After 33 years with my Woodfast, a Vicmarc VL240 is now on the way!

[Paul Vechart]

Odie does your tail stock ever get used during your bowl turning process?

 

[Odie]

@Odie what became of your Woodfast? Or rather, what will become if your Woodfast?

Howdy Steve......

I have taken a deposit on the Woodfast lathe and expect the buyer to be here to pick it up sometime next month.

=o=

Odie does your tail stock ever get used during your bowl turning process?

Only occasionally.

Usually only when extreme out-of-balance conditions require it.

=o=

 

[hughie]

Howdy Steve......

I have taken a deposit on the Woodfast lathe and expect the buyer to be here to pick it up sometime next month.

=o=


Only occasionally.

Usually only when extreme out-of-balance conditions require it.

=o=

This thread has taken on a life of its own Odie.

 

[Odie]

The one thing I truly hate about my VL240 lathe....is the banjo. That single position lockdown handle on the banjo got in the way too many times. To use the alternate bolt is annoying....and there is NO alternative position for the handle.

I decided to make up a wrench that stays on a hook just under the tachometer.....so I can now leave the handle replacement bolt installed permanently.

The banjo is heavily made.....I like that! ......but, Vicmarc should have thought this through a little more thoroughly. I sure do miss my old Robust Sweet 16 dogleg banjo with its reversable locking lever.

(I'd still buy this lathe....even with it's flaws....That rotating head is outstanding! Saves my back! I'm no longer wearing a back brace to do the interiors of bowls.)

=o=

 

[Odie]

Another thing I'd change on the VL240, is that tachometer.

The readout is delayed by a few seconds and is useless because of it.

Vicmarc is doing the right thing by supplying the rpm readout.....but, that setup is totally useless.

Digital is fine for most applications, but an analog meter would be better, if that what is needed to have an "instant" reading.

=o=

Don't know if I mentioned this before, but the red stop bar had too light a touch to stop the spindle. I found that I was accidently tripping it while working normally. If it were originally made with a stiffer spring, that would be the solution......but, I added some spongy Styrofoam behind it to stiffen it up a bit. Now, it takes a deliberate push on the stop bar to activate it...

.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

I understand your pain with the toolrest lock handle, Odie, but I feel the need to balance the scale for the general readership.

Since 2001 until today, I've had the Papa Vicmac VL300, Mama VL200 (which remains with me), and Baby VL100 in my shop, and never once have I had issues with the toolrest locking handles on any of them (all similar to yours). I don't mean to be contrary to your likes, needs, and wishes, but I just don't want potential future users to feel that there is an inherent problem with the design that may sway them away from the machine.

To put it in perspective, the front-mounted toolrest lock handle on my Oneway 1224 (common design to their larger lathes) is well regarded by just about everyone, yet I didn't like it at all and I changed it to something else (, a ratchet-style lock handle, I have a whole thread on this that can be searched here). I don't fault Oneway, and I don't feel it is inferior or defective, it's just my personal preference.

This thread is proof positive that you demand the highest level of performance from all of your machinery, and that you'll fiddle and tweak until you've gotten something to be where you expect it to be. An admirable effort, and it shows in your work. But to balance what we watch you do to make them your own, Vicmarc is building some of the finest non-CNC woodturning machinery on the planet, and as far as I'm concerned, objectively speaking, held on the same podium as the equally high quality Oneway and Robust lathes.

But thank you for explaining the issues you have, and how you get around them. These will be meaningful to someone at some time, I'm sure.

 

[Odie]

I understand your pain with the toolrest lock handle, Odie, but I feel the need to balance the scale for the general readership.

Since 2001 until today, I've had the Papa Vicmac VL300, Mama VL200 (which remains with me), and Baby VL100 in my shop, and never once have I had issues with the toolrest locking handles on any of them (all similar to yours). I don't mean to be contrary to your likes, needs, and wishes, but I just don't want potential future users to feel that there is an inherent problem with the design that may sway them away from the machine.

To put it in perspective, the front-mounted toolrest lock handle on my Oneway 1224 (common design to their larger lathes) is well regarded by just about everyone, yet I didn't like it at all and I changed it to something else (, a ratchet-style lock handle, I have a whole thread on this that can be searched here). I don't fault Oneway, and I don't feel it is inferior or defective, it's just my personal preference.

This thread is proof positive that you demand the highest level of performance from all of your machinery, and that you'll fiddle and tweak until you've gotten something to be where you expect it to be. An admirable effort, and it shows in your work. But to balance what we watch you do to make them your own, Vicmarc is building some of the finest non-CNC woodturning machinery on the planet, and as far as I'm concerned, objectively speaking, held on the same podium as the equally high quality Oneway and Robust lathes.

But thank you for explaining the issues you have, and how you get around them. These will be meaningful to someone at some time, I'm sure.

Thank you for your input, Steve.....

I wouldn't want to deter anyone from buying a Vicmarc lathe.....and, as I stated above, I'd still buy this lathe today. As far as I'm concerned, this VL240 is the best lathe made specifically for bowl turning nutcases like me! ha,ha!

What I'm hoping, is this thread eventually gets some attention from Vicmarc. It really would be a simple fix to slightly redesign the banjo for a better, more applicable and repositionable toolpost lockdown.

If a newer/better banjo ever becomes available......I'd buy it!

=o=

 

[Steve Tiedman]

@Odie, a couple times over the years I've had oddball questions to ask Vicmarc so I'd send an email. Prompt responses from knowledgable folk were always the norm. I bet they'd be back to you about all of your thoughts and impressions. Drop them a line. Heck, send them a link to this thread.

 

[Odie]

@Odie, a couple times over the years I've had oddball questions to ask Vicmarc so I'd send an email. Prompt responses from knowledgable folk were always the norm. I bet they'd be back to you about all of your thoughts and impressions. Drop them a line. Heck, send them a link to this thread.

You know.......I thought of doing exactly that.....but, had second thoughts.

I'd like to see some improvements to the VL240, but it's my belief that if the information in this thread filters to the Vicmarc doers and shakers from other sources, they might pay more attention to it.

I will continue to give my thoughts and impressions in this thread concerning this wonderful lathe in the mean time.....

This lathe will not make me a better turner....but, it certainly will make me a happier turner....with fewer back related issues!

=o=