Covington or Denver Lathe?

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Barbel
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:09 pm
Location: Ocean- Newport, North Carolina

Covington or Denver Lathe?

Post by Barbel »

I am the luckiest person under the sun! A new lathe is on the horizon for me and now I am agonizing about the choice to make. Should it be the Covington 4013 or the Denver SAG1? Building my own is not an option and those beautiful Spatzier and Merkers are out of the $$ question! Since I do not quite understand why there is a fairly big price difference between the two (Denver $2300-Covington $1360 -- plus shipping and crating) whereas the Denver has a 1/3 hp and the Covington has 1 hp. I understand that the Denver shaft is 4 inches longer (15" versus 11") and the Denver has variable speed versus 3 speed for the Covington.
Could you please share some of your likes/dislikes of the two lathes ? I would really appreciate some advice! Thanks! Barbel
Bert Weiss
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Re: Covington or Denver Lathe?

Post by Bert Weiss »

The Covington 4012 is designed by Steve Klein, which is a very good recommendation, as Steve is one of us. I suggest getting the 240v version as it will be far more powerful. You just need a 240v dedicated circuit for it.

I am not a lathe user, so I can't help with personal experience. As an equipment designer, I have a lot of respect for equipment designed by a glass artist, for glass artists.
Bert

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Brock
Posts: 1519
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:32 pm
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Re: Covington or Denver Lathe?

Post by Brock »

I've had both, and far prefer the Denver SAG1. More solid, just feels better.
Barbel
Posts: 17
Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2011 11:09 pm
Location: Ocean- Newport, North Carolina

Re: Covington or Denver Lathe?

Post by Barbel »

Thank you, Brock and Bert , I really appreciate your advice!
I just ordered the Denver SAG-1 and am pretty excited (understatement of the year!)
Barbel
Brock
Posts: 1519
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:32 pm
Location: Vancouver, B.C.

Re: Covington or Denver Lathe?

Post by Brock »

Congratulations, you will be happy with it. All my students preferred it also.
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