• January Turning Challenge: Thin-Stemmed Something! (click here for details)
  • Conversations are now Direct Messages (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Gabriel Hoff for "Spalted Beech Round Bottom Box" being selected as Turning of the Week for January 6, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Stop the madness

M

Mark Warden

Joined
Feb 9, 2009
Messages
334
Likes
0
Location
Sinking Spring Pa.
Lets get over this logo thing and argue about something we all love. Who makes the best lathe and can anyone justify 2 to3 thousand dollars more for say a Oneway or Stubby over the PM?
 
Ditto.

Can we get back to more important discussions like: "C1 Easy rougher, greatest thing since slide bread or just another scraper".😱

Never thought that I would miss another on of those discussions.

Aaron
 
I convinced myself to buy the Stubby. I have a small space. 12x16 is the size of my entire shop. I do mainly bowls, HF's, Pens, etc. The Stubby has a built in Vaccum port also. But the footprint was a big deciding factor for me. The Robust would've been my choice if I had more room. Simply because I like everything Brent offers on it and it's made in the USA. If I had the room I'd also own a VB36. I tried one and really liked it but it's really not for doing pens or finials. Oneway's great lathes if you have the room. I had a 1018 but sold it last year. Only thing I have against the PM is the color😀
 
Brian McInturff said:
If I had the room I'd also own a VB36. I tried one and really liked it but it's really not for doing pens or finials. 😀
Click to expand...

The VB36 is great for pens. It’ll spoil you. I like to turn goblets on it. I have the shortbed and the footprint is only about 26†square. No need for the longbed extension unless you want to turn baseball bats or architectural columns. I actually wanted the Oneway 2436 but knew I’d need the outboard extension and the total footprint was too large for my space. In the end I’m quite glad to have the VB. I’d recommend it to anyone.

- Scott
 
"The Stubby has a built in Vaccum port also. "

I liked the simple design that Bill added to the Stubby for under $90 that allows easy connection to any chuck such as the vicmark or one way.

But as you said, it is really the flexibility for the very small footprint that made the difference at the decision time.
 
Oh, my goodness! Where to turn so that I won't be subject to pornographic products and personal innuendo?

The Stubby lathe is blatantly mocking my... you know... down there.

And Oneway has no shame advertising their pen turning point and live center bull nose cone- as if I can't tell their true agenda! To top it all off, Oneway has joined the other family-values-bashing lathe companies hyping swinging as a lifestyle! Swinging your tailstock can only lead to more devious behaviors!

If you believe this scourge is only coming from non-American companies, check out the Robust Lathe webpage. Telling old men to try a "Sweet 16" only encourages pedophilia -- why stop there, why not a "Sweet 12"? They spew their pornography advertising such "features" as: hardened spindles - ready for vacuum; wet wood; permanently lubricated; and full access... from a variety of natural body positions.

Enough is enough! I and two friends have seen the chipping away of traditional, mainstream turning equipment with these new "products" that are attempting to force us from our pole-lathes... er... spring-pole lathes... er... old-timey lathes and we won't stand for it any longer.

The clear evidence this subversion is occurring is that the above mentioned manufacturers have yet to respond as I type this.
 

Attachments

  • pen_turning_point_200px.jpg
    pen_turning_point_200px.jpg
    13.8 KB · Views: 26
  • bigcone400.jpg
    bigcone400.jpg
    19.9 KB · Views: 30
  • tailstock_swinger_250px.jpg
    tailstock_swinger_250px.jpg
    14.9 KB · Views: 29
Last edited:
kenvalaska said:
"The Stubby has a built in Vaccum port also. "

I liked the simple design that Bill added to the Stubby for under $90 that allows easy connection to any chuck such as the vicmark or one way.

But as you said, it is really the flexibility for the very small footprint that made the difference at the decision time.
Click to expand...
Bill came up with the add on as some folks were having difficulty with the built in port. I've only had a few instances of difficulty with air sucking through headstock bearings and have some very, very thick axle grease I smear on whenever it happens, but having Bill's solution prevents this from ever happening. I just finished the bottom of a 12" bowl yesterday and was pulling 20" without any problem though.
 
marc,

best will always be in the eyes of the evaluator.

Just as your GOTO Tool might be an Ellsworth bowl gouge, Michelsen gouge, an Easy rougher, or ______________ ......

Evaluation uses both objective and emotional cruteria.
In the right time and place a Stubby, Oneway, Robust, Vicmarc, Powermatic, jet..... are all are worth their respective costs.

The average person is interested in having fun and turning a nicer piece each trip to the lathe. The average person will achieve these objectives buying a jet 1640 and spending $2000 on quality classes.

If you are selling $3,000+ at a weekend show then the right time and place for the Stubby or Oneway might be there for you.
Happy Turning,
Al
 
Owen Lowe said:
Oh, my goodness! Where to turn so that I won't be subject to pornographic products and personal innuendo?
Click to expand...

The Stubby lathe is blatantly mocking my... you know... down there.....etc.


Oh Owen, what you wrote is a riot! 😀 I've often said if anyone other than a turner just read the subject lines on our forums, they would blush.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
try each lathe

Hi Mark, Are there any folks in your area that have these lathes that you can use so you can get a feel for each? For me, the only lathe that would fit in my shop was the Stubby. I am very happy with it. As others have said, it doesn't take up much room, but when you need more length, the bed slides out and you have a longer lathe when you need it. -Donna P
 
Hi Donna I'm the only person I know with a lathe and I'm still waiting to find time to get out and meet people.The nearest club I can find is 45 min to an hour away.I bought a 14" grizzly just to have in my shop in case I had to turn anytyhing and found out I love turning. Now I'm finding out all the short comings of the lathe and want to upgrade but don't know much other than pictures on the web and descriptions from the manufactures. I'm hopeing to get to one of the closer symposiums but don't know if I can wait that long.
 
Stubby

Hi Mark,
If for some reason you ever travel up my way, you are welcome to stop by and give it a spin. I'm halfway between Providence, RI and Cape Cod, MA. I am 45 minutes (on a good day) from the closest club, so I understand what you are saying. Good luck, Donna P. 🙂
 
Mark I drive to 3 clubs. Used to drive 17 miles to the local one we started but we just managed to find a new meeting place so now it's just 9 miles in Downtown Cookeville at the High School.
I drive 42 miles to Crossville, Tn for the Cumberland Woodturners.
I drive 96 miles to the Tennessee Association (where I'm supposed to be tonight but I had to work to late to get there on time)
I also drive to Knoxville occasioanally to visit their club which is 99 miles and the same is true for the Chattanooga club which is about 95 miles.
Of course if I happen to be in Georgia visiting my parents when they have a club meeting at one of the groups there I visit them also.
There's nothing like hanging out with a good group of turners. You won't hear any more BS, I mean informative material, than you will anywhere else.
 
Mark, the obvious solution is to drag some of your local friends into the game, so you can carpool to club meetings. The Tallahassee chapter has such sub-groups in Bainbridge and Thomasville, Georgia.

And if your day job requires travel, try to visit any AAW chapter along the way.
 
Mark,

Use the AAW online directory.
I found two members in Sinking Spring.
peter an you.

I got a call from Frank Amigo in 1993.
The call went something like this
frank: I just opened my AAW directory(paper) and you live about 2 miles from me. We're having a meeting of the woodturners. I'll pick you up.
Al: sounds like fun.

A simple beginning to a deep and lasting friendship.

give peter a call. woodturners enjoy talking to woodturners.

happy turning
Al
 
john lucas said:
Mark I drive to 3 clubs. Used to drive 17 miles to the local one we started but we just managed to find a new meeting place so now it's just 9 miles in Downtown Cookeville at the High School.
I drive 42 miles to Crossville, Tn for the Cumberland Woodturners.
I drive 96 miles to the Tennessee Association (where I'm supposed to be tonight but I had to work to late to get there on time)
I also drive to Knoxville occasioanally to visit their club which is 99 miles and the same is true for the Chattanooga club which is about 95 miles.
Of course if I happen to be in Georgia visiting my parents when they have a club meeting at one of the groups there I visit them also.
There's nothing like hanging out with a good group of turners. You won't hear any more BS, I mean informative material, than you will anywhere else.
Click to expand...

john, do you ride your bike to these meetings?
 
Aaron G+11 said:
Ditto.

Can we get back to more important discussions like: "C1 Easy rougher, greatest thing since slide bread or just another scraper".😱

Never thought that I would miss another on of those discussions.

Aaron
Click to expand...

It's just another scraper gets my vote, albeit a good heavy one.
 
Robert If I was retired I might. I have to really hustle after work to get there on time. I am looking really hard at a motorcycle and will probably drive that unless my friends go with me. I'm not sure I'm manly enough to have another guy ride on the back of the bike with me.
 
Thanks everyone hopefully I will find a club and the time to get there the drive isnt the problem I just work 12 to 14 hours and comute another hour so time is my big problem. I'm only an hour from Ellsworths studio and hope to take one of his classes this summer maybe I'll get some info there.
 
I bought a Vicmarc vl300 It was worth it. Looking at pianos it almost seems cheap.
 
This may be a dumb question, but what is the most expensive "production" wood turning (not NC or automatic process) lathe?

I assumed it was the VB. But I have not checked the prices on some of the newer lathes (in the 4 years or so since I was shopping for a lathe).

Obviously accessories have a lot to do with it.

Seriously... Who wins "the most expensive lathe" contest?

Please no more debate as to the merits of the cost -- we can all agree to disagree as what is the "best," OK?

But the highest cost is just that. The highest cost. Who makes it?
 
Bob Hadley said:
This may be a dumb question, but what is the most expensive "production" wood turning (not NC or automatic process) lathe?

I assumed it was the VB. But I have not checked the prices on some of the newer lathes (in the 4 years or so since I was shopping for a lathe).

Obviously accessories have a lot to do with it.

Seriously... Who wins "the most expensive lathe" contest?

Please no more debate as to the merits of the cost -- we can all agree to disagree as what is the "best," OK?

But the highest cost is just that. The highest cost. Who makes it?
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are more expensive lathe's out there but I beleive the most expensive one I have seen is the Laguana Pinnacle Lathe for $9175 which just beats out the VB

Anyone seen one (that is currently availible) for more? - not counting custom ones of course
 
He told me that's how much it cost. He bought the whole shebang, bowl turning extension, dust collector housing, etc I didn't go to their website and total it all up, I just took his word for it. It would be fun to go there and see. I might to that later tonight If I have time.
 
john lucas said:
He told me that's how much it cost. He bought the whole shebang, bowl turning extension, dust collector housing, etc I didn't go to their website and total it all up, I just took his word for it. It would be fun to go there and see. I might to that later tonight If I have time.
Click to expand...

That's what I call a good stimulus package!
 
Now that's pretty cool looking. The Bowl Elephant. The lathe mounted crane is a cool idea too. If my Stubby ever fails I might have to at least look at it as a contender.
 
Malcolm,
The only problem I have with Oneway is the space required for it and the outboard turning extension. Now if I had a huge shop or for that matter a 2 car garage then the Oneway is the creme of the crop. But for those limited on space lathes like the Stubby, VB, & the Bowl Elephant are the ticket. The idea situation would be to have one of each. If I ever win the lottery then I think that would be the first thing I did. Never hurts to dream BIG😀
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top