1st lathe, 1/4 ton of fun

[underfoot]

some of you may know that I've been after a first lathe for a while
(I'm usually over in carving)
I ended up buying a jet mini off a forumite (but not quite what I was after)
then .....
wouldnyaknowit, ...THIS came up, :oo: it's a 250kg monster
one of a handfull built by woodturner Neil Scobie back in the early eighties,
weighs about 250kg, turns about 1 mtr diameter, includes extension bed and a whole bunch of tools and bits, :)and I'm a happy boy:)

has anyone owned, used, seen, one of these??

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

It's a Frankenstubby! :oo:

[poulso]

So does that mean there is a Jet Mini for sale.??

[tea lady]

So ya gonna get something for in between sized, too?:rolleyes: (I'm only a bit jealous.:D)

[Cliff Rogers]

What a balltearer. :2tsup:

[echnidna]

are yer gunna turn pens on it?

[Ed Reiss]

Great find Underfoot:2tsup:

...don't hurt yourself on it, tis' not a midi-lathe:q

[artme]

I am green with envy. That is a beauty and good luck to you Undie.:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

[Ozkaban]

What a monster! I'd hate to be in the way of anything that got thown off that lathe :oo:

Enjoy your purchase. I think we'll have to find you a 1 metre diam blank to test your nerves!

Cheers,
Dave

[ElizaLeahy]

I'm no expert - but that doesn't look like a mini anything to me!!!!!!

I have a mini - wanna swap? ;)

[snowplough]

perhaps you could turn some propellors up on it, and it could double as a hobby chopper!

good find man.........be safe, looks like you could get more than a splinter from it!

[orraloon]

It's a beast.:2tsup: Great find.
Regards
John

[rsser]

Schmick!

btw, there's a guy in the US selling a VB36 Bowl Master. Only around $13k plus the odd buck for shipping.

[NeilS]

Serious lathe you have there.... and even more serious envy from me.

Have fun!

Neil

[rodent]

I know some one who had one just keep an eye or ear out for the head stock bearings they go suddenly . Other than that there a great lathe .

[Paul39]

OOOOOHHHHH!!! That is wonderful.

How big is the gap in the bed?

I want one.

Paul

[tea lady]

Turn-fest at Undie's I reckon!:cool::D Make it June so us southeners can thaw out a little. (Just imagine being cold!!:rolleyes: )

[Groggy]

Very nice :2tsup:

[underfoot]

.
How big is the gap in the bed?
Paul
ummm, is that from the centre of the chuck down? (500mm)
or from the chuck across? (350mm)
haven't got the terminology down yet, let alone done any turning


Turn-fest at Undie's I reckon!:cool::D Make it June so us southeners can thaw out a little. (Just imagine being cold!!:rolleyes: )

:rolleyes:whats a turnfest? is that some sort of strange pagan right of passage I must do before I'm shown the secret woodturners handshake?:rolleyes:

yup,it's a balmy 25deg up here in sub tropical northern NSW,
understand you southerners have been a bit warmer

[Paul39]

The 350mm distance was what I wanted. That lathe will swing a nice size chunk of timber.

Glossary of Wood Turning Terms:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/3jdw8/glossary.htm

This is about Lathes in general:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/3jdw8/glossary.htm

http://www.toolcenter.com/book/lathes.sht

http://athena.uwindsor.ca/users/r/rabide1/thestore.nsf/831fc2c71873e46285256d6e006c367a/d30ea45776be0fd785256f080067a2ce/$FILE/Lathe%20Diagram.gif

Center Height is measured from the center of the spindle to above the bottom of a gap, above the bed, or above the banjo.

The banjo rides on the bed and holds the tool rest. It can usually be moved in front of a bowl to that you can get the more room. More room again with the gap bed.

Swing is twice the center height and is the largest diameter of timber that can be rotated in that area.

Max. distance between centers is the longest piece of timber that will bit between the headstock center / chuck and the tailstock center.

It would be good to talk to someone who turns big pieces before doing one yourself.

If you jump in head first:

Get the timber balanced as possible.
Run at the slowest speed until the timber is fairly round.
Use the tailstock and make sure the timber is well mounted, grab the piece and pull & push hard, if it moves between the centers remount securely.
Spin the timber a few turns by hand. Stand to the side when you first turn on the motor.
Wear a face shield. 10 kg of timber in the face turning at 100 or more rpm will really hurt you.

This book is wonderful - from Amazon:
Turning Bowls with Richard Raffan [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Turning Bowls with Richard Raffan


Have fun,

Paul

[RETIRED]

A better book IMHO for the beginner is "Woodturning. A foundation Course by Keith Rowley" Also available from Amazon.

Amazon.com: Woodturning: A Foundation Course (New Edition): Keith Rowley: Books

Raffans book is good once you have the basics.

Of course the best learning is done by hands on at a club.

[tea lady]

:rolleyes:whats a turnfest? is that some sort of strange pagan right of passage I must do before I'm shown the secret woodturners handshake?:rolleyes: Woodturning handshakes have either a chisel in between, or a plate with chocilate ripple cake on it.:cool:

yup,it's a balmy 25deg up here in sub tropical northern NSW,
understand you southerners have been a bit warmer:p




Of course the best learning is done by hands on at a club. And having a turnfest ( :whistling: ) at which comes a shows you what REAL turning is. (he will need a REALLY LONG lathe for that though.:rolleyes: )

[Paul39]

[quote=;888858]A better book IMHO for the beginner is "Woodturning. A foundation Course by Keith Rowley" Also available from Amazon.

I did not know of Keith Rowley's book until today. I looked at the table of contents and index on Amazon and ordered one.

Paul

[OGYT]

That is a great find!! :D
I wonder if the Vega Lathe copied their design from this man Scobie.... hmmmm

[RETIRED]

Wadkin, Vega, Scobie Proturn, Top Turn, Union Graduate and Stubbie,

Similarities in all of them.:wink::D

[underfoot]

That is a great find!! :D
I wonder if the Vega Lathe copied their design from this man Scobie.... hmmmm


Wadkin, Vega, Scobie Proturn, Top Turn, Union Graduate and Stubbie,

Similarities in all of them.:wink::D

interesting, I couldn't find much info on manufacturing dates on these other lathes,
but the first proturn was designed and made 26 years ago :rolleyes: