wanted to try - Stubby

[Kevin Jenness]

In my ideal world I would have a modern lathe with a 30" or more swing, the ability to use a tailstock and a captured hollowing system on those big forms, a compact footprint and a 1 1/4"-8 spindle. The Stubby 750 and 1000 lathes seem to fit the bill. I am wondering if anyone in striking distance of Vermont has one and would be willing to let me have a look at it. If I am overlooking some other machine with the same specs please tell me.

[Reed Gray]

Some one you could talk to is Emiliano Archival, who lives in Hawaii. Long way from you, but he has a couple of them. They sound like fine lathes. He does a lot of bowls and urns. He is one of the moderators on the AAW site, and does a lot of live broadcasts that you can sign up for.

robo hippy

[Earl McLain]

Some one you could talk to is Emiliano Archival, who lives in Hawaii. Long way from you, but he has a couple of them. They sound like fine lathes. He does a lot of bowls and urns. He is one of the moderators on the AAW site, and does a lot of live broadcasts that you can sign up for.

robo hippy

That was my thought too Reed--and last Saturday in NW Indiana with sub-zero wind chill...Maui was looking like a right fine place to be!! Kevin may not feel the same in Vermont...
earl

[Kevin Jenness]

Thanks, I'll drive right over and check it out. Do they have mud season in Maui?

I do know of Emilio and posted the same question on the AAW site. Sounds like used Stubbys are few and far between and I suspect shipping from Oz is out of hand, but I did say "in my ideal world." It would be nice to find one to look at within driving range.

There was a Oneway 2436 with the big outboard setup for sale near me, but it would take too much room for my shop, plus the spindle size is inconvenient. The lathe sold but the outboard rig is still available if anyone is interested - look on the AAW forum.

In the meantime I ordered a 6" faceplate custom threaded at 1 1/8" x 8tpi LH from Oneway for the outboard side of my old General. They are great folks to deal with.

[Paul Heely]

John Jordan used to sell Stubby lathes. Might try reaching out to him to see if he knows of anyone in the New England area that he's sold one to that you could try. I've been contemplating upgrading my PM3520b for a while now. I always wanted a Stubby, but the Robust Sweet 16 short bed keeps catching my eye now. Lot of similarities in my mind to the Stubby. Not sure why that appeals to me more than the American Beauty but it keeps calling to me, though if I found a Stubby locally for sale I'd probably own that.

Good luck,
Paul

[Richard Coers]

Can you even get a Stubby in the United States now? John Jordan hasn't sold Stubby lathes in decades, you'll be wasting his time. Emiliano has a special connection if I read his posts well enough.

[Kevin Jenness]

Can you even get a Stubby in the United States now? John Jordan hasn't sold Stubby lathes in decades, you'll be wasting his time. Emiliano has a special connection if I read his posts well enough.

No dealer in the States- has to be ordered direct. Definitely a disincentive, but it is a unique design. The Robust Sweet 16 is actually pretty close, but lighter and I wonder about the single speed range. This is mainly curiosity anyway, I have a working lathe but it's hard to judge another one without a close look.

[Steve Nix]

There was a Stubby owners group on FB at one time. May still be there.

[Earl McLain]

I have an earlier Sweet 16 standard length, so no digital display. Do have the 2 hp motor and swing away. No beef on minimum speed, and at least up to 14” diameter no power issues. Paul Heely might be on to something with the short bed Sweet 16. The short configures to a 28” spindle using the gap section, and would be about ideal length for bowls. Headstock is fixed, but the short negates that need. Swing is 32” with the gap open.
earl

[Neil Strong]

Sounds like used Stubbys are few and far between and I suspect shipping from Oz is out of hand...



https://www.omegastubbylathes.com/lathes

I live a long day drive away from where they are made here, so if secondhand ones were to come up for sale we would see them here from time to time, but can't recollect the last time I saw a secondhand one for sale.

I considered getting one a few decades ago but decided in the end that I could do everything I needed on my other lathes and for far less cost. And, it didn't allow for outboard turning that is my preferred configuration for turning... which my back appreciates.

The Stubby is a bit like the Steinert VB36 (https://vb36.com/vb36-picture-video/pictures-vb36-woodturning-lathe.html) bowl lathe and the Vicmarc VL600 (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/vicmarc-vl600-107440) (which almost came onto the market then disappeared over a decade ago)... I call all of these bragging right lathes!

Anyone that specialises in large bowls and forms can get a lathe made up specifically for that purpose for far less cost. For example, have a look at the lathe that Dave Schweitzer's put together... see his from the 5min mark in this video... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8loU4Rco8I

The truth of the matter is that most us don't turn many larger pieces. For one thing, large blanks are few and far between. Secondly, there is not much demand for larger pieces. Maybe the occasional larger piece for an exhibition or special gift to a family member or friend, but you will soon wear out how welcome they are if they are all large and take up half a table.

At the gallery I would sell no more than about four larger pieces in a year. I try to have at least one larger piece with the pieces on display as they are visual lures, but they are slow to sell themselves and serving more to attract customers to look more closely at my smaller pieces that then do sell.

Unless we need a bragging rights lathe, most of us really don't need a lathe that is dedicated to turning large pieces. There are ways of turning the occasional larger piece on a regular lathe, like outboard turning with a free standing tool rest. e.g...


475930



It's interesting how alluring an unattainable piece of woodturning gear can become. Having used a Stubby I can say that it was a well made lathe that was innovative at the time (25yrs ago) but not changed much since then. There are many other options available now.

[John Keeton]

With the bed extension mounted in the low position I have a 32” swing on my Laguna 1836. The extension comes with the riser for the tail stock and an extension for the tool rest. I have used it to turn 24” offset platters.

[Reed Gray]

I did pick up a third full sized lathe, a Vickmark 240 which is the one with the pivoting headstock. I just don't like long bed lathes for bowl turning. It pivots to 30 degrees which will cover all I need for the bowls I turn, which are less than 16 inch. It also pivots to 90 degrees and there is an outboard banjo set up so you can turn almost down to the floor. The post on it rests on the floor. I did find that awkward to move around, at least compared to the banjo when mounted on the ways. It does have 3 speed ranges, which I prefer. I think Oneway is the only other lathe that has 3 speeds.

robo hippy

[Kevin Jenness]

Reed, thanks for the replies. I have been looking at that Vicmarc outboard turning support. It looks pretty rugged and maneuverable and superior to a free-standing tool rest, though I am sure it is awkward compared to a standard banjo. My current setup allows for reaching around a 5" thick x 24" diameter piece with a riser post in the banjo on a short outboard bed. If I need to go bigger on this lathe the Vicmarc outrigger may be the way to go.

Neil, thanks for the sensible advice. I have rarely needed to go beyond the 20" inboard swing of my lathe but there are occasions when I wished I had something bigger. A 24" swing lathe may be in my future, and would be big enough99.9% of the time. I do know a fellow turner with a Oneway with the big outboard setup who would probably let me use it for a special occasion.

[Richard Coers]

Have you looked at the Powermatic 2020 with the extension that bolts to the legs on the tailstock end?

[Mike Nardini]

You may want to look at the Robust Scout that has a 14” swing and 26” spindle capacity. I have it and the 16” bed extension which increases the spindle capacity to 42” and, when mounted to the outboard (headstock) end, increases the bowl and platter capacity to 21” which is far bigger that what I will ever turn. The Scout also has a small footprint at only 42” long. I have only had mine for about six months but I love it.

[Neil Strong]

With the bed extension mounted in the low position I have a 32” swing on my Laguna 1836. The extension comes with the riser for the tail stock and an extension for the tool rest. I have used it to turn 24” offset platters.

Yes, John, the Laguna 18/36 ticks a lot of boxes, as does also their 24/36, but who needs to regularly turn up to 36”, let alone 40” on a Stubby!? A Laguna is a good option for those that have a workshop layout that accommodates larger swing turning on the tailstock end of the lathe.


I did pick up a third full sized lathe, a Vicmarc 240 which is the one with the pivoting headstock... there is an outboard banjo set up so you can turn almost down to the floor. The post on it rests on the floor. I did find that awkward to move around, at least compared to the banjo when mounted on the ways.

Yes, Reed, that Vicmarc 240 is one of the best options on offer in the heavy duty lathes if you prefer a pivoting head, which I do. Being on the lighter side myself, I did find the Vicmarc outboard turning rig to be quite heavy to maneuver.

https://vicmarc.com/product-page/lathe-accessories/outboard-turning-attachment-detail (https://vicmarc.com/product-page/lathe-accessories/outboard-turning-attachment-detail)

I found a DIY free standing tripod toolpost stand quicker to reposition.


A 24" swing lathe may be in my future, and would be big enough 99.9% of the time. I do know a fellow turner with a Oneway with the big outboard setup who would probably let me use it for a special occasion.

Good strategy, Kevin. And that arrangement might be mutually beneficial if you were to have a piece of kit, like a hollowing rig or set of bowl corers, to share with them.

---

The new Woodfast WL30/40A (https://www.rikontools.com/product/70-3040) - Rikon 730 3040 (https://www.rikontools.com/product/70-3040) might be another option for those who don't mind doing all of their turning inboard and want up to a 30" swing. I've been turning on Woodfasts for over 50yrs and they have all been good lathes, but they have gone through some ownership and manufacture changes in recent years, so I don't know about the quality of the Rikons. Having the option to go as low as 20rpm can be useful.

A couple of years ago I ran a thread on our woodturning forum down here to provide a side by side comparison of the larger lathes available here. Those A$ prices would be mostly out of date now, but note that no prices were forthcoming for Stubby... I think you may have to know the secret handshake to get that!

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/larger-lathes-currently-available-australia-238070

Has anyone done something similar on the Creek?

[roger wiegand]

A Robust AB is almost as heavy as a Stubby, I'll bet if you ask Brent he can make you a short bed version if space is a major constraint. The sliding headstock makes it very easy to turn off the end of the lathe no matter the bed length.

[Kevin Jenness]

A Robust AB is almost as heavy as a Stubby, I'll bet if you ask Brent he can make you a short bed version if space is a major constraint. The sliding headstock makes it very easy to turn off the end of the lathe no matter the bed length.

The problem with turning outboard is the lack of a tailstock or a place to mount a typical captured hollowing system. I use the tailstock a lot to get the orientation of pieces right, and my Clark hollowing system mounts to the ways. The AB is a very good design for my purposes for up to 25" diameter and I may have one someday if I win the lottery. The Rikon 70-2040 is an intriguing design, similar to the Stubby with a bigger gap although the motorized moving bed seems unnecessarily complicated. It seems about as elusive as the Stubby too - I would definitely take a look at one if available.

[Mike Nathal]

One of my friends is researching Stubby as well as Robust and Oneway. He said the Stubby is substantially less expensive than a comparably equipped Oneway or American Beauty, including delivery.

[Neil Strong]

A Robust AB is almost as heavy as a Stubby… The sliding headstock makes it very easy to turn off the end of the lathe no matter the bed length.


IMO, that would make it a better option than the Stubby. IME, despite its adjustable beds, there are bits of the Stubby lathe that are still in the way if, like me, you prefer to turn unimpeded outboard or off the tailstock end of the lathe.

There were few sliding and swivel headstock lathes at the time the original Stubby was designed. Those that were available were innovative but not yet proven (eg Nova), so perhaps not thought to be the way to go with a heavy duty lathe like the Stubby. However, the sliding and swivel head lathes have been greatly improved and well proven since then.

25yrs is a long time for a woodturning lathe to not have gone through any further significant innovation, especially with so much competition in the lathe market nowadays. IMO, unless the Stubby ticks all of the boxes for you and is the only lathe that does something you really need it to do that other lathes can't, I don't expect it to be on many short lists.


One of my friends is researching Stubby as well as Robust and Oneway. He said the Stubby is substantially less expensive than a comparably equipped Oneway or American Beauty, including delivery.


Talking with Brent English a few years ago (on the last Norwegian woodturning cruise, so we had plenty of time to chat about such matters) he agreed that the cost of shipping and importing a Robust into Australia would put it at a disadvantage against our locally made lathes, like Vicmarc.

So, I’m surprised to hear that someone could buy, ship and import a Stubby the other way for less cost than local options like Oneway and Robust.

There have been some Stubby go into Hawaii, which is a little more understandable given the shipping cost would be similar either way mid-Pacific and also their penchant for turning extra large pieces.

https://youtu.be/GslfEkuxpcY

Although, that’s not a Stubby, but a DIY that Elmer Adams put together.


The problem with turning outboard is the lack of a tailstock or a place to mount a typical captured hollowing system. I use the tailstock a lot to get the orientation of pieces right, and my Clark hollowing system mounts to the ways. The AB is a very good design for my purposes for up to 25" diameter and I may have one someday if I win the lottery. The Rikon 70-2040 is an intriguing design, similar to the Stubby with a bigger gap although the motorized moving bed seems unnecessarily complicated. It seems about as elusive as the Stubby too - I would definitely take a look at one if available.


I agree, Kevin, the motorised sliding bed is an unnecessary gimmick that has only added unnecessary cost to that Woodfast/Rikon model. A crank handle would have been sufficient.

I can understand why some turners prefer to have their tailstock to assist with mounting blanks and why others use captured hollowing systems. I was turning for decades before the first captured hollowing rigs came along by which time I was so accustomed to freehand hollowing that I didn’t feel the need for what looked to me like complicated contraptions. But then, I rarely hollow deeper than about 12 to 15” or wider than about that.

Likewise, I have only ever turned bowls and hollow forms without a tailstock, no matter how large or irregular the blank. As I have to visualise what form I’m going to get from a block of wood before I cut the blank, how it then mounts on the lathe is already determined at that stage. I hated those old faceplates that we screwed our blanks to… and loved those scroll chucks when they came along in the 80s.