New Lathe Quandry

[donnercruz]

I have been turning for a few years and bought a Vicmarc 300 short bed (non extendable) as a step up from my Jet. While I love my 300, I have found, on more than a few occasions, that it is just too darn short for me to turn all the projects I want. We're not talking entry columns or anything. Just rolling pins or pepper grinders or even deep hollow forms.

I am considering both the Robust and the Stubby, but I'm not sure my skill level and time available for turning justify their cost. The long bed 300 would be nice as well. I'm not sure what I'll end up with, but figured advice was cheaper than a new lathe.

While a lathe with a smaller swing would probably suffice, I think a reduction that way might feel constricting. Not that I turn huge projects often.

My shop is smallish, a large one car garage, but could handle a larger lathe.

Who wants to weigh in?

David

 

[waltben]

A few thoughts:

• Since you've got more than enough lathe to do larger pieces on, but don't believe you can do hollow forms, have you looked at the short bed hollowing tool rests? I've a Craft Supplies one for my Stubby & Jamieson rig that works very well.

• While I've a Stubby for large pieces, I picked up a Jet mini with bed extension for pepper mills, flower vases and candle stick holders. I also used it as a travel/demo lathe for over three years. I've since been sold on the new Delta midi that's going to be out before December (3/4 hp variable speed motor, 12" swing) that will turn smaller bowls very well. It'll also have a bed extender for long pieces.

• Finally, I've posted several times in the past that a Stubby really isn't like other lathes. Your Vicmarc is imuch the same as a Robust or any other lathe like them; more conventional in design. Neither of them have the flexibility of a bed that's mounted on a turret like the Stubby (even the ones with bed parts that are removable). There isn't anything I've run into that I haven't been able to do with mine (Although I'm not about to try lugging it around to demonstrate!). I've even lifted the headstock and motor with 2" spacer blocks so it swings 34" for oval turning work. I can easily remove the blocks if I need to use the tailstock for spindle turning. I've turned bowls to 25" dia. and wall hangings to 32" with no problem. I seldom need swan-necked hollowing tools or scrapers since I can rotate the bed to get better approach angles.

It all comes down to what you want to do going forward. If you've been turning for a while, you've probably got some idea of what you like to do most. I'd get the lathe that meets this best, but gives you flexibility to grow and develop in different directions.

 

[robo hippy]

I just stepped up from the PM 3520A (8 years) to a Robust. I didn't really need the Robust, I just wanted it. I haven't turned on a Stubby, so can't really comment on it, other than I have heard from a friend who has one that he can't seem to mount any of the bowl coring systems on it. I do prefer the sliding headstock. You get the best of a bowl lathe with the headstock near the tailstock end, and a spindle lathe with the headstock on the far end. In my shop, my lathe sits in a corner, and turning outboard won't work for me. The sliding headstock means never having to bend over the lathe bed to turn which is a major back saver. The Robust sweet 16 looks nice, and has a gap bed, but the headstock doesn't slide. Fine for hollow forms, and spindles, but a disadvantage for bowls and boxes, to me any way. I believe that it was built with the advantages of the Stubby in mind. Of course, the "Made in America" was important to me as well.
robo hippy

 

[Ed_McDonnell]

Have you considered getting a bed extension for the vicmarc? It would sure be a lot less expensive and would give you a lot of flexibility.

Ed

 

[john-p]

Here's a link to the short bed extension for the Vicmarc VM-300 short bed lathe: http://www.vicmarc.com/default.asp?contentID=682

 

[Mark S Nadeau]

Hello David,
I agree with Ed's comment about the extension bed. I just moved up to a Vicmarc VL300 from a Nova 3000. I bought mine with the 500mm (19.5") extension bed because I knew that the short bed alone would not be enough. It provides 1 meter (39.4") in between centers. If you line up the back of the tailstock with the end of the extension bed, the exact measurement in between centers is 36.5". If you cantilever the tailstock off the end of the extension, you can pull 42" out of it. It is safe to do this with average size spindle stock. Vicmarc deliberately puts the cam lock at the front of the tailstock so that it can be cantilevered off the end if necessary.
Regards,
Mark Nadeau

 

[Mark S Nadeau]

David,
I just read your post again. Why is your Vicmarc VL300 "non-extendable?"
Mark

 

[Barry Elder]

Look on the bright side: if you have a friend with a machine shop, there is no such thing an a non-extendable bed. Most machinists thrive on challenges and probably can solve your problem for less money than a new lathe.:cool2:

 

[donnercruz]

I would love to put the extension on the Vicmarc, however, the model I have was built before they started drilling and milling the end of the short bed to work with the extension. It has no holes and is angled towards the headstock just a little.

Walt's idea about the Midi lathe, (or even the Nova DVR for that matter) is a good option, but with the smallish size of my shop, I'd rather not have duplicate machinery (I'd rather use the space for a 12" disc sander and/or a mounting stand for my compound mitre saw).

David

 

[john lucas]

If you just wanting to use a boring bar system then make a free standing secondary tool rest or attach it to the lathe like the Vicmarc floor tool rest. I did this on a mini lathe with great success.
If you need to use the tailstock then it sounds like your stuck with either finding a new lathe or paying a machinist to mill and drill your bed to take the vicmarc extension.

 

[waltben]

The secondary rest for a short bed lathe I got from CS for my Jamieson rig works even with the bed fully in - and that makes my Stubby about the same size as your Vicmarc. You might call them to see if they still sell it.

 

[donnercruz]

I just added the Powermatic 3520B to my list of maybes. I was kind of set on a Stubby, but is it worth the extra $$$ over this big contender. On the other hand, with the 18" bed extension, the PM would take up a lot of real estate in my small shop.