Thread: Variable speed for pen turning.

i have had 3 midi lathes now, all in different price brackets

the first and latest one have both had variable speed

the first 2 lathes were good, but the newest one is EXCELLENT!!!

save your pennies and buy a Vicmarc VL-150.... you wont regret it

i have only had mine for about 6 weeks and i wish i had of saved my pennies to buy it from the start

i haven't gone looking as yet but i believe there is 3 belt adjustments, the one it comes set on goes from 30 - 3000rpm which will cover everything you are talking about

i turn resins and acrylics at around 2000rpm and wood flat stick, CA finish is also done flat stick

just my 2 cents

MIK

Hi Mik, yeah I would love a Vicmark 150, its a little outside what I was hoping to spend, but I know your reasoning is sound, buy once buy well, then the cost is forgotten.

That speed range sounds exactly like what I am hoping for.

Overnight I have been thinking about buying one of the Woodfast Midi's (non VS ), Carbetec have them on special at the moment.
I have a spare 1hp 3ph motor that came out of a jointer that I repowered to single phase. Then I would get a VFD similar to what I put on my metal lathe, this should give me the speed range that I want.

I used to do my CA finish at 1800rpm, same speed for everything, but after battling with too many problems with the CA, I tried slowing down to 600, my success rate is way better now. So I will keep doing it this way now, but the belt changes are driving me up the wall, which is why I am looking at a new lathe.

I have decided against converting my Record, I will keep it for bowl and larger spindle work.

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Hi Mik, yeah I would love a Vicmark 150, its a little outside what I was hoping to spend, but I know your reasoning is sound, buy once buy well, then the cost is forgotten.

That speed range sounds exactly like what I am hoping for.

Overnight I have been thinking about buying one of the Woodfast Midi's (non VS ), Carbetec have them on special at the moment.
I have a spare 1hp 3ph motor that came out of a jointer that I repowered to single phase. Then I would get a VFD similar to what I put on my metal lathe, this should give me the speed range that I want.

I used to do my CA finish at 1800rpm, same speed for everything, but after battling with too many problems with the CA, I tried slowing down to 600, my success rate is way better now. So I will keep doing it this way now, but the belt changes are driving me up the wall, which is why I am looking at a new lathe.

I have decided against converting my Record, I will keep it for bowl and larger spindle work.

I went through a few small lathes in the beginning ,and eventually got a woodfast midi , still felt that a variable was the way to go so I got a variable speed motor kit from PSI that was a bolt on unit ,even with postage and buying a step down converter to 110 volts ,it was well below anything else available in Australia at the time , been using it for a few years now, still has the step pulleys in place so belt changing can still take place ,so best of both worlds If you have room to fit your 1 horse motor and controller that would be my choice Cheers ~ John

With regard to using 110 volt US motors was the motor rated at 50 cycles or 60 as it is in the US if so it can prove problematic by overheating on our 50 cycles. It is important nay critical in some instances diabolical. These days a converter single to three phase can be purchased cheaper than here in Australia that can avoid any complications. A simple tong test will show the current rise in the machine and the most common problem then is overheating and if the unit is not protected by an overheat device a burnout can occur.

Like everything variations occur with other factors but strong advice is to not purchase 60 cycle motors to run on 50 cycles it does work the reverse way most refrigerators imported from the US Air Cons mostly worked ok but motors iffy.

There is a magic formula to run an american 60 cycle motor on a transformer at 84% voltage and it will run all day albeit at reduced revs.

No I am not prepared nor care to debate this fact but as an ancient sparky I did run a saw imported on a transformer for many years at 187volts that on 240 would trip out on overheat almost straight away.

I refer as my oracle and saviour Electrical Industry Bible No 3 printed in 1986 that saved me a lot of grief.

On the other hand I have a few converted single to three phase converters all 240v 50 cycles from Germany that have given me perfect service in relation to my Vicmark VL100 for many years now to provide infinite speed control.

Please ignore my ramblings if I have misinterpreted any situations you are involved in rather it is a heads up cheap motors overseas may not be compatable here but controllers always are if they are rated 50 cycle our voltage 240 to 415 volt.

Kind regards Peter.

Thanks for that explanation Peter ! I checked my imported 1/2 horse motor, its rated at 60 cycles as you suggest , but it is a DC motor ,never seems to get hot , I have limited electrical motor knowledge , but I assume cycles are a bit irrelevant ,maybe the transformer takes care of that ,or the motor speed controller ? at least it works ok for me Cheers ~ John

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Hi Mik, yeah I would love a Vicmark 150, its a little outside what I was hoping to spend, but I know your reasoning is sound, buy once buy well, then the cost is forgotten.

That speed range sounds exactly like what I am hoping for.

Overnight I have been thinking about buying one of the Woodfast Midi's (non VS ), Carbetec have them on special at the moment.
I have a spare 1hp 3ph motor that came out of a jointer that I repowered to single phase. Then I would get a VFD similar to what I put on my metal lathe, this should give me the speed range that I want.

I used to do my CA finish at 1800rpm, same speed for everything, but after battling with too many problems with the CA, I tried slowing down to 600, my success rate is way better now. So I will keep doing it this way now, but the belt changes are driving me up the wall, which is why I am looking at a new lathe.

I have decided against converting my Record, I will keep it for bowl and larger spindle work.

no worries mate, my last lathe was a woodfast non VS and like i said it was good but nothing like the Vicmarc

try calling woodfast for a price as well, you never know what they will say

i wish you well with your final decision

MIK

Originally Posted by MBUMIK

no worries mate, my last lathe was a woodfast non VS and like i said it was good but nothing like the Vicmarc

try calling woodfast for a price as well, you never know what they will say

i wish you well with your final decision

MIK

After some thought today, I am now contemplating the VL150 that is available without motor or electronics, my 1hp motor looks to be OK for the job, would just need to source
a VFD and some switches. I think I may have a spare potentiometer from when I set my metal lathe up.

Originally Posted by gawdelpus

I went through a few small lathes in the beginning ,and eventually got a woodfast midi , still felt that a variable was the way to go so I got a variable speed motor kit from PSI that was a bolt on unit ,even with postage and buying a step down converter to 110 volts ,it was well below anything else available in Australia at the time , been using it for a few years now, still has the step pulleys in place so belt changing can still take place ,so best of both worlds If you have room to fit your 1 horse motor and controller that would be my choice Cheers ~ John

Hi John,I am looking at the Vicmarc VL150 bare lathe from Timberbits for just over $1000, but Carbatec have the Woodfast Midi (nonVS) on special for $440. I would really like to get the Vicmarc, but having a bit of trouble convincing myself it is worth double of the Woodfast .
Have you been able to compare your lathe to the VL150 ?

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Hi John,I am looking at the Vicmarc VL150 bare lathe from Timberbits for just over $1000, but Carbatec have the Woodfast Midi (nonVS) on special for $440. I would really like to get the Vicmarc, but having a bit of trouble convincing myself it is worth double of the Woodfast .
Have you been able to compare your lathe to the VL150 ?

Brad ! I would have that trouble too hehe, I have not had the opportunity to compare the 2 ,but I think the vicmarc has taper bearings in the headstock ,they may well be better engineered ( eg tailstock may line up better than the woodfast ) I shimmed mine to solve that problem The belt change in the woodfast is very easy and quick ,but I found that the variable speed was just so much more convenient for the number of pens I do . I have replaced my headstock bearings once and a drive belt once in 4 years or so. The bearings were cheap and an easy operation to change . If I wanted I could put tapered bearings in as well . In the end these wood lathe machines are very basic and largely overpriced I feel , by that I mean for the money, you can get a cheap metal lathe with variable speeds that can do a lot more than just pens ,and they are better engineered In the end with all these wood lathes at the lower end, they have a motor a drive belt and headstock bearings ,that may or may not last that long , as to which one ,the conventional wisdom is buy quality once, and depending on projected usage, for me at my age I buy cheap as it doesn't have to last a lifetime any more hehe ,mind if I am still turning at 90 I might regret that LOL. Cheers ~ John

John, the tapered roller bearings are a definite plus, and I think with a 1hp motor would make it a very capable lathe especially with a bed extension later on.
But having survived cancer once already, I dont count my chickens anymore, and Mrs Ironwood doesnt need a flash lathe when I am gone ( though if she wants to use up my 30 odd tonne of timber , it might come in handy )

I know someone with a Woodfast midi, I will try to tee up a time to check it out sometime before I make a decision.

Originally Posted by gawdelpus

Brad ! I would have that trouble too hehe, I have not had the opportunity to compare the 2 ,but I think the vicmarc has taper bearings in the headstock ,they may well be better engineered ( eg tailstock may line up better than the woodfast ) I shimmed mine to solve that problem The belt change in the woodfast is very easy and quick ,but I found that the variable speed was just so much more convenient for the number of pens I do . I have replaced my headstock bearings once and a drive belt once in 4 years or so. The bearings were cheap and an easy operation to change . If I wanted I could put tapered bearings in as well . In the end these wood lathe machines are very basic and largely overpriced I feel , by that I mean for the money, you can get a cheap metal lathe with variable speeds that can do a lot more than just pens ,and they are better engineered In the end with all these wood lathes at the lower end, they have a motor a drive belt and headstock bearings ,that may or may not last that long , as to which one ,the conventional wisdom is buy quality once, and depending on projected usage, for me at my age I buy cheap as it doesn't have to last a lifetime any more hehe ,mind if I am still turning at 90 I might regret that LOL. Cheers ~ John

Just noticed on Gumtree that Carba tec in WA/Perth have a used VL100 VS with stand, has a 150mm centre height (which would be a V150?) for sale asking $689, would be perfect for pens.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/balca...the/1044194108

Thanks for that link PJ. I didnt think the VL100 had a 150mm centre height , price sounds nice though. Freight to Mackay could be a killer.

Concerning the DC motor, it runs on a DC voltage, therefore any heat loss etc would occur in the AC/DC converter stage, not in the motor, that is an over simplified answer but basically correct.
As for which Lathe, I like the Vic Marcs, just hope their quality remains true to reputation, because these days even Vic Marc have parts made overseas and then reassembled here!!!!
Amos

Originally Posted by PenTurner

Concerning the DC motor, it runs on a DC voltage, therefore any heat loss etc would occur in the AC/DC converter stage, not in the motor, that is an over simplified answer but basically correct.
As for which Lathe, I like the Vic Marcs, just hope their quality remains true to reputation, because these days even Vic Marc have parts made overseas and then reassembled here!!!!
Amos

Hi Amos

I have been to the Vicmarc factory and done the inspection myself so I am talking with first hand experience.

Yes some parts are made overseas, like the motor is made in Italy and the inverter is made in Japan for the Vicmarc lathes. Bearings are made overseas as well - usually in Japan or Germany. Some parts you just can't get made in Australia.

They are definitely not just assembled here. The casting of the lathe is done off site because they are not a foundry. All the machining of the lathe is done in Brisbane in the massive milling machines they have there. The painting is all done in Brisbane as well. It is then all assembled onsite and checked before it is sent off to the customer.

I have seen them make the chucks as well - it is definitely all made in Brisbane.

Probably going to make a video of the Vicmarc factory. Vicmarc also is publishing a lot of videos on Facebook - you should have a look at them.

Let me know if anyone has any questions or need more information, I am sure Marco from Vicmarc will post some videos to show what they do in their workshop.

David