Advice on Stubby lathes

[Tom Edwards]

I am thinking of buying a Stubby, soooo I searched for Stubby on the Forum but, unless I am badly mistaken I, all I read was a prolonged discussion on Shortbed lathes vs Longbed lathes.

The few proponents for Stubby's were of medium help but what I want is unvarnished statements pro or con by turners who have actually used these machines.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[Jerry Hall]

Recent discussion

on Stubby v. Robust American Beauty v. Powermatic 3520 here:
http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/turning.pl/page/1/md/read/id/227762/sbj/lathe-choices/

 

[waltben]

There's been several threads here on the same comparison stuff, but I've said several times that a Stubby can't seriously be compared to any other fixed bed lathe - even one with a cut-away bed piece. The Stubby's bed is mounted on a turret sort of fixture and can be slid back and forth as well as rotated. I've had mine for about six years and have put many posts here about oval turning and how flexible one is for conventional turning. I got mine from John Jordan, and he's used one for far more years as have many of the people who's works are featured in the current AAW Journal.

There's a user's group you'd be welcome to on Yahoo: "stubbygroup" and you'll get input from owners all over the world on it. There's a direct link to it and other information on Bill Rubenstein's web site: http://www.stubbylatheusa.com/cgi-bin/index.py

 

[dparrillo]

find one to try

Hi,
I recommend that you find someone in your area that has one. Where do you live? Another thought...if you are going to the Hartford symp., maybe you could play with one there?
Donna P

 

[John Jordan]

If you email me, we can probably find someone you could visit to see/try a Stubby. I don't know where you live-you should fill out your profile.

Welcome. 🙂

John

 

[Tom Edwards]

Stubby Lathes

Thanks to all who replied. I have just spent 90 mins reading all the comments in the links supplied - long job!!

Being located in B.C. (Lotus Land) does have a few (very few) drawbacks. We don't have all that many associations here but I have not yet canvassed my own association members (Fraser Valley) so that is next. I do have a response from Stubby (Canada) and have looked through the info on Robust.

Will have to get down to the actual choice soon.

 

[Chris Haas]

if i had the cash, a stubby would be my pick. just seems soooo versitale.

 

[Edward Tabachek]

Stubby Lathes $$$

There are many turners in the "lower mainland" and on Vancouver Island with Stubby lathes who ar membders of local turning clubs and the AAW.

The Stubby seller will not give out the names of satisfied customers to protect their privacy and their purchase from theives. You will just have to get out to one of the meetings and do some "networking."
ET

 

[Mike Brazeau]

I think Art Liestman has a Stubby and is not far from you. Google him and you will find his website.

 

[Vaughn]

...Has a 700 pound Stubby ever been stolen?

Where would a thief sell a stolen 700 pound lathe?

I suspect it's not so much the lathe itself, but the smaller tools and accessories the owner of a high-end lathe is likely to have in the shop. It wouldn't take long for someone to load up a van with tools that nearly equaled the cost of my 3520B. (Assuming of course that they got past the dogs and me. And the ninjas...dozens and dozens of ninjas.) 😀 Seriously, I wouldn't want a tool vendor giving out my address without prior permission.

 

[gopher]

As president of the Emerald Coast Woodturning Guild. Our club uses a Jet lathe for demostrating due to the ease of loading and unloading. We have four of our members that have Stubby lathes and if I had the money that would be my choice also. These members chose stubby after going to other members homes and using Jet, Delta, Oneway, Grizzly, and other laths.
The reasons most tell me are: weight, the small foot print, can handle large bowls, platters and still be able to do spindles if needed. These members turn everything from natrual edge bowls to segmented vessels some have even turned pens and minitures just to see if it can be done. They like the verisatility of the bed being able to turn. I know of four that pruchased theirs within months of each other and helped setup each others lathes. The service that they get from Stubby is great. When the machines arrived they where well packaged easy to assemble.

 

[hockenbery]

The Stubby is one of the top 2 or 3 or 5 lathes available.

I know turners who have replaced their stubbies with a Oneway or a Robust.
there are also folks who replaced their Oneways with Stubby's
in all cases people were not unhappy with what they had they just felt more comfortable with their next choice.

if you buy one of the top lathes you can always sell it, they hold their value.

happy turning,
Al

 

[Wipedout]

There are many turners in the "lower mainland" and on Vancouver Island with Stubby lathes who ar membders of local turning clubs and the AAW.

The Stubby seller will not give out the names of satisfied customers to protect their privacy and their purchase from theives. You will just have to get out to one of the meetings and do some "networking."
ET

You would think he could ask a couple of them if they mind talking to someone. Obviously not just blindly give away that info. I wouldnt want anyone i bought from doing that. But he could ask a couple in your area - "hey if you dont mind can you talk to so and so about Stubbys - he's thinking of buying one from me" kinda thing.

 

[Tom Edwards]

Stubby advice

Thanks to all for commenting, I need to make contact with our assoc. membership chairman. I helped with that post for a little time and it seems to me that on our membership roster we also noted lathes used so it shoud not be too difficult to ascertain who uses what.

As for the mounties, I have a nephew who is a constable; a bro-law who is an Inspector; a friend who just retired as an Assist. Commissioner all of whom assure me that if miscreants can steal your identity or your tractor-trailer, empty out your bank account, steal cattle out of your fields, timber from your mill.......a 1000# lathe would be no problem!!!

 

[n7bsn]

I think Art Liestman has a Stubby and is not far from you. Google him and you will find his website.

I just checked the Bio we used when he demo'ed here and according to it he has a Stubby 750

Since he is a "lower main-land" guy, he might be a good contact

TTFN
Ralph

 

[Hugh]

Go sign up for a class at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. They have a bunch of them and you get to use them for a week or two. They also have a couple of other brands of lathes to try.
Hugh