Thread: Midi Lathe suggestions.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Just one question why does the VL150, not come with a motor
Sorry if this seems a silly question

Its not a silly question.
It may seem bit odd, but to someone like me it gives me the chance to get the lathe at a cheaper price and be able to customise it to my liking.

The VL150 SM is available with motor and all the fruit for $2317, or in BM form (no motor etc) $1027.
Because I have a suitable motor and some of the electrical gear already, I just need to buy a VFD for $220 and a couple of switches, it is a much more economical option, if I had to pay $2317, I am afraid it would be outside of what I can spend, so would only be looking at the Woodfast or one of the others.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

Not to many of these midi's can swing a 300mm bowl safely especially the way turners sit them on a bench top. The VL 150 definitely will, the Woodfast if properly secured should.

Its increasingly looking like the Vicmarc will be what ends up in my shed, but regardless which lathe it was to be, a rock solid stand is a must. It will probably weigh double what the lathe weighs.

I was thinking the same at $1027 that sounds reasonable
But at $2317 for one with a motor
So in effect just over $1000 for a motor variable drive ext
Now I might be wrong here
And please correct me if I am
But a thousand sounds steep to me

Originally Posted by Ironwood

Its not a silly question.
It may seem bit odd, but to someone like me it gives me the chance to get the lathe at a cheaper price and be able to customise it to my liking.

The VL150 SM is available with motor and all the fruit for $2317, or in BM form (no motor etc) $1027.
Because I have a suitable motor and some of the electrical gear already, I just need to buy a VFD for $220 and a couple of switches, it is a much more economical option, if I had to pay $2317, I am afraid it would be outside of what I can spend, so would only be looking at the Woodfast or one of the others.

Brad, 1.5Kw VFDs can be had for about half that on Ebay (ex China). Plenty of people on this forum are using these to run 3phase motors on lathes, drill presses etc.

Do a search on Huanyang and you will find plenty of info on this forum.

Originally Posted by jefferson

.... Believe me, the Woodfast takes some stopping and has lots of torque, even on the highest spindle setting.

Yes, wanting variable speed is what initially started me looking at a new lathe.
At the start I was actually considering the Teknatool Comet Midi, but when I looked into it, the speed ranges were too narrow, I would have been still changing belts to get the speeds I want to turn and finish a pen. Sort of defeats the purpose.

Thats what started me looking further. Mik on the Pen Forum has the VL150 SM, he suggested I look at one of them because the VS on his gives a very wide range like I am after.
My metal lathe, which I fitted a 3ph motor and a VFD with vector control, it gives me a workable speed range on the middle speed of about 5-10rpm to 2000rpm without changing gears.
My aim is to try and set up this Midi wood lathe to give me range on one of the pulley steps of about 200rpm to 3000rpm, this should cover everything I want to do for pen turning, and still have a lower speed (change the belt to another step) for more torque if and when I need it.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Brad, 1.5Kw VFDs can be had for about half that on Ebay (ex China). Plenty of people on this forum are using these to run 3phase motors on lathes, drill presses etc.

Do a search on Huanyang and you will find plenty of info on this forum.

Cheers Fred. I know there are cheaper ones available, but I will go with the same brand I have on my metal lathe. When I was setting it up I did a lot of research and chose this brand mainly because it has vector control. from what I understand this gives a lot more torque at start up, and will keep a constant speed even when taking heavy cuts, I don't think the Huanyang has this feature, I could be wrong though (wouldn't be the first time ).

This is the one here, its a smaller one than I have on my metal lathe, but this size matches the motor I have for this job - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SAJ-0-75K...484d94c&_uhb=1

Originally Posted by Simplicity

I was thinking the same at $1027 that sounds reasonable
But at $2317 for one with a motor
So in effect just over $1000 for a motor variable drive ext
Now I might be wrong here
And please correct me if I am
But a thousand sounds steep to me

If I had to buy ALL the gear required, and charge my time out at Tradesman rates, it might start to come close to that, the SM model has the base/stand as well.

Hi Brad, I don't often get involved in this type of discussion, because it is a bit like the holden/ford argument. In another thread I did say I have owned and used a Tecknatool Comet and a Jet mini. I got rid if both because they did not fit my purpose. That is not intended to say they were no good, they did not suit me, largely because they were too small. I have never owned a Vicmarc machine and never will. I am presently, have and use regularly, a Woodfast 305 midi. I didn't buy the EVS model because I thought it was too expensive for what was there. I do a lot of thread chasing, which requires constant speed changing and that became tiresome, stopping the machine and changing the belt to new pulley positions. For "normal" turning, this would not be such a pain. Lately I bought an after market EVS kit including a motor and controls. That cost me about $250.00. The lathe and kit would have cost me about $650.00 a vast difference from in excess of $1,000.00, the asking price for a EVS model.
I consider the machine I have, is as good as any on the market and I most certainly make on it, anything that can be made on any other machine in its class. It is well made and quite heavy. The only thing that has caused me grief was that a belt broke and that was very easy to replace.
Admittedly the argument for and against imported machines as against Australian made is certainly a persuasive argument. But I understand the castings for Vicmarc machines are done overseas. I also support the concept that a quality "full size" lathe will fulfill your needs for many years, and probably be a better investment in the long run.
I offer this information in an attempt to balance the discussion.

Jim

Hi Jim, thanks for the reply. You have a good argument there, and some food for thought.

I know a Guy who lives locally here, I hope to check out his Woodfast Midi sometime this week.

I also have been wondering if I should be putting this money and effort into a larger machine.

Because of my time restraints, the last 6 years or so, I have only been turning pens and small items, this will continue for some time to come. But one day I hope to get back into turning larger work.

Jim, I'm not sure whether you turn too many pens on your yellow peril. Brad wants to and that means the head and tail stocks need to align perfectly. Or close to it. I can safely say that I have seen a lot of the OS versions of your lathe where the gap between head and tail was significant. Alright for small bowls, boxes etc but definitely not pens, lace bobbins or finials with tail-stock support. You also didn't tell Brad (and I think you could have without blowing your own trumpet) that you are one of the very best turners here on the board. And that you could turn on almost any lathe, variable speed or not, and get an excellent result. I forget which posts, but the JM history lessons are hereabouts, we just gotta find them. So I guess I am saying that a better quality lathe / tool / sharpening system makes it so much easier for a beginner. I couldn't say the same for you but I would for others that don't turn as well.

HI Jeff, I will simply state, yes I do turn a considerable number of pens and lace bobbins and on a machine straight out of the box. I will have a look in the morning to see if the head and tail stock line up.
Jim

Hi Brad,
I have a GPW lathe but not the VS model,
and I make a lot of pens, In relation to pen turning it has been a good lathe, not great a great lathe but is has done the job. But pens are about the only thing i turn on that lathe.

but at the time of purchase it was a case of convience(1/2 drive away) and price as to why I bought it,

I have had it for a tiny bit over a year now and a while ago I had some trouble with the Tailstock, but after a phone call to GPW, Gary asked me to take it in and he fixed/ replaced the problem, so that after sales service was good,

If I had the chance again though, for price id probably go the woodfast as I have used a couple now and they are a good lathe, but I cant go back and now I am quietly looking for my next lathe and I am keeping an eye out for a Vicmarc as that will be the only lathe I will buy now, the Wood turning club that I am a member of has a few Vicmarcs that I use on weekly basis and they are brilliant,

not sure if that help but just giving another perspective and point of view,
cheers Ben

Gidday, Jim. Sounds like you're one of the lucky ones. Four out of four didn't line up in purchases over the last 12 months at our club. And I agree that there is no stopping the little Peril and the swing makes it far easier on your hands and tool work that the VL100. Ideally, it would be nice to check the alignment before you actually bought the lathe. Maybe I just got lucky with my Vicmarcs and my Stubby. And on another point, I agree with you that a big lathe is probably the preferred option. I turn all my finials etc on the heavy VL300, it's so steady. Not made anymore, though Vermec still advertises them.

Hi Ben, which size Vicmarc will you be looking at when the time comes ?

Thanks for the comments on the other lathes.