Congrats on a great deal Steve, you‘re going to like the lathe. Bought mine new in boxes, rented a U-Haul and same grassy hill to deal with but had two sons with a hand truck do the donkey work.
Powermatic 3520B lathe
- Thread starter Spinartist
- Start date
I would have loved to have some donkeys. Even one would have made a massive difference.
Thanks John and I’ve got a piece of wood from you that I would have needed to cut in order to turn it on my Nova Galaxi. I haven’t done that yet as I hated to trim it, but no issues now.
You gotta watch those grassy knolls man!The first half of the trip went incredibly well. I rented a U-haul trailer and they had a forklift, so I simply unbolted the legs and had them set the bed and headstock on some 2x’s in the trailer. I then strapped the legs to the pallet and strapped everything down tight and was back on the road.
The fun part is now unloading it on my end with just a hand cart and getting it all down a grassy hill and into the basement later this afternoon. All in 95-100 degree heat and by myself. More to follow on that adventure later today….hopefully
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Even though it’s upside down and sitting on some trex, I couldn’t resist the temptation to fire her up and make sure that she at least runs after all I’ve gone through today. Very smooth in both forward and reverse 
Excellent!Even though it’s upside down and sitting on some trex, I couldn’t resist the temptation to fire her up and make sure that she at least runs after all I’ve gone through today. Very smooth in both forward and reverse
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Progress. But I’ll be useless tomorrow. Everything appears to be running smoothly. 
Quite a beast!Progress. But I’ll be useless tomorrow. Everything appears to be running smoothly.
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Nice!
Don’t you think that would look better on the other side of the room?
Pretty little monsterProgress. But I’ll be useless tomorrow. Everything appears to be running smoothly.
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First one is a keeper. I didn’t want to over do it today, especially since the coring rig I have is for a 16” lathe; yet another dilemma. 
This cherry bowl finished out right at 13” and the 3520 ran very smooth.
This cherry bowl finished out right at 13” and the 3520 ran very smooth.
Deserves special recognition for how quickly you got down to business! NICE! ChuckFirst one is a keeper. I didn’t want to over do it today, especially since the coring rig I have is for a 16” lathe; yet another dilemma.
This cherry bowl finished out right at 13” and the 3520 ran very smooth.
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Got through two bowls this weekend. One once turned and one twice turned that is in the bag drying.
First impressions and thoughts on the lathe:
That’s it for now. More to come as I get more time on it, but overall I’m very happy with it.
First impressions and thoughts on the lathe:
- No question on the power of the motor with 220. You can “feel” it.
- Somehow I felt as though I got through both bowls faster. I’m not sure why, but it certainly felt that way.
- The locking mechanism on the banjo and tailstock is fantastic. A slight push and they don’t budge. On my Nova, I feel as though I really have to put a lot of weight into it to get them to lockdown.
- I don’t like the shorter bed as compared to my Nova. On the Nova, I can just slide the tailstock down to the end and it’s completely out of the way. I can see why everyone talks about the swing away option for the Powermatic.
- I like the speed control on the Nova much better in that you can go up incrementally by five, 50, or 100 RPM. The Powermatic seems very sensitive, but in fairness I’ll probably get used to it quickly as I turn on it more.
- While I didn’t use it much yet, I think I’ll appreciate the slower 50 RPM on the Powermatic. The Nova only goes down to 100.
- I love the rotating headstock on the Nova, especially when turning inside on bowls or hollow forms, and especially when sanding.
That’s it for now. More to come as I get more time on it, but overall I’m very happy with it.
I agree on the swing away, Steve. Find myself using it a lot. While the headstock doesn’t swivel like the Nova, it can be moved down the ways so you can turn or sand from the tailstock end.
Yeah, but I need to do some curls to take that tailstock on and off
. Or on second thought, maybe that could count as my workout and then I’d have more time to spend on the lathe 
Hence, the swing away attachment.Yeah, but I need to do some curls to take that tailstock on and off
Congrats on the lathe Steve. Have enjoyed your journey on procuring, transporting and getting it up and running.
Those are a couple of sweet looking bowls, to start things off right, too!
Glad it all worked out, you’ll learn to love it and will soon forget about 16 Nova. Another option is to get the 18” bed extension. I turn on the back side a lot and keep the headstock toward center bed so the lathe and my legs don’t get in each other’s way. Find the tail stock isn’t in the way either though a simple pointy things cover is used just in case my elbows don‘t see it.
If you want to turn facing the piece slide the headstock to the end with the bed extension mounted in the existing leg holes 9” lower than the bed, a tool post extension to get you back to C/L and allows a 38” swing if you dare.
If you want to turn facing the piece slide the headstock to the end with the bed extension mounted in the existing leg holes 9” lower than the bed, a tool post extension to get you back to C/L and allows a 38” swing if you dare.
Thanks, as always, John. Between you and Tom @Tom Smart you’re going to have me buying all the Powermatic accessories in short order!
And you should patent that “Pointy Things Cover”. I’m sure there’s been a few turners that have needed it from time to time.