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New Lathe by Vicmark ?

It kind of looks like the bedway on the left will interface with the bedway on the right......making it either a short bed, or long bed......??

ooc
 
odie said:
It kind of looks like the bedway on the left will interface with the bedway on the right......making it either a short bed, or long bed......??

ooc
Click to expand...

The short bed on the left attached to the headstock can be removed in its entirety and attached to the side of the headstock allowing access to both the front and the back of a turning at the same time. This mimics the movable bed section of the Stubby.
 
Michael Stafford said:
The short bed on the left attached to the headstock can be removed in its entirety and attached to the side of the headstock allowing access to both the front and the back of a turning at the same time. This mimics the movable bed section of the Stubby.
Click to expand...

Ok, I get it.......this is also similar to the Robust Sweet 16 lathe, I think.

ooc
 
Last edited:
The VL 600 has been around since at least 2009. Not sure if they've sold any or not. The lathe has never been listed on their website whenever I checked. It's no secret that Vicmarc received a $450,000 grant from the Australian government to design it and paid for all the tooling to produce it. I can think of at least one American lathe manufacturer who would love a sweet deal like that !
 
When I looked at the second image I thought "I'd need a crane to move the bed to the front", but then noticed that it looks like it swivels into place.

Don't you think that would lend some instability/room to move under heavy loads?

It's similar to the Sweet 16, but the head on the SW16 is solid as a rock, and you move the "gap" to the front, which is really sweet when you need it. 😀
 
There are about 22.6 million people in Oz, so a $450,000 grant comes to a bit under 20¢ per person. While I can't compete with governments, I am willing to beat their per capita grant by offering a quarter for funding research at a US lathe manufacturer whose name we all know. Now, if everybody else will kick in their fair share....
 
Tom Hamilton said:
When I looked at the second image I thought "I'd need a crane to move the bed to the front", but then noticed that it looks like it swivels into place.

Don't you think that would lend some instability/room to move under heavy loads?

It's similar to the Sweet 16, but the head on the SW16 is solid as a rock, and you move the "gap" to the front, which is really sweet when you need it. 😀
Click to expand...

Tom.....

You're right, it does look like the whole section below the headstock swivels 90 degrees. I like that concept. As you say, it could be unstable, but as well engineered as that lathe looks, I'd be willing to bet it's designed to be rock solid.

ooc
 
The designers of New Vicmarck & Stubby lathe had to spent alot of time studing the Nichols lathe
Click to expand...
Probably like the appliance industry, competitors are your best customers. I used to tear down competitor's ranges to see how they were made.
 
i do not see Vicmarck or Nichols as vendors at tampa? it would be nice to see these lathes at tampa. Stubby is listed.
 
charlie knighton said:
i do not see Vicmarck or Nichols as vendors at tampa? it would be nice to see these lathes at tampa. Stubby is listed.
Click to expand...

Charlie,

Woodworkers Emporium and Craft Supplies are in the trade show. They usually have Vicmarks on the floor and other vendors may have them too.

Lots of vendors sell ONEWAY and Powermatic/Jet lathes in addition to jet and ONEWAY who have booths

Robust has a booth. At least 3'Robust dealers will also have booths and at least 2 more Robust dealers will,be at the symposium.

Most of the lathe companies like to presell the lathes they bring to the symposium.
ONEWAY and Robust will
Powermatic does not

Buying a lathe and picking it up at the symposium can save you some money.

We bought a ONEWAY in Richmond and saved around $700

In any event it is a great place to see lots of lathes.

Al
 
Brent@TurnRobust said:
The VL 600 has been around since at least 2009. Not sure if they've sold any or not. The lathe has never been listed on their website whenever I checked. It's no secret that Vicmarc received a $450,000 grant from the Australian government to design it and paid for all the tooling to produce it. I can think of at least one American lathe manufacturer who would love a sweet deal like that !
Click to expand...

One word Brent, kickstarter.com Then 450 old potbelly guys (average woodturners) give you $1,000 each, then get a big discount on the new machine for the $1,000 donation. Might be worth a look for a new lathe configuration, but don't wait too long. We ain't getting any younger!
 
We've done it all "out of hide" as the saying goes. No government grants although we did take advantage of a low interest SBA loan when we bought our building last summer. Glad to say other than the mortgage and truck payment, we have zero debt and yes, we did build it ourselves.

As to the Nichols comment above, my understanding is was more of a going out of business situation than going bankrupt. Not all businesses that close go bankrupt, sometimes they just decide to hang it up for any number of reasons. His machines continue to bring top dollar on the used market.

If you're interested in the VL600, call Christian Brisepierre at 800-779-7458 and check on any US availability. Christian and his wife Jeri run Woodworkers Emporium in Nevada. They are great people to deal with and will be at Tampa.

Brent
 
I talked to John Nichols just before he went out of business. Oneway had started up, and that really cut into his sales. His lathe was an awesome piece of equipment. A bit out of my price range at the time, and I ended up with an early model 3520A. Hated to see him go under like that, but he couldn't sell enough of them to keep him in that part of his metal fabrication business.

robo hippy
 
I picked up a used Nichols with all the attachments. Awesome lathe and I love it. Not a lot of bells and whistles, just a solid massive lathe. Had this not come available, I would have bought a Robust.......sorry Brent 🙄
 
Nate, do you have a picture of your Nichols lathe you could post. do not know if i have seen one or not, know i did not realize what it was if i did.
 
In the mid 90s John Wendt took delivery of a Nichols and was the envy of our club.
We put a big square cut half log on it and the lathe did not budge as we sped it up.
a great lathe for big bowls or deep hollowing.

The first time I bought something from John, I asked about payment. His response was:

" this is how it's going to work. I'm sending you the adapter. When you get it your going to send me a check or send me the adapter.
..... Only two people have not paid me. One guy died so I figure he had a good excuse. Don't know about the other guy"


Al
 
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