Revue...General Int. 25-650 Lathe

[Tom in Red Deer]

Well, after a lot of thought and procrastination, I finally bought a new lathe.

It is a 16 x 42 General International, model 25-650. This is a new product for them. (Late last year)

It has forward/reverse, 36 hole indexing, digital speed readout, vfd electronic control (I think that is what it is called...110 in and a 220 3phase motor).

The head both swivels and slides on the bed. There is a remote safety stop switch and a fair bit of storage on a shelf under the bed.

My impressions so far...

Fit and finish I would rate at 9 3/4 out of ten. Minor paint chips and a bit of orange peel.

Ease of assembly would be 9 3/4 out of ten. The manual could save a lot of trial and error fitting.

Operation is very smooth and quiet. Power (1 1/2 hp) seems to be good. Digital readout large and bright. Very positive locks on tool rest, tailstock and head stock.

Put the head and tailstock centres in and they line up dead on. No perceptable runout at the spindle.

Speed range (3) changes are fast and easy.

There are a couple of minor things. Cleaned the grease out of the quill and found a lot of metal chips from machining process. The base does not seem to be sturdy enough for the machine itself causing a bit of lurching about with out of round stuff. This may be an adjustment as I only got the thing yesterday.

The main problem is with the manual...there is no mention in it of the adjustable dial on the frequency inverter box. It has the words min/max on it but no mention of what it is for or where to set it. Turning this knob makes no difference to sound or speed at either high or low speeds. I will call the rep tomorrow and find out what that is about.

In use I found the machine very well thought out as far as controls go. The emergency stop is on a very long wire and can be magnetically placed anywhere on the machine. It works well...been there done that!

All in all, for the features and quality I feel that I got good value for my money. Only time will tell.

Tom in Red Deer

[Ron In Brantford]

Tom your gonna just love this machine...I just purchased a General 160-18 variable speed lathe also...and compared to the Ridgid I had this is a dream...It came fully assembled so there was no problem right from the git go...very heavy and I added some weight to the bottom shelf... boxed it in (painted it green to match) and this machine is sturdy sturdy...Soon as I figure out how to post here I will post some pics
Ron

[Tom in Red Deer]

Hi Ron,

Yup, I like it a lot so far. Best and most expensive machine I ever had. For once, when I look at it, touch it or turn it on, I feel like I actually got what I paid for.

How much does yours weigh and how much weight did you add?

Tom in Red Deer

[Bertminator]

I know it's been a while since this post, but I'm in the market for a new lathe and the General 25-650, is # 1 on my list. I have one question though before I decide. Does the banjo for this lathe reach the work when Headstock is at 45° or 90°, OR do I need an accessory attachement? If so, what is this attachement.

Thanks

...Bert

[Ed in Leaside]

There is a tool rest holder(banjo) extension, which comes with the lathe.

Hey Tom, if you have this, and I thought you did, why would you be putting 2 Maxis back-to-back?

[Mike Brazeau]

Tom - This lathe should be capable of satisfying the needs of a high percentage of turners and is a pretty reasonable value.

Have you turned anything on it yet? That is the true test - torque from the motor at low speed, how stable with an unbalanced bowl blank, does the tailstock hold its position, does the banjo move easily and lock in place well etc.

I am sure you are going to enjoy it.
Mike

[Tom in Red Deer]

Hi Ed,

Yes, I did have a 25 - 650. It was a wonderful machine and I wish sometimes that I still had it.

Unfortunately, I listened to my doctor at the time who told me (after breaking several bones in my hand from falling on the ice) that I would never have the strength back in my hand to turn anything again.

That was also when/why I dropped off all the turning boards I was on.

I had the opportunity to sell the lathe so I did.

Once my hand was better, I tried turning small stuff on my Jets and although it hurt a lot in the beginning, it got better. Now my hand is back to about 90% and my NEW doctor tells me it is likely because I got right back to turning again. Go figure.

I have had one of the VS Maxi's now for a few months and for the miniature stuff I have been doing it is great.

I needed/wanted another machine to replace one of the worn out Jet's and almost bought another 25 -650 but I really don't have room or need for that size of machine. I do almost no full size turning anymore. I got another Maxi instead. Then, the spindle job came along and I needed more length. Instead of getting an extension for one of the Maxi's, I just put them together.

They may only stay that way until this spindle job is done, but so far it works fine.

Bert ... Everything you need to extend the banjo reach comes with the lathe. In use, I found that it did bounce a bit when you tried to hog a big blank out but if you were gentle with it then it worked just fine. What I did was have my buddy weld up a tool rest support that stood on the floor at the tailstock end of the lathe. I then just slid the headstock down there, and I could turn any size I wanted. That piece has since been cut up and used for other things.

Tom

[Ed in Leaside]

Thanks Tom, that makes sense of it. Glad to hear you got past what the Doc said you couldn't do.

If you've been absent from the forum for a while I'll guess you missed my stretched, with adjustable gap bed 25-650. Never did like those banjo extensions. :D http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17355

[Tom in Red Deer]

That is one awsome machine!!!!!! I like that an awfull lot. It kinda makes my 5 ft one look like a midget.

Very Nice indeed, and thank you for posting the link for me. I had not seen it.

Tom