Is anyone familiar with the Stratos XL or Stratos fu230 lathes?
Not sure what you mean. I think the type of lathe one desires is a preference. I really don’t want a swivel head lathe. Doesn’t interest me. However I am an individual with my preference and not a label...probably because the American woodturning community only moves as a herd.
View: https://youtu.be/SMgzIX_lV7w
Not sure what you mean. I think the type of lathe one desires is a preference. I really don’t want a swivel head lathe. Doesn’t interest me. However I am an individual with my preference and not a label.
I'm a bit disappointed that American woodturners seem only to be interested in sliding head lathes, but it seems the international market has a number of them......probably because the American woodturning community only moves as a herd.
A bit under $6k in Great Britain.That's a really nice lathe with a lot of features. Wonder what it cost.
Odie just because you like (or think you like) a swivel headed lathe does not make you a maverick, you are as much a part of that herd as anyone else. Woodturning is about choices and we have tons of those. My first good lathe which is now 20 or 21 years old is the Nova DVR3000 which I have been able to upgrade though each upgrade (speed dial, 5000 RPM etc.). I have had the outrigger for it since day 1 and its only use to this day is to hold the cord when unplugged and it holds the knock out bar. Never had the urge to swivel the head. Two of my lathes have sliding heads, only one of them has been used that way. It has been my experience that most people looking at swivel heads is do to a bodily injury or shortcoming (I know some just want a swivel head period). I know many Nova users that have never swiveled their head because they don't have the outrigger. Let's face it we are a Great Herd with tons in common.OK....Let me clarify, Bill.....
The American woodturning community moves as a unit....a herd.....generally because the learning process is very much packaged, in a box, with a pretty approved bow on top! Anyone outside of that, is considered to be doing things incorrectly.
You can agree or disagree with that, and many do.....but, that's the way I feel about the "American woodturning community".
-----odie-----
Odie just because you like (or think you like) a swivel headed lathe does not make you a maverick
the American woodturning community moves as a herd.
Kevin, I, too, lament that Stratos does not import to the US. I wonder if there are any turning clubs in Portugal, or elsewhere in Europe, that you might consult?Thank you For your responses. The reason I was asking is that I am moving to Portugal this year and was looking to purchase this lathe when I get there. I was hoping that some one had some experience on and could give the pros and cons of it.
again thank you for the replies
Kevin
The coolest thing about the herd is its hundreds of prominent members leading in different directions.
The herd members keep producing objects never created before. Hmmm!
Not just in Woodturning. Same thing in Woodworking/ Flatwork via Youtube influencers.One of the noted things about this herd, is there are so many "prominent" turners that have something to sell you. Because of that, their advice is skewed towards the desired course.
Johannes Michelsen was a vendor as of 2017 at AAW Kansas City. Looks like he doesn't do it anymore though, maybe someone else can take up the mantle? Though if they really are just under $6k, that might be the answer right there; at that money there's no real reason to get the Stratos instead of the Vicmarc VL240.
. Call ONEWAY they sell banjos to fit just about every popular lathe.one time, I considered the VL240 with the purchase of another banjo, but since it's swing is 19.29", I am unaware of any banjos that would accommodate my existing large collection of tool rests with 1" posts. Vicmarc's lack of vision for entering the US market is their failure.
I have a 20" Oneway banjo on my General lathe. Top of the banjo is 7 3/8" above the ways which might or might not work with your rests on the Vicmarc. I consider it a very good design.At one time, I considered the VL240 with the purchase of another banjo, but since it's swing is 19.29", I am unaware of any banjos that would accommodate my existing large collection of tool rests with 1" posts. Vicmarc's lack of vision for entering the US market is their failure.
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@Brent@TurnRobust
. Call ONEWAY they sell banjos to fit just about every popular lathe.
I have a 20" Oneway banjo on my General lathe. Top of the banjo is 7 3/8" above the ways which might or might not work with your rests on the Vicmarc. I consider it a very good design.
I think you mean the banjo. I dont see why not. Dont you have an American Beauty? Probably just need a clamp block made to fit the bed gap. Compare length and total perpendicular to bed movement.Now, I am wondering if the Robust tool rest could be 'adjusted' to fit on the Vicmark?????
Hmmm! Okay, about the only thing I know about the turning community is what I see on this forum. I see mentions of names of "prominent" turners, I don't see them leading in different directions though. Not many of them post on this forum.The coolest thing about the herd is its hundreds of prominent members leading in different directions.
The herd members keep producing objects never created before. Hmmm!
Perhaps we differ on a definition of newThe coolest thing about the herd is its hundreds of prominent members leading in different directions.
The herd members keep producing objects never created before. Hmmm!