I'm a big fan of the Nova lathes, I've got the older Nova DVR 3000, and love it.
The Nova 1624-44 deal is great, but the "Free Stand" that comes with is the folding steel leg stand. Nova does offer the cast iron legs as an option.
Thing is, I'd rather build my own stand, I can build a much better stand than I can buy.
BTW Frank, you could not GIVE me a Grizzly lathe...........
I do love my Nova, but I've also worked on the Vicmarc VL300 shortbed lathe, and it is one serious machine, if I had it to do all over again (which I'm well aware I DON'T have) I'd have not bought the Nova and would have taken the larger initial hit for the Vicmarc VL300, it is truly a better machine.
Will the cheap Grizzly do what the VL300 does, yes, I'd say nearly 90% without a problem, but for me, the cheaper tools are never as nice to use, they always have some area that is cheap, some things that suck, some stuff that is less than perfect, for the money, you bet they are a great deal, and I fully understand why they are liked.
For me, (and I am the only person I have to please when I buy a new tool) the VL300 is more than worth it.
Frank, I think you have a 5th wheel, right?
Well, you could not give me one of them either, I've got lots of family who have them, I'd rather stay in a tent or a hotel, I very much dislike them things
Apples and porch space heaters here for comparison.........