Pretty good review. I think you undersold the Laguna. The Laguna is clearly solid and heavy and stable. One lathe you showed how stable the tool rest was and the whole lathe wobbled. You talked about the Laguna bed being shorter that advertised but I did not hear you mention the bed extension that you had mounted on the outboard end could extend the bed by 20 inches. The banjo slippage may not be a general problem. The pulse modulation speed control is a big plus for low speed high torque. I’m not sure that looks is a big issue for a lot of turners but come on. The Laguna is clearly the most handsome of the three lathes. I bought the Laguna.
The Laguna name sells the lathes themselves. Laguna on the top top end is more than likely a better lathe than anything (except powermatic) in my opinion this was to sell the Coronet
Being an early adopter in the States of the Record Power, I like the portability of it as I use the warehouse at work and turn out of the back of my truck. Otherwise I use the second bedroom so my space is limited. With no bandsaw, it makes rough turning out of balance logs interesting. Sometimes I turn outdoors and if the control box is in the direct sun it will thermally shut off, so break out the brolly and keep it in the shade :) I find I need a little extra leverage with the short locking levers and older fingers especially when using the outrigger. This applies mainly for the roughing out stage where things get choppy. The tail and headstock lock nicely. The sliding and rotating head is very handy and one of the reasons I bought it. Rotating even just 20 degrees makes hollowing out bowls much easier on the back. Taking the head and tailstock off make this unit much easier to load into a vehicle. Bigger Forstner bits require the high torque low belt setting especially when cutting dry oak end grain (is that so for other lathes?) One HP at the spindle vs the motor rating, setting the speed prior to turning the motor on, 1-1/4" big boy spindle threads, the eyes are bigger than my turning abilities of 20" diameter were factors as well (I did manage a 14" Oak shallow bowl/platter thingy) but the the final thing was when I figured out that you can install a new belt without removing the spindle from the lathe. Essentially replacing the belt as fast as changing speeds due to, er, uh, 'operator error'. I had just changed one the Nova Comet, snap ring pliers in tight places, wood blocks and hammers. Not fun, forget about it, like I forget about the spindle lock...though I rarely do that with the Record Power due to the knockout/tommy bar to lock the spindle and the chuck spanner to grab the Record Power chuck and have yet to replace the belt. Nice lathe for the niche in which I turn.
I purchased the Herald recently and LOVE it !!! If possible, I think the Herald is even better than advertised especially after receiving the updated tailstock free of charge. Thanks Ethan.
Free of charge is a stretch considering the price of that lathe since the video is jacked up by $200 dollars. And the Lee Valley price for the Rikon is under a $1000
The benefit of the Herald tailstock with the thread sticking out is that the quill is hollow. This lets you drill into the workpiece through the tailstock if you use a hollow live center.
We are about 30 days from making our first midi lathe purchase. The 21” capability of the Record Power Was my determining factor. I’ve read about lathes, made comparisons of features and price. Ironically the lathes you chose were all in our finale 3. Thank you for your informative video. Hands on video supersedes reading.
Thanks for the review. I decided on Rikon 70-1420 vsr. Old Ricon was discontinued, Laguna to small and Record was too expensive for shipping plus trucking fee plus bells and whistle.
Well in many aspects It is! But due to the similar shop footprint as well as the price drop of the Record(making it the most expensive base but mid ranged with bells and whistles) I felt like it be a fair comparison. Truth be told there isn’t really anything in the Heralds “class” beyond the Powermatic. Which is $3400 Thanks for watching!
One other video concern. In you review of the tool rest, you wrestled with the Laguna tool rest to have it turn side to side after tightened. You did not even test the Rikon in the same manner. On the Herald you treated it with a “kid gloves” attempt with merely two fingers and your thumb. Got to treat them all the same to have a true unbiased comparison.
Très belle vidéo comparative de différents tour à bois, ta vidéo va me réconforter dans le choix d'un second tour plus polyvalent. Congratulation, Jean-Luc
The main thing you missed on the Laguna is the Pulse Width Modulation. I have a friend who has a Laguna, and he says that feature is huge. When you’re really hogging out material, or other heavy work, it spools up and increases torque impressively. If I was going to buy one of the three today, it would probably be the Record, but mainly because of the ability to easily transform it to be left hand compatible. Though in all honesty, that would be most easily accomplished with the Rikon. Just move the controller and yourself to the other side of the lathe, put it in reverse, and “Bob’s your uncle”…you have a dedicated left handed lathe. Unfortunately, the Rikon is just not quite enough machine for my needs. Taking the “left handedness” out of the equation, I would probably go with the Laguna. The low 50 rpm’s (much more important than high end rpms to me), the Pulse Width Modulation, and the sheer mass of the unit, makes the Laguna pretty much a no brainer in my situation. And at $ 999 US, Including Shipping, for the base unit, well the price is right too! That’s $ 300 bucks US, less expensive than the Record, plus for the Record, you have to toss in another $ 100 bucks US for shipping. Still, overall,…and interesting vid. Thanks!!!
Hey Mark, I appreciate your comment! You may want to look at the pricing again as I believe there have been some changes recently. The Herald is now selling for $999 US which puts it right in line with the Laguna. Thanks for watching! Ethan
Thanks for the review. One thing you didn't mention is footprint. The Record appears to have a significantly bigger footprint, which is important for those of us who have limited shop space. It seems they all would be a good machine.
That’s a good point! I don’t have the Laguna here anymore so am unable to measure it. As the lathes were shown in the video(with the extension attached to the Rikon) here are the footprints. The Rikon is 7.5” wide and 44” long. The Record Power is 9” wide and 40” long. That would have been good info to include in the video!
Thanks Ethan for another great review of exactly the three options of lathes I’m considering buying 👌 Very informative but unfortunately not matching the prices I get here in Australia. The Herald is not on special here and it cost significantly more than the Laguna and the Rikon even including their bells and whistles (or wishes for the Laguna craaazy expensive accessories). One question: the Laguna has the option of a mobility kit that makes it a breeze to move it around on the stand, any similar options for the Herald?
@@StockroomSupply There is no way The Record is a 5 for style, it looks like it wasn't designed in this century. Also note some of the issues @GrumpyWiseGuy has pointed out.
@@davidmaccallum9092 Style would be a much personal preference, I dont own any of them. But if style matters, Herald is the only one of the 3 that looks like all parts belong together. So the Herald should get 10 out of 5 because of that.. But its a personal opinion.
Just to clarify for everybody. If you are using the offside and reversing the drive so the work turns top toward you then you don't need a set screw on chucks because it is turning the same direction relative to the shaft, counterclockwise when viewed from the end. Dealbreaker for me with the Record is the odd size drive all my chucks etc are 1"x 8 and I don't want to replace all of them.
Woops, I spoke too soon. However I do have what, to me, is a brilliant suggestion. I replaced the irritating Phillips screw with a thumb screw ( 5 for a dollar) which eliminates all frustration.
just a couple of notes, measuring headstock angle from different diameters will give different angles. 1" vs 1.25". So this may be a push. The centers are not stock on the laguna. I am not a fan of the quill on the laguna, markings asside... Mine tends to gum up slightly and small hand wheel are not a good combo. Laguna banjo is not nearly as bad on mine, it will lockup and not move (I can move the whole machine with it). I did not buy the stand, I made a stand instead. Just too expensive for what you get. Laguna's service I give a 5. The outboard adapter was made incorectly, and I got a replacement mailed to me in a few days. The stock drive center had tooling/grinding marks on it, which caused it to stick, had to wait for machine to cool down before I could knock it out. Sandpaper fixed that issue. I do not like the articulating arm on outboard turning. I find too much vibration from the extra long "banjo", I puchased different tool rest with longer post. That works better. I do like the outboard option on the Record better, and whish I knew about that one before making my purchase a couple of months ago. But as you said they are all nice lathes.
Thanks Tim! That's a great point with the slightly larger spindle thread...that will effect the angle measurement a bit. Also interesting to hear your first hand experiences with the Laguna! Thanks for sharing :)
Hi Ethan, thanks for posting this review, you've helped me make up my mind on my next lathe purchase. I currently use a Record Power lathe but I'm looking to upgrade and the price for the Coronet is great at the moment, plus I live half an hour drive from the manufacturer 👍
I might add, great comparison video. Surprisingly I was having trouble finding this kind of video that was honestly looking at features rather than those “infomercial” style ones that pop up first. Earlier I did a search on this and a comparison (which was completely apples and oranges to begin with) they came up with Wen as best overall😟🤔. Thanks again, may have to go for the Record for my starting lathe. Just a complete beginner.
I am curious about your mass comparison. You spoke about the Rikon weighing the least and the Herald second in weight. What were the weights of each machine/stand? During your test of the tool rest, you drug the Herald on the floor as you pulled on the tool rest. Of course you did not test the Rikon in the same way. When testing the laguna’ s tool rest it did not move the lathe/stand at all. Looks to me based off of the video the Herald may have weighed the least; however, we can’t tell from the video because the actual weights were not discussed.
An Excellent review Ethan, I have never seen a Coronet in person but have fond memories of a General I had with a swivel head. Thanks for posting. wwrjf Richard...
So why when measuring the room to turn on the back side of your bowl, your angle gauge did not touch the metal on the Luguna but you did on the record? There was still a good 1/4” of clearance on your gauge.
In think you made a good choice. I order a 16'' Record Power today. I order a Laguna 1524 last year and it never shipped, and now i'm glad it didn't. I think the Record Power is a better made machine all the way around. Laguna has been having two many bearing problems plus the tech and warranty department sucks. I think Laguna is going down the same road that Grizzly has chosen. Cutting corners and cheaper parts.
I would point out that you gave the Herald a 5 for the belt change, but the opening is on the back side while the Laguna is on the front. If you have this on a bench instead of a walk around it is a real advantage to the Laguna. My Jet was on the back side and this was always an issue so I tended to change the belt less often than I should.
Hi Ethan. Thank you for the comparison of the three lathes! Though I felt you had a bisis toward the Coronet Herald! I have bought the Herald though I have yet to set it up. I did purchase the Herald in the US while it was discounted and it did include the upgraded tail stock. I would have loved to buy the coronet regent, but I could not afford it and I comfortable with a bench mounted lathe. I bought my Herald with bench feet and the bed extension. I feel Record power could greatly improve the Herald by having the controls separate of the motor and movable like the Regent. That would negate the need for the optional emergency stop button. Comments on your 3 lathe comparision. Comparisions where I feel you over rated the Herald. Herald spindle lock, Positive yes, but placed where it could be engaged accidently while turning, sanding or finishing due to it's location and ease of engagement. Screw to lock belt cover, come on Record! It's a cover, spring latch or a twist knob. Sand filled stand, fine! But Ethan when you were showing how well the tool rest locked, the lathe itself slid on the tile floor. Would ? Rubber feet would help here? I will have to say the leg design would be the easiest to sweep up, as turning produces a lot of shavings to sweep up. Control panel, of the three, the only one needed to to program to the belt speed selected. Last complaint. Which I noticed on your video as well as others. But not covered in your comparision. The Herald seems to take a long time to come to a stop when shutting down vs. the compitition. In a high production operation, time to spindle stop can affect production. PROS!!!!!!!!! Highest Motor power! Most flexibility of head position!!! Largest spindle diameter! Largest turning diameter over bed and off bed bowl diameter ! Longest spindle length turning stock and additional bed length availble as an option! Best tool rest locking mechanism! Best Tail stock locking, best tail stock if purchased with new tail stock! Control shows speed set prior to turning on. And Rest in peace Sean Connery, The BEST looking lathe of the three!
I’ve turned on all three lathes and hands down the Record lathe is the best over all, I filled the legs with lead shot and that really made it stable , and it comes with rubber feet pads so mine does not walk at all . My opinion is the Record Herald is the better over all lathe. The outboard turning feature alone is worth more than the others. They all have their good points but feature for dollar the Record beats them all hands down. I also added all the extras and am very pleased with the Record Herald.
Great review Ethan! I use to have a smaller Rikon that was great, but when I decided too grow from it I had Laguna on my mind for sure. After digging deep in features, several reviews written and videos (unfortunately no video comparing it to others like yours...), features and price comparison, I decided to go with Record Power. No regrets! Although I still think Laguna is the sexiest of them all (a Tesla indeed! lol), I'm happier with more features then the looks when it comes to lathe. Cheers!
Until I saw tour review, I was leaning toward the laguna. My sample set was was rikon, jet and laguna. Not so sure about laguna now. I am wondering if the winner in your sample set is heavier and possibly more apt to tip towards the left.
This is awesome Ethan!!! Thank you. I will say that I rate the Record Power lathe stand a 5, and the Laguna a 2. The Laguna stand is messy to clean off (a constant) and it's no place to store gouges etc because of the mess from above. The Record Power stand has a good stance and easy to sweep around, nothing there to catch the shavings.
Hi Ethan, I recently purchased a Herald and love it. I was wondering if you’ve had any of the new tail stocks not lining up with the head stock? My tail stock is off my 1/8 of an inch Vertically. Any idea if they were ever recalled I can’t seem to find anything. Or are they all like that?
I bought the Rikon. It had a major problem. Rikon left me hanging for repairs, after a month I returned the lathe to woodcraft and bought the Laguna 12/16. I am very happy with the Laguna. I would never buy anything Rikon again.
Hi Ethan thanks for the indept review. I am looking at these lathes. I have 2 questions. How does the Rikon 70-220 compare.From what I've read you cannot turn a bowl on the outside. And most importantly, how are they to use? I know these are the specs but how are they to use? thanks
Thanks for watching prof! The Rikon 70-220vsr is very similar to the 70/150vsr. It is 20” long(like the herald) rather than 16”. It does not allow for outboard turning and the controls cannot be moved. Price wise they are essentially the same along with their other features. All the lathes in this video perform great in use! I only have experience on the Rikon and Record Power...but I can say they both are excellent quality machines that work very well. There are many Laguna owners who would vouch for the 1216 I’m sure!
I might be mistaken but it seems like on the rikon if you are turning outboard, if the lathe is in reverse and you are standing on the opposite side you are still working against the thread direction right? In that case you wouldn’t need to worry about it coming loose. I might be losing track with all the direction changes but it seems like that would work the same way as turning in board in forward motion standing in front of the lathe.
Hello, I enjoyed watching your comparisons! I would be a novice using a lathe (I think I may have used one back in high school in like 1975!), but I recently watched Tom Silva of This Old House turning simple Christmas ornaments using the Laguna 1216 (it was the most recent episode on Ask This Old House, Dec 23 or so). Of course I want a quality lathe that will last, but I don’t want to break the bank (the Laguna is about $950 US, the Rikon about $700 US). I may just get a cheaper one such as WEN to start out with. I did want to ask you, are there any midi lathes that are made in North America, or at least not made in China? Thanks so much and Happy New Year!
Hmmm. A 5 for the Record Power banjo with a cast iron tool rest? I'd have to ding it a point for that. At any rate, I'm sure all three lathes, with a bit of personalization, would work just fine. Interesting video! I have to agree with some of the comments here that for pure looks, pretty much any of the Lagunas are hard to beat. Cheers!
your coronet very ligth can see no controle you need adjust the 2 center point emergency red B. it not the control just stop you never sale rikon lathe .....
Just a couple notes as a Laguna owner. I believe the 16 in the 12/16 designation refers to the swing over bed, not the spindle length. As you noted the outboard capacity is 16 inches. Also, Laguna sells a 20" cast iron bed extension. If my math is right, that gives you about 35: bed length.Also, you can if you choose, attach the bed extension made for the outboard set up, to the right side for just a little extra length. Finally, the stand. It has the ability to adjust height up or down 6 inches, and in addition, there is a "mobility" add on that allows you to roll the whole thing around.. None of this cheap as you might expect from Laguna.
@@MikePeaceWoodturning LOL Boy was I surprised to see this 9 months later! Perhaps I phrased my comment poorly. Ethan assumed the 16 referred to the spindal capacity. It seems clear to me that the 12/16 refers to the 12 inch swing over the bed and 16 inch outboard capacity.
Clearly a biased review towards the lathe you stock. Many examples through the video; however, the most obvious dealt with the belt changing. Let me explain. You spoke about how the laguna had ample room to adjust the belt with 2 open doors without having to loosing a screw to gain entrance. You praised the laguna for this accessibility and ease of use. You did not have anything negative about the laguna with reference to changing the belt. Then you reviewed the Herald. You talked about having to loosen the screw to gain access to the belt which you did not like. You attempted to change it with one hand but had difficulty due to limited space to get you hands on the belt. After your second attempt, you finally got it adjusted and had to tighten the screw. So the laguna did not have any negative comments referencing the belt change which you rated a #4. With the Herald on the other hand, you stated you DID NOT LIKE HAVING TO LOOSEN THE SCREW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BELT. You had difficult adjusting the belt and yet you rated it a #5. Both the Laguna and the Rikon have 1 horse motors and the Herald has a larger. Doesn’t seem that you are comparing apples to apples. It’s clear you like the Herald and I think also it’s a good lathe. In my humble opinion, your video should have been on the Herald and the pros and cons it possesses.
I disagree...he stockes the Rikon too and it scored last. These are apples to apples or as close as your gonna get in lathes....the Herald is most expensive and the best most featured...I have been shopping for an upgrade lathe and have settled on the Record Power...why? It's 1199 in the U.S and has features that most lathes cost you about 1800 to get. The Rikon is 900 I think and the Laguna is 1000. The herald has best speed range The herald has best outboard size Best spindle length More power Better indexing They have fixed the only complaints with the tailstock (integrated threads, self eject MT#2) I've seen the banjo compared to a oneway(arguably the best there is on a $5000+ machine This lathe compared to a big model like a harvey t40, oneway 1224, robust scout, grizzly 462 or bigger powermatic, jet 1442 ect. The difference is this lathe is midi priced with big lathe features....in this comparison based of my own research, the best BY FAR lathe won by a little margin. I'm sure he has a personal opinion, but if you wanna make a lathe look good, Record Power really makes it easy And you specific example leaves out a few things...like when he struggled, it was with ONE HAND...and having to loosen a screw vs the actual functionality of the belt system is a big weight difference on a grading scale. You obviously bought the Laguna and this hurt your feelings...calm down, he didn't say it was a bad lathe...he even loves the style, just turn some wood and live on brother.
The Record belt is much shorter than the belts on the other two machines. That suggests a shorter life span, unless they have compensated with a thicker or tougher belt. A little work with some fabric and magnets keeps sawdust off the Laguna stand. I've had my Laguna for two years. Wish it was bigger sometimes, but the extra $$$ are hard to justify.
However you can change the belt without disassembling the headstock by taking the main spindle out. You can change the belt nearly as fast as changing the speed. If you are prone to forgetting the spindle lock this is a real advantage. :)
I learned a while back about the phrase “ good for the money” and I lost a lot of money on crappy lenses that were “ good for the money”. I am more interested in quality, even if i have to save a little longer before buying.
A few thoughts: 1) if you buy a free standing tool rest (much cheaper than the table extensions) all three lathes would have the same outboard turning capacity 2) those angled legs on the Record are a tripping hazard and the legs on the Laguna do not need the addition of sand or lead shot 3) the tool rest "clamp" on the Record looks to use a single screw that jams the post instead of actually clamping the post - after some use that will wear a spot/groove in the post that will get worse over time ... especially if the turning is off balance 4) a magnetic remote stop button can be added to any lathe for $40 from Amazon - you did say it was optional. Those things couple with the Record not really being in the same category would narrow the point gap for the final totals
Thanks for watching and commenting Qapla! I would strongly advise against using a freestanding toolrest on any lathe. If the toolrest is not attached to the lathe the lathe and rest can/will vibrate differently causing poor finishes and out of round turnings. The bigger problem is the risk of a catch. The risk and danger of a catch increases significantly when using a freestanding toolrest as it can move independently of the lathe. About 25 years ago freestanding toolrests were widely available in Canada...they are no longer sold here due to the danger. Though folks can still make their own. I hear conflicting opinions on the legs! I believe its just a preference thing. A few comments ago a gentleman loved the legs on the Herald as there is so much room to work around them and chips can't build up on them...he rated them a 5. He also noted the Laguna legs were bulky and limited where you can stand plus chips will build up preventing use of the tool holders...he rated it a 2. Yes the Rikon and Record both used the traditional method of holding the toolrest and it works very well! There is of course the potential of wearing a groove in the toolrest post after long repeated use. But to replace a toolrest every 5 years is worth the increased clamping ability IMO. Could you link the magnetic emergency off buttons you found on Amazon? I think other turners would be interested!! Thanks for watching!!
changing belts 🤔🤔🤔🤔😳 ? no thanks and thats exactly why i bought a "RECORD POWER" NOVA DVR - XP 👍 no belts to change EVER as its all done MAGNETICALLY inside the maintenence free headstock 👍 just push the up or down for speed and away you go . absolutely brilliant 👍
The Laguna tool rest design seems to be flawed. To my mind, the horizontal slit should be on the other side, where the vertical slit is, to let the clamp actually clamp. Ideally the horizontal slit should also be at the bottom, not halfway up, and have the clamping screw halfway up instead. If I had that lathe, I would try to add a short horizontal slit below the clamping screw at the bottom and see if that helps. Regarding the video, being in the market for that size lathe, I very much appreciate it. I would not have thought that two out of three brands are unable to design a functional banjo in this day and age, and of course I would have expected the Laguna rest to work a lot better, seeing as it has an actual clamp. How engineers get that wrong is really beyond me. It's doubly embarrassing for them since it also costs more to manufacture. Side note, I still don't understand why Record Power states the maximum turning diameter als 533mm on the Herald, I have seen a guy comfortably mount and turn a 600 mm blank on that thing and that did not even seem the end of it yet. Bolt that down to a serious ballast box, and maybe add a counterweight, and I am confident it could do even more, though the minimum speed of 95 rpm would at some point start to get a bit much, probably. At the same time, the Herald outboard turning facility _does not add to its length,_ so I could actually use it in my mini workshop, whereas I'd have to throw out my drill press to be able to fit the other two. However, the video would benefit from some editing and possibly even scripting. There is hardly any worthwhile information in the first ten, eleven minutes, and things like instructions to the camera lass to go around and shoot the rear etc - no good reason to leave that in. And it could also benefit from some, you know, actual _woodturning._
Too bad this comp. review is 2 years old as I watch. Unfortunately, the one mid sized lathe that would have blown all others out of the pond was not included. I'm talking about the Harvey T-40. The T-40 has a powerful, modern, servo drive motor with a 300% overload capacity and a 2 ms response time to load changes. It is also super smooth and very quiet. The T-40 is actually overbuilt with heavy cast sections and an overall weight of around 200#. The well thought out design, precision construction and high quality bearings provide a spindle runout of just a few microns and spindle to tailstock alignment of just a few thousands of an inch. The Harvey T-40 and T60 are so well designed and built that they raise the bar well above all other lathes in their size, performance and price range...kunk
The Harvey is usually for sale at $1899. Two of the lathes you reviewed are for sale at $1665 and $1800 (kited out). However The Harvey T-40 is a 14" x 24" lathe that is at another level in terms of precision, build quality, motor, controls, and features. To me, as a Mechanical Engineer and lifelong woodworker and woodturner it is by far the best in class...kunk
Thank for this, Was close to getting a laguna soon but this definitely made me go for the Record. Much better machine all around and greater capacity. However, i think the Laguna deserved better marks on a few categories especially the control repsonse was atleast a 4 and for the price it seems good but they obviously cut corners to keep the price down. The extra price on the Record really shows with the quality and ergonomics.
Thanks for watching Dave! I’m happy you found this video helpful. I definitely struggled with the ratings, I’m sure arguments could be made for raising or lowering many of them. But my main goal was to show the relative differences between each machine. Hopefully I was able to do that!
The Laguna has a lot going for it except the banjo. They really have to fix this. In many ways this is a deal breaker for an otherwise well designed and thought out unit. The controls on the modern lathe designs baffle me. Like Japanese cameras, a lot of razzle dazzle that isn't necessary. A simple on/off push/pull switch and a direction control switch is all one needs. Assuming one can get to it while turning. The small portable box design that Rikon and Powermatic use is just ok, but too many controls in too small a space. Yes you can position the box on the base but that is it. You still have to fiddle with finding the controls and adjust them, but in an emergency, this is really bad. The STOP switch on the Record is much better, however it turns the entire headstock off and then what? Also the button surface on the Record will eventually wear out and tear with all the button pushing that you have to do to operate the machine. And you have to look at the buttons to figure out which one you are pushing, no tactile difference between the buttons. It makes one wonder if the engineers who designed these things ever actually used them. So much of modern technology is this way. Feature rich and almost impossible to use because of the ergonomics. I settled on the Powermatic 2014 because of its build quality and overall ease of use, EXCEPT the control box, which I am not fond of but will put up with. It's on/off switch on the box turns off the spindle, not the entire headstock. There is a separate switch to turn off the headstock and motor inverter. Thanks for the comparison.
Thanks for watching! Yes I wasn’t impressed with the Laguna banjo, otherwise it was a fine unit. I personally prefer the controls on the Herald the best. I like the audible beep the on button makes and the preprogamable RPM’s. I could see how it would be a bit to get used to though!
@@StockroomSupply Well thank you Sir. 👍 It's always a pleasure to join those sessions, and support Theo and Mike. I have learned so much from Theo over the years.
Laguna is the only one to offer a 2 years warranty, while the others offer 5 years. Also, I see a lot of issues with Laguna reverse switch stop working.
I live in Stratford Ontario Canada where they make the One Way lathe. Cost twice as much but puts all of these to shame. It just a beautiful thing. Unfortunately my budget only allowed me a laguna. Don’t get me wrong , I love my lathe , but I have similar criticisms plus the use of plastic in the doors and one handle. The tail stock on the record is poorly designed and deserved a one. The cantilevered motor sticking out like that made for an inelegant overall design, another one score from me. The legs on the record are tripping hazards....and I wonder why you didn’t give it a good shake back and forth ? That base is best screwed or bolted right to the floor. Imagine turning the huge bowl that it’s capacity allows ! It would be chasing you around the shop! A major fail there, very dangerous without some extreme rigidity and/or weight. The Rikon is cheaply made and you can tell if you are standing in front of it. I looked at it two or three times before I bought the Laguana and concluded that it was not in the same class at all. I’ve used the Laguana for a year without any problems at all . Without the bed extension it’s a little cramped so recommend that. I would have liked to see a seasoned turner use all three for a couple of weeks and hear a lot that. I get it , you sell these machines so you don’t want to be too critical ,after all who would buy them ? I’m sure your dealers wouldn’t give you any more special deals once you trashed their goods on camera. I’m going to have call this a biased review and take it with a grain of salt.
Judging the stands. Let me point out. The record model has its “ pivot” points located directly under the bed, notice the legs angle outwards from bed, makes it very rigid. The Rikon has its “ pivot” point at floor. The legs are plumb directly to floor. Meaning if you shake the bed, it will pivot at the floor connection. Not as rigid as record.
You missed what, for me, is the most glaring difference--ease of changing the belt on the pulleys. The Rikon and Laguna are not even on the same planet.
I watched this review because I am interested mainly in the Laguna. But thanks for your clearly biased review making the winner a machine that didn't belong in this comparison, i.e., a 14 inch machine compared to two 12 inch machines. And tell me why the Record got a 5 for belt changes when you need a screwdriver and you fumbled around and never got the belt moved correctly compared to the Laguna which needs no tools and has easier front access.
As a scientist, Ihave a few issues with this comparison. First, right up front you pointed out your own bias. Bias should be addressed (as you did), but then scrupulously examined to ensure it does not cloud your ratings. On the other hand, you sell two of the lathes, and the Laguna that you do not sell, and are obviously less familiar with, was borrowed. It was not new as were the Record and Rikon. So, is it up to date as the other two, did you miss some features because you are less familiar, etc? This alone brings into question your results. However, you also used a moving subjective scale. I could almost predict that you would give a higher, lower score when judging the Record or Rikon vs the Laguna. It would have been more accurate to rank them 1, 2, 3 than to give anywhere from 2-4 as the lowest score. That automatically skewed the highest score even higher. As noted previously, you totally missed the Pulse Width Modulation of the Laguna, which manages to deliver steady high torque at low speeds. This fact alone, along with the greater mass and steadiness of the Laguna, should have raised its rating significantly. All turners know the value of mass, torque and smoothness in woodturning. To discount those features compared to bells-and-whistle-bling is dissapointing. I own both this Laguna and this Rikon, and I can guarantee there is no comparison between the two where the Laguna does not leave the Rikon in its dust. Further, any perceived advantage of the two movable on/off switches of the Rikon and Record are discounted in my mind relative to actual safety issue they present. How ridiculous is it to roll up your sleeves, tie back your ponytail and take off your bolo tie, only to leave electrical cables laying all over your lathe, turning at over 3000 RPM? I have no experience with the Record. I’m sure its owners love it, but for my money, I will invest in mass and steady, smooth reliable operation. I’ll stick with my Laguna 12/16.
It's a TH-cam video and he sells the other two he'd be a shit salesman if he told them to buy a lathe from the neighbor.. especially when everyone knows when it comes to everything ever made for wood.. powermatic IS KING
While you state up front that you sell the Rikon and Coronet, you show blatant bias on these tools with your numerical ratings. You also are comparing lathes that are really in different classes, so it is an unfair comparison. I appreciate the detailed info, but your point assessment is off.
Hip action? 3rd hand? Really? What a waste of time. You should have included some real mid size lathes in your " REVIEW "! how about a Harvey, Powermatic, Robust etc!
Hey Jose, Thanks for watching! This review was intended for midi lathes not mid sized lathes. All those lathe you mentioned are beautiful! Though they are out of range for many woodturners as they sell for $3000 CAD+ for the base models. Also I'm sorry that you were offended by my hip! lol
I liked your review so much, I got a Laguna
Pretty good review. I think you undersold the Laguna. The Laguna is clearly solid and heavy and stable. One lathe you showed how stable the tool rest was and the whole lathe wobbled. You talked about the Laguna bed being shorter that advertised but I did not hear you mention the bed extension that you had mounted on the outboard end could extend the bed by 20 inches. The banjo slippage may not be a general problem. The pulse modulation speed control is a big plus for low speed high torque. I’m not sure that looks is a big issue for a lot of turners but come on. The Laguna is clearly the most handsome of the three lathes. I bought the Laguna.
The Laguna name sells the lathes themselves. Laguna on the top top end is more than likely a better lathe than anything (except powermatic) in my opinion this was to sell the Coronet
Being an early adopter in the States of the Record Power, I like the portability of it as I use the warehouse at work and turn out of the back of my truck. Otherwise I use the second bedroom so my space is limited. With no bandsaw, it makes rough turning out of balance logs interesting. Sometimes I turn outdoors and if the control box is in the direct sun it will thermally shut off, so break out the brolly and keep it in the shade :) I find I need a little extra leverage with the short locking levers and older fingers especially when using the outrigger. This applies mainly for the roughing out stage where things get choppy. The tail and headstock lock nicely. The sliding and rotating head is very handy and one of the reasons I bought it. Rotating even just 20 degrees makes hollowing out bowls much easier on the back. Taking the head and tailstock off make this unit much easier to load into a vehicle. Bigger Forstner bits require the high torque low belt setting especially when cutting dry oak end grain (is that so for other lathes?) One HP at the spindle vs the motor rating, setting the speed prior to turning the motor on, 1-1/4" big boy spindle threads, the eyes are bigger than my turning abilities of 20" diameter were factors as well (I did manage a 14" Oak shallow bowl/platter thingy) but the the final thing was when I figured out that you can install a new belt without removing the spindle from the lathe. Essentially replacing the belt as fast as changing speeds due to, er, uh, 'operator error'. I had just changed one the Nova Comet, snap ring pliers in tight places, wood blocks and hammers. Not fun, forget about it, like I forget about the spindle lock...though I rarely do that with the Record Power due to the knockout/tommy bar to lock the spindle and the chuck spanner to grab the Record Power chuck and have yet to replace the belt. Nice lathe for the niche in which I turn.
I purchased the Herald recently and LOVE it !!! If possible, I think the Herald is even better than advertised especially after receiving the updated tailstock free of charge. Thanks Ethan.
Free of charge is a stretch considering the price of that lathe since the video is jacked up by $200 dollars. And the Lee Valley price for the Rikon is under a $1000
The benefit of the Herald tailstock with the thread sticking out is that the quill is hollow. This lets you drill into the workpiece through the tailstock if you use a hollow live center.
We are about 30 days from making our first midi lathe purchase. The 21” capability of the Record Power Was my determining factor. I’ve read about lathes, made comparisons of features and price. Ironically the lathes you chose were all in our finale 3. Thank you for your informative video. Hands on video supersedes reading.
Thanks for the review. I decided on Rikon 70-1420 vsr. Old Ricon was discontinued, Laguna to small and Record was too expensive for shipping plus trucking fee plus bells and whistle.
Thanks for the review. Really though isn't the Record lathe is in a bit of a different class than the Laguna and the Rikon models?
Well in many aspects It is! But due to the similar shop footprint as well as the price drop of the Record(making it the most expensive base but mid ranged with bells and whistles) I felt like it be a fair comparison.
Truth be told there isn’t really anything in the Heralds “class” beyond the Powermatic. Which is $3400
Thanks for watching!
Thx for your work, very informative
I liked your review overall, considering the new Rikon 70-1420 or Laguna 12/16, would love to see a comparison of these two.
One other video concern. In you review of the tool rest, you wrestled with the Laguna tool rest to have it turn side to side after tightened. You did not even test the Rikon in the same manner. On the Herald you treated it with a “kid gloves” attempt with merely two fingers and your thumb. Got to treat them all the same to have a true unbiased comparison.
Thank you for the thorough reviews! You helped us make an informed choice.
This is an incredible comparison. Thank you so much!
Why did you not review the 14" Rikon? Similar foot print to the Rikon 12" but more capable.
It didn’t exist when I made the video! If I were to do it now I would include the 70-1420
I would love to see the 70-1420. This one has my eye
Powermatic 2014 has outboard, indexing, reverse , 1 HP 3phase motor.
Très belle vidéo comparative de différents tour à bois, ta vidéo va me réconforter dans le choix d'un second tour plus polyvalent. Congratulation, Jean-Luc
Merci!
The main thing you missed on the Laguna is the Pulse Width Modulation. I have a friend who has a Laguna, and he says that feature is huge. When you’re really hogging out material, or other heavy work, it spools up and increases torque impressively. If I was going to buy one of the three today, it would probably be the Record, but mainly because of the ability to easily transform it to be left hand compatible. Though in all honesty, that would be most easily accomplished with the Rikon. Just move the controller and yourself to the other side of the lathe, put it in reverse, and “Bob’s your uncle”…you have a dedicated left handed lathe. Unfortunately, the Rikon is just not quite enough machine for my needs. Taking the “left handedness” out of the equation, I would probably go with the Laguna. The low 50 rpm’s (much more important than high end rpms to me), the Pulse Width Modulation, and the sheer mass of the unit, makes the Laguna pretty much a no brainer in my situation. And at $ 999 US, Including Shipping, for the base unit, well the price is right too! That’s
$ 300 bucks US, less expensive than the Record, plus for the Record, you have to toss in another $ 100 bucks US for shipping. Still, overall,…and interesting vid. Thanks!!!
Hey Mark,
I appreciate your comment! You may want to look at the pricing again as I believe there have been some changes recently. The Herald is now selling for $999 US which puts it right in line with the Laguna.
Thanks for watching!
Ethan
@@StockroomSupply Thanks for the heads up. I’m going to investigate that as I’m still in the market for a new lathe.
@@markashlock9017 No problem! Also I should note the Herald comes with a totally new upgraded tailstock now; th-cam.com/video/k96GRaHlsU0/w-d-xo.html
@@StockroomSupply You may have convinced me to go with the Record ; )
Do you know who handles them in the States?
@@markashlock9017 Did you ever get around to buying a lathe.
If so which one did you buy ?
Thanks for the review. One thing you didn't mention is footprint. The Record appears to have a significantly bigger footprint, which is important for those of us who have limited shop space. It seems they all would be a good machine.
That’s a good point!
I don’t have the Laguna here anymore so am unable to measure it. As the lathes were shown in the video(with the extension attached to the Rikon) here are the footprints. The Rikon is 7.5” wide and 44” long. The Record Power is 9” wide and 40” long. That would have been good info to include in the video!
Thanks Ethan for another great review of exactly the three options of lathes I’m considering buying 👌
Very informative but unfortunately not matching the prices I get here in Australia. The Herald is not on special here and it cost significantly more than the Laguna and the Rikon even including their bells and whistles (or wishes for the Laguna craaazy expensive accessories).
One question: the Laguna has the option of a mobility kit that makes it a breeze to move it around on the stand, any similar options for the Herald?
Any bias for the ones you sell, Ethan?
I tried not to be bias! If I wasn’t fair at any point in this video feel free to call me out 🙂
@@StockroomSupply There is no way The Record is a 5 for style, it looks like it wasn't designed in this century. Also note some of the issues @GrumpyWiseGuy has pointed out.
@@davidmaccallum9092 Style would be a much personal preference, I dont own any of them. But if style matters, Herald is the only one of the 3 that looks like all parts belong together. So the Herald should get 10 out of 5 because of that.. But its a personal opinion.
Great reviews i bought the herald today based on your reviews
John
I Lincolnshire UK
Awesome! Enjoy your new machine!
Just to clarify for everybody. If you are using the offside and reversing the drive so the work turns top toward you then you don't need a set screw on chucks because it is turning the same direction relative to the shaft, counterclockwise when viewed from the end. Dealbreaker for me with the Record is the odd size drive all my chucks etc are 1"x 8 and I don't want to replace all of them.
Woops, I spoke too soon. However I do have what, to me, is a brilliant suggestion. I replaced the irritating Phillips screw with a thumb screw ( 5 for a dollar) which eliminates all frustration.
just a couple of notes, measuring headstock angle from different diameters will give different angles. 1" vs 1.25". So this may be a push. The centers are not stock on the laguna. I am not a fan of the quill on the laguna, markings asside... Mine tends to gum up slightly and small hand wheel are not a good combo. Laguna banjo is not nearly as bad on mine, it will lockup and not move (I can move the whole machine with it). I did not buy the stand, I made a stand instead. Just too expensive for what you get. Laguna's service I give a 5. The outboard adapter was made incorectly, and I got a replacement mailed to me in a few days. The stock drive center had tooling/grinding marks on it, which caused it to stick, had to wait for machine to cool down before I could knock it out. Sandpaper fixed that issue. I do not like the articulating arm on outboard turning. I find too much vibration from the extra long "banjo", I puchased different tool rest with longer post. That works better. I do like the outboard option on the Record better, and whish I knew about that one before making my purchase a couple of months ago. But as you said they are all nice lathes.
Thanks Tim!
That's a great point with the slightly larger spindle thread...that will effect the angle measurement a bit.
Also interesting to hear your first hand experiences with the Laguna! Thanks for sharing :)
I have a question. You have me sold on the Rikon, my question is. Can the 13 1/2 in bed extension be used on both ends ? Or only at head stock end ?
Hi. I'm shopping, researching. I recall a comment that a bed ext. can be had on Hamazon for $99. Cheers!
We need more "Ethan Hip Action"! Great Video folks!
You should see me when Shania plays on the radio! 😁
Hi Ethan, thanks for posting this review, you've helped me make up my mind on my next lathe purchase. I currently use a Record Power lathe but I'm looking to upgrade and the price for the Coronet is great at the moment, plus I live half an hour drive from the manufacturer 👍
As of 2/24, Record Herald is 999 at Highland Woodworking (not including shipping)
That’s right! $999usd and 1249cad here in Canada
I might add, great comparison video. Surprisingly I was having trouble finding this kind of video that was honestly looking at features rather than those “infomercial” style ones that pop up first. Earlier I did a search on this and a comparison (which was completely apples and oranges to begin with) they came up with Wen as best overall😟🤔. Thanks again, may have to go for the Record for my starting lathe. Just a complete beginner.
@@victoryak86 thanks so much!
Record Power Coronet series Forever! Thanks for the excellent video!
I am curious about your mass comparison. You spoke about the Rikon weighing the least and the Herald second in weight. What were the weights of each machine/stand? During your test of the tool rest, you drug the Herald on the floor as you pulled on the tool rest. Of course you did not test the Rikon in the same way. When testing the laguna’ s tool rest it did not move the lathe/stand at all. Looks to me based off of the video the Herald may have weighed the least; however, we can’t tell from the video because the actual weights were not discussed.
An Excellent review Ethan, I have never seen a Coronet in person but have fond memories of a General I had with a swivel head.
Thanks for posting.
wwrjf
Richard...
Thanks for watching Richard!
So why when measuring the room to turn on the back side of your bowl, your angle gauge did not touch the metal on the Luguna but you did on the record? There was still a good 1/4” of clearance on your gauge.
Where are you located and can you ship to Newfoundland?
We are in Wainfleet Ont! And yes we do ship to Newfoundland regularly. Send us an email info@stockroomsupply.com for a shipping quote!
This is a very helpful demo. Thanks. I think maybe we are going to get the record power.
Thanks for watching! I think the Record is a great choice 👍
In think you made a good choice. I order a 16'' Record Power today.
I order a Laguna 1524 last year and it never shipped, and now i'm glad it didn't.
I think the Record Power is a better made machine all the way around.
Laguna has been having two many bearing problems plus the tech and warranty department sucks.
I think Laguna is going down the same road that Grizzly has chosen. Cutting corners and cheaper parts.
I would point out that you gave the Herald a 5 for the belt change, but the opening is on the back side while the Laguna is on the front. If you have this on a bench instead of a walk around it is a real advantage to the Laguna. My Jet was on the back side and this was always an issue so I tended to change the belt less often than I should.
Hi Ethan.
Thank you for the comparison of the three lathes! Though I felt you had a bisis toward the Coronet Herald! I have bought the Herald though I have yet to set it up.
I did purchase the Herald in the US while it was discounted and it did include the upgraded tail stock.
I would have loved to buy the coronet regent, but I could not afford it and I comfortable with a bench mounted lathe. I bought my Herald with bench feet and the bed extension.
I feel Record power could greatly improve the Herald by having the controls separate of the motor and movable like the Regent. That would negate the need for the optional emergency stop button.
Comments on your 3 lathe comparision.
Comparisions where I feel you over rated the Herald.
Herald spindle lock, Positive yes, but placed where it could be engaged accidently while turning, sanding or finishing due to it's location and ease of engagement.
Screw to lock belt cover, come on Record! It's a cover, spring latch or a twist knob.
Sand filled stand, fine! But Ethan when you were showing how well the tool rest locked, the lathe itself slid on the tile floor. Would ? Rubber feet would help here? I will have to say the leg design would be the easiest to sweep up, as turning produces a lot of shavings to sweep up.
Control panel, of the three, the only one needed to to program to the belt speed selected.
Last complaint. Which I noticed on your video as well as others. But not covered in your comparision.
The Herald seems to take a long time to come to a stop when shutting down vs. the compitition. In a high production operation, time to spindle stop can affect production.
PROS!!!!!!!!!
Highest Motor power!
Most flexibility of head position!!!
Largest spindle diameter!
Largest turning diameter over bed and off bed bowl diameter !
Longest spindle length turning stock and additional bed length availble as an option!
Best tool rest locking mechanism!
Best Tail stock locking, best tail stock if purchased with new tail stock!
Control shows speed set prior to turning on.
And Rest in peace Sean Connery, The BEST looking lathe of the three!
I’ve turned on all three lathes and hands down the Record lathe is the best over all, I filled the legs with lead shot and that really made it stable , and it comes with rubber feet pads so mine does not walk at all . My opinion is the Record Herald is the better over all lathe. The outboard turning feature alone is worth more than the others. They all have their good points but feature for dollar the Record beats them all hands down. I also added all the extras and am very pleased with the Record Herald.
Nice comparison thats very helpful.
Great review Ethan! I use to have a smaller Rikon that was great, but when I decided too grow from it I had Laguna on my mind for sure. After digging deep in features, several reviews written and videos (unfortunately no video comparing it to others like yours...), features and price comparison, I decided to go with Record Power. No regrets! Although I still think Laguna is the sexiest of them all (a Tesla indeed! lol), I'm happier with more features then the looks when it comes to lathe. Cheers!
Thank you!!
Happy to hear you are liking your Record lathe! But it’s true the Laguna is a GREAT looking machine lol
Until I saw tour review, I was leaning toward the laguna. My sample set was was rikon, jet and laguna. Not so sure about laguna now. I am wondering if the winner in your sample set is heavier and possibly more apt to tip towards the left.
Thanks for sharing those tips!
Our pleasure!
This is awesome Ethan!!! Thank you. I will say that I rate the Record Power lathe stand a 5, and the Laguna a 2. The Laguna stand is messy to clean off (a constant) and it's no place to store gouges etc because of the mess from above. The Record Power stand has a good stance and easy to sweep around, nothing there to catch the shavings.
Hey Leo! That’s a very good point actually 👍
Do you own the Laguna?
No, I don't own a Laguna. Someday I'm going to own a Regent! 😃
There’s an idea!!
You'll literally be the first to know Ethan!😅
Hi Ethan, I recently purchased a Herald and love it. I was wondering if you’ve had any of the new tail stocks not lining up with the head stock? My tail stock is off my 1/8 of an inch Vertically. Any idea if they were ever recalled I can’t seem to find anything. Or are they all like that?
The Laguna should win the RPM cathegory because 50 RPM is more usable for finishing and nobody turns at 3890 RPM
I bought the Rikon. It had a major problem. Rikon left me hanging for repairs, after a month I returned the lathe to woodcraft and bought the Laguna 12/16. I am very happy with the Laguna. I would never buy anything Rikon again.
Good demo Ethan.
Thanks Ruby! I appreciate you watching
Hi Ethan thanks for the indept review. I am looking at these lathes. I have 2 questions. How does the Rikon 70-220 compare.From what I've read you cannot turn a bowl on the outside. And most importantly, how are they to use? I know these are the specs but how are they to use? thanks
Thanks for watching prof!
The Rikon 70-220vsr is very similar to the 70/150vsr. It is 20” long(like the herald) rather than 16”. It does not allow for outboard turning and the controls cannot be moved. Price wise they are essentially the same along with their other features.
All the lathes in this video perform great in use! I only have experience on the Rikon and Record Power...but I can say they both are excellent quality machines that work very well. There are many Laguna owners who would vouch for the 1216 I’m sure!
I might be mistaken but it seems like on the rikon if you are turning outboard, if the lathe is in reverse and you are standing on the opposite side you are still working against the thread direction right? In that case you wouldn’t need to worry about it coming loose. I might be losing track with all the direction changes but it seems like that would work the same way as turning in board in forward motion standing in front of the lathe.
Hello, I enjoyed watching your comparisons! I would be a novice using a lathe (I think I may have used one back in high school in like 1975!), but I recently watched Tom Silva of This Old House turning simple Christmas ornaments using the Laguna 1216 (it was the most recent episode on Ask This Old House, Dec 23 or so). Of course I want a quality lathe that will last, but I don’t want to break the bank (the Laguna is about $950 US, the Rikon about $700 US). I may just get a cheaper one such as WEN to start out with.
I did want to ask you, are there any midi lathes that are made in North America, or at least not made in China? Thanks so much and Happy New Year!
I am happy that I have the Coronet Herald. By the way, me too I don't like the tailstock. ;)
It’s a great machine! But yes the tailstock could be better
@@StockroomSupply I agree. The tail stock needs work.
Hmmm. A 5 for the Record Power banjo with a cast iron tool rest? I'd have to ding it a point for that. At any rate, I'm sure all three lathes, with a bit of personalization, would work just fine. Interesting video! I have to agree with some of the comments here that for pure looks, pretty much any of the Lagunas are hard to beat. Cheers!
Very Interesting that the most expensive lathe gets the top spot. I would have definitely put the Laguna in front for many of the categories.
I tried to be as fair as possible! Did I miss something on the Laguna?
your coronet very ligth can see no controle you need adjust the 2 center point emergency red B. it not the control just stop you never sale rikon lathe .....
O forget from UK detour by Asian country same .....
Just a couple notes as a Laguna owner. I believe the 16 in the 12/16 designation refers to the swing over bed, not the spindle length. As you noted the outboard capacity is 16 inches. Also, Laguna sells a 20" cast iron bed extension. If my math is right, that gives you about 35: bed length.Also, you can if you choose, attach the bed extension made for the outboard set up, to the right side for just a little extra length. Finally, the stand. It has the ability to adjust height up or down 6 inches, and in addition, there is a "mobility" add on that allows you to roll the whole thing around.. None of this cheap as you might expect from Laguna.
No james. I have one and is has a 12" swing.
@@MikePeaceWoodturning LOL Boy was I surprised to see this 9 months later! Perhaps I phrased my comment poorly. Ethan assumed the 16 referred to the spindal capacity. It seems clear to me that the 12/16 refers to the 12 inch swing over the bed and 16 inch outboard capacity.
Clearly a biased review towards the lathe you stock. Many examples through the video; however, the most obvious dealt with the belt changing. Let me explain. You spoke about how the laguna had ample room to adjust the belt with 2 open doors without having to loosing a screw to gain entrance. You praised the laguna for this accessibility and ease of use. You did not have anything negative about the laguna with reference to changing the belt. Then you reviewed the Herald. You talked about having to loosen the screw to gain access to the belt which you did not like. You attempted to change it with one hand but had difficulty due to limited space to get you hands on the belt. After your second attempt, you finally got it adjusted and had to tighten the screw. So the laguna did not have any negative comments referencing the belt change which you rated a #4. With the Herald on the other hand, you stated you DID NOT LIKE HAVING TO LOOSEN THE SCREW TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BELT. You had difficult adjusting the belt and yet you rated it a #5. Both the Laguna and the Rikon have 1 horse motors and the Herald has a larger. Doesn’t seem that you are comparing apples to apples. It’s clear you like the Herald and I think also it’s a good lathe. In my humble opinion, your video should have been on the Herald and the pros and cons it possesses.
I disagree...he stockes the Rikon too and it scored last.
These are apples to apples or as close as your gonna get in lathes....the Herald is most expensive and the best most featured...I have been shopping for an upgrade lathe and have settled on the Record Power...why?
It's 1199 in the U.S and has features that most lathes cost you about 1800 to get. The Rikon is 900 I think and the Laguna is 1000.
The herald has best speed range
The herald has best outboard size
Best spindle length
More power
Better indexing
They have fixed the only complaints with the tailstock (integrated threads, self eject MT#2)
I've seen the banjo compared to a oneway(arguably the best there is on a $5000+ machine
This lathe compared to a big model like a harvey t40, oneway 1224, robust scout, grizzly 462 or bigger powermatic, jet 1442 ect.
The difference is this lathe is midi priced with big lathe features....in this comparison based of my own research, the best BY FAR lathe won by a little margin.
I'm sure he has a personal opinion, but if you wanna make a lathe look good, Record Power really makes it easy
And you specific example leaves out a few things...like when he struggled, it was with ONE HAND...and having to loosen a screw vs the actual functionality of the belt system is a big weight difference on a grading scale.
You obviously bought the Laguna and this hurt your feelings...calm down, he didn't say it was a bad lathe...he even loves the style, just turn some wood and live on brother.
The Record belt is much shorter than the belts on the other two machines. That suggests a shorter life span, unless they have compensated with a thicker or tougher belt.
A little work with some fabric and magnets keeps sawdust off the Laguna stand.
I've had my Laguna for two years. Wish it was bigger sometimes, but the extra $$$ are hard to justify.
However you can change the belt without disassembling the headstock by taking the main spindle out. You can change the belt nearly as fast as changing the speed. If you are prone to forgetting the spindle lock this is a real advantage. :)
I learned a while back about the phrase “ good for the money” and I lost a lot of money on crappy lenses that were “ good for the money”. I am more interested in quality, even if i have to save a little longer before buying.
A few thoughts: 1) if you buy a free standing tool rest (much cheaper than the table extensions) all three lathes would have the same outboard turning capacity 2) those angled legs on the Record are a tripping hazard and the legs on the Laguna do not need the addition of sand or lead shot 3) the tool rest "clamp" on the Record looks to use a single screw that jams the post instead of actually clamping the post - after some use that will wear a spot/groove in the post that will get worse over time ... especially if the turning is off balance 4) a magnetic remote stop button can be added to any lathe for $40 from Amazon - you did say it was optional. Those things couple with the Record not really being in the same category would narrow the point gap for the final totals
Thanks for watching and commenting Qapla!
I would strongly advise against using a freestanding toolrest on any lathe. If the toolrest is not attached to the lathe the lathe and rest can/will vibrate differently causing poor finishes and out of round turnings. The bigger problem is the risk of a catch. The risk and danger of a catch increases significantly when using a freestanding toolrest as it can move independently of the lathe.
About 25 years ago freestanding toolrests were widely available in Canada...they are no longer sold here due to the danger. Though folks can still make their own.
I hear conflicting opinions on the legs! I believe its just a preference thing. A few comments ago a gentleman loved the legs on the Herald as there is so much room to work around them and chips can't build up on them...he rated them a 5. He also noted the Laguna legs were bulky and limited where you can stand plus chips will build up preventing use of the tool holders...he rated it a 2.
Yes the Rikon and Record both used the traditional method of holding the toolrest and it works very well! There is of course the potential of wearing a groove in the toolrest post after long repeated use. But to replace a toolrest every 5 years is worth the increased clamping ability IMO.
Could you link the magnetic emergency off buttons you found on Amazon? I think other turners would be interested!!
Thanks for watching!!
changing belts 🤔🤔🤔🤔😳 ? no thanks and thats exactly why i bought a "RECORD POWER" NOVA DVR - XP 👍 no belts to change EVER as its all done MAGNETICALLY inside the maintenence free headstock 👍 just push the up or down for speed and away you go . absolutely brilliant 👍
With the factory legs. What is the distance from the floor to the center of the spindle?
Thanks
Rob
Do you sell the 24" bed extension for the Rikon 70-150VSR? I can't seem to find it anywhere. It should be part #70-904.
Two things you did not talk about was warranty and indexing. (Or maybe I slept through that part. 😊)
The Laguna tool rest design seems to be flawed. To my mind, the horizontal slit should be on the other side, where the vertical slit is, to let the clamp actually clamp. Ideally the horizontal slit should also be at the bottom, not halfway up, and have the clamping screw halfway up instead. If I had that lathe, I would try to add a short horizontal slit below the clamping screw at the bottom and see if that helps.
Regarding the video, being in the market for that size lathe, I very much appreciate it. I would not have thought that two out of three brands are unable to design a functional banjo in this day and age, and of course I would have expected the Laguna rest to work a lot better, seeing as it has an actual clamp. How engineers get that wrong is really beyond me. It's doubly embarrassing for them since it also costs more to manufacture.
Side note, I still don't understand why Record Power states the maximum turning diameter als 533mm on the Herald, I have seen a guy comfortably mount and turn a 600 mm blank on that thing and that did not even seem the end of it yet. Bolt that down to a serious ballast box, and maybe add a counterweight, and I am confident it could do even more, though the minimum speed of 95 rpm would at some point start to get a bit much, probably. At the same time, the Herald outboard turning facility _does not add to its length,_ so I could actually use it in my mini workshop, whereas I'd have to throw out my drill press to be able to fit the other two.
However, the video would benefit from some editing and possibly even scripting. There is hardly any worthwhile information in the first ten, eleven minutes, and things like instructions to the camera lass to go around and shoot the rear etc - no good reason to leave that in.
And it could also benefit from some, you know, actual _woodturning._
Too bad this comp. review is 2 years old as I watch. Unfortunately, the one mid sized lathe that would have blown all others out of the pond was not included. I'm talking about the Harvey T-40.
The T-40 has a powerful, modern, servo drive motor with a 300% overload capacity and a 2 ms response time to load changes. It is also super smooth and very quiet.
The T-40 is actually overbuilt with heavy cast sections and an overall weight of around 200#. The well thought out design, precision construction and high quality bearings provide a spindle runout of just a few microns and spindle to tailstock alignment of just a few thousands of an inch.
The Harvey T-40 and T60 are so well designed and built that they raise the bar well above all other lathes in their size, performance and price range...kunk
How much is the Harvey retailing for currently? The Herald, Laguna 12/16 and Rikon are all less the $1000usd right now.
The Harvey is usually for sale at $1899. Two of the lathes you reviewed are for sale at $1665 and $1800 (kited out). However The Harvey T-40 is a 14" x 24" lathe that is at another level in terms of precision, build quality, motor, controls, and features. To me, as a Mechanical Engineer and lifelong woodworker and woodturner it is by far the best in class...kunk
Thank for this, Was close to getting a laguna soon but this definitely made me go for the Record. Much better machine all around and greater capacity. However, i think the Laguna deserved better marks on a few categories especially the control repsonse was atleast a 4 and for the price it seems good but they obviously cut corners to keep the price down. The extra price on the Record really shows with the quality and ergonomics.
Thanks for watching Dave! I’m happy you found this video helpful.
I definitely struggled with the ratings, I’m sure arguments could be made for raising or lowering many of them. But my main goal was to show the relative differences between each machine. Hopefully I was able to do that!
The Laguna has a lot going for it except the banjo. They really have to fix this. In many ways this is a deal breaker for an otherwise well designed and thought out unit. The controls on the modern lathe designs baffle me. Like Japanese cameras, a lot of razzle dazzle that isn't necessary. A simple on/off push/pull switch and a direction control switch is all one needs. Assuming one can get to it while turning. The small portable box design that Rikon and Powermatic use is just ok, but too many controls in too small a space. Yes you can position the box on the base but that is it. You still have to fiddle with finding the controls and adjust them, but in an emergency, this is really bad. The STOP switch on the Record is much better, however it turns the entire headstock off and then what? Also the button surface on the Record will eventually wear out and tear with all the button pushing that you have to do to operate the machine. And you have to look at the buttons to figure out which one you are pushing, no tactile difference between the buttons. It makes one wonder if the engineers who designed these things ever actually used them. So much of modern technology is this way. Feature rich and almost impossible to use because of the ergonomics. I settled on the Powermatic 2014 because of its build quality and overall ease of use, EXCEPT the control box, which I am not fond of but will put up with. It's on/off switch on the box turns off the spindle, not the entire headstock. There is a separate switch to turn off the headstock and motor inverter. Thanks for the comparison.
Thanks for watching! Yes I wasn’t impressed with the Laguna banjo, otherwise it was a fine unit.
I personally prefer the controls on the Herald the best. I like the audible beep the on button makes and the preprogamable RPM’s. I could see how it would be a bit to get used to though!
With a score of 42, it's obvious the Coronet Herald is the logical choice. If Douglas Adams was still alive, I daresay he would have had one.
It sure is a nice lathe Laz! Also I enjoy your commentary on the Record Power live sessions 😂
@@StockroomSupply Well thank you Sir. 👍 It's always a pleasure to join those sessions, and support Theo and Mike. I have learned so much from Theo over the years.
Laguna is the only one to offer a 2 years warranty, while the others offer 5 years. Also, I see a lot of issues with Laguna reverse switch stop working.
That’s true! The warranty on the Rikon and Record Power is much better
I live in Stratford Ontario Canada where they make the One Way lathe. Cost twice as much but puts all of these to shame. It just a beautiful thing. Unfortunately my budget only allowed me a laguna. Don’t get me wrong , I love my lathe , but I have similar criticisms plus the use of plastic in the doors and one handle.
The tail stock on the record is poorly designed and deserved a one. The cantilevered motor sticking out like that made for an inelegant overall design, another one score from me. The legs on the record are tripping hazards....and I wonder why you didn’t give it a good shake back and forth ? That base is best screwed or bolted right to the floor. Imagine turning the huge bowl that it’s capacity allows ! It would be chasing you around the shop! A major fail there, very dangerous without some extreme rigidity and/or weight.
The Rikon is cheaply made and you can tell if you are standing in front of it. I looked at it two or three times before I bought the Laguana and concluded that it was not in the same class at all.
I’ve used the Laguana for a year without any problems at all . Without the bed extension it’s a little cramped so recommend that.
I would have liked to see a seasoned turner use all three for a couple of weeks and hear a lot that.
I get it , you sell these machines so you don’t want to be too critical ,after all who would buy them ? I’m sure your dealers wouldn’t give you any more special deals once you trashed their goods on camera. I’m going to have call this a biased review and take it with a grain of salt.
Judging the stands. Let me point out. The record model has its “ pivot” points located directly under the bed, notice the legs angle outwards from bed, makes it very rigid. The Rikon has its “ pivot” point at floor. The legs are plumb directly to floor. Meaning if you shake the bed, it will pivot at the floor connection. Not as rigid as record.
Very biased from the get go but I appreciate the effort.
You missed what, for me, is the most glaring difference--ease of changing the belt on the pulleys. The Rikon and Laguna are not even on the same planet.
Teríamos representante no Brasil. ...
2 new ones against a used one……isn’t really fair if you ask me.
I like Record products, but that lathe was made too light duty for me.
You should check out their Coronet Envoy and Regent!
Great demo but, I have one question a bespoke pen turner how do the head and tail sticks line up between the three?
I watched this review because I am interested mainly in the Laguna. But thanks for your clearly biased review making the winner a machine that didn't belong in this comparison, i.e., a 14 inch machine compared to two 12 inch machines. And tell me why the Record got a 5 for belt changes when you need a screwdriver and you fumbled around and never got the belt moved correctly compared to the Laguna which needs no tools and has easier front access.
As a scientist, Ihave a few issues with this comparison. First, right up front you pointed out your own bias. Bias should be addressed (as you did), but then scrupulously examined to ensure it does not cloud your ratings. On the other hand, you sell two of the lathes, and the Laguna that you do not sell, and are obviously less familiar with, was borrowed. It was not new as were the Record and Rikon. So, is it up to date as the other two, did you miss some features because you are less familiar, etc? This alone brings into question your results. However, you also used a moving subjective scale. I could almost predict that you would give a higher, lower score when judging the Record or Rikon vs the Laguna. It would have been more accurate to rank them 1, 2, 3 than to give anywhere from 2-4 as the lowest score. That automatically skewed the highest score even higher. As noted previously, you totally missed the Pulse Width Modulation of the Laguna, which manages to deliver steady high torque at low speeds. This fact alone, along with the greater mass and steadiness of the Laguna, should have raised its rating significantly. All turners know the value of mass, torque and smoothness in woodturning. To discount those features compared to bells-and-whistle-bling is dissapointing. I own both this Laguna and this Rikon, and I can guarantee there is no comparison between the two where the Laguna does not leave the Rikon in its dust. Further, any perceived advantage of the two movable on/off switches of the Rikon and Record are discounted in my mind relative to actual safety issue they present. How ridiculous is it to roll up your sleeves, tie back your ponytail and take off your bolo tie, only to leave electrical cables laying all over your lathe, turning at over 3000 RPM? I have no experience with the Record. I’m sure its owners love it, but for my money, I will invest in mass and steady, smooth reliable operation. I’ll stick with my Laguna 12/16.
As just just a woodworker and not a scientist I disagree with your analysis. If I were scientist I probably be looking at tools used for science. 😂
It's a TH-cam video and he sells the other two he'd be a shit salesman if he told them to buy a lathe from the neighbor.. especially when everyone knows when it comes to everything ever made for wood.. powermatic IS KING
amend bells and whistles price to BELLS AND WISHES!
haha I like that!!
Record power all the way
I fill the record was a size larger lathe much larger motor and head stock
Hey hey…I’m offended.. I own a dodge caravan!
Self ejecting live center on the Laguna not even mentioned! Wow
I believe that is a recent change. My club has the original that was not self ejecting.
While you state up front that you sell the Rikon and Coronet, you show blatant bias on these tools with your numerical ratings. You also are comparing lathes that are really in different classes, so it is an unfair comparison. I appreciate the detailed info, but your point assessment is off.
I like that Record but hate it’s made in China.
I feel like i just watched an hour long add
You talk too much
wood lathes
Man... that wasn't subjective at all. Helps me.... I'll give it a ZERO
Record power’s awful tail stock is a definite deal breaker
They did upgrade it! It’s quite nice now 👍 th-cam.com/video/k96GRaHlsU0/w-d-xo.html
All of them are junk
Hip action? 3rd hand? Really? What a waste of time. You should have included some real mid size lathes in your " REVIEW "! how about a Harvey, Powermatic, Robust etc!
Hey Jose, Thanks for watching!
This review was intended for midi lathes not mid sized lathes. All those lathe you mentioned are beautiful! Though they are out of range for many woodturners as they sell for $3000 CAD+ for the base models.
Also I'm sorry that you were offended by my hip! lol
@@StockroomSupply how about the Nova Comet Ii??
Selamat malam .mesin anda sangat bagus .sepertinya bagus untuk membuat sesuatu.#masjabrikdiy
rikon all the way