Craft Supplies VL300 - Need it lowered

[Doug Machin]

I obtained a CSVL300 from 1990 - In the past, Craft Supplies imported the Vicmarc bed, tailstock, banjo and headstock and built their own base, motor, variable speed unit.
Got it from a local turner's widow. Turned about 100 bowls in the last year. VL300 is awesome!

Problem is, it's way too high, and there's no adjustment in the base.

Pictures attached - i can remove the 11" legs, but need to build a new base. I'm a woodworker, and don't do steel. I can handle moving the variable speed control, which is in the left leg.

Any thoughts/advice/options? If I can't figure this out, I'll likely sell this and move to a new model.

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

How about building a platform to stand on. We keep some at one club for shorter demo guys. Work great.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

(As I'm proofreading, Ted posted his message...)
You didn't mention how much lower you want it to be, but, how about building a platform up around it? If you lay 2x4 flat face on the floor, 16" on center, and secure 3/4" plywood to the lumber, you'll be 2-1/4" taller relative to the spindle. Run that platform 3' out in front of the lathe and a foot or so longer than the left and right ends (maybe 2' longer to the right end to allow turning from the right end of the bed) and you'll have a nice safe area to move around on. Then paint the perimeter edge of the platform safety yellow as a visual warning to watch your step.

(Edit- extend the platform to go under the lathe the depth of the base feet, same at the right end.)

Would that raise your body position enough? Add another layer of plywood if needed.

 

[Larry Copas]

Since you said the legs are removable, just take them off and trot over to the local welding shop. I'm a hack welder and could shorten those legs with my plasma in a few minutes. Might have to add a brace or two than clean up. Wouldn't take me longer than a hour.

 

[Lyle Jamieson]

If you make new feet, make sure to add leveling feet. I prefer the platform. The first couple weeks it is a trip hazard. After that you won't know it is there.

 

[Doug Machin]

How about building a platform to stand on. We keep some at one club for shorter demo guys. Work great.

Great idea on the platform, that's been an idea that I've put aside, as I hoping there's a better option.

 

[Doug Machin]

If you make new feet, make sure to add leveling feet. I prefer the platform. The first couple weeks it is a trip hazard. After that you won't know it is there.

For sure. Everything else in my shop has leveling feet. this lathe as leveling 'pointy bolts' but they're not enough to level, just stabilize.

 

[Doug Machin]

Since you said the legs are removable, just take them off and trot over to the local welding shop. I'm a hack welder and could shorten those legs with my plasma in a few minutes. Might have to add a brace or two than clean up. Wouldn't take me longer than a hour.

I've wondered if a welding shop could rearrange those feet. I'll look into that. Thanks!

 

[Aron Fast]

I second building a platform. My 9 year old is learning how to turn and we keep a platform for my Jet 1640 that I move out of the way. I think it is just a couple of 6x6 screwed together.

 

[Kevin Jenness]

I would combine Larry and Lyle's advice. Have a steel fabricator shorten the legs and weld on horizontal plates or angles with leveling feet. Make the bases as wide as the original headstock base where it meets the floor for stability. That's a great lathe, no need to replace it when a few hundred dollars at the welding shop will sort it out.

 

[Darryl Fective]

I'm curious about how much height change you're thinking....

A platform has the advantage of a softer (less fatigue-inducing) floor to stand on, but modifying the legs eliminates the trip hazard. Another minor downside of modification could be resale, but might also allow for mobility options. (and maybe increasing resale value)

 

[David Shumaker]

I have the same lathe. If you decide to modify the leg be aware that the VFD is inside the leg under the head. It would be easier to build a platform around it.

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

I couldn't disagree more about building a platform. It's a trip hazard getting on and off. At some point, you'll fall on your a$$, if you're lucky, and not on your face. As others have mentioned, find a local small welding shop that does walk-in work and have them modify it for you.

 

[David Anliker]

Rather than modify those legs, decide the height and have the fabrication shop make new legs. You have the old legs for resale value, and it is easier to build new than modify. That left leg is a hazard in itself. An I-beam, some 1" all thread and nuts, you are done. A box beam would also work.

 

[Steven Borruso]

I knew I'd have to solve the same issue when I first bought my Grizzly G0766 ... it is way to tall for me (I'm 5'8")
Decided on building a platform that swings up out of the way when not in use (have a narrow "lathe room")
Was initially concerned if I'd be tripping over in or accidently "step/fall off" but hasn't happened yet after several yrs of use. I leave it down 90% of the time.
Gets me to the perfect height and one of the most useful shop mods I've made so far.
Only change to the lathe was 2 holes at bottom of the legs for bolts to hinge it and 2 pieces of threaded rod in existing threaded holes to catch the platform from swinging too far in when upright..

 

[stu senator]

I don't know the present height or the required height but perhaps something like this

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

might work. McMaster-Car has many interesting machine leg mounts that may work.

 

[Doug Machin]

Thanks to all for advice. Local welding shop can build new legs in a day. It'll take less time to just build two new ones than to fuss over the old ones. Good way to save a great lathe (with a lousy stand!).

 

[bob elliott]

It’s kind of mind blowing that Craft Supplies / Dale Nish would have approved the design of a lathe base that could not be height adjusted. His 1975 book “Creative Woodturning” did not address issues of woodturning ergonomics despite the fact that he taught at Brigham Young University. Maybe spindle height was mentioned in his later books? Dale was not a tall man which makes me wonder how he would have interacted / looked while turning on an old style tall VL300.

 

[Doug Machin]

It’s kind of mind blowing that Craft Supplies / Dale Nish would have approved the design of a lathe base that could not be height adjusted. His 1975 book “Creative Woodturning” did not address issues of woodturning ergonomics despite the fact that he taught at Brigham Young University. Maybe spindle height was mentioned in his later books? Dale was not a tall man which makes me wonder how he would have interacted / looked while turning on an old style tall VL300.

Yeah.....the spindle height on this lathe is 48". Not even close. But, that was long ago and I don't believe they made too many of them.

 

[bob elliott]

Thanks to all for advice. Local welding shop can build new legs in a day. It'll take less time to just build two new ones than to fuss over the old ones. Good way to save a great lathe (with a lousy stand!).

Doug,

Did you ever get those new legs built for your CSVL300?

 

[Doug Machin]

Yes. I am in the middle of moving, and will post photos of the legs and the assembled lathe when the moving band gets unloaded.

 

[Doug Machin]

Well, I outsmarted myself!!!
Legs for the Craft Supplies CSVL300 are now 5" lower, with leveling feet, so I got it 3-4" down, which is where it's right for me. And level!
The left leg no longer sticks out about 8 inches. No reason for that, it would be impossible to tip a VL300 over, and the new VL3000 doesn't have that.

See pictures of new legs.

HOWEVER, the VSC was mounted in the old left leg, screwed into the slanted top of the back of the leg. That part of the new leg is too short for that.
Decision tree:
1. Mount it horizontally on the inside cover of the leg - - no joy there, the VSC has to be upright.
2. Mount it on the lathe - too much dust
3. Purchase an outdoor, vented, metal box with a door and move all the wiring. Good to go, but the wire from the on/off switch is a bit too short, so I'll be replacing that next time I remove the bed. you can see the white box in one of the photos.

 

[Gord Cameron]

That is a great result: right for your height and eliminates the poorly-designed stand.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Nice job on the stand mods. Should make using the machine very enjoyable.

 

[Kevin Jenness]

I would want the controls mounted where I can reach them easily, on the tailstock end so I don't normally have to cross the line of fire to adjust the speed or shut the lathe down. I have two magnet-back control stations on my Oneway lathe, right and left, no issues with dust. The main thing is easy access, especially for emergency shutdown. The e-stop bar on the newer VM 300 seems like an excellent idea.

 

[David Gilliver]

Well, I outsmarted myself!!!
Legs for the Craft Supplies CSVL300 are now 5" lower, with leveling feet, so I got it 3-4" down, which is where it's right for me. And level!
The left leg no longer sticks out about 8 inches. No reason for that, it would be impossible to tip a VL300 over, and the new VL3000 doesn't have that.

See pictures of new legs.

HOWEVER, the VSC was mounted in the old left leg, screwed into the slanted top of the back of the leg. That part of the new leg is too short for that.
Decision tree:
1. Mount it horizontally on the inside cover of the leg - - no joy there, the VSC has to be upright.
2. Mount it on the lathe - too much dust
3. Purchase an outdoor, vented, metal box with a door and move all the wiring. Good to go, but the wire from the on/off switch is a bit too short, so I'll be replacing that next time I remove the bed. you can see the white box in one of the photos.

Doug. Nice fix for your height problem. I have the same lathe from Craft Supplies #454 little newer than yours. My problem is not so much with height but the controls. They are mounted in the left leg and the Run/Stop switch has gone bad. The only way to access it is to remove the lathe bed from the base. I see from your photos you have a remote control on your lathe. I want to do the same fix to my lathe. Did you do that, do you have a wiring schematic or some Idea how it was rewired? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Wyatt Holm]

I would talk to someone at Craft Supplies. I doubt any warranty is valid, but they should be able to get you any parts you need.

 

[Doug Machin]

My lathe came with a remote control box. It should be relatively easy to do, depending on the VSC (speed control). The wiring that goes to the controls on the front can be relocated or duplicated to a remote box. But leave the main power switch where it is. No need to move that. Just reverse, start, stop and speed control knob. Run an 8-wire cable from the speed control (VSC) to a new box (got mine from Amazon). You'll need to duplicate or move the switches over.

And yes, have to lift the bed off if you want to delete the controls up front. I use a 1-ton engine hoist for that with the appropriate straps.

 

[Doug Machin]

I would want the controls mounted where I can reach them easily, on the tailstock end so I don't normally have to cross the line of fire to adjust the speed or shut the lathe down. I have two magnet-back control stations on my Oneway lathe, right and left, no issues with dust. The main thing is easy access, especially for emergency shutdown. The e-stop bar on the newer VM 300 seems like an excellent idea.

Mine are a remote control box I can move anywhere. I keep it on the tailstock end.