Any opinion on the General Internatonal 25-200vs?

[chris ormsby]

I spent a lot of time reconditioning an old duro spindle lathe last winter. After new bearings, spindle shaft stand etc... I realized it was not rigid enough for faceplate or chuck turning. As soon as I remove the tailstock, all this machine gives me is vibration. I have decided to upgrade to a mid size machine. I am looking at the GI and unless someone here changes my mind, I think this is my decision. I will be doing salt and pepper mills candle sticks, handles, but would also like some bowl capacity. I have all the support equiptment to back up this machine. chuck, slow speed grinder, sharpening jigs, sorby tools etc... steer me right
thanks chris

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Hi Chris, I turned on one couple of weeks ago, found it working fine, we turned a couple of bowls on it, very nice and smooth turning machine.
There are a few pictures here that show us turning on the lathe
http://homepage.mac.com/l.vanderloo/PhotoAlbum31.html

[john l graham]

Here are two threads with some info on the General 25-200vs. I really do like mine but do not have any other recent lathe experiences to compare it to. It runs smooth and quiet. I do notice that on the slowest speed (270 rpm) I can slow it down and possibly stop it if I tried with aggressive cuts. I have made a few bowls and several pens so far. No pictures of the results just yet. Good luck with your selection.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=79054

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=90149

[Ralph Lindberg]

Chris

I looked at the 25-650 very seriously a couple of years ago. As I recall the 20-600 is a similar lathe (low end is 450, not 270, per the GI web site)

There were a few things I didn't like, one of which was the review (of the 25-650) in Fine Woodworking, where they noted that the 25-650 (and probably the 20-600, since this part is supposed to be the same) is that the external head-stock is 1-1/4, but that reduces down, and the shaft is only 1.

Obviously I didn't go with the GI.

You might want to look at the Nova 1624-44. Which (in the same review) was considered the "Best Buy"

[Bernie Weishapl]

I think he is talking the 25-200VS instead of the 20-600. I have seen a couple of these units and have heard good things on them.

[Ralph Lindberg]

Yup, I miss-read the header... I've seen the 25-200 (at KMS tools) and was impressed. Similar to the (newer) Jet midi lathe.

[Ed Thomas]

Hi Chris, I turned on one couple of weeks ago, found it working fine, we turned a couple of bowls on it, very nice and smooth turning machine.
There are a few pictures here that show us turning on the lathe
http://homepage.mac.com/l.vanderloo/PhotoAlbum31.html

Hey Leo, that was my 25-650 (not a 25-200 midi). ;) That was also the first time turning on the stock base. It's much smoother bolted to 850 lb of wood, steel, and lead. But that would have been a bit much to haul to the BBQ. :)

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