The Powermatic 3520B has a lot of features that any woodturner wood love to have in a lathe. And really there’s not a lot to dislike. Here’s the nitty gritty on this lathe:
| Overview | |
| Manufacurer | Powermatic |
| Model | 3520B |
| Size | 20″ x 35″ |
| Motor | 2 HP, Variable speed |
| Features | Outboard turning, rpm readout |
| Rating | 4.9 |
| List Price | $4214.00 |
| Best Price | Amazon.com |
This is a big, powerful and feature rich lathe that will get the job done. It comes with a 2 HP 220 volt motor, that will happily turn even big stubborn pieces of wood. The motor is capable of operating in 3 phase or 1 phase mode for added torque. With a 20 inch swing and 34 1/2 inches between centers there’s lots of room for big pieces. It weighs in at almost 700 pounds, with a fully cast iron body that damps vibrations effectively. This is a serious piece of machinery that is very capable of tackling big jobs.
The 3520B Wood Lathe from Powermatic
The powermatic 3520B is a great choice if you plan on doing a lot of bowl turning. It’s easy to set up for outboard turning, and allows you to turn large heavy blanks with no trouble. With a lathe this heavy and powerful even large uneven blanks become manageable. The outboard turning really opens up a lot of possibilities in terms of what projects you can attempt.
A couple of other nice features are the electronic variable speed control, which is always much nicer than having to mess around with belts and pulleys and the digital RPM monitor that lets you know exactly how fast you’re going.
This is a pretty pricey lathe, but well worth it for what you’re getting. I suggest Amazon.com if you’re looking to buy online, as they provide free shipping right to your door. Be aware that there is some assembly required with this lathe and you should be prepared to move around some heavy pieces.
Click here to view the listing on Amazon
What people are saying:
I received my new 3520b Powermatic lathe about 6 weeks ago and have used it several hours at this point. The lathe is substantial and heavy. It is very smooth, quiet and well-made. The electronic speed control works well and makes multiple speed changes while turning a breeze. Also, the moveable headstock is handy if you want to turn very large bowls although the normal swing is 20 inches which accomodates the Oneway Stronghold chuck and mega jumbo jaw set up…
A. Huston – Amazon.com
It is built like a tank, with the stoutest tailstock and the beefiest tool-rest base. This lathe also has plenty of power. Originally designed with the help of a legendary wood turner, the late Rude Osolnik, the 3520A was a good lathe with a few faults. The 3520B, designed with the help of Ernie Conover, did everything right…
Andy Barnum – FineWoodWorking.com
I have the Powermatic 3520B and am very happy with it. Like many others I have had several lathes on the way to this one and could have saved a ton of money by just getting the Powermatic in the first place.The capacity is nice because turning projects always get bigger for some reason, part of the turning disease I suspect. I also love having the bed extension mounted off the end and the huge capacity that gives you, plus it is so much easier to turn bowls and platters in that position.
Everything else about the 3520B is nice, the power, how smooth it is, variable speed and the sheer bulk of this machine. Very impressive and built to be the last lathe I will ever need.
I have the Powermatic 3520B and am very happy with it. Like many others I have had several lathes on the way to this one and could have saved a ton of money by just getting the Powermatic in the first place.
The capacity is nice because turning projects always get bigger for some reason, part of the turning disease I suspect. I also love having the bed extension mounted off the end and the huge capacity that gives you, plus it is so much easier to turn bowls and platters in that position.
Everything else about the 3520B is nice, the power, how smooth it is, variable speed and the sheer bulk of this machine. Very impressive and built to be the last lathe I will ever need…
Tom Hinks – NewWoodWorker.com
The only complaint I’ve encountered regarding this lathe is the distance center to center not being quite the 35 inches advertised, but that is pretty satndard for wood lathes, though i’m not quite sure why.
What people are saying:
I received my new 3520b Powermatic lathe about 6 weeks ago and have used it several hours at this point. The lathe is substantial and heavy. It is very smooth, quiet and well-made. The electronic speed control works well and makes multiple speed changes while turning a breeze. Also, the moveable headstock is handy if you want to turn very large bowls although the normal swing is 20 inches which accomodates the Oneway Stronghold chuck and mega jumbo jaw set up…
A. Huston – Amazon.com
It is built like a tank, with the stoutest tailstock and the beefiest tool-rest base. This lathe also has plenty of power. Originally designed with the help of a legendary wood turner, the late Rude Osolnik, the 3520A was a good lathe with a few faults. The 3520B, designed with the help of Ernie Conover, did everything right…
Andy Barnum – FineWoodWorking.com
I have the Powermatic 3520B and am very happy with it. Like many others I have had several lathes on the way to this one and could have saved a ton of money by just getting the Powermatic in the first place.
The capacity is nice because turning projects always get bigger for some reason, part of the turning disease I suspect. I also love having the bed extension mounted off the end and the huge capacity that gives you, plus it is so much easier to turn bowls and platters in that position.
Everything else about the 3520B is nice, the power, how smooth it is, variable speed and the sheer bulk of this machine. Very impressive and built to be the last lathe I will ever need…
Tom Hinks – NewWoodWorker.com
The only complaint I’ve encountered regarding this lathe is the distance center to center not being quite the 35 inches advertised, but that is pretty satndard for wood lathes, though I’m not quite sure why.
Click here to take a look at the 3520B on Amazon to take advantage of their free shipping offer.
