that are on the level of Oneway lathes. They offer 18x28 and 25x28 models and have some nice features like stainless bed ways, big sealed bearings, a sliding headstock, and a seven year warranty, plus they are made in the USA. As an option, Robust features a Tilt Away which attaches to the end of lathe and lets you slide the tailstock onto it and rotate it out of the way. It is what I categorize as a high end lathe in the 5K price range and certainly worth looking at.
Home page picture links are all broken. Most of the others seemed okay. I couldn't find prices anywhere (maybe they were in the PDF--I didn't bother with that--stupid way to do it anyway).
I'm unimpressed with the posting history of the OP. Reads a LOT like a shill to me. I'll apologize if I'm wrong.
well, all the photo links in the home page are inop for me - I think he wrote the web page for IE and ignored any other browser, didn't check it with IE though
the lathe is a medium sized lathe - as I understand it, at least - it could revive the "cast ir>> There are some nice lathes at
So what's the difference? for every bell and whistle there's a basic anyway.
What counts is that this is a big Mutha that will hold whatever setting and object you put on it. As to price, well, out of my league. But If I were to pay it, I'd consider I was paying for steel, not hoses or switches.
Boy, oh boy... I don't know about the Robust... Never seen one in person, but given that price is a wash comparing with Oneway (which is an inevitable comparison given the design of the Robust), I'd have to lean toward Oneway for several reasons:
- Lathe weight is a big deal when comparing lathes of like swing capacities. The Robust 2528 weighs about 625 lbs. vs. the Oneway 2436 at
850 lbs.
- The Oneway leg design appears more stable. The adjustability of the Robust height introduces sliding parts that will inevitably flex more than solid/welded joints. (A Oneway height is customizable when ordering for no additional charge.)
- No through bore on the Robust tailstock.
- Swinging pendant arm on the Oneway would appear to offer better control placement and better control box security from mishaps. (Too, the Oneway box is much more refined and finished looking than the Robust
- plus an $80 secondary remote box is available for the Oneway.)
- Consider the following descriptions from Robust's website:
... spindle turners like the 36" between centers. Yes we do, so why limit their top of the line lathe with 28"? Sure, you can purchase additional bed extensions, but that adds $645 on top of the $5300 2hp base price. How much of a Oneway can you buy for $6000? How does top of the line 3hp, with 17" extension and money to spare for other stuff strike you? (BTW, the spec sheet pdfs for all the Robust lathes have a footnote "(2)" at the "Center Distance" item, but I couldn't find what the footnote marker was referring to...)
These notes are merely observations from my reading and looking over the pictures. I commend the Robust people for taking a risk in producing the lathe. Inevitably, in the price range they have chosen, they will be compared to Oneway, Stubby and even the VB36. It's my opinion the Robust just doesn't have the "whole-package" engineering or refinement to compete on this level. I think they'd have a killer lathe if they could manage to get the price down at least $1000.
I suspect you may be thinking of the Serious Lathe. The company didn't go bankrupt, but was sold to other folks a year or two ago after years of struggling along as a second business to the designing engineer.
The Serious lathe is really quite well designed and very solid. It would give all the top makers a run for the money if they can get more market penetration and presence outside the Pacific Northwest. BTW, I really like their camlock tool handle - I hate searching for allen wrenches!!! Gotta pick me up another one of those one of these days...
That was one of my concerns with Serious when I was considering my last lathe purchase. Oneway has such a good reputation as well as decent longevity in the business that I had to weight my decision in that direction.
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