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Need New Lathe

john lucas

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Well I'm a huge fan of my Powermatic 3520 A and the new 3520C certainly seems to be an upgrade. However the first thing we should ask is why do you want 20" swing. It's hard to sell large bowls. Large platters however sell pretty well. I purchased mine mostly for the weight and horsepower. More mass just makes turning more enjoyable. Yes I did turn a few large things but mostly it's just a lot nicer when you are roughing 8 to 10" hollow forms or in my case my off center work.
 
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Just depends on how much you want to spend, high end $6000-8000 you have Robust, Oneway, vicmark are the usual big names. $3000-5000 you have Powermatic. $1600-3000 you have Laguna, Nova, Jet, and Grizzly. I believe the Powermatic 3520B is 20% off right now making that a great price. All of these lathes have features that attract different people. I have the Laguna 18-36, as size, price, and their features were in line with what I wanted
 
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Bill Boehme

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I think that if you made a list of things that you are looking for besides larger swing in a larger lathe that would help you pare the list down to one or two lathes. If cost is a factor then you might need to make some compromises. It always helps to go to a symposium where you can see the lathes.
 

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Depending on what you need the 20" swing for, your choices will be different.
If you want to do a lot of large off center work you will want a heavier lathe like the oneway 2436.
If you want to do bigger bowls maybe an 18" lathe works for you.

You don't find unhappy owners of Oneway, Robust, Vicmarc or Powermatic.

Four smaller lathes to consider

1. Oneway 1640 - the outboard has a 24" swing.
2. Robust Sweet 16 has GAO configuration that has 32" swing for platters and bowls' heights limited by the gap (14"???) not much of a limit for bowl 20" hemispherical bowl will fit easily and that is. Big bowl.
3. Jet 1840 and
4. Jet 1840 DVR.
 
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Stubby was running a really good deal on their 750 and 1000 and may still be. Seems everyone forgets to mention them since Bill R passed away.
And with the currency rate right now it's really a great deal.
 

Bill Boehme

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Stubby was running a really good deal on their 750 and 1000 and may still be. Seems everyone forgets to mention them since Bill R passed away.
And with the currency rate right now it's really a great deal.

It's been several years since Stubby stopped exporting lathes to the US. Bill Rubenstein was supporting existing owners for several years, but wasn't selling new lathes. Has there been a recent change that I haven't heard about?
 
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IMG_0359.JPG Rod Caddaye in Australia is who owns Stubby now and will help get the shipping to here. I think he takes care of all the shipping details. Considering the conversion rate the Stubby 1000
cost would be just over $5k excluding shipping. That's a sweet deal there.
 
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I want to upgrade my Jet 14 x 42 to a 20" lathe anybody have an idea?
If you're up for a road trip, there's a Oneway 2436 with all the trimmings in Texas. Look at the "For Sale" forum here. You can also do outboard, so your capacity is actually > 24" diameter, and it comes with a bed extension, so I'm sure it's more than 36" spindle. The only thing you'd have to worry about is the spindle-height-above-floor; if you're taller, it's easy to put the lathe higher. It's much more challenging if you're shorter than the lathe legs.

I've turned on a friend's Oneway. Really nice smooth movement of the banjo over the ways; nice toolpost clamp, very good speed control.
 

Emiliano Achaval

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Stubby has great customer service. If you call, the owner himself answers the phone or call you back. He will ship any lathe world wide. He will help you fix or replace anything on any Stubby, sold by Bill, J. Jordan or anybody else... I have turn in a lot of lathes in my travels, seen the Robust, still believe there is nothing better than a Stubby. And now the price is right...
 

Bill Boehme

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If you want the 3HP option, the cost is about $7400 USD before shipping and import duties both of which are rather expensive. It might still be a good deal for the person who is able to afford it, but great deal and affordability are separate considerations. :D

The question that I would have is whether they would provide motors and electronics for 60 Hz power. They use European motors and inverters because Australia uses 230 V, 50 Hz power. Bill Rubenstein imported the lathes without motors and controllers and installed US made motors and 60 Hz inverters.
 
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I think your #'s are off Bill. I'm pretty sure $5200 was the price for a 2hp. I don't see a 3hp raising the price $2200. He can configure the Power options for the US so I've been told. I know Rod was talking about another US distributed too in the future.
 
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Well I'm a huge fan of my Powermatic 3520 A and the new 3520C certainly seems to be an upgrade. However the first thing we should ask is why do you want 20" swing. It's hard to sell large bowls. Large platters however sell pretty well. I purchased mine mostly for the weight and horsepower. More mass just makes turning more enjoyable. Yes I did turn a few large things but mostly it's just a lot nicer when you are roughing 8 to 10" hollow forms or in my case my off center work.
 
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Well I'm a huge fan of my Powermatic 3520 A and the new 3520C certainly seems to be an upgrade. However the first thing we should ask is why do you want 20" swing. It's hard to sell large bowls. Large platters however sell pretty well. I purchased mine mostly for the weight and horsepower. More mass just makes turning more enjoyable. Yes I did turn a few large things but mostly it's just a lot nicer when you are roughing 8 to 10" hollow forms or in my case my off center work.
Great lathe but don't care for the extended motor.
 
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If you're up for a road trip, there's a Oneway 2436 with all the trimmings in Texas. Look at the "For Sale" forum here. You can also do outboard, so your capacity is actually > 24" diameter, and it comes with a bed extension, so I'm sure it's more than 36" spindle. The only thing you'd have to worry about is the spindle-height-above-floor; if you're taller, it's easy to put the lathe higher. It's much more challenging if you're shorter than the lathe legs.

I've turned on a friend's Oneway. Really nice smooth movement of the banjo over the ways; nice toolpost clamp, very good speed control.

I have also used a friend's Oneway, great all around lathe. The Oneway is metric and all my equipment is standard, don't want to start over, too old.
 

john lucas

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The extended motor has never been a problem. I solved that by purchasing a bed extension and putting it on the motor end. Then I slid the headstock forward so the motor and bed extension stick out the same. This way the bed extension doesn't take up much more floor space and is there when I need it.
 

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I have also used a friend's Oneway, great all around lathe. The Oneway is metric and all my equipment is standard, don't want to start over, too old.

It would be easy for Oneway to increase their market share.....if they offered 1 1/4x8tpi and #2MT......don't know why they don't do that......well built lathes tho........

-----odie-----
 

odie

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Great lathe but don't care for the extended motor.


How come, Steven?

The motor placement is what allows the sliding headstock.......and, that should be a great advantage.

-----odie-----
 

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How come, Steven?

The motor placement is what allows the sliding headstock.......and, that should be a great advantage.

-----odie-----

So very true.

You more or less rule out all lathes with sliding headstocks if you don't like the motor placement on the handwheel side of the headstock. I have a Robust AB and like John Lucas with his Powermatic, I typically park the headstock somewhere around the middle of the bed unless turning a long spindle.
 

odie

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So very true.

You more or less rule out all lathes with sliding headstocks if you don't like the motor placement on the handwheel side of the headstock. I have a Robust AB and like John Lucas with his Powermatic, I typically park the headstock somewhere around the middle of the bed unless turning a long spindle.

Question for John and Bill.....

Does the sliding headstock alter lathe vibrations according to placement?

-----odie-----
 

Bill Boehme

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Question for John and Bill.....

Does the sliding headstock alter lathe vibrations according to placement?

-----odie-----

Short answer is no.

A piece of wood that is mounted so that it is out of balance will be out of balance by the same amount regardless of where the headstock is parked. Large lathes such as Robust and Powermatic are structurally stiff enough that they are basically rigid bodies that don't twist or flex while the spinning piece of wood is trying to shake itself loose from the spindle. If the floor isn't flat and one of the four feet is just floating then it might cause the lathe to shake. Assuming that all four feet are firmly on the floor, I doubt that you would notice any change due to headstock position. A really nice feature of the Robust is that the legs can be adjusted to level the lathe as well a "settling" adjustment to give it a more solid connection to the floor.

Even if a lathe could be made rock solid, wood is relatively flexible and if you jab it with a sharp steel poker, the wood will react by vibrating, fluttering, singing, or howling. This could induce sympathetic acoustic vibration in the lathe especially if it is lightweight.
 

john lucas

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I'm not sure about the motor problem either. All motors are suspended by the mounting end whether they are housed inside or hanging off the side or back, so stability is not an issue. Keeping the motor cooler is a good reason to hang it outside. Hanging a motor below is ideal but that only works on lathes that have a fixed headstock, no swivel or sliding.
 
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The sale price ended a couple days ago.
Bill, still not sure where you got that price since he doesn't have prices listed on his website. Unless you emailed Rod. He very well may still honor the sale price too. If someone is looking for one then all they have to do is contact Rod. The Stubby is a lathe that can fit some people's circumstances. I rank it right there with the Oneway and Robust lathes albeit in a much smaller footprint.
 
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The extended motor has never been a problem. I solved that by purchasing a bed extension and putting it on the motor end. Then I slid the headstock forward so the motor and bed extension stick out the same. This way the bed extension doesn't take up much more floor space and is there when I need it.

Thanks for the info, I was wondering about that approach.
 

Bill Boehme

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Bill, still not sure where you got that price since he doesn't have prices listed on his website. Unless you emailed Rod. He very well may still honor the sale price too. If someone is looking for one then all they have to do is contact Rod. The Stubby is a lathe that can fit some people's circumstances. I rank it right there with the Oneway and Robust lathes albeit in a much smaller footprint.

I was starting to reply in another thread and somehow a fragment of my post wound up here. I was trying to find where I thought that I saw the price of the S1000 mentioned, but couldn't find it. I thought that I saw that it was $7600 AUS, but I might have that confused with something else. The Stubby site does state that the 3HP motor option is an additional $800. Trying to figure out the US import tariffs is impossible. It's dependent upon the country of origin, if some parts come from different countries then that is also factored in. Also cost, weight, quantity, and category of material are all part of the equation. The tariff can be as high as 20%, but generally it is much lower. Australia by contrast has the simplest system in the world. The combined total of duty plus tax amounts to about 15% of the cost regardless of the country of origin, no quantity discount, and no good buddy discounts.
 

hockenbery

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Ditto!. There's nothing to not like about the Robust AB.
Need to speak for yourself. :)
I enjoy turning on the AB. I think the AB is a terrific machine.

However 6 things I like a better on the Oneway are:
Banjo on the oneway is better all around.
3 pulleys give a finer control of speeds than 2
Out board turning capablilty
Control pedestal at eye level
Spindle lock placement and ease of use
Index wheel and lock are easier to use.

Not a biggy but Onway's Extra weight and extra length of the bed come in handy once in a while

Things I like better on the AB
The AB changes height in minutes. Takes at least a 1/2 hour to change height on the Oneway
Like the AB switch on the spindle lock
Handwheel on tailstock is smoother

:)
There are fewer things not to like on the Oneway 2436. :)

AB is a fine machine just won't be the best for lots of folks.
 
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odie

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Unless the Oneway has changed specifications lately, their lathes are still not offered in 1/1/4" x 8tpi spindle threads.......and have neither sliding, or swivel headstock. The spindle threads would be a killer right there, and my next lathe would have to have a movable headstock.

Ditto!. There's nothing to not like about the Robust AB.

How about the price, Bill?.......I really do like the AB, but the price is not do-able for many turners. I still am not able to even think about upgrading my old Woodfast lathe, but when that time comes, the AB is definitely on my dream list. At this point, the new Powermatic 3520c is very appealing, but even there, it isn't within my financial prospects. I suppose it's possible if I wanted either of these lathes badly enough......but, I still am having trouble believing the quality of my turnings could be improved with the upgrade. Someday though.......it'll probably happen! ;)



-----odie-----
 

hockenbery

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Unless the Oneway has changed specifications lately, their lathes are still not offered in 1/1/4" x 8tpi spindle threads.......and have neither sliding, or swivel headstock. The spindle threads would be a killer right there, and my next lathe would have to have a movable headstock.

For most folks the switch to M33 3.5 and #3MT is not a big deal.
Involves buying a chuck insert... many folks have made the switch from 1x8 to a larger size.
I made the switch from 1x8 (ancient delta) to 1.25x 8 (20" woodfast) to M33x3.5 (Oneway 2436)

You have a large accumulation of faceplates and chucks that will be more of an issue.

The big advantage of the oneway is using the outboard for hollowing bowls and hollow forms.
It can be more convenient than sliding the headstock for many operations less so for some others.

Robust is available with M33 x 3.5 and a #3 taper.
 

odie

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For most folks the switch to M33 3.5 and #3MT is not a big deal.
Involves buying a chuck insert... many folks have made the switch from 1x8 to a larger size.
I made the switch from 1x8 (ancient delta) to 1.25x 8 (20" woodfast) to M33x3.5 (Oneway 2436)

You have a large accumulation of faceplates and chucks that will be more of an issue.

The big advantage of the oneway is using the outboard for hollowing bowls and hollow forms.
It can be more convenient than sliding the headstock for many operations less so for some others.

Robust is available with M33 x 3.5 and a #3 taper.


Hi Al......:D

True, for some turners, it wouldn't be that much of a problem. In my case, it would require all new faceplates, or deal with a spindle adapter that would push the weight further from the spindle bearings. There are about a dozen Precision Machine screw center faceplates, and I am a dedicated faceplate turner, except for roughing. My Stronghold chucks are adaptable with new inserts, as you say. No question the Oneway lathes are first class lathes......just wouldn't work for me. :(

-----odie
 
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#3 taper got to be less vibration......after my first upgrade I concluded that technique with your tools is as important as which lathe makes the wood go round.....I think we all lust for "the lathe"....but that is part of kicking the tires in the vendor room.......enjoy the new possiblities.....
 

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#3 taper got to be less vibration......after my first upgrade I concluded that technique with your tools is as important as which lathe makes the wood go round.....I think we all lust for "the lathe"....but that is part of kicking the tires in the vendor room.......enjoy the new possiblities.....

Folks who have $5k to spend should buy a $3k lathe and spend $2k on a couple of classes.
skills will increase turning success and enjoyment more than a new lathe.

We all know you can do great work on a crappy lathe
And crappy work on a great lathe.
 

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Need to speak for yourself. :)
I enjoy turning on the AB. I think the AB is a terrific machine.

However 6 things I like a better on the Oneway are:
Banjo on the oneway is better all around.....

I haven't had the opportunity to use a Oneway and compare them, but the banjo on my lathe glides effortlessly. I keep the banjo bottom surface clean and wax it as well as the lathe bed. I like the wedge lock on the tool post. It's very easy to loosen and tweak the tool rest height without the need to overcome stiction. Being able to reverse the locking lever is a nice feature. The banjo locking lever can also be moved either left or right.

... 3 pulleys give a finer control of speeds than 2 ....

My Robust AB has three pulley steps. I do 99.99% of my turning in the low speed range. I noticed that the newer models now have a two step pulley. I haven't looked into the specs to see what the two ranges are, but depending on what the ranges are, it might make more sense to only have two ranges. I wouldn't automatically assume that the two ranges are equal. Since I hardly do any belt shifting I I really can't say which configuration I would prefer.

... Out board turning capability .

Well I can do outboard turning by sliding the headstock to the tailstock end as long as I don't need tailstock support. Can you put the tailstock on the outboard side of your Oneway? I have the optional outboard tool rest so theoretically I could turn anything that clears the floor.:D

... Control pedestal at eye level....

I prefer the controls at hand level since I can't operate them with my eyes. Maybe that swinging arm is nice, but to me it seems like an obstacle. I think that I would prefer the control box with a magnet so I can stick it where I want it.

... Spindle lock placement and ease of use ....

Spindle lock is below the handwheel... Moves up and down ... couldn't be any easier. And, as you said, the Robust has an electrical interlock.

... Index wheel and lock are easier to use..

I haven't used it much, but I like the indexing on my lathe. It uses a screw so it isn't as fast as a spring loaded plunger, but I'm not so fast either so we're a good match. I haven't seen how the newer model with the small handwheel works.

... Not a biggy but Onway's Extra weight and extra length of the bed come in handy once in a while....

I'm on a diet and trying to lose some avoirdupois.

... Things I like better on the AB
The AB changes height in minutes. Takes at least a 1/2 hour to change height on the Oneway
Like the AB switch on the spindle lock
Handwheel on tailstock is smoother

:)
There are fewer things not to like on the Oneway 2436. :)

AB is a fine machine just won't be the best for lots of folks.

I think that, generally speaking, people like the lathe they have more than the one they don't have. The Oneway is a great lathe, but it wasn't my choice.
 

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It would be easy for Oneway to increase their market share.....if they offered 1 1/4x8tpi and #2MT......don't know why they don't do that......well built lathes tho........

-----odie-----
Learn something every day! I had no idea about this...
 
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