Been taking time away from the garden and household chores to turn all the oversize stuff I had around. Computed 400mm capacity and figured out why my sixteen always seemed too big, and since have been working with a max slightly less than the 15 3/4, with a flat at the end grain to compensate for my 15 1/2" drill press. The sides will contract anyway, so nothing lost.
She has never complained about chunks being a bit out of balance accidentally or even deliberately. I find myself getting lazy, though, and leaving the set at 360 RPM even when hollowing. Got into the lazy habit from the old one, where the minimum was close to 700. I've slipped the belt a few times, but never gronked the 1 HP (14amp?????) motor.
Anyway, after weeding, and in and around washing and hanging two loads of laundry this morning, I turned a leftover piece of my gift cherry measuring
13x11x7. Turned it bark up, even though the bark was loose, and was delighted to find that even this out-of-balance by design chunk stayed smooth and centered throughout. At a quarter inch thick, it'll be ready to finish in a week or so, but I also have nearly 25 "chamber pots" as the family calls them, of >14" in stages from ready to soaking wet that I've cut since she arrived in March.She's a peach! Glad I took the chance. I see a lot of folks with money upgrading and advertising them for sale. None as good a deal as the one I got so far, but not outrageous. Good thought for someone itching to turn something larger in diameter.