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  1. #1
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    Default Vicmarc lathe owners - chuck and other questions

    Troops,

    I've finally bitten the bullet and bought two Vicmarc chucks - the 120 and the 150 - for my lathe. I won't have the 120 for a few days, but am keen to start on some simple projects with te 150. I do not turn too well, so bear with me.

    The size of the 150 seems a little daunting. I assume I just knock out the drive and wind it on. Will getting it off be a problem? None of this stuff is covered in the owner's manual.

    Another issue for me is whether I should turn the inside of the lidded boxes inboard as I am left handed and reaching into the inside will not be easy. Or do I just reverse it and turn on the far side???? I ordered the outboard turning attachment just in case the answer is no.

    And if I go outboard, can I just screw the chuck on and it won't come off? No idea how or whether removing the "handle" will affect the balance.

    I haven't changed the belts over on the VL300 either yet - do I need to do so? The pepper shakers, small lidded boxes etc that I intend to do won't be overly large. At what point should I change over? 5 inch bowls? 10 inch bowls?

    Also, I only have a 1/2 inch bowl gouge and a 3/4 inch scrap, both on the way. Is that enough to get started with? I already have some skews and spindle gouges.

    So, in a word, HELP!

    I don't want to have bits and pieces flying off everywhere.

    regards Jeff

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  3. #2
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    The best advice i could give is PM me the address and i will pick the lathe up at daylight tomorrow and save you the chance of serious injury or the expence of buying more chisels/tools.

    Seriously i think you will just need to get used to using both hands on the lathe. Sometimes you will be able to use the left hand but i would suggest you just get some "junk" wood and turn spindles from one end to the other and then back again. When you change direction you should change hands. That will give you some practice with your right hand at the end of the tool not at the tool rest.

    Good luck.
    regards

    David


    "Tell him he's dreamin."
    "How's the serenity" (from "The Castle")

  4. #3
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    where is kiewa???????????????

  5. #4
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    Kiewa is a little place about 25kms out of Albury Wodonga on the Vic-NSW border.

    I'm on 9 acres out of town and can see the snow from Falls Creek over winter. Wood fires in both the house and shed!

    Not as cold as Ballarat, but close.

    Jeff

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    G`day Chris Stotts book 50 boxes is a great guide to makeing boxes. Tighten the chuck with the bars supplied with your chuck and lathe.
    Mick

    P.S. the more you practice the better you will get with both hands or get a reverse switch for your lathe and stand on the other side.I turn my boxes in board I am right handed.

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by jefferson View Post
    The size of the 150 seems a little daunting. I assume I just knock out the drive and wind it on. Will getting it off be a problem? None of this stuff is covered in the owner's manual.

    Screw the chuck on by hand till it seats, don't spin it on just ease it up to the shoulder and hand tight is all it needs.

    Another issue for me is whether I should turn the inside of the lidded boxes inboard as I am left handed and reaching into the inside will not be easy. Or do I just reverse it and turn on the far side???? I ordered the outboard turning attachment just in case the answer is no.

    And if I go outboard, can I just screw the chuck on and it won't come off? No idea how or whether removing the "handle" will affect the balance.

    When you put the chuck on the outboard spindle, put the lathe in reverse and it will then turn the normal way when you're facing it from the outboard turning position. Removing the handle will make no differnce to the balance of the spindle.

    I haven't changed the belts over on the VL300 either yet - do I need to do so? The pepper shakers, small lidded boxes etc that I intend to do won't be overly large. At what point should I change over? 5 inch bowls? 10 inch bowls?

    Has it got 2 or 3 stepped pulleys? You'll only need to change the belts when you start getting into the bigger stuff, generally 12" to 14" and up, if you can slow or stop the lathe easily when you have bigger pieces on, it's time to change the belt setting and don't forget change the setting on the VSD box as well. If it's a 2spd pulley setup, you'll have the 10-1000rpm and 30-3000rpm range, don't know what ranges are available for the 3spd setup

    Also, I only have a 1/2 inch bowl gouge and a 3/4 inch scrap, both on the way. Is that enough to get started with? I already have some skews and spindle gouges.

    Yes you can do quite a bit with what you've got

    So, in a word, HELP!

    I don't want to have bits and pieces flying off everywhere.

    regards Jeff
    It's a shame you didn't ask these questions about 6 weeks ago, as I had to do 2 trips to Bonegilla back then and I could have swung by and dropped in
    Cheers

    DJ


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  8. #7
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    G`day DJ I don`t want to start an arguement but I have had the chuck try to spin of the nose a couple of times so I always tighten the chuck with the bars now.
    Mick

  9. #8
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    Thanks for all the replies, particularly yours DJ. A mine of good advice and information, none of which I could find in my books.

    Next time anyone is up this way, drop in. There is a growing waste pile of practice legs etc that I will get rid of in the fire before anyone arrives.

    Jeff

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    You on the Gundowring Rd Jeff, or Kiewa Valley Hway?
    Cheers, Ern

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by jefferson View Post
    Thanks for all the replies, particularly yours DJ. A mine of good advice and information, none of which I could find in my books.

    Next time anyone is up this way, drop in. There is a growing waste pile of practice legs etc that I will get rid of in the fire before anyone arrives.

    Jeff
    Practise legs , are you making tables and chairs Jeff ?

  12. #11
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    I've been practicing making legs for small tables. One leg only. I'm not game to try wasting any timber on 4 legs until I get up to speed. Small legs too, suitable for coffee tables.

    I have 4 nice sticks of 75mm KD redgum about a metre long ready to go for a "project". They have been sitting there for a while - well, 4 years - and maybe they will wait a little longer. No point turning nice timber into more firewood.

    That said, it all burns well!

    So the answer is no. No real projects yet. Not until the skew chisel and I develop a "working" arrangement. I fear the negotiations will be a long and drawn out affair.

    regards Jeff

  13. #12
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    A cobber of mine makes oak tables , and I do a bit of part time work with him .
    We are thinking of doing one with turned legs , to test the market .
    Not being a disciplined spindle turner , I have been researching ways of getting the legs identical , or near enough to it .

    These sites have good ideas .
    http://www.woodturninglearn.net/arti...gtablelegs.htm
    http://www.newwoodworker.com/turning/trnlegs.html

  14. #13
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    G'day Jeff

    I sympathise with you on the left handedness. I am also a molly duker and for the life of me I cannot ever get comfortable or confident trying to adapt to right hand on the lathe (too old to change now anyway). As with any power tool, if you are not comfortable then it becomes dangerous. I do all my hollow turning from the back of the lathe. I have been turning this way for a couple of years now and have never found it to be a problem. And while I'm there I also sand from the back of the lathe. It is certainly not orthodox but it works for me.

    Cheers
    Shorty
    ________________________________________
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    Shorty

    If I can't turn it I'll burn it

  15. #14
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    Cheers, Jeff. Welcome!
    You've gotten some right good answers already, so I'll just add what I did to my chuck on my LittleVic.
    I drilled a hole for a set screw in the thread adapter on my Nova chuck. It keeps it from backing off the spindle when I reverse the Little Vic.
    Also, when I mount a chuck on either lathe, I turn it on til it stops, then use the spanner and give it a bump with the heel of my hand. It holds really well. That's all it takes to jar it loose when I'm ready to take it off... just a bump with the heel of my hand against the spanner.
    If you can con DJ out of another trip out your way, you'll be doing well.
    Al
    Some minds are like concrete thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by jefferson View Post
    No real projects yet. Not until the skew chisel and I develop a "working" arrangement. I fear the negotiations will be a long and drawn out affair.

    regards Jeff
    FWIW I'm not much of a spindle turner but have found I can do beads and end trimming OK with a spindle gouge.
    Cheers, Ern

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