Stubbys are back

"Bill Rubenstein" wrote: (clip) So, since interest rates are really low and that money in the bank isn't really buying you anything, maybe you can figure that having the machine would just be a loan to you -- one which would keep you happy. (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The money you save while you are standing at the lathe for hours, instead of driving to the store buying things you don't need, is INTEREST, and it's tax free.

Leo, I've saved myself into bankruptcy before, but I made it up by excesive spending. For aye, Arch

Fortiter,

"Barry N. Turner" wrote: (clip) Instead of your wife worrying about your being out on some godforsaken lake in all kinds of weather, with a Stubby, you're right out in your own garage or basement all day long. Talk about peace of mind! (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Think about all those weird problem marriages that have been aired on the Dr. Phil Show. Not one Stubby owner. That has to mean something!

I agree! The absence of Stubby owners from the Dr. Phil Show can't be just a coincidence! Save your marriage, buy a Stubby!

Barry

So maybe I'll just print out this whole thread and conviently leave it on the table for my wife to read... Now if we just hadn't bought a newer 5th wheel this summer!

Earl

Now wait just a Goldarned minute! godforsaken lake? I gatta tell you, some of my best times with the Lord have been while sitting out on a lake, river, or ocean talking to him... Besides... some of his favorite helpers were fisherman.

Sometimes I can even get my wife to tag along... if the crappy or bass are biting... She likes to go out in my bass boat.

I can hardly even get her to walk through my shop...

Hmmm maybe I need a Stubby? Naaah I don't think she would be anymore impressed with it than she is my other tools....

Big Mike

"mikes News" wrote: (clip) Naaah I don't think she would be anymore impressed with it than she is my other tools....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Well. Maybe you're not really "Big" Mike.

well if you stepped in it, try not to drag it into the house.

Oops! Poor choice of words on my part. No offense intended. Certainly God has not forsaken any of our lakes, streams or forests. Just look at the beauty of wood. You're right about the dishing connection. Jesus did seem to have a soft spot for fishermen and water. Don't forget, his dad was a carpenter, too!

Have fun turning and fishing!

Barry

$5,175 + S&H! For $825 more I got a 5 function (10 TS -with riving knife, shaper that'll handle 7" diam.

1 1/4" bore shaper head, 12" 3 knives jointer. 12" planer, a horizontal boring/mortising head - with XYZ table AND a sliding table for the saw/shaper) 1100 lb combination machine with 3 TEFC German motors. Made in Belgium rather than Austria, it ain't pretty but it does all the basic jobs and then some pretty well.

But I guess it's a Whatever Floats Your Boat thing.

charlie b

Charlie:

I guess that I must respond since I'm the importer of the Stubby lathes

I'm not sure if you believe that the Stubby comes from Austria or not, but it doesn't. It comes from Australia.

Anyway, the combination machine you refer to could be a very nice machine. But, you can't turn a 30" bowl or hollow form on it. In fact, you can't turn anything on it.

The Stubby is expensive to build, expensive to import, and a major factor is that the US dollar is so poorly thought of on the international market. I know what my costs are and am doing everything to keep them down and to keep the selling price down.

Build costs keep rising, though, and I've just returned from a trip to Australia where we sat down for several days and determined what we could do to keep selling prices stable.

Let me give you an example of the kind of 'stuff' you run into in this business. The only way to get the machines here undamaged is to ship them in pretty substantial wooden crates. For years the crates were built out of low-value, air-dried lumber. Mid '05, the US government decided that the crates had to be built out of kiln-dried lumber so as to kill any bugs. That raised the price of the crates.

This is a little retirement business for me and if I hadn't been successful in my earlier years, I couldn't afford to run this business

-- my accountant thinks I'm crazy to be doing this. Maybe he is right.

Anyway, if you have never turned on a Stubby and you'd like to see what it feels like, let me know and we can probably find someone close to you who has one. It may cost you $5175.00 + shipping (no handling), though.

And, have you priced the Oneway offerings lately? If you do, be sure to add the stuff you need for big bowls and such.

Bill Stubby Lathe USA, > $5,175 + S&H! For $825 more I got a 5 function

let me second Bill R's comments - I have a Stubby lathe, paid about 6 grand for it a few years ago (it's a 1000, so it's larger than what Bill R mostly sells), and it cost me more than my Logan metal lathe and my Sweedish 3,000 pound toolmaker's mill combined. but, I can't turn 44 inches between centers on the Logan lathe, nor on the Abene mill (though I suppose I could use those two tools to make a replacement for the Stubby if I would work for 5 cents per hour and had a huge pile of scrap metal to start with.

If you have lots of space and lots of time, a huge old metal lathe can usually be had for less than scrap value - but you need the space for a huge machine, and the Stubby is very space efficient, in fact that's a key reason why I bought it - it also happens to work very well, the other key reason I bought it.

I also agree that if we don't get our financial house in order, the dollar will continue to slide until we can't even afford to buy cheap chinese lathes from Harbor Freight.

Bill

to contact me, do not reply to this message, instead correct this address and use it

will iam_ b_ No ble at msn daught com

Oh yeah? What about mounting the wood to a faceplate and then screwing that onto the spindle shaper. Kinda like the Verti-lathe (may George Devine rest in peace) only bigger.

I trust that you are joking? Also, I hope that you have a variable speed drive on that shaper spindle. Even if you did, though, I suspect that the pulley ratios are such that the low rpm with torque which we need for big work wouldn't be available.

Bill

Owen Lowe wrote:

Yes, yes I was joking.

BTW, on a similar note of attaching turnings to non-standard lathes:

I had heard of folks using their car or truck drivelines to power a turning - attach the turning in some way to the wheel axle and then use the engine and transmission to obtain the rpms you need.

Tho I've never turned a pen or pencil, I've tried most other turning techniques and projects. Thought I'd give the "Cheby-lathe" a try, so got a big chunk of Big Leaf Maple all mounted up to a homemade drum brake and bolted onto the lugs. All my tools close at hand. Had my wife in our Citation's driver's seat.

Instructed her to put 'er in "D" and gently press the gas - which she did just as I asked. I got some shavings coming off but had a hell of a time keeping up with her as she made her way down the street.

Actually... due to the direction of the rotating wood, I was in front of the turning next to side of the car. It quickly became apparent that I would need to run backwards while holding the gouge to wood. I tell you it got pretty exciting just making sure I was not run over let alone getting a good curly shaving - was one hell of a work out tho so my cardiologist would be pleased.

LOL (do I *really* have to 'splain that one?)

And for a finish? Friction Polish?

Owen, I used Lori's car with front wheel drive to make a standard VS lathe with a rotating headstock. I'm gonna put it on a car lift tomorrow and turn some big platters. Do you think Bill and his Stubbys hear our footsteps or wheels screeching? Naw! :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Yep, Art Charpentier, I believe, made some monster turnings with his Jeep axle.