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Inspecting a used Robust AB for purchase

Aaron Cheateaux

Aaron Cheateaux

Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
119
Likes
97
Location
Steilacoom, WA
Apologies if this isn’t the right forum.

I have an opportunity to buy a well appointed, very lightly used, 2010 American Beauty. Short bed, 3HP, casters, tilt away (no shock), vacuum adapter, and a few other options.
It’s the older model with three step pulley but everything else is roughly the same. Some surface rust on a few components from sitting in a barn in WA, but overall it looks really good.

I spoke with Robust and they basically said to make sure it works.
Does anyone else have one of their earlier lathes, and have anything else they recommend taking a look at before I pull the trigger? I’m picking it up Sunday.

I’m comfortable with the price based on everything else getting thrown in with the sale, or I would be looking at Robust’s current sale.
 
Inspect all wiring for varmints chewing on it, particularly since its been in a barn. Expect a bit of corrosion at wire connections, that may need cleaning.

Structurally it should be fine, but ask then look for any obvious cracks in welds or other places. Check TS and banjo for proper movement - could be a bit rough due to corrosion, and easily cured.

I would not buy it with out powering it up to make sure everything works, and if at all possible put it under load by by actually turning something on it. Power up, run speed up and down several times, feel/listen closely for vibration and noises.

Check with owner about it - take a gouge, a big balanced blank, and a mounting method to check out the power system under load - its not to check any vibration etc, as the mounting is likely not good. Does the drive system carry a load is all you are checking. Even with an issue it could still be worthwhile at the right price. Or, the owner may give you a week or 2 to get it home and check everything out. Nothing wrong with a little written contract you both sign - its a sizable investment. Possibly do 1/2 down when you take it and 1/2 after check out.
 
Looks like he's good with a 70% payment, take it to the house, make sure everything is good, then complete the sale. Great advice Doug! When I looked it over yesterday, it was in pretty good shape, just dusty. I'll give the electrical connections and wires a thorough inspection as well on pick up. Pics to come.

I ended up pullilng about 1000 pounds of turning blanks from his barn yesterday. Insane quantity and quality of wood.

More to follow fellas.
 
That is the model I have, 3 speeds anyway. I prefer the 3 speed for my lathes, and I believe Oneway and Vicmark are all that way. With the 2 speed lathe, low range is a bit slow for turning smaller bowls, with high speed that does not have enough torque for coring, and the mid range is just right. I did have Brent help me tweak the variable speed so I could get down to that 15 or so rpm range for sanding my warped bowls. You don't need the shock for the tilt away. Not sure if it can be added or not.

robo hippy
 
I’ve got a 2012 model - first year with the new headstock design - two step pully and the newer Leeson motors (the 3 hp is a beast). Make sure it functions normally, but there’s little to go really wrong with them as long as the electronics are in working order. Surface rust is surprising, but easily dealt with. Plug it in, run at various speeds looking for vibrations or bearing noises and try to control that grin…I’ve had mine for eleven years and the grin still sneaks up once in a while.
Get a manual and a couple of big Allen wrenches and go through the ‘settling’ process with the legs when you get it where it’s going to live. It makes a huge difference. Then put on a decent sized blank and give it a go.
 
So, just returned from pickup. It’s a little overwhelming. Seller was in the mood to get rid of stuff, so in addition to the lathe, I brought home:
- Rikon 10-325 14” bandsaw (great shape)
- T7 Tormek with woodturners kit (unused)
- Hold Fast vacuum chuck setup
- Monster hollowing rig
- 3 OneWay chucks with a few sets of extra jaws
- Robust bowl rest
- 3 full size Easy Wood carbide tools
- McNaughton coring setup (all blades)
- 4 Thompson tools with handles
- 5 Sorby tools with handles.
- more dust collection equipment (unused) than I’ll ever need.
- ~1500 pounds of turning blanks. All kinds of wildly desirable wood I’ve never touched before.
618A80BD-CDD6-408C-A248-8B5AFC50E1D8.jpegE9A42D37-720C-483D-BBC3-A7277BD12CE5.jpeg2F5614D9-BD91-4BE6-8EFE-F0770B00F7E0.jpeg2090957A-0CB7-4931-A70E-A050F44A82ED.jpeg
 
Like I said, a little overwhelming. Basically catapulted me about 10 years into the future on my upgrade and outfit the shop timeline. I’ll retire from the military next year, so it’s nice to know I’m set with my puttering hobby.

After digging through the dust collection stuff, I have a pretty good idea of how to use it.

Lathe gets unpacked tomorrow.
 
Got it unpacked into the shop today. 1642 went into the trailer to move to its next home. Went through the maintenance schedule, and gave her a deep clean. Knocked off some of the surface rust and she shined right up.

I didn’t realize early versions of the AB came without a quick lever to move the headstock. Couple of bolts there now, seems easy enough to use.

Power upgrade this week.
11EFCD08-95EE-4C40-94B3-4886901BDF8E.jpeg
 
I have the JET 1642 and have considered getting a "big boy lathe". I just can't bring myself to spend that kind of dough. I retired from the USAF in 2017 and started building out my shop that same year. I went back to work (Same chair different clothing) but. tinker every single day.

CONGRATS my friend. That should last you a lifetime.

John
 
The mobile wheels on the AB are the bomb but the screw jack to install/remove them is a PITA to use. Get a low-profile hydraulic car jack, cover the lift point with a wood scrap & magnet so you don't scratch your lathe & you can take wheels on/off < 3 min.
 
Congrates to a serious blessing. I have worked my American Beauty Hard for 6 years and it still works like the excellent machine it is. I would never want any other lathe. I do so much green turning the stainless bed ways are more than worth it. I used to spend almost as much time cleaning my bed ways of rust when I had my PM3520 B as I did turning. Of course I never found anything it couldn't turn either. PS we are all jealous in a good way
 
Wow! I hope I can find something like that when I decide to upgrade! Nice Haul! I would just like to find all that wood.
 
Aaron Cheateaux said:
So, just returned from pickup. It’s a little overwhelming. Seller was in the mood to get rid of stuff, so in addition to the lathe, I brought home:
- Rikon 10-325 14” bandsaw (great shape)
- T7 Tormek with woodturners kit (unused)
- Hold Fast vacuum chuck setup
- Monster hollowing rig
- 3 OneWay chucks with a few sets of extra jaws
- Robust bowl rest
- 3 full size Easy Wood carbide tools
- McNaughton coring setup (all blades)
- 4 Thompson tools with handles
- 5 Sorby tools with handles.
- more dust collection equipment (unused) than I’ll ever need.
- ~1500 pounds of turning blanks. All kinds of wildly desirable wood I’ve never touched before.
View attachment 50278View attachment 50279View attachment 50280View attachment 50281
Click to expand...
Wow! Go for it. Even if varmints dined on the wiring, it can be replaced. What a package!
 
After getting the electrical service in the shop upgraded Friday, was finally able to put it through the paces with a 15" curly walnut blank.
- The new controls are interesting; I was used to just turning the Jet up from 0 everytime versus the AB and the direction being the on. I played with moving the controller box around and found myself always reaching for the headstock.
- A few times at lower speeds it's like it wanted to shut off; I would just hit the direction switch again. I'm not sure if it's a power thing, or maybe a loose connection under load.
- I was able to do something I've never played with: vacuum chucking. Talk about a fun way to finish a bowl.
- Some of the 'little things' like the tilt away, the front mounted 110 extension I didn't know I needed until I used them.

- Some things in the huge collection of tools are already gone or on their way out: Thompson gouges, some chucks went to friends who needed the additional options, and the Tormek will likely go as well. It just too slow for how impatient I am. I was able to sell my Jet quickly to a local guy getting into turning.

I ordered a quick release adapter for the headstock, and a shock for the tilt away.

Overall, I continue to be very happy. I can't believe I lucked into this, and I really appreciate the advice, encouragement, and general stoke from the forum.
 
You hit the mother-lode on this deal, Aaron! All those tools, the bandsaw, blanks and accessories you scored probably add up to the value of that AB on their own.

Years ago, when it looked like my youngest son was getting into knife-making, we had a workshop purpose-built, and his knife-making mentor (Ross Tyser, one of the best in the country) put us onto a deal something like yours. A deceased knife-maker's family basically sold us his entire knife-making shop and all the tools and materials for a ridiculous price just to get rid of it all. That son lost interest in knife-making, but I still use some of the same tools in the same workshop, just for turning. Turns out a 2x72" knife-maker's grinder works for a lot of other things if you use your imagination (shaping straight-razor scales (yet another hobby), polishing relief bevels on turning tools, to name a couple).

My own wood-turning mentor is 91 years young, and approaching the end of his ability to turn without shakiness at the lathe. Although I am mostly set for life with my lathe and tools after a few years of spending many thousands on it, the contents of his shop including a very nice OneWay 16/40 will make someone very happy. I think any craftstman unloading premium tools for any reason must feel better knowing they will be well-used.
 
William Rogers said:
What is the “quick release adapter” for the headstock. Are you referencing the headstock limit?
Click to expand...
Earlier models had a headstock with two bolts to loosen/slide. Brent has/had an adapter to make it lock/unlock with a lever like the banjo/tailstock or the headstock on current models.

So, it’s an adapter to retrofit a quick release.
 
Aaron Cheateaux said:
Earlier models had a headstock with two bolts to loosen/slide. Brent has/had an adapter to make it lock/unlock with a lever like the banjo/tailstock or the headstock on current models.

So, it’s an adapter to retrofit a quick release.
Click to expand...
I didn’t know that. Not sure if that model has the limit switch where the lathe won’t start if the spindle lock is engaged, but it is worth an upgrade.
 
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