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After 33 years with my Woodfast lathe, a new lathe is now on the way!

Odie

Odie

Panning for Montana gold, with Betsy, the mule!
Joined
Dec 22, 2006
Messages
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Location
Missoula, MT
I sort of hate parting ways with my fixed headstock Woodfast lathe......it's been such a great machine. It still does everything I ever needed it to do....and very well indeed!

The one and only thing the Woodfast lathe lacks is the swivel headstock I've been hankering for, for years. It'll sure be easier on my back when doing the interior of bowls.....and I don't have to rearrange things like I would, if I had chosen a sliding headstock lathe.

IMG_1169.JPG

On the way is a new Vicmarc VL240 lathe. A little over $9,300/w swing away bed extension....delivered.

It should be shipped today...

VL240 ASM-HDv2.png VL240 ASM EVS 2HP two.png

View: https://youtu.be/aQOnGI5QR6E





Can someone help me out with the exact distance between the bedways? One thing I use constantly is my Oneway bowl steady, and I'll need a new clamp to use it on my new Vicmarc lathe. Thanks very much.

=o=
 
That's a beauty, Odie. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of your very high-quality work from the new one.

Mark
 
Mark Hepburn said:
That's a beauty, Odie. I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot more of your very high-quality work from the new one.

Mark
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark.....It's good to hear from you again.

How are you doing these days, my friend?

=o=
 
Looks good!

Do they switch some things for the American market? The specs said it has a 30mm tool post was wondering if they put a one inch in for us or a bushing has to be used?
 
Odie said:
Thanks Mark.....It's good to hear from you again.

How are you doing these days, my friend?

=o=
Click to expand...
Doing very well Odie. I'm never going to have the range of motion or strength in my hands that I once had but looks like I'm about 80% and I consider that a blesssing. I'm glad to hear from you; it's great that you remember me old friend!
 
My lathe timeline is as follows:

1. Shopsmith up to 1985. My first bowls were made around 1982 on the Shopsmith.
2. Northwood lathe from 1985 to 1992
3. Woodfast lathe from 1992 to present.
4. Now starting a new chapter with a Vicmarc VL240

Sam Fleisher said:
Looks good!

Do they switch some things for the American market? The specs said it has a 30mm tool post was wondering if they put a one inch in for us or a bushing has to be used?
Click to expand...

There is a sleeve insert that accommodates 1" tool posts.
However, I have a Robust Sweet 16 banjo (Shown in the photo of post #1.) that will most likely be the main banjo I'll be using. The clamping mechanism is much better than just a grub screw in the side of the tool post that the Vicmarc uses. This is one of the reasons why I didn't purchase this lathe a few years ago.

=o=
 
Last edited:
Congratulation on the new lathe, Odie. That’s a beauty. If I were younger and healthier, that’s a lathe that I would seriously consider. I too had a Woodfast lathe for quite a few years and I just loved it.
 
I went and checked mine for the bed gap. I got 61.65 mm, and 2.41 inches. Seems like strange measures. It does have a 30 mm tool post hole in the banjo. I ordered a post for my McNaughton system, and it wouldn't fit, a tiny bit too big. Haven't checked the exact diameter of the post, but guess I could shave it down a bit. I do know Craft Supplies has an insert to slip into the banjo that fits into the 30 mm post so a 1 inch tool rest will fit. I did use it for one demo some years ago, and it worked fine, but I already had 30 mm posts. Mine does not have a stop at 60 degrees. I do prefer this for turning bowls on.

robo hippy
 
As a three-time Vic owner (VL300/200/100), I must say- well done!

But holy smokes are things getting 'spensive! But you'll use and enjoy every penny of it, I'm sure. Best wishes for great future work!

What will become of your Woodfast?
 
Steve Tiedman said:
What will become of your Woodfast?
Click to expand...

The Woodfast will probably be for sale some point in the future.

I need to see that the new lathe is going to be my "new baby" before I turn the old lathe loose.

Probably in a few months.....not sure right now.

=o=
 
Odie said:
The Woodfast will probably be for sale some point in the future.

I need to see that the new lathe is going to be my "new baby" before I turn the old lathe loose.

Probably in a few months.....not sure right now.

=o=
Click to expand...

That's what I'm going to do with the PM 2014 I bought a couple of years back. It's a great little lathe but... it's a little lathe. (But I don't think I'll ever give up my VB36!)
 
Odie said:
I sort of hate parting ways with my fixed headstock Woodfast lathe......it's been such a great machine. It still does everything I ever needed it to do....and very well indeed!

The one and only thing the Woodfast lathe lacks is the swivel headstock I've been hankering for, for years. It'll sure be easier on my back when doing the interior of bowls.....and I don't have to rearrange things like I would, if I had chosen a sliding headstock lathe.

View attachment 78475

On the way is a new Vicmarc VL240 lathe. A little over $9,300/w swing away bed extension....delivered.

It should be shipped today...

View attachment 78476 View attachment 78477

View: https://youtu.be/aQOnGI5QR6E





Can someone help me out with the exact distance between the bedways? One thing I use constantly is my Oneway bowl steady, and I'll need a new clamp to use it on my new Vicmarc lathe. Thanks very much.

=o=
Click to expand...
62mm bed gap Odie. I wish Vicmarc would put it in their specs
 
I like my Vicmarc240HD very much. It's a solid workhorse and the swiveling headstock is a big plus.
I would have loved to have been able to afford a VB36!
Depending on how much future I have I may still get one.
 
Congratulations on the big purchase Odie! You definitely deserve a nice lathe. It is always exciting for delivery day. Nothing quite like it especially when you get a very high quality lathe.

Let us know how you like it and if it is better then your old one.
 
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