Does anyone have any experience with the Wholesale tools 11 x 26 lathe. It is 1200$ with the stand. https://www.wttool.com/product-exec/product_id/14795/nm/11_x_26_Lathe_With_Stand

Have you checked out the yahoo 11x26 group? This machine is also sold by Grizzly and Penntool.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/11x26_lathe_group/

I have purchased the machine and am in the process of setting it up now. So far I am impressed with it considering all that is included. I was thinking of the Harbor Freight 9 x 20 but after adding in the cost of the stand I think this is the way to go. It fit in the back of my Saturn Vue.

That does seem like a pretty good deal... the same thing at Grizzly would run $1540.

How sturdy is the stand? It looks like it is designed to run a forklift tine through to pick it up. Is is sturdy enough to move like that (with the lathe installed)?

The stand comes in two pieces of which both are very heavy. I am in the process of lagging it to the floor now. I am going to at some cross supports to increase rigidity. So far very happy with the lathe but I need to do some test cuts after I get it set up. If you can belive the test report the runout on the spindle should be less than 0.0001.

That is good to know. I am still wondering why it is so much cheaper then Grizzly. Wttool isn't usually that much different then grizzly on their prices.

I am leary of buying from wttool, because I went to their "showroom" near Boston to see their RF-45, and was completely unimpressed. Their machinery isle looked worse then harbor freight; alot of poorly setup, dirty and rusty machinery (and only the really cheap stuff on display; none of the good stuff). The Grizzly showrooms by comparison are immaculate with every machine clean and available to inspect.

How did the wttool you went to compare to this?

That is good to know. I am still wondering why it is so much cheaper then Grizzly. Wttool isn't usually that much different then grizzly on their prices.

I am leary of buying from wttool, because I went to their "showroom" near Boston to see their RF-45, and was completely unimpressed. Their machinery isle looked worse then harbor freight; alot of poorly setup, dirty and rusty machinery (and only the really cheap stuff on display; none of the good stuff). The Grizzly showrooms by comparison are immaculate with every machine clean and available to inspect.

How did the wttool you went to compare to this?

Hey tmarks-- I bought a r45-7045 mill from wttools in houston and same deal the showroom kind of sucks but have them take you in the back and take the lid off the crate with the mill or lathe in it and ck it out. I am happy with my 7045 mill. Dave

I found the showroom in Detroit to be the same way but I like the tool. I bought the 7045 mill early this year from them and have been happy with that as well.

I like Wholsale tools a lot. they are local for me. They have been around since 1960 , started in Detroit. So that stores probably 47 years old. I think the stuff they sell is better than HF stuff and WT does have some name brand machine cutting tools and also Kurt vices I got my Kurt 688 from them on sale for $465.00 about a hundred off regular and no shipping, picked it up at the store. They have a killer catalog too.