Clemens vs renzetti rod lathe

[Zeroks24]

Beginning next year i want to upgrade from my pac bay(with alps chuck) power wrapper into a clemens/renzetti lathe. Wanted to know the pros and cons on getting a used clemens or just going all in for the new renzetti( old style or craftsman style) or even a used renzetti. Want to invest into something im gonna use for a long time. And also if anyone is selling either a clemens or renzetti as well.

 

[Mtnfshr]

Both are essentially the same thing. I bought my Clemens in '83. And still going strong on the original motor.

 

[gecsr1]

Buy a Alps.....

 

[sealskinner]

I have an Alps and a Clemons.
Night and day difference.
The Clemons are awesome machines.

 

[Zeroks24]

I have an Alps and a Clemons.
Night and day difference.
The Clemons are awesome machines.

Any issues with the thread carriage. I know it rides on top of the rail where the supports get mounted onto

 

[sealskinner]

Any issues with the thread carriage. I know it rides on top of the rail where the supports get mounted onto

I use bobbins. Mine didn't come with a carriage. But I did make one.

 

[JTrelikes]

Any issues with the thread carriage. I know it rides on top of the rail where the supports get mounted onto

None whatsoever

 

[JTrelikes]

Nothing against the Alps lathe, it's a great unit for the money. But you buy a Renzetti, and you've finished lathe shopping for the rest of your life.

 

[mike mitchell]

Nothing against the Alps lathe, it's a great unit for the money. But you buy a Renzetti, and you've finished lathe shopping for the rest of your life.

Nothing but the best!

 

[gecsr1]

Nothing against the Alps lathe, it's a great unit for the money. But you buy a Renzetti, and you've finished lathe shopping for the rest of your life.

Maybe so, but I do not build enough rods to justify the cost of one...
My Alps may not be the best.. but it works well for me, the thread carriage is junk, so I built my 4 spool carriage... so I get the job done...

Merry Christmas

 

[Zeroks24]

Nothing against the Alps lathe, it's a great unit for the money. But you buy a Renzetti, and you've finished lathe shopping for the rest of your life.

Now do you have the renzetti craftman lathe or the basic renzetti lathe. I read on another forum that if you go over 9ft on the renzetti craftsman, that there a slight sag and vibration due to no support on the center of the base?

 

[Sea_sicariocustoms]

I use bobbins. Mine didn't come with a carriage. But I did make one.

How do you like using bobbins on it? I have an alps currently and it spins away from me I know the Clemens and renzzeti spin toward you

 

[mike mitchell]

How do you like using bobbins on it? I have an alps currently and it spins away from me I know the Clemens and renzzeti spin toward you

Depends on where you put the motor.

 

[Mtnfshr]

I just figure 8 the belt.

 

[marlyn]

Where is the best place to buy the renzetti's?I used to have a custom powerwrap years ago but im not sure their even around anymore or how they compare.

 

[swami 805]

Anglers workshop still sells CPW lathes, don't know where to get the other ones

 

[Zeroks24]

I think on the renzetti website. Thats if you can find a used one like im looking for one now before i fork over that much cash to buy one directly from renzetti

 

[Zeroks24]

Anyone know someone selling a renzetti?

 

[sealskinner]

How do you like using bobbins on it? I have an alps currently and it spins away from me I know the Clemens and renzzeti spin toward you

I learned on an Alps. So I spun my Clemons around so it spins away.
Just an old Pollock trying to get by.

 

[Sea_sicariocustoms]

I learned on an Alps. So I spun my Clemons around so it spins away.
Just an old Pollock trying to get by.

Yea I figured that’s what I would do. I only use a carriage for my tigers I’ve been on the market for a renzetti as well

 

[JTrelikes]

SMH.......

No offense......but if you guys aren't using the Renzetti / Clemens lathes the way they were designed to be used (wrapping from behind the rod) you're wasting your money buying one.

I learned how to wrap rods originally from the front with the rod turning away from me. My set up wasn't even a lathe as we know it these days......it was just a crude assembly of homemade brackets and model car wheels. When I invested in my new Clemens (around 35 years ago), it definitely was a learning curve to wrap the opposite way than I'd been doing for 10 years previous. Got past it. Persistence paid off, and so glad I did it. Once accustom to it, my work not only got better, but I was more efficient at it.

 

[skrilla]

My JTOB's are upside down because my lathe spins the other way.

 

[Sea_sicariocustoms]

SMH.......

No offense......but if you guys aren't using the Renzetti / Clemens lathes the way they were designed to be used (wrapping from behind the rod) you're wasting your money buying one.

I learned how to wrap rods originally from the front with the rod turning away from me. My set up wasn't even a lathe as we know it these days......it was just a crude assembly of homemade brackets and model car wheels. When I invested in my new Clemens (around 35 years ago), it definitely was a learning curve to wrap the opposite way than I'd been doing for 10 years previous. Got past it. Persistence paid off, and so glad I did it. Once accustom to it, my work not only got better, but I was more efficient at it.

Another rod wrapper that has been around for a long time told me pretty much the same thing. Especially the last part of your statement.

 

[gecsr1]

I learned on an Alps. So I spun my Clemons around so it spins away.
Just an old Pollock trying to get by.

so will you in the future teach yourself to wrap on it the way it's intended or have you tried ?

 

[mike mitchell]

After nearly 2 years using a used Pac Bay machine with the Alps upgraded chuck I can most definitely say that if I can get the guides on with the correct spacing and on straight its a win, win for me. FDC