Thread: vicmarc VL150 lathe advice

I have a VL150. It hasn't had a lot of use yet by me due to a shoulder injury I received (skiing) just after buying the lathe but it is extremely stable and very very quiet. My local Woodcraft Guild has about 10 Vicmarc lathes of varying sizes. You will not regret the purchase.

Jane

GDW VL150 sml.jpg

My VL150 must be over 3 years old now (how time flies), dream to use, quiet, stable and plenty of power for your purpose. Photo taken at our annual Proserpine Turnout in Nov 2014.

Mine is mounted on a base sheet made from 2 layers of 12mm ply which allows me to either mount it on a low bench or use the Jet mini lathe stand that I have modified to suit. The lathe is attached to base, which is then attached to the stand with two lots of 4 x 8mm bolts from above / below into threaded inserts in the ply, so no chasing lost nuts. The lathe remains attached to the base normally which also makes it a relatively easy task to manhandle the lathe off the stand onto a bench or into the back of my ute or 4WD wagon. Slides easily with the aide of a 1200mm length of 200 x 19 mm pine, no heavy lifting as the lathe weighs in at over 65kg.

I use some three wheel dollys under each foot of the Jet lathe stand to move it about in my garage. Pretty simple to lift the stand to place the dollys under each foot with the dolly handle from the Woodfast BS500 "wheel kit."

I don't own one anymore, but used to. Should be no problems, but build your trolley so that when the lathe is in use, the whole thing is solid and won't move. Heavy trolley and not sitting on rotating wheels, for instance.

Originally Posted by rtyuiop

I don't own one anymore, but used to. Should be no problems, but build your trolley so that when the lathe is in use, the whole thing is solid and won't move. Heavy trolley and not sitting on rotating wheels, for instance.

Very good point, the wheel dollys are removed when I turn. Vicmarc now have a stand accessory for the VL150, plus a short 250mm and the standard 500mm extension beds, which make the VL150 a very versatile midi lathe.

I found some very well constructed portable lathe benches / stands in Google searches when deciding what to do with mine for use at the Turnouts etc. One of the best I found came from the German Vicmarc distributors website gallery - Drechselstube Neckarsteinach - its well down the page April 2012.

Originally Posted by rtyuiop

I don't own one anymore, but used to. Should be no problems, but build your trolley so that when the lathe is in use, the whole thing is solid and won't move. Heavy trolley and not sitting on rotating wheels, for instance.

Very good point, the wheel dollys are removed when I turn. Vicmarc now have a stand accessory for the VL150, plus a short 250mm and the standard 500mm extension beds, which make the VL150 a very versatile midi lathe.

I found some very well constructed portable lathe benches / stands in Google searches when deciding what to do with mine for use at the Turnouts etc. One of the best I found came from the German Vicmarc distributors website gallery - Drechselstube Neckarsteinach - its well down the page April 2012.

thank you for all of your replies and advice