Woodfast vs. Vicmarc

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A quick look reveals that the VIC is a _short_ lathe, mostly for bowl-turning,(max 500mm) while the Woodfast i a _long_ lathe, which also can handle long spindles (max 950mm)

Otherwise both seem to be very good value.

Bjarte

Woodfast also used to make a very nice shortbed lathe. Woodfast, however, is no longer building lathes at all. Vicmarc also builds longbed lathes but I'd guess that they sell many more of the shortbed. Once you turn bowls and hollow forms on a shortbed you will not want to go back to a longbed. Those machines with sliding headstocks, rotating headstocks, etc. are no substitute for a good shortbed.

Bill

Max,

I believe both come as a long bed or a short bed. The Woodfast is a

20" swing and the Vicmarc is a 24" swing. I've used both and like the Vicmarc better, but both are excellent machines.

Joe Fleming - SAn Diego ===========================

Don't know much about them as I am not interested in a new lathe but they are made in different states, about 1500 km apart, Vicmarc in Queensland and Woodfast in South Australia. As far as I know, Woodfast is the older company. Alan in beautiful Golden Bay, Western Oz, South 32.25.42, East 115.45.44 GMT+8 VK6 YAB ICQ 6581610 to reply, change oz to au in address

Outstanding Bill!!!! My lathe just doubled in price.......It is now a collector's item..........:-)

that they sell many

you will not want

headstocks, etc.

While I can guess at the reason for this, I'd appreciate your take on shortbed vs. longbed. Why would a longbed be any less desirable for bowls and hollows? Thanks in advance, Bill.

Max

I'm no expert, but my answer would be that the bed gets in the way of an optimal approach to the hollow of the bowl/vessel - interfering with both your body and your tool handles.

Greg G.

Greg has pretty much nailed it. On a shortbed you can stand at the end of the lathe and keep the tools near your body where you have more control. On a longbed you need to extend your arms, it is tiring, you lose control, etc.

Or, you can use the old David Ellsworth method of riding the ways.

The best way to find out the advantage of a shortbed -- try it. You will not want to go back.

Bill

There is one other option available though Bill. The method I use on my long bed Woodfast is to simply run the lathe in reverse and turn my Stewart system hooker tool upside down to hollow out vessels. Works very well..............

M.J. Orr

~

More than one option. If you decide not to be a strict constructionist and use a "bowl gouge" because it's a bowl, you can use your toolrest up close, your short-handled gouges held so they're almost catch-free, and peel wood to a fair-thee-well. Leverage makes you mighty, a close toolrest also makes you steady. Make a virtue out of a necessity by shedding your preconceptions.

As I am right-handed, I am only modestly inconvenienced by hollowing over the bed. Were my arms attached at centerline, it might be worse.

the lathe and keep

need to extend your

Which is probably why I choose to rotate my headstock 45 degrees outboard. But your point is well taken. I've often thought I'd replace my Jet 1442 with a more advanced lathe, but perhaps I'll just keep it (it wasn't that expensive at $767) for the occasional long project, eg--baseball bat, etc.

The reason I posed this question is that I'm considering upgrading. The shortbed Vicmarc and Woodfast lathes are appealing, but as you've said the Woodfast is no longer available. Any idea why the company went out of business?

Max

Why Woodfast went out of business? I don't think that they are out of business, just no longer making lathes.

Some guesses why they are no longer making lathes? Competition -- their machine is pretty much unchanged for many years. Excellent machines from Vicmarc and Omega Stubby for shortbeds and Omeway for longbeds, strong Australian dollar in relationship to US and Canadian dollar, ineffective sales effort by US/Canadian distributors -- all just guesses. Another guess -- all of the above.

Bill

The Woodfast has been removed from Craftsupplies catalog.