Thread: Which Lathe

Hi Brian
Id go for the Jet. I've always found lots of compatible add ons, spares, and generally a good machine. Lots of reviews out there ...

Check out the VS drive and if Original with machine .. quality and make ... check out reviews ...

Ask how much use and age. See what it was used for ? Eg small spindle, large bowls pens etc ...

Where was it housed eg in a dry shed or house Vs under a carport semi exposed to weather ... any corrosion ?

Speeds - I'm no expert but it depends on what you are doing. Roughing a blank, sanding, polishing, etc ..
Also what materials .. plastic, resin, timber, ... finishing timber eg Aussie Oil, CA.. I find the speed will change with the type of sand paper and type of timber ( and visa a versa). I.e. Wet and dry, fabric and the quality .. some papers clog real quick and others sand nicely ..



Randal

I retrofitted my pen lathe with a 3-phase motor and a VFD, the speed range I have is 0-3600rpm. I do all my turning at full speed, which is "10" on the speed dial, sanding I set it at "7", and putting on a CA finish I set it a roughly "1", which is probably about 100rpm.
Some variable speed lathes won't give you this much range without changing belts, which sort of defeats the purpose of having variable speed IMO.
For example, these lathes might have variable speed ranges of something like 50-500, 500-1500, and 1500-3000rpm, so different tasks will still require you to change the belt to get the required speed range.

The better lathes will give you an available speed range similar to mine on the fastest belt ratio, you only have to change the belt if you need more torque at lower speeds for bowl turning etc.
My lathe has speed ranges of approximately 0-500, 0-1500, and 0-3600rpm.

I am not trying to turn you off , but just making you aware that there is different types of VS. I haven't checked what sort of speed ranges the lathes you mention have.
I was tempted by the cheaper VS lathes, but when I realised I would still be changing the belt 3or4 times to make a pen, I changed my mind. I couldn't afford one of the electronic variable speed lathes, so I bought a cheaper 6 speed lathe and built my own VS, I already had most of the gear, so it was an easy choice for me.

Hi Brad what did it cost to change you lathe to variable speed ? Just curious

Cheers ian

I think it cost me about $220 for the VFD off eBay and maybe another $40 for parts I didn't have laying around in the shed. I already had the motor, and most of the electrical gear. And I had to buy the pulleys and belt, got the pulleys off Vermec, I can't remember how much they cost but they weren't real expensive. I could have used the pulleys and belt that came with the GPW lathe I used, but I wanted a wider ribbed belt to handle a bit more torque.

I will have a look for my thread from when I did the build, and link it here shortly.

Here is the info gathering thread I started when researching my lathe - Variable speed for pen turning.

And a bit of a WIP thread on my lathe build - Midi Lathe Mods and set-up WIP

I already had the switches and potentiometer and related gear, as I bought 2 of everything when I converted my Forbes metal lathe to Variable speed about 6 months previous. There is a thread on it as well, but the photos have all disappeared. I think I still have the photos in my back-up, so will probably reload some of them back into that thread.

I already had a VL100 from Vicmarc I had fitted a Variable Speed Control to a three phase motor (easy to find second hand). Then bought another bare lathe, a new 3 phase motor (the first new motor ever for me). . This time the speed control came with its own speed change potentiometer fitted.

Now how much you spend on what is down to you but my lathes have given me infinite fun and challenges over a long period of time.

Good luck with your choices enjoy the adventure.

Peter.

A few pics during installation of my VL150. I sit to turn not cos I have too but by choice.

Have fun Peter,

Nice setup Peter! What sort of mandrel arrangement do you have on it in the pictures, is it in a collet chuck or something?

Originally Posted by rtyuiop

Nice setup Peter! What sort of mandrel arrangement do you have on it in the pictures, is it in a collet chuck or something?

Yes it is mate also from Vicmarc. Also a mandrel saver on the tail stock.

Peter.

Thanks Peter - makes me miss my VL150 !