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Vega 2400 bowl lathe — thoughts?

Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson

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Does anyone have experience with this lathe? I know the 2600 has a pretty good reputation, but I have used neither. The small amount of info I’ve been able to find is mixed — someone called it a fancy farm tool, and a couple other folks say it’s decent.

The reason I ask is I found one not too far away for sale, and it’s been on my mind.

Thanks for any information!
 
I was the one that said it looked and felt like someone built it in a farm shop. I had that feeling because they welded a nut on the tailstock to lock it, instead of drilling and taping the steel. No cast iron, all fabricated steel. I live less than 80 miles from the factory and met with the sales and marketing guy at local events. I had one on loan to decide if I wanted to buy one. I didn't fill the box with sand or cement to weight it down, but just didn't like the feel. I didn't like the way the tailstock mounted as they had set screws in the mounting plate to align it with the headstock. It will certainly spin wood and you can turn bowls with it. Just not to my liking. I have no idea what generation I tested, or what you are looking at.
 
One of my club members who passed had and used one for years and did thousands of bowls on it. A younger club member has bought it and has been using it for 3 or 4 years now and really likes it.
 
I am not sure the if 2400 is the predecessor to the 2600, or is related to the 24, which is a "benchtop " lathe with a 1 inch spindle. I have turned on a 2600 and liked it. It is hard to get such a big swing plus VFD at this price point. Removing and re-installing the tailstock is a little daunting, weight wise.
 
Thanks for the input everyone. Ah yes Richard, that was you. I appreciate the details. I suspect this is probably the same generation you tested. I did have some concerns about the tailstock, like you mentioned. Though, I’ve never turned on a dedicated bowl lathe before, so I wasn’t sure if the setup was standard. I like the small footprint of the large, and am not too concerned with the fabricated steel construction—the specs I’ve read still put it at over 500lbs pre-ballast. Not the heaviest, but fine for anything I’ll be doing for a while.

Bill and John, thank you both as well. That gives me something to think about.

The lathe I’m looking at is in storage right now, so a demo is out of the question, unfortunately. If anyone knows someone in the Chattanooga/Atlanta area that owns one, I’d be interested in a shop visit.
 
Michael Nathal said:
I am not sure the if 2400 is the predecessor to the 2600, or is related to the 24, which is a "benchtop " lathe with a 1 inch spindle. I have turned on a 2600 and liked it. It is hard to get such a big swing plus VFD at this price point. Removing and re-installing the tailstock is a little daunting, weight wise.
Click to expand...
The 2400 is just the smaller version of the 2600. 24” swing instead of 26”. I don’t know if it is a predecessor or was offered at the same time. Probably a predecessors. Unfortunately, Vega doesn’t manufacture lathes anymore, and from a couple of stories I’ve heard ,are pretty standoffish with information related to lathes. Good to know about the tailstock too. Thanks for the information!
 
Sent u a message
 
Michael Anderson said:
The 2400 is just the smaller version of the 2600. 24” swing instead of 26”. I don’t know if it is a predecessor or was offered at the same time. Probably a predecessors. Unfortunately, Vega doesn’t manufacture lathes anymore, and from a couple of stories I’ve heard ,are pretty standoffish with information related to lathes. Good to know about the tailstock too. Thanks for the information!
Click to expand...
Edit: actually, the 2400 has a 26” swing as well, so I guess it probably IS a predecessor to the 2600.
 
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