I don't think the WT lathe above has power cross feed at all. No lever for it on the apron. I wonder if you have to use the leadscrew for all longitudinal power feed.
I can't tell if the Grizzly has power crossfeed,either,or if that lever just engages long. feed. Then,there seems to be a lot of gear replacing to cut different threads. Both questions bear calling these companies and asking questions. There's a better chance of getting a tech at Grizzly who knows what he's talking about than getting one at WT. I've been to both places (to the WT in Charlotte and Grizzly in Pa.) Just a bunch of country boys at Charlotte. Better organization at Grizzly for certain.
My first mill drill was a WT,and it was o.k.,but was made in Taiwan. This was in the 70's. I just don't trust what they are selling now as they don't have the same marketing clout as Grizzly,or the tech support,and likely not the spare parts,either.
If you order 25 machines,the Taiwanese would put your name on them back in the 70's. It doesn't take a large commitment to have the WT name on a machine,(or Grizzly). But,I know Grizzly is well organized. I went there and bought 2 16" lathes in 1986. They were very nice and helpful,and very responsive when
I THOUGHT I was having a problem with the new lathe I took home. Turned out,I just needed to slightly isolate the gear head lathe from the concrete floor with little oak wedges. Discovered this by accident while leveling the lathe. As soon as the base of the lathe was a teeny bit off the concrete,it quieted right down,and quit the bad harmonic chattering. Now,my lathe is on adjustable rubber pads. Mason brand. It makes the lathe taller,too.
I hate these lathes that you have to change gear arrangement 3 or 4 times to cut all of the possible threads the lathe can do. The 10x24" Jet above,on Craigs' list isn't like that. Mine was wonderful. Very rigid and powerful.
I made a cast bronze steady rest of larger capacity for my Jet in 1982,when we were building a repro 18th.C. fire engine in Colonial Williamsburg. I was the pattern maker for 30 castings. At night I took the castings home,threaded them where needed and otherwise machined them. I had to have a larger steady rest to thread the hose couplings,which had "ears" sticking out either side for tightening with a spanner. Now,I don't have a lathe that fits it.
P.S.: The 12x36" WT lathe illustrated above CLEARLY has a gap bed. I can see it in the enlarged picture. No mention of it. ALSO,they list "spindle travel,18 1/2"." WHAT is that???? The spindle DOESN'T travel. It looks like a nice,useful lathe,though 99% sure it is Chinese. It is a belt driven lathe,which does leave much smoother surfaces than any low priced gear head. A little more trouble to change speeds,but I really liked my belt driven 10x24" Jet. It made really nice,smooth finishes that looked nearly nickel plated on free cutting steels. My Hardinge HLVH will,too. It is belt driven,but mechanically variable speeds.
