Thread: Recommend Lathe For Spindle Furniture Turning

Yes made here, but expect the EVS is from Europe.

That lathe would be fine for the spindle work you describe up to the length specified.


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For 10 years I used a 1/2 hp Jet mini with bed extension to turn spindles. It was OK, but the power was low and it did require a few compromises. A year ago, I upgraded to a Nova Saturn (plus bed extension), which is variable speed, direct drive, 2+ hp, and one solid, heavy mother with all the bells-and-whistles. It also can turn outboard, which is a plus as I plan to do some bowls on it.




I did consider a Vicmarc, but they were so much more expensive. It was difficult to justify. Since then, the performance of the Nova has been faultless.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Here you go 32 inch swing, + - 50 feet between centers.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/v...er-no.-18-.jpg

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I did consider a Vicmarc, but they were so much more expensive. It was difficult to justify.

Derek - as Thumbsucker was indicating in his last question that he might prefer a fully Australian manufactured lathe, I didn't include a number of options, including the Nova from NZ, which I agree is a good lathe.

Vicmarc is currently the only spindle style lathe that is now manufactured here. The Stuby is also built here but is a dedicated bowl lathe.

The other lathe that I would recommend, but doesn't meet Thumbsucker's possible preference for being fully manufactured here, is the Woodfast. In that case it is designed and supported here in Australia with local expertise and spare parts, but is manufactured in China and the EVS unit comes from Europe. Woodfast has good pedigree and I have been using them for 50yrs without complaint. I currently use their C1000X and it would do the primary job of spindle turning for Thumsucker and give him the option of outboard turning of bowls should he decide to do that at some time. The 1.5HP is more than adequate for spindle turning and any bowl work that will fit on that lathe.

The available distance between centres might be a factor for Thumbsucker. The C1000X is 50mm shorter between centres than the VL200. While the Nova is only 600mm between centres without the bed extension and 1100mm with a 500mm extension. With that extension the price of the Nova Saturn is about the same as VL200. (Correction: I mistakenly used the price for the Nova Galaxi to calculate that. The Saturn is in fact $600 cheaper than the Galaxi . Thanks for picking me up on that Derek.) There does not appear to be a bed extension available for the VL200 or the C1000X. So, both the Nova Saturn (with an extension) and the C1000X are cheaper than the VL200. The ASM version of the VL200L is more again.

All three lathes have been around long enough to have proven their reliability and, IMO, any of them would be a sound option.

Thumbsucker - a visit to Jim Carroll (at CWS) to look at the Vicmarc and Woodfast lathes there and to Carbatec for the Nova may help you decide. Just contact them beforehand to make sure they have the ones you want to look at on the display floor as they are a fair hike from each other and a long way from Gippsland.

All the best with your decision and I'm sure you will be happy with any of the above options.

Hi, Cobber
I have a vl300 long bed if you wat to try it out.I,m in East Gippsland

While the Nova is only 600mm between centres without the bed extension and 1100mm with a 500mm extension. With that extension the price of the Nova Saturn is about the same as VL200.

Neil, that is not so. The VL200 is close to $4950 from Jim. The Nova Saturn + bed extension is currently $3900 (I paid $3500 on Black Friday) at Carbatec, that is about $1000 less than the VL200.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by Paul39

Here you go 32 inch swing, + - 50 feet between centers.

https://www.practicalmachinist.com/v...er-no.-18-.jpg

What a cracker!.

I am leaning towards Vicmarc because they have an unrivalled reputation. They are Australian made and have a large range of accessories.

I have used a Vicmarc in the past.


Nova maybe an NZ company but its made in China, the same issue with Woodfast.

The $1000 saving between made in Australia and made in China is a small price.

I have used a Stubby and it was a very nice lathe but as noted it is a bowl lathe.

Looking at VL200 LONG ASM EVS versus themVL200 LONG SM EVS it seems that the former has adjustable height, plus almost 90kg more weight and has more storage space the rest of the specs seems to be the same?

If you can afford it, get the Vicmarc lathe you’ve specified; you will not be sorry.

There are a few other lathes that offer what you are requiring, or think you require. I cannot offer anything about the Woodfast unit, I haven’t seen one, let alone used one.

The Nova unit is very good value for money, more so if you can get it for what Derek paid for his. However, compared to the Vicmarc it is relatively lightweight; nonetheless, it is a good unit. I had an 8 speed change the belt one for around 5 years, with the bed extension it will do what you wish.

One point in favour of the Nova unit is that you can purchase just the bed and/or extensions, along with the headstock unit, then mount it onto a bench of your own build. I have seen one of these with 2 bed extensions mounted onto a home built bench, wonderful for spindle work.

Another option is the Laguna Revo 18-36, with a bed extension it will do 1300mm spindle work; just. Current price for that is $4,860.00 including the bed extension. Which incidentally, also comes with a tail stock riser which enables one to turn around 780mm, which is a pretty big bowl or platter, or propeller.

The bed extension kit for this lathe is interesting in that you can place it as a bed extension, as a lowered bed extension, or in the front of the lathe to enable you to turn the rear of a bowl without removal from either a chuck or faceplate of some kind. The 18-36 really is a neat unit, I came perilously close to purchasing one; instead I bought its bigger sibling, the 24-36.

The only currently made lathe that I have used, that has the rock like steadiness of the Vicmarc lathes, is my Laguna Revo 24-36. Currently it is $6,249.00 with the bed extension kit (includes the riser). If you wish to see one, send me a pm.

The tool posts in the Vicmarc larger lathe range, are all 30mm in diameter, this I’m sure is one of their secrets to rock steadiness of the tool rest. The solid feeling that Vicmarc lathes give with their tool rests, is something to behold. My Laguna has the same feeling, but it does it another way. The Laguna grips the whole of the tool post by compression, not by using a single compression point. The Laguna tool posts are 25.4mm and combined with its massive banjo, you don’t feel a thing.

Current price for your Vicmarc specified lathe is $5,951.00, as far as I understand it.

You may wish to avail yourself of Vicmarc dual post tool rests, which will require you to purchase another banjo, but for long spindle work, they make life so much easier.
Vicmarc make an array of tool posts, currently they have released a new(ish) range of tool posts with hardened tops. Even if you don’t end up with a Vicmarc lathe, Vicmarc will custom manufacture their product with whatever size tool post your lathe takes. I know this, as I am awaiting delivery of three tool posts of varying lengths that Vicmarc made for me with 25.4mm tool posts with the same post length as my OEM Laguna tool rest. I will probably have them tomorrow or the next day.

If you check out this link, scroll to the bottom and watch the short clip where you’ll see their various new tool rests, including one two post unit.

Lathe Accessories: Toolrests and Camlocks

Mick.

Ps: just saw your post, Laguna lathes are made in Taiwan. At least mine was.

The old Woodfast lathes are good . They handle anything you need for furniture . I see second hand ones for $700 to $1000. They have a indexing head which I use on mine every now and then .
Does the Vicmarc lathes have indexing ? I’ve seen their indexing on the back of chucks . Not sure what’s fitted to the lathe to locate that feature though ? And the number of holes on the back of chucks looked less than the 48 holes on my Woodfast lathe . More like 24 possibly on the chuck from memory .

Rob

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Neil, that is not so. The VL200 is close to $4950 from Jim. The Nova Saturn + bed extension is currently $3900 (I paid $3500 on Black Friday) at Carbatec, that is about $1000 less than the VL200.

Thanks for picking me up on that Derek. I mistakenly used the price for the Nova Galaxi. And, the ASM version of the VL200L that Thumbsucker is leaning towards costs more yet again.

We all have our particular requirements and price points.

I'm currently considering a second lathe, so a useful update for me. With over 20 chucks and assorted faceplates with 30 x 3.5 thread, the Nova 1-1/4" x 8 spindle thread size is one disadvantage for me. An adaptor will get around that but at the cost of losing length inboard and too much extension outboard. Otherwise, the Nova Galaxi is an option for me. I'm also not sure how substantial the outboard turning attachment is on the Nova (anyone have any experience of that?) where I do 95% of my turning.

I'm needing 2HP for coring (1.5HP is sufficient for everything else), so the VL240 might be an option, but I'm yet to get my hands on one of those to try out how convenient outboard turning is on that one. The 30mm toolrest post with Vicmarc is another issue for me as I'm kitted up with 1" posts.

It might be easier for me to just stay with a second Woodfast C1000X and get a third dedicated 2HP or 3HP lathe of any persuasion for coring....

Apologies to Thumbsucker for diverting off topic for him.

Neil, if I could have afforded it, I would have jumped on the VL240. I really wanted a Vicmarc, but there was nothing second hand available in Perth. I was upgrading from a Jet mini, and had a budget of about $2000 initially. I was looking at the Nova 1644, but then was persuaded to look further for variable speed. I also wanted something from the Antipodes. The VL200 was $3500, and still needed extras. Plus the VL200 simply does not have the range of the Nova Saturn (in almost all departments). Black Friday happened, and the Saturn be came affordable.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I'm surprised no one has mentioned midi lathes since all you're interested in is spindles...

Yes, if buying Australian is important to you, then get a Vicmarc. I respect people who buy their lathes for that reason.

But make no mistake... A far, far cheaper lathe will do what you want to do just as well. Vicmarc Lathes like the 200 are engineered with torque in mind, and bowls require high torque. Spindles do not. Another thing you don't need much of is swing (center height), so a VL200 with 400mm of swing is going to be wasted on you unless you're regularly making 390mm round table tops (which can be done outboard if necessary on a lathe which allows) or turning absolutely enormous table balusters, and you really should consider whether or not the frequency with which you'll turn those items justifies the price difference between a 200 and a smaller lathe. Can you use someone else's lathe for the giant turning jobs? I consider myself a very, very serious furniture maker and I need those specs less than once a year.

If you want to buy Australian, and I fully support doing so, I'd look at the 150 EVS. If you're willing to try something Asian, consider one of the Jet, Nova, Laguna, or other midi lathes which have EVS and add an extension. I personally believe the Laguna 12 16 is in a class all its own. It has the smooth, robust adjustment systems for the stocks and the banjo, and it's a small but powerful package. I'm unsure of pricing but I'd bet it's considerably less than a Vic.

Either way good luck and I hope you find something that works for you.
Luke

Another option is to go with a 2nd hand older lathe. They didn't have much swing but sufficiently power for spindle work.

Tough, Durden, Hyco & Woodfast are four such lathes previously made here in Australia. All very good lathes and if in good condition will be good for many years to come.

I sold my previous Woodfast with EVS for $1100, although few older lathes have variable speed. It was still a very good lathe and very good value for the next owner.

If EVS is important, a retrofit like the Vicmarc one that Jim sells for $1.5k added to one of the above mentioned lathes that usually sell for <$1k would provide an excellent spindle lathe for about $2.5k and as good or better than many new lathes that you can buy now.

If you put together your own 3P 1HP motor and single to 3P inverter for the EVS you could even drop that cost down further.

Luke's suggestion on the VL150 is definitely worth considering, but you would need to add $540 for the bed extensions and more if you add stands, taking that option over $3k.

Here are a few options currently on offer in Vic.

This one has the old style of speed control

Wood Lathe | Power Tools | Gumtree Australia Frankston Area - Seaford | 1208341963

This one claims that lathe is Australian made, but I don't recognise it. I like the big heavy legs. Not sure the bed is cast iron, but overall a solid looking build. That chuck is what we used before dedicated woodturning chucks became available, so tools are probably not HSS.

Wood Lathe SOLID BUILT TYPE with Lot Of Accessories | Power Tools | Gumtree Australia Monash Area - Mulgrave | 1210361819

This Tough looks like a good buy.

Wood Lathe good condition ,approx 900mm cast iron bed. Australian made TOUGH | eBay

And, this VL175 looks like it has done some work but unfortunately for Thumbsucker it is up in Qld. That was an excellent lathe, but no longer produced.

Wood lathe | eBay