Dream lathe

[dcmguy]

What's yours ?

If you had enough space and could be given any lathe ...what would it be ? A big old Wadkin with modern speed control, an American Beauty, a Jet 3520, or are you really just happy with your 20+ year old bomb proof piece of kit ?

As for me .. I'm still reflecting on it!

 

[marcros]

i have been thinking about this. Not so much dream lathe, but a most realistic top end choice. I think that for me the maxi 1 is on my list. Seems a lot of lathe for the money- the jets, powermatics etc are a big step up in money.

I would like to be able to turn the odd item at 20 inches or so, and have the ability to do high stool legs.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I'd probably plump for the big Vicmarc with the tailstock that hinges out of the way and then secondarily a VB for proper bowls

I'd also want a vacuum chuck, talk about useful bits of luxury

 

[marcros]

the hinging tailstock does look a useful item.

 

[Drew]

I'm very lucky, I have my dream lathe a Jet 5320b. So as far as I am concerned I am future proofed. It came on offer at just the right time and after some serious soul searching I got it. All I have to do now is live up to it's standards :lol: . Unfortunately the tailstock swingaway is unavailable in the UK, but someday the importers might find a way through the red tape and I will be at the front of the queue.

 

[marcros]

have you ever turned anything at its capacity?

 

[NazNomad]

My Poolewood will do anything (and more) that I'll ever ask of it.

 

[yorkshirepudding]

i have been thinking about this. Not so much dream lathe, but a most realistic top end choice. I think that for me the maxi 1 is on my list. Seems a lot of lathe for the money- the jets, powermatics etc are a big step up in money.

I would like to be able to turn the odd item at 20 inches or so, and have the ability to do high stool legs.

I've had one for 18mths and prefer it to the Jet 3520 we have at the club. Having "only" a1hp motor has not been a problem and I've turned 20" plus. I you decide to take the plunge pm me and you're welcome to try mine before you buy.

 

[marcros]

i have been thinking about this. Not so much dream lathe, but a most realistic top end choice. I think that for me the maxi 1 is on my list. Seems a lot of lathe for the money- the jets, powermatics etc are a big step up in money.

I would like to be able to turn the odd item at 20 inches or so, and have the ability to do high stool legs.

I've had one for 18mths and prefer it to the Jet 3520 we have at the club. Having "only" a1hp motor has not been a problem and I've turned 20" plus. I you decide to take the plunge pm me and you're welcome to try mine before you buy.

Thanks. I will take you up on that offer one of these days. What club are you at? Is there one local to Leeds?

 

[Woodmonkey]

VB for me too please, so I can make bowls the size of tractor tyres!

 

[Duncan A]

Unfortunately the tailstock swingaway is unavailable in the UK, but someday the importers might find a way through the red tape and I will be at the front of the queue.

There are some home-made solutions here, with further links for more detail:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qnC ... 3PaBc/edit

Duncan

 

[Phil Pascoe]

VB36s? The pro turner at our club used one, and another member owned one - and neither would touch another with a barge pole.

 

[SVB]

I'm generally happy with my vicmarc 300 short bed. Great for 90% of the work I enjoy turning.

I guess if we're in magic wand territory I'd like either a matching longbed 300 in the workshop too or a big oneway lathe. A VB bare with independently movable tool rest stand would be great for the really big platters / wall sculpture but I find them too physical to use with the bed / tailstock as a general lathe so very much a specialist machine.

However, having said all the above, do do this would need a much bigger workshop and if I had that a Bridgeport mill would be next on my wish list!

 

[dcmguy]

I'm quite keen on the vicmarc v300 evs asm so I can put their oval turning device on it (though a 2hp v200 would probably be plenty). It'd be cheaper though to just get a steinert picOval as a starter machine. As for dream machine I think it'd be the botula bollinger oval lathe .. 82" oval swing ! ...whats not scary about that!

http://claycritters.com/lathe/

For regular turning my little dml320 allows me to everything I want to do in regular turning!

 

[Inspector]

Some Oneway's would be nice.

Pete

 

[Blockplane]

Dream lathe - Hotzappfel ornamental turning lathe, with all the accessories - I like to dream big !

 

[yorkshirepudding]

Thanks. I will take you up on that offer one of these days. What club are you at? Is there one local to Leeds?[/quote]


I go to Birstall Woodturning Club, confusingly based in Mirfield. We have 17 lathes of various brands, a couple of decent bandsaws and sanders etc. etc. Takes me about 40mins from Pudsey.

 

[NazNomad]

f.a.o. Dalboy...

 

[duncanh]

Lots of people seem to want really big lathes. I'm sure thy're great, but I already end up with a house full of turnings and storage issues. My Wivamac 6000 does just fine. What I need is a bigger shed and house!

 

[treeturner123]

Hi

It's not so much what lathe but how do you get the extra time to use any lathe to its full extent!!

Phil