• Beware of Counterfeit Woodturning Tools (click here for details)
  • Johnathan Silwones is starting a new AAW chapter, Southern Alleghenies Woodturners, in Johnstown, PA. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Paul May for "Checkerboard (ver 3.0)" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 25, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Vicmarc VL 300

Emiliano Achaval

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3,307
Likes
4,226
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
There is a not too old Vicmark VL 300 for sale. Maybe 8 years old... New in Australia goes for $4818.18 US The shipping to Hawaii is cheaper from Australia than from US mainland. What do you guys think a used Vicmarc in fairly decent condition, not mint, can cost... Half of new?
 

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,076
Likes
9,487
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Howdy Emiliano.....

Is it there in Hawaii?

If you can get it for half of new, I'd say that's a good deal.

The swing is pretty huge.....24", but it's a fixed headstock. If that's not a problem, then go for it! :D

For myself, I'll probably get a new lathe eventually, but I will rule out a fixed headstock.

-----odie-----
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
Personally, I have a hard time buying anything sight unseen no matter what the price might be. Some people don't know how to take care of their tools and I'm OCD about taking care of my tools. But, the best answer that I've heard about buying used stuff is that the right price is whatever the buyer and seller agree upon. Average resale price and other guidelines don't really mean anything when it comes down to one particular lathe and the people involved.

Remember that that the power in Oz is 230 volts @ 50 Hz. The inverter might possibly work fine with US 240 volts @ 60 Hz power, but I would want to verify that information before proceeding. You might possibly need to change some set up parameters in the inverter.
 

Emiliano Achaval

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3,307
Likes
4,226
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
Personally, I have a hard time buying anything sight unseen no matter what the price might be. Some people don't know how to take care of their tools and I'm OCD about taking care of my tools. But, the best answer that I've heard about buying used stuff is that the right price is whatever the buyer and seller agree upon. Average resale price and other guidelines don't really mean anything when it comes down to one particular lathe and the people involved.

Remember that that the power in Oz is 230 volts @ 50 Hz. The inverter might possibly work fine with US 240 volts @ 60 Hz power, but I would want to verify that information before proceeding. You might possibly need to change some set up parameters in the inverter.
The lathe is here in Hawaii, Maui. It belong to a turner that didnt turn much. Then a new club member bought it. Sad to see she wants to downsize because she never used it yet... I have room in the shop, but only for a good deal. I passed last month on another great deal on a Powermatic, almost new and all tools ...
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
It's an interesting coincidence that a fellow club member called me this evening and wanted my thoughts on a VL300 that he could get for a really great price, but I don't recall him mentioning the amount. The one "catch" is that it doesn't have a motor and inverter ... and probably not the controls either. By the time that he gets those items, he might not have such a great deal after all. The cost of motors has been going up like crazy for the past couple of years. And, high-qualify inverters aren't cheap either.

Since you know the lathes history then that makes it a much more attractive deal. A used lathe doesn't have a warranty, but that's generally not a big deal for high-end lathes. Don't be concerned about too much swing ... I doubt that such an animal exists. I went from a Jet mini to a Robust with a 25½" swing with zero problems. Remember that you can turn a finial on a big lathe, but you can't turn a large platter on a mini lathe.
 

Emiliano Achaval

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3,307
Likes
4,226
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
It's an interesting coincidence that a fellow club member called me this evening and was wanting my thoughts on a VL300 that he could get for a really great price, but I don't recall him mentioning the amount. The one "catch" is that it doesn't have a motor and inverter ... and probably not the controls either. By the time that he gets those items, he might not have such a great deal after all. The cost of motors have been going up like crazy for the past couple years. And, high qualify inverters arena cheap either.

Since you know the lathes history then that makes it a much more attractive deal. A used lathe doesn't have a warranty, but that's generally not a big deal for high-end lathes. Don't be concerned about too much swing ... I doubt that such an animal exists. I went from a Jet mini to a Robust with a 25½" swing with zero problems. Remember that you can turn a finial on a big lathe, but you can't turn a large platter on a mini lathe.

I would be buying the Vicmarc as a second lathe, for lessons and for when we have hands on with visiting turners like Guilio Marcolongo. I turned on a Vicmarc at Arrowmont, I did not like it more than my Stubby. It's an OK lathe, but it wouldn't be my first choice. I like it better than the Robust, that I also tried at Arrowmont.
Wish we had a Kelly Blue Book of lathes lol. Lady paid too much for it, she thinks she can get as much...
 
Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
2,051
Likes
352
Location
Martinsville, VA
seems to me that a used lathe in Hawaii is a buyers market.....otherwize big boat anchor
 

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
8,321
Likes
3,576
Location
Cookeville, TN
The VicMarc 300 is one of the best lathes I've ever demo'ed on. right up there with the other high quality lathes I think. It was extremely quiet and smooth and everything on it worked perfectly. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if it had a decent price.
 

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,076
Likes
9,487
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
seems to me that a used lathe in Hawaii is a buyers market.....otherwize big boat anchor

Well, I don't know about that, Charlie. :rolleyes:

I'd speculate that Hawaii is probably one of the biggest tourist environments on the planet! o_O Probably more vacationers per square mile than anywhere else.....and, many of these tourists are looking for something special to bring home with them to commemorate their "once in a lifetime" vacation. Because of that, I'm also betting there are more woodturners per square mile than anywhere on the planet, as well......and, there are a ton of those who live there looking for some way to cash in on the ready-made marketplace. This market is full of vacationers just itching to spend their money like it grows on trees! :D
 

Emiliano Achaval

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3,307
Likes
4,226
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
We have about 32 club members on Maui. Probably that many more that do not bother to join. Some told me they didn’t need help and that they didn’t want to divulge how to sell ... The Big Island has hundreds of turners. Probably hundreds on Oahu. A few on Kauai. 2 on Lanai... not many would want to pay big money on a lathe here on Maui. They prefer a Laguna for half that. Most are beginners Amd don’t really know the difference between a Yugo and a Ferrari... I’m playing it cool for now, my instinct was to run over to her house and buy it! Lol
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
This market is full of vacationers just itching to spend their money like it grows on trees! :D

Actually, the greatest density of woodturners anywhere is in the Appalachian Mountains region, especially Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, and Georgia. The state of Washington also has a very large number of woodturners.

I don't agree that the tourist market is a likely place to sell a high end lathe (or any other lathe). Tourists buy things that they can't get back home. Woodturners are pretty smart buyers and aren't likely to part with money unless they think that they are getting a good deal. Emiliano thinks that the lathe is overpriced and if you add shipping costs to the mainland it's certainly not an attractive deal.
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,592
Likes
4,888
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
The club that I belong to has over two hundred members, but not many AAW members. I don't know if that is typical of other areas.

It varies a lot some clubs are 100% AAW members most have 50% or more AAW membership.
A few are much lower.
A high percentage of the more serious Woodturners join AAW.

Most clubs have a minority their membership (5%-40%) that have too little interest in improving their woodturning skills to be interested in AAW. It is not uncommon that 5% of the members of club don’t own a lathe.
Some individuals lack the financial resources.
 

Emiliano Achaval

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 14, 2015
Messages
3,307
Likes
4,226
Location
Maui, Hawaii
Website
hawaiiankoaturner.com
When I get frustrated about lack of participation in our club, my wife reminds me not everyone is as obsessed with turning as me. Beginners think they have to be good to join the AAW. I tried hard to tell them is made for them! Not a surprise to hear that serious turners join...
 
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
276
Likes
1,796
Location
North Ogden, Utah
I bought a used (2008) VL300 shortbed 3hp Leeson about 2 years ago for 5,000. At the time Craftsupplies was selling them new for around 7,000. But mine came with 5 Vicmarc chucks and 12 sets of jaws including 2 sets of cole jaws, 6 faceplates, about 30 chisels ranging from 1.5" scrapers to skews, bowl and spindle gouges, more tools than I'll probably ever use. I got a bunch of spur drives, live centers, 8 drill chucks, and a bunch of other things I can't even remember. By the time the widow of a very tool crazy turner was done throwing in extras, I felt I had more in accessories than the lathe itself. Is the lathe you're asking about a short or long bed, what hp motor is on it, does it include a stand. Usually Vicmarc lathes are imported into the US without stands, motors, or controllers and then "built" here. That dramatically increases the price that's listed on Vicmarc's Australian website. BTW, I love my VL300.
 

odie

TOTW Team
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
7,076
Likes
9,487
Location
Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
I bought a used (2008) VL300 shortbed 3hp Leeson about 2 years ago for 5,000. At the time Craftsupplies was selling them new for around 7,000. But mine came with 5 Vicmarc chucks and 12 sets of jaws including 2 sets of cole jaws, 6 faceplates, about 30 chisels ranging from 1.5" scrapers to skews, bowl and spindle gouges, more tools than I'll probably ever use. I got a bunch of spur drives, live centers, 8 drill chucks, and a bunch of other things I can't even remember. By the time the widow of a very tool crazy turner was done throwing in extras, I felt I had more in accessories than the lathe itself. Is the lathe you're asking about a short or long bed, what hp motor is on it, does it include a stand. Usually Vicmarc lathes are imported into the US without stands, motors, or controllers and then "built" here. That dramatically increases the price that's listed on Vicmarc's Australian website. BTW, I love my VL300.

Curtis......would love to see your lathe and shop.....if that's possible.

-----odie-----
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
When I get frustrated about lack of participation in our club, my wife reminds me not everyone is as obsessed with turning as me. Beginners think they have to be good to join the AAW. I tried hard to tell them is made for them! Not a surprise to hear that serious turners join...

When I bought my first lathe, not surprisingly I was launching a lot of pieces of wood into near-orbital trajectories and getting increasingly frustrated. I think that I can still see the finger impressions in the tool handles because I was choking them so tightly. I may have even invented some new words that weren't very nice.

The folks at the local Rockler's Hardware where I bought the lathe kept urging me to attend a meeting of the local turning club. My thought at the time was that I needed to get better at turning first because they wouldn't want someone as bad as me hanging around a bunch of experts. But, after a few more months of misery I decided to attend a meeting to see what they were all about.

The things that I experienced were simply mind boggling. There were all these amazing things on the show and tell table. The most amazing was a wearable hat that one of the members had turned. Then the demonstrator was Jean-François Escoulen from France who demonstrated his signature thin whimsical multi-axis turnings.

Before the meeting was over I had signed up to become a member. I found out about the AAW, but at that moment I wasn't interested because i mistakenly assumed it was for the "experts".

A few months later I volunteered to be the newsletter editor and webmaster and was informed that I needed to be an AAW member. Suddenly, it was another revelation about all the exciting things going on in the world of woodturning.

Then I heard about this new online forum that was strictly about woodturning called the AAW Forum that had started about the same time that I was bitten by the turning bug. Before I knew it, I was totally immersed in this strange new obsession.

I can understand that woodturning isn't for everyone. It's a good thing that there's a wide variety of interests. Some people would rather hit a little dimpled ball with a a club or jump out of airplanes. I flew airplanes, but never understood why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good one. :D

I think that I may have drifted off topic a bit. :D

I think that we usually get the lathe (or golf clubs or parachute) that we really want and the "justification" is just salve to ease the pain in the back pocket whether it's for woodturning or something less important.
 

RichColvin

Super Moderator
Staff member
OTI Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
667
Likes
498
Location
Marysville, OH
Website
www.colvintools.com
Some people would rather ... jump out of airplanes. I flew airplanes, but never understood why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good one.

Bill,

I am a proud ex-Army paratrooper. Greatly prefer to jump over landing! Still, 20 years later when flying commercially, I would prefer to jump than deal with all that mess. Get out of the plane door and get on with business.

When I was a cadet, I had a friend who was with us when we landed at Ft. Benning, GA. His knuckles were white, gripping the armrests. I asked him how a paratrooper with 5 jumps could be so scared. He said to me, "I've never landed in a plane."

Kind regards,
Rich
 

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
He said to me, "I've never landed in a plane."

That must be an old paratrooper joke. :D

One of my former airplane partners used to jump out of planes. Of course, he figured that I was crazy because I did a bit of aerobatic flying so I had to wear a parachute, but never used it. My aerobatic flying ended when I heard that the plane crashed after a student and instructor both jumped out.
 
Joined
Dec 7, 2012
Messages
272
Likes
115
Location
Albuquerque, NM
The greatest density of AAW members is the Baltimore Washington area.
It depends on your control volume. The greatest density of AAW members is in my garage shop when I'm in it: I define my control volume as the width of my small lathe (have to include the lathe in the control volume), back two feet, from floor to about 175 cm above the floor (accounting for my foot mat, shoes, and headgear). I get a density of 1.54 AAW members per cubic meter.

That said: Emiliano, go for it! If (when?) I make it out to Hawaii, I'll take extra time to take a lesson from you!

Hy
 
Joined
Mar 19, 2016
Messages
1,174
Likes
1,268
Location
Haubstadt, Indiana
Odie, I don't have a "shop", I have a corner in my garage. But here are a few pics of the lathe I took when I first got it along with some of the stuff that came with it. I've since gone through the boxes that came with it and found another chuck and more faceplates to fit 1" x 8tpi and enough slimline pen kits to last me and my grandkids lifetime.
View attachment 23786 View attachment 23787 View attachment 23788 View attachment 23789

Curtis, you hit the woodturners lottery. What a bargin
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
Those lathe package deals are the way to go when the opportunity presents itself.
You can usually peddle the duplicate tools off and pay for the acquisition.
 
Joined
Jan 24, 2010
Messages
3,058
Likes
900
Location
Cleveland, Tennessee
I'm far from an expert but I did stay at Holiday Inn Express. I turned for a while and joined a local club. The club has been invaluable in learning basics and new techniques for turnings. I finally joined AAW and should have done it a long time ago. Tier magazine is well worth the membership fee. The AAW website has a lot of information for members.
My father was a flight engineer in the South Pacific on C-47s. When we used to fly on business, he said that takeoff was actually the most dangerous. Landing, you could always glide. Plus.....he said ANY landing that you walked away from was a good landing.
 
Joined
May 1, 2023
Messages
14
Likes
3
Location
Longmont, CO
No parachutes on this post.

I purchased a late 1990's VL300 Craft Supply. The label is totally faded. Left leg is significantly bigger than the right leg, and the wiring all goes inside that leg. The wire to the external control box needs to be replaced, but I'm hesitant at this point to remove the leg without knowing what to do when it's off.

I learned in another post that the Craft Supply lathes had the top imported, and they made their own bases. That explains a lot.

Does anyone have experience removing that leg to get to what I am sure is the inverter box? Or a manual from that time period....

I can take pictures of the lathe tomorrow when I set all the pieces back together. It's in two major pieces, with the stand on end - this is how I finally figured out where the thin wire goes.

Thanks, all!
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,592
Likes
4,888
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
You might call craft supplies.
I did with a couple years ago with a problem on a woodfast I bought in 1995.
They helped me troubleshoot and what ask for to replace the reostat.

CS imported the bare woodfast then CS built the stands and had Dennis Ullery do the motor and electronics.
 
Joined
May 12, 2004
Messages
21
Likes
13
You might call craft supplies.
I did with a couple years ago with a problem on a woodfast I bought in 1995.
They helped me troubleshoot and what ask for to replace the reostat.

CS imported the bare woodfast then CS built the stands and had Dennis Ullery do the motor and electronics.

The control boards and the motors from those days are still available new from the original manufacturers, Leeson and Minarik.
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 1, 2023
Messages
14
Likes
3
Location
Longmont, CO
All rewired, cleaned and operating. Bearings repacked, new belt, replaced the wire from the inverter inside the foot to the control panel, replaced the box that holds the control panel.
And now, discovered that the potentiometer is either bad or needs cleaning. Moving the knob to a new speed results in a major slow-down, the up to the new speed.
I hope it's not the inverter!!!

This Craft Supplies VL300 is a beast, just like the new ones. It is a bit too high, as the legs are not adjustable. We'll see how this works out.

Thanks all for the suggestions and help. Both Vicmarc and CS are incredibly supportive!

(cleaned is an understatement!!!)
 
Back
Top