchored to the floor to keep it in one spot. This Powermatic at 960 pounds just doesn't move. The three speed pulley serpentine belt arrangement not only assures quiet operation but a great degree of freedom in choosing a speed for your work. Couple that to the three horsepower variable speed motor and this bad puppy just flat out cranks out torque. I've also made hundreds of pens on it. A little overkill but no problems doing it

I bought this lathe about a month ago. Super lathe--the Horse power and weight are well worth the extra cost. Plus I love the fact that if I need something for my lathe the folks at Powermatic are in Tn. I want service when I buy and that's what you get buying from Amazom and Powermatic. Thanks for everything.

I have been using the Powermatic 4224 Lathe for several months now for both wood turning and metal spinning. I teach both wood turning and metal spinning classes on this lathe. to use the lathe for metal spinning I purchased a metal spinners tool rest and fabricated a banjo clamp plate so the banjo does not move around during the spinning. The tool rest lock mechanism is not so good. The Oneway lathe is better in this feature.

Yes this was a Christmas Present from my Wife, and no you can't have her. Stunned is pretty much the word for the suprize when I went out to my shop and there it was. Now for the review. I have other Powermatic Equipment, and frankly I am sold on the quality. The 4224 exemplifies this quality to the max. Fit and finish is excellent, the switches and dial have a very substantial feel, the banjo, tail stock, everything is solid. Set-up was a matter of putting it where I wanted it, which took a dolly that would handle 1000#s a two part come-along and the dead pull in the ceiling of my shop. Once in place, you simply bolt on the safety guard, and plug it into 220vac. I initially energized it with a plug, but have since run the power thru a disconnect switch next to the machine. What more can I say, it is absolutely solid, smooth, and quiet. The 3hp motor works effortlessly, the variable speed is a dream comming from a belt step system, you soon remember the speeds and adjust the speed to the digital read out. I like the remote off/on switch more than I thought I would, you simply place the switch where it is best suited for the task and within the first few off/on cycles, the lathe stops and starts on a whim without thinking about it. Comming from a midi, I think this machine will imporved my turning.

Gary (Spider) Webb Peoria AZ
This has got to be the best woodworking money I have spent to date.
I went for a grizly 12/35 after about 18 months of turning. Its like steping into a new BMW. So smoth and powerful.

I bought the Powermatic 4224 lathe for use in my home workshop to do a variety of projects from bowls/trays to table legs and small spindles. The 4224 seemed like overkill but I finally decided to buy it instead of the 3520B machine. But now that I have it I'm glad I went for the heavier lathe. Free delivery also aided my decision. One item that was not so clear in the owners manual was the electrical hookup. At first without any directions to the contrary from the owners manual,I wired the supplied pigtail to the power supply expecting the supplied "remote switch" would control startup and running of the lathe. Not so! When I plugged the pigtail into the power source the cooling fan for the inverter came on while the remote switch was in the off position. After checking the wiring and discussing the situation with the WMH tech. rep. it turns out this is the way it is designed. If you want the machine to completely shut down when you plan to leave it for any length of time you will have to wire in a wall switch or unplug it from the power outlet every time. One major irritation however, was the shipping of the lathe. When it arrived it's wooden pallet was broken in several places and the accessory package had come loose along the way. Result, the inverter protective box was bent and it's door had been torn off. An inspection confirmed the inverter itself was undamaged and the box could be repaired with some new hinges and sheet metal straightening. In addition the lathe had initially been attached to it's pallet with lag bolts through the threaded leg leveler holes but with the demise of the pallet all four of the bolts had come loose and stripped out the threads intended for the leveling legs. The bent lag bolts had to be removed with a hack saw and all four recesses required rethreading to make the leg levelers useable. Maybe free shipping is not so free. Anyway the lathe has in the end been everything I expected and then some.