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Thread: Vicmarc VL100
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1st April 2008, 04:55 PM #1Novice
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Vicmarc VL100
Well after having troubles with the wobbly lathe syndrome on a couple of carbatec min lathes I lashed out and bought a Vicmarc VL100. I enthusiastically took it home and set it up and noted that when I put the mandrel in and gave it a couple of turns, something magical happened. It spun and spun with not even the slightest bit of wobble. I also noted that with two live centers inserted, they matched up exactly spot on. At this stage I'm wrapped in my purchase and I have not even turned it on. Finally when I turned it on it ran smoother than anything I've heard before. I got a little tingley all over. Many a pen shall be turned on my new baby who I have named Vic. Only problem is the wife said I have to get it out of the kitchen and into the shed. Oh well.
Cheers
Slyffer
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1st April 2008, 05:34 PM #2
Slyfer, congratulations and thanks for sharing that good news, always encouraging to hear reports on equipment, helps us all to make wiser decisions in the future, does your "Vic" have variable speed control? Amos
Good, better, best, never let it rest;
Til your good is better, and your
better, best.
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1st April 2008, 09:46 PM #3You've got to risk it to get the biscuit
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good one
S T I R L O
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1st April 2008, 09:50 PM #4
Slyffer,
Great to hear you are happy with your VL100, they are very much a precision machine. I run a few Vicmarcs and they have never failed me. It is a shame that you have had problems with the Carb-a-tec mini lathe. I have one that will be 20 years old in July and it has run smooth and true all that time. Can't say what the newer versions of the Car-a-tec minis are like, they look a heavier built machine to the one I have, but i think i will stay with it till it dies.
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1st April 2008, 09:52 PM #5
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1st April 2008, 10:10 PM #6
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1st April 2008, 10:17 PM #7Senior Member
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I got the same shakey feeling with my Jet mini lathe. I can only make pens on the lathe because when I try to make bowls, because it dosen't turn true it always catches on the inside of a bowl.
A neighbour has a Vicmar, so I go over there to turn the insides of my bowls. The Vicmar is next on my shopping list.
Remember - "You get what you pay for", and "once the price is forgotten the quality remains".
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2nd April 2008, 12:17 AM #8
Sorry David but I use to demonstrate for a wood working supply business and I guess i was spoilt. Yeah may have got them a bit cheaper but had to save just as hard for them. They are the only big lathe that I would look at here in Australia apart from the Stubby. The only 2 other lathes that i like outside of Australia and they are Oneway lathes from Canada and the Silverdrive lathes from England.
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2nd April 2008, 08:04 AM #9
Congratulations Slyffer
Ok now lets see some of these new turnings
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2nd April 2008, 09:32 AM #10Skwair2rownd
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Vl 100
Good on you Slyffer. If the wife is worried now, just wait until you set it up in the bedroom!
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3rd April 2008, 02:08 AM #11Senior Member
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Don't understand. Wouldn't your pens come out somewhat oval shaped if it's not true? And most of a bowl can be turned on headstock only. Just can't get thru this thick skull of mine.
Here lately we read a lot about the same type of problems on all kinds of lathes, especially Jet. And not only on this forum, but 2 other ones I read daily. Could it be more turners out there & the companies are trying to compete/keep up, that they've laid off the "quality control" personal? And how many companies actually manufacture their own lathe, probably very few. Especially mini lathes. Probably sublet out & made to their specs. $250.00 - $400.00 isn't pocket change to anyone just to have a piece of equipment end up as a door stop or dust collector. Maybe if we all raised more cane with mfgr's. they'd turn out more precision stuff.
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3rd April 2008, 12:22 PM #12
Mobil Man, I have Jet mini, it does not run true, but a quality live centre helped greatly, and when I get down to the last bits if turning I stop and turn the blank on the mandrel 1/2 a turn to make sure I turn it evenly, not ideal but practical. Amos
Good, better, best, never let it rest;
Til your good is better, and your
better, best.
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3rd April 2008, 11:43 PM #13
Lucky....
Yes I too am a victim of a dodgy Jet Midi...
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2nd May 2008, 11:55 PM #14New Member
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I had a Carbatec midi lathe for about 1 week and sent it back after my first pen. It almost lasted the whole pen. results were a mostly finished wobble pen (oval), a broken tail stock cam lock lug. This was after a quality live centre replaced the wobble "clickity click" live centre that came with the lathe from new. That's the noise it made when turned by hand, clickity click click click. Did I mention it was not centred (should have been called a live "off centre". I have a vicmarc vl 100 on way and plan to put a 2hp on it (already had one laying around, just need to build the cabinet to house it and the extra drive pulley to reduce the speed by half (idles at 2840rpm) . hmm.
Yes well :aussie3:
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3rd May 2008, 03:42 AM #15
One thing I noticed on the Jet I bought was the centers were really dinky little things. They saved some money there.
The Rikon, as much as it never ran true for me, was a very solidly built lathe, much more so than the Jet, and it came with much better centers. If it only ran true.
I may have to eventually upgrade to a proper lathe.
Congrats Slyffer!Wood. Such a wonderful substance.
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