Looking for a larger lathe

[Burt Alcantara]

I'm not dissatisfied with my Nova 1624-44 but I've got some money sitting in my 401k doing nothing (I'm over 65).

One neighbor has an enormous bole in her back yard and offered to let me have at it. Once the weather becomes a bit better I may take a whack at it.

Another just cut down a medium sized Ash and I got 4 very heavy logs from that. Got some large Silver Maple and KY Coffee Tree logs seasoning in the back. I've been wanting to go big for a while so maybe it's time for the big lathe.

Unfortunately, my memory isn't so hot anymore so I can't remember what big lathes are around. After reading David Ellsworth's latest book (fabulous!) I guess I'm leaning towards the Robust but am open to all suggestions.

I do mostly hollow forms but am beginning to move towards enclosed forms. I don't see the need for a large bed so anything, at least 20", is in the ball park. What I like about the Robust is the moving headstock.

Thanks,
Burt

[Steve Schlumpf]

Wow - a new BIG lathe sounds exciting! You are probably aware of this but the Powermatic 3520B also has a sliding headstock and has a 20" swing. Not 100% sure but I think it also outweighs the Robust. Next lathes to look at would be the Stubby - ask Jim Becker about that model and see how he likes his!

I wish you luck on your research! Lots of folks here own these lathes - so, hopefully, you will get some first hand info!

[john l graham]

Some of my favorite (lathe) drooling sites.

http://www.turnrobust.com/
http://www.oneway.ca/
http://www.powermatic.com/Results.aspx?cat=332178

There are others but you can use these links for looking. Good luck.

[Alex Shanku]

Oliver made some incredible pattern makers lathes with absurd swings.

[Scott Conners]

If I had the cash, my ultimate lathe would be the VB36 (http://www.hegner.co.uk/pages/VB36_Lathes/vb36_lathes.html) with bed. 36" swing without the bed attached, or 26"/27" with. That's a LOT of cash though.
Other options include the Powermatic 4224 with 24" swing and the Serious wood lathe (http://www.serioustoolworks.com/wood-lathes.php) with a 25" swing. If I were buying a classic bed design (vs pedestal like a VB36) I'd sure look hard at the Serious.
If you like tinkering or fixing, you could watch craigslist and other used places for a nice big old patternmaker's lathe and add a new VFD.

[Burt Alcantara]

After looking at the Serious I realize I have a weight limit. While most of the larger lathes are in the 600 - 900# range, the Serious is 1500#+.

My shop is in the basement with a number of difficult turns to navigate. I'm assuming that I can slide the bed down the stairs and get a few big boys to hoist it onto the legs, along with the head & tail stocks.

The VB36 is a tad expensive so that one goes off the list.

Keep 'um comin'

Burt

[Alan Trout]

If a fixed head lathe is your style I would seriously consider the longbed Vicmarc VL300. For me if I was going to get a fixed head lathe it would be the Vic and a sliding head it would be the Robust.

Good Luck

Alan

[Jim Becker]

Steve mentioned it...do have the Stubby 750 (http://www.stubbylatheusa.com/cgi-bin/index.py) on your short list. 30" inboard with no need to have a sliding head-stock and still being able to use the tailstock for safety and stability. Stubby 750 can be moved into a basement by two reasonably strong people through disassembly. The heaviest piece is about 250 lbs (the big cast base). The motor, headstock, ways, etc., all can be easily removed.

The Robust is a wonderful lathe and I'd be quite happy turning on one! But since I do bowls, vessels and only short spindle work, the space and swing capacity of the Stubby were a lot more suitable to my needs. (Robust was not available when I bought) I turned on several of the big lathes before making my decision, including OneWay, Poolewood, Vicmark, etc. None of them gave me the comfort for position and balance that the Stubby did. Try to at least stand at any lathe you are considering before you make the big investment. If you can also turn, that's even better. All the premium lathe vendors/manufacturers can generally provide references toward that end.

[Bernie Weishapl]

My next big lathe would be the Vicmarc VL300 CS. Like you I have space limitations and I really like the 24" turning capacity. You can get a short bed or long bed.

[Reed Gray]

The first time I stepped up, I went from a 4 speed Atlas to a PM3520A. I abused it severly for 8 years, and then stepped up to a Robust. No regrets. If I was a bowl specialist, I would get a VB36. I do like a sliding headstock as my lathe sits in a corner and outboard is not an option. If I won the lottery, I would have a Vicmark, the Serious, maybe a Oneway, and maybe a Stubby.
robo hippy

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Burt, as a Robust owner myself, I don't think you can go wrong with your initial leaning. I have the American Beauty with all the bells and whistles and I have not regretted my decision to go that way. By the way, the service is fantastic from Brent and that makes it even more worthwhile.:)

[Burt Alcantara]

Do you big lathe owners have wheels on your lathes? I keep moving things around my shop. The lathe has moved 3 times with another move coming up in the next few days. I'd hate to think about moving 600+ lbs without wheels of some sort.

The Stubby 750 looks very interesting. One thing I really like is the swinging bed and the inclusion of 2 banjos. The tilt-away on the Robust is $800.

I've been turning hollow forms for the past year. I have to push the tail stock on to an extension. I don't think a swing-away would work for me. With that in mind, the only 2 lathes that resolve this are the Robust and Stubby. Are there others?

Thanks,
Burt

[Reed Gray]

I ordered the mobility set up with my Robust, and it works great. I had to lay out plywood as the drive to my shop is gravel, and there are too many logs in the way to get a truck through. I can usually get the hand truck through. On the shop floor, it is a one handed opperation, well, after I sweep up a bit. I have the tilt away for my Robust, and on second thought, I wouldn't get it again. Not that it isn't handy, but I have to have the lathe (nearest side of the ways) about 24 inches from the wall, and my turning room is crowded. The tailstock isn't very heavy, and is a lot easier to get on and off the lathe than the PM tailstock. I have been accused of being part Sasquatch though....
robo hippy

[Burt Alcantara]

Reed,
If I were to buy the AM would you be interested in selling the tilt-away?

Right now, the short list appears to be AM & Stubby.

Burt

[Reed Gray]

I might be interested in selling it. I have a buddy down in Roseburg who is getting a Beauty, and may make the offer to him. Have to wait and see. One down side to the Stubby is that I don't think any of the coring systems fit on it, and as a bowl turner, that won't work for me.
robo hippy

[Jim Becker]

I urge caution with having a lathe on wheels for two reasons. Firstly, even the best double locking casters don't "absolutely" lock and that means there can be some increased movement and vibration when working something out of balance and/or large. Secondly, many lathes are very sensitive to being absolutely level with no racking. Cast iron bends. Trust me, it does. So if you move a lathe, you must be sure to check that your centers line up afterward. Even a small bit of unevenness on the floor can cause noticeable deviation from being aligned. IMHO, the best mobility options for a lathe have no wheels on the floor when you are not actually moving the tool. I do have an old Vega "machinery mover" mobile base that I can put under my Stubby if I do need to move it. I use a car jack to elevate each end and assemble the two halves of the base under the lathe accordingly. I have the floor marked so that I can put the legs back in exactly the same position to avoid alignment issues and the base gets removed the same way it was put on after a move. I have moved it twice since I bought it in early 2004. The next move will likely be upstairs to the second floor of my shop as I'm seriously considering putting in a dedicated lathe room up there to free up space in the main shop for my, umm...flatwork...activities. Obviously the mobile base will not be participating in that move. ;)

Reed, I would think that a coring system that will work on a 16" swing machine would work or could be adapted to the Stubby, but I have not investigated it to-date.

[Neal Addy]

Check here for a general specs comparison. You'll find lots to choose from.

http://www.nealaddy.org/node/15

HTH

[Brodie Brickey]

Burt,

If you aren't in a giant rush and can swing it, you might try for the Desert Turning round up. Its sometime in February in Pheonix, AZ. Double check their website, but I think you'll see most of the lathes you're interested in represented there at the expo. They'll definitely be at the AAW Symposium in New Mexico in June if you can wait that long.

Do any club members in your area have one of the larger lathes you're interested in?

[Barry Elder]

Think about EVS and horsepower and reliability. After all, how many 25"-30" bowls will you turn in a given time period, and do you have a hoist to get the wood to the headstock? A "big" lathe is a nice idea, but "usable" is better! Good Luck with your research, and go find your dream!

[Christopher K. Hartley]

I'm with Jim on not leaving the lathe on casters but as you can see by the pictures it does make it nice to move around and Brent's setup makes it real quick and easy to take on and off.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=66218&d=1181643718
The Sweet 16 is another nice Robust option with a big swing capacity. :)

[Burt Alcantara]

Jim, the car jack is a terrific idea. I may use that for my Nova as it will get moved again in the next few days. So, if your Stubby was abducted by an Alien Invasion would you buy it again?

While it would be nice to have one of these lathes to try out, I've found that, due to my inexperience with machines in general, I have no preference about machines. I'm easily adaptable to any machine. I've turned on a Jet, 3520B, 2 OneWays and my Nova. I liked them all!

Burt

[Jim Becker]

Think about EVS and horsepower and reliability.

All of the machines being considered include these features...for $4500-6000 they better have!

[Gary Herrmann]

You can put your lathe on leveling casters such as zambus or great lake casters. Provided you get casters rated for the weight of the tool, there is no problem. My 3520b is around 800 lbs with the ballast box and frame - all on leveling casters. Dead level and no vibration at all.

[Tom Godley]

I have a Robust -- I do not have the casters because I do not need to move it -- but I would not get one without the tilt away. Yes, it is expensive but it works and it makes it very easy to move the headstock down without removing what I find to be a very heavy tail-stock.

If you are thinking about buying one from an earlier lathe check with Robust as the design has changed and you want to make sure all is compatible.


It is a very nice lathe

[john taliaferro]

he said flattt. i can't use that . ? for jim how small does the stubby break down . the big lathes can be to heavy for the stairs.

[Jim Becker]

John, the one "big piece" is the base which is a large casting that supports the headstock and the rotating mount for the ways. It's essentially the size of the base and something like 250-300 lbs. I disassembled mine "right out of the crate" on the back of a pickup truck and used a cabinet on wheels to move it to where I had assembled the base. I did this all myself. For stairs, you'll want two-three strong people to carry it down or two people to slide it down on a piece of plywood or something. It's less a factor of the weight than of it being an awkward shape and heavy, too. Nothing a few, um...beverages...wouldn't take care of as bribes. (consumed after moving it, of course!)