Thread: Advice on a lathe

Honestly Brad, hold out for a Vicmarc. I'd have to ask, why the 300? I think the VL175, overall, is the better package and not because I own one.

Originally Posted by Scott

Honestly Brad, hold out for a Vicmarc. I'd have to ask, why the 300? I think the VL175, overall, is the better package and not because I own one.

If you can hold out then I would agree with Scott, Even the VL200 is only about $100 more then the 175 if you want a bigger swing, I know from experience that wishes dont correspond to $$$ in the bank though and it is a hard choice to settle for what we can afford rather then what we should get
I am lucky to have 12+ Lathes to choose from at my local Club and all of them are Vicmarcs, they are a dream to use and I am now saving up so that when my trusty little Midi lathe calls it a day I can hopefully get a Vicmarc too
Cheers Ben

I'm another fan of the vl175 mate hold take your time and save up.

Mmm ok now you have given me something to think about as i hadn't even given the smaller ones a thought.
After owning the mc900 and using it at 90 deg im not sure if im a fan of the swivel headed machines as i found it hard to get everything back in line when putting it back to 0 deg and that is why i was thinking the vl300 for the swing but the thing i dont like about them is you cant slide the head to the end if i wanted to make large platters and bowls

If the headstock and bed of the Delta are one piece cast iron, that is a serious lathe. Does it have as much swing as you think you will ever need?

If it weighs 4 - 500 pounds with legs, assuming everything works, I think that is a reasonable price. If the range of speeds is good for what you do, and changing the belt from step to step is convenient, variable speed is not that important.

Step pulley lathes can be made into variable speed by putting on a 3 phase motor and a variable frequency drive. If you roll your own with a used motor and a surplus VFD it can be done reasonably.

If you buy new components and have a professional do the conversion, the Vicmarc would be cheaper.

As for getting the swivel machines back to center, there is a double ended Morse taper device that you put in the tailstock, and leaving the headstock loose slide the device into the headstock taper and lock down.

Usually lining up the points on drive and tail centers is close enough.

The better swivel head machines have a pin that locates the head in position.

Edit: That tail stock is good and solid looking as is the tool rest, I expect the short outboard bed would unbolt giving you more swing for a bigger bowl. The center support down by the tail stock is worth about $100

When I looked for more information many copies of the ad came up. The price may be negotiable at this point.

You may want to go have a look and see how easy it is to manipulate all the controls and change speeds.

Than ask my favorite line " what is the absolute least you will take for this, in cash, as is, where is." I have made some deals that way. It is best to have transport so that you can load everything and go.

Further searching brings this:

Delta DL-40 - Woodworking Talk - Woodworkers Forum

Which is a 16 inch swing industrial lathe with variable speed. The variable speed DC drive was prone to be troublesome and expensive.

I suspect the lathe you are considering is a stepped pulley version of the DL-40.

If that were within 3 hours driving distance from me I would be in the car, money in hand, going there.

The VL 175 does have a swivel head but it is accurate to the point of ridiculousness.
When swung back to the spindle turning position it will line up PRECISELY with the headstock.

Motor has plenty of grunt and you can get EVS.

As others have indicated stick out for the Vicmarc lathes

The one you are looking at is only a slightly larger version of what you have so no real benefit with all the same faults you now have.

The Vicmarc swivel head is very accurate in alignment.

If you want outboard then the VL300 can easily accomodate that as well you can even put a 500mm extension on the outboard side and work with nothing in the way of your feet.

Buy once and buy good it will then last a lifetime.

thanks for the advice im going to look at the one on gum tree tonight but i wont take any cash with me or i will just buy it then and there!! I think ill do what the majority of people are saying and save for the Vicmark.
If i had the money i would make an offer on the one that is in the for sale section at the moment!!

That Delta on gumtree looks like a very solid lathe.

I think Delta rebadged the Durden lathes made in Australia. If this is one, then I think it is a very good buy at that price.

We cant all afford a Vicmarc and you could have this one now and keep saving then sell this for what you pay for it.

Best wishes

Steve.

another cost is new inserts for chucks faceplates and toolrests, it's the small extras when swapping machines ! I know my next Lathe the thread will be 30 by 3.5 funny think thats vicmarc thread size?!?!

Hi, I am currently prettying up one of these lathes and fitting an evs. Very busy this morning so I cannot say too much other than;-
A very solid lathe, the casting for the tailstock weighs in at 17 kgs, Add stands, banjos, rests, outboard turning gear, tailstock spindle etc. and the bolts and washers to hold it all together and you total 120 kgs. I cannot lift the tailstock end of bed off the ground for more than a few seconds, it is very heavy. The previous owner said it weighed in at 450lbs, could be right. Zenvic (Carrum Vic) supplied case Evs controller and long leads wired to motor and did IMHO an excellent job for around $700, maybe not the cheapest worth every cent for mine. The lathe handles 500mm inboard 600/650 outboard (The lathe bed is 200 klm's away so can't measure) with 1300 between centres. The lathe was hooked to an EVS to demo and it was smooth as. At the end the lathe will be pretty well spec'd and one quarter? the cost of the lathe I dream of, a STUBBY, or one third? the cost of a Vicmarc. I also dream of a Maserati. Two downsides Difficult to change belt ratios at the motor (very tight) and no hole through taistock, You have to retract Tailstock fully to eject centres, which are MT2 at both ends with 30x3.5 ? thread on spindle. Got to run. Hope this helps and IMHO Paul 39 is right on the money. Jay

There's always this one that's in the marketplace!
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f221/v...63/index2.html

Not sure how far you would travel though

Ok well after going out and having a look at the delta i was quite impressed and i bought it for $650 and it came with lots of tools faceplates and other bits and bobs including a hollowing tool.
As Paul39 had indicated that it might be a a one piece lathe, well he was right and it is very heavy.
The only down side that i can see is that it is a 3 step pulley system so will look for a 3 phase motor and a EVS at some stage and convert it, but i can see some wonderful big turnings in the future
Thanks every one for there help and advice, i took it all on board and hope i've made the right choice.
cheers Brad