woodfast shortbed bowl lathe, made in Austrailia

[Gary Chapman]

Does anyone know of anywhere to get a manual for this lathe? I bought it on ebay, works super, really heavy, but runs clean.
I just got into bowl turning and having fun experiencing the bowl gouge.
I love to turn but green turning is new to me. I learned to turn with old spindle gouges and it is an experience to chane to the bowl gouge.
Thanks Gary

 

[John Jordan]

Gary,

Like many folks, I made a LOT of pieces on a short Woodfast-it's still a great lathe. I don't think there ever really was any sort of manual that would help. It's a pretty straightforward lathe. I suggest you just use it-anyhting that breaks is simple to fix.

Green wood is the way to go.

John

 

[odie]

I've had my longbed Australian Woodfast lathe for 17 years now, and I'm still extremely happy with it.

Most of the Aussie Woodfasts are 16" swing (including mine), but for a time, 2" riser blocks were available. For a short period of time, the Woodfast was made as a 20" swing, later on. As far as I'm concerned, you can buy as good a lathe as the Australian Woodfast, but you can't buy a better lathe.....it's built simple and robust.

I believe someone else who posted to this forum, enquired about a manual......so, if you do a search, you can probably get a copy of the manual right here. I still have my manual, but it's pretty simple and not very detailed at all. Also, the Woodfast tool company in Australia is still in business, just not producing lathes. If you run a search for them, you'll find it. I did, when I was interested in purchasing some of the optional items, but there isn't really anything they still have in stock......might be worth a try to get a copy of the manual. If worse comes to worse, and you can't find a copy, let me know.

You are going to like that lathe! :cool2:

ooc

 

[odie]

Gary......

Here is a link to the Woodfast Machinery Co. of Australia.

I'm not knowledgeable of their current operations, but I think the lathes on this site are not, or mostly not manufactured in Australia anymore......but, who knows......ask them!

You could probably get a copy of the manual for your lathe if you contact them.

click:

http://www.woodfast.com.au/index.php?p=1_1

ooc

 

[rsser]

Yeah, the Woodfast co. of now is not that of yesteryear.

The lathes are made in Asia. China probably.