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  1. #1
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    Default Big bowl on the Vicmarc VL240

    Hi everyone!

    Ever since getting my Vicmarc VL240 a little over a year ago I've wanted to get my hands on a big piece of timber to make a big bowl. I recently got in contact with a local arborist and acquired a few large blocks of hardwood to play around (the first of many I hope ) The photo's are of the largest block which started off barely clearing the bed and finished up at 460mm x 210mm deep. The block weighed in at 50kg and, after some basic balancing, I managed to start turning at around 300rpm. I reached a max rpm of a little under 600 when it was all hollowed out. (oddly enough, when the headstock was at 90 degrees I could increase the speed more but do not have the ability to turn in this configuration)

    Some observations....
    As I mentioned in earlier posts you can feel some vibration between the head and the bed when using a centre saver (McNaughton) but when on the highest torque pulley the lathe did not struggle at all.

    Even with a 50kg block hanging off it, the headstock swivelled very easily...almost as if there was nothing on it at all.

    The headstock had to be at zero to using the centre saver. When on the 30 degree indent the banjo would flex enough to make it very hard to control.

    At 30 degrees the banjo isn't long enough to easily turn the inside so I ended up turning in reverse (using the locking collar). The outboard attachment would have been useful for this.

    I actually used the locking collar even when turning forwards as the electric braking was a little too abrupt for a block this large and heavy (it started to loosen itself...that was a little scary lol)

    All in all it was a lot of fun and after setting things up differently I'll definitely be doing it again! Some things I need to change are bolting the lathe down, buying (or making) a large curved tool rest and getting a longer straight tool rest.

    I also need to get a hoist of some sort as lifting 50kg up the lathe bed and screwing it on is not something I want to be doing regularly.

    If anybody has any guesses as to what the timber might be please chime in. It's completely green so fingers crossed it dries out well

    There seems to be very little out there written about this lathe and what is capable on it so I just thought I would pipe up from time time. I would love to turn something this size on a VL300 to see if there is noticeable difference.

    Thanks for reading

    JoshIMG_2126.jpgIMG_2127.jpgIMG_2130.jpgIMG_2133.jpgIMG_2134.jpgIMG_2135.jpgIMG_2137.jpg

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  3. #2
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    Josh, that's a good report. Nice looking piece of wood. Not sure of it, but since you're in Australia, the wood is Eucalyptus? hehehe It does look like some I turned once........ Jerry (in Tucson)

  4. #3
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    Thumbs up

    Good going Josh!!

    How green is that "lump"? and how much have you left so you can season it and finish ? (Several years from now that is!)

  5. #4
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    Thanks for the writeup josh, great to hear mini reviews with hints and tips!! Great job in the green turning (I haven't done any myself). It'll be great to see the final product once it's dry.

    Thanks
    Gab
    "All the gear and no idea"

  6. #5
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    Thank you for the post.

    I am taking a seat to see how this eventually turns out.

  7. #6
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    Default

    Josh, turning big lumps is fun. A couple points, banjos work well when centred on the ways, but can flex when extended to their full reach.
    Tool rests need support to the ends for larger pieces, especially 400mm ones.
    Electronic breaking is hilarious . . . I have had a few instances of larger, heavier pieces leaving the Yellow Peril and the big longsworth chuck crushing a completed bowl, but with vfd, I slow the revs down before cutting power.

    Currently I have a "Baby Bowl" in Jacaranda, that is about 200 deep, even with my 400mm tool rest, I can only comfortably (safely)use a gouge till about 150mm deep, then the deep hollowing tools to finish the bottom.

    As with your lump, it's too big to be called a blank, it's probably, by the look, Messmate or similar. I coat my green turnings in Mobilizer and leave for a year or 18 months. Normally back in the wood shed and find them more or less round.
    Pat
    Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain

  8. #7
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    Very nice looking profile on the bowl!

    Good to see your observations about turning a blank that tests the intended capacity of the VL240. Your comments reinforce many of my concerns about swiveling head stocks.

    Any lathe is only as good as the sum of its parts, and how each lathe part performs at its limits determines the "safety factor" of the lathe. I would have confidence in a Vicmarc banjo in this config (30 degree rotation) even though it is at its max. However there are many clone lathes on the market that I would not even attempt this with because we have simply seen to many reported failures of banjos and tool posts in the past on similar models (a couple are posted on Youtube.).

    Once you get above a 300 mm dia bowl you are getting into some serious turning. You really require everything to be performing well and to have an adequate safety margin in reserve in the lathes design and manufacture, not a machine that may barely handle it. Sure there are lesser lathes that can turn these projects once or maybe a few dozen times but your VL240 will still be capable of turning them hundreds of times over and you will still have the confidence that nothing will break. That is why you pay up to twice the price of the cheaper lathes - confidence & quality!
    Mobyturns

    In An Instant Your Life CanChange Forever

  9. #8
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    Default

    Interesting report Josh. I'm yet to turn a bowl that big on my VL240 .Looks a bit like some Tallowwood I turned recently. Did it have shaggy fibrous bark?
    Ted

  10. #9
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    Hi Josh,

    I'm no expert by any means but this looks exactly like some hoop pine I have in the shed at present.
    Don't forget to give us an update photo when its finished.
    Cheers, Ian
    "The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot.. it can't be done.
    If you deal with the lowest bidder it is well to add something for the risk you run.
    And if you do that, you will have enough to pay for something better"

  11. #10
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    Thanks for the responses guys! I'll attempt to answer/address everyone's comments here.

    The timber is very green and I was going to leave it as is but now I'm thinking about taking another 10mm off the wall thickness (I don't have callipers large enough to properly check this...yet! lol) I imagine it's current thickness would need 1 1/2years or more to dry out.

    Pat - Could you tell me what "Mobilizer" is? I'm currently just painting a thinned down PVA over the endgrain sections of the bowl. Slowing down with the vfd is a great idea, thanks!

    Ted - from the pictures I looked up I think you might be on the money with Tallowwood. Most of the bark had been stripped off when I got it but the timber is very dense and even green it was quite hard on the tools.

    Mobyturns - I have seen some large things turned on a VL240 but they were all from Europe, appeared to be softer timbers and where not the depth of this one. So this was intentionally testing the limits and I was very happy with the overall performance. I've never turned anything close to this size before and seeing it in the flesh makes me wonder what I'm going to do with it when it's done! Hopefully I'll sell it but it's going to be a big bowl

    I will definitely be posting a picture of this when it's done (providing it survives the drying process)and I'm already seriously considering an outrigger, how I can bolt the lathe down, making a curved tool rest and getting a larger centre saver.

    Thanks again

    Josh

  12. #11
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    Hi josh,
    Looks like it, s going to be a nice bowl.....
    No idea what timber that is but your lathe
    Is very nice.....but wayyyyyyyy toooo clean !
    I, m only jealous !!
    Cheers smiife

  13. #12
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    Those dark lines remind me of Lemon Scent Gum or Spotted Gum
    Cheers

    DJ

  14. #13
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    Hello Josh, Mobilizer is a Wax based emulsion, sometimes called Log End Sealant. Caltex seem to be the only one with any info on the web. The club has a 20ltr tin and got it from a depot, so if I was you I'd ring the Corio Caltex depot and ask. No idea of the price . . . don't blame me if you faint
    Pat
    Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pat View Post
    Hello Josh, Mobilizer is a Wax based emulsion, sometimes called Log End Sealant. Caltex seem to be the only one with any info on the web. The club has a 20ltr tin and got it from a depot, so if I was you I'd ring the Corio Caltex depot and ask. No idea of the price . . . don't blame me if you faint

    lol thanks!

  16. #15
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    Mobyturns

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