lathe decisions

How about a Vega?

Of course you could have much more if you'd give another three feet of length. Who knows, you may want to turn something longer in the future, and it'd be nicer if you already own it.

Something like the Powermatic with the moving headstock would be my choice.

This VB36 is designed for bowl making, looks very nice and I wish I had one. However by the time you add the tail stock, freight and applicable taxes your invoice may totaled around $10,000.00. Not a bad price if you intent to mass produce bowls and have a network to sale them. If you looks at this from a financial point you should be able to amortize this lathe within three years providing the rate of return on your bowl production does well. We all know that this is not always the reality for hobbyists. However, if you have good experience and have discretionary money you may treat yourself to the best. True, all these low end lathes are not the best to learn and many time the money spent on them is totally wasted. Conversely for occasional woodturning the medium prices lathe ($400.00-600.00 may suit the need. The mini lathes are in class of their own and may be bough for less. Some even use a kit powered by a 1/4 drill and are producing interesting things. Joining a woodturning club, having a good mentor, using different lathes at the club will gave enough hand on experience to find out how much you are prepared to spent on a lathe. Some people like to turn miniature things and other like to turn large burls. FWIW

John, Go to

John:

One thing you might consider -- you believe you know what you will be turning but who knows what the future brings. One thing leads to another, new challenges present themselves,...

I don't know what you mean by cylinders -- if that means spindles you will need a bed to support the tailstock.

Also, many of us start bowls (and everything else) between centers. That gives us the ability to make small adjustments to the piece as fortunate or unfortunate grain, defects, etc. become visible during the initial roughing out. By making small adjustments one can balance appearances of sapwood, center patterns, etc. When one starts a rough blank on a faceplate, it is all over as far as adjusting the appearance of the finished piece. So you need a bed to support a tailstock. And, btw, you need a bed on most lathes to support the banjo which supports the tool rest.

To be more helpful I think that the group needs some kind of feel for your budget.

Bill

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your input. 90% of what I want to do is make drum shells, like what is represented on this page:

Thanks again,

John

turning but who knows

present themselves,...

grain, defects,

adjustments one can

rough blank on a

finished piece. So you

lathes to support the

snipped-for-privacy@nb.sympatico.ca

You'll probably find it _much_ more comfortable to have that tailstock available to start the cylinder, and a bed to use a steady when hollowing. I know I like having those options when doing that kind of stuff.

My choice still stands, for that price range.

Based on that information, it looks like a Stubby won't fit your needs. If you're turning bass drum shells 22 X 22, they won't fit in the gap between the headstock and the bed turret on the Stubby. The diameter is okay, as the Stubby will swing 30", but the depth would be a problem.

-Jim Gott- San Jose, CA

John,

If you are only looking for a head stock and no bed for the lathe you can get the VB-36 lathe without the tail stock. That would run $5650.00 plus freight. Depending on where you live some distributors will deliver the lathe.

I can send you a brochure and video if you like. Email me your address and phone number.

Greg Jensen

John,

I live in San Diego and have a Stubby 750. I could connect you up with a Stubby 1000, a Stubby 750, a Oneway shortbed (2416) and a Vicmarc shortbed. I think I know someone with the VB36 lathe too here in the area. You might want to take the short drive south.

Joe Fleming - San Diego ====================================

John

Buy a Stubby 750 - just in case you want to bring up the tailstock once in a while It will give you about 30" diameter swing and you will not be disappointed with this decison at all!

Ray

The bed gap will give you about 24 inches of space between centers with the aux bed used for the tool rest - you can get 22" in there no problem - I have done it on my Stubby 750 easy!

Ray