I spoke with Ken Rude of Branches to Bowls, which is Vicmarc's North American distributor for lathes. They are going to be a vendor at Louisville, and are definitely bringing a VL 240 lathe to display. What's more they will also have the outrigger and the bed extension with the swing away hinge on display. I am looking forward to finally getting to see this lathe.
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Vicmarc Lathe at 2023 Symposium.
- Thread starter Mark Jundanian
- Start date
You won't be disappointed.
I will make sure to stop by and check it out.
By chance do you know if Vicmarc is or has planned on a swing away for their VL300? thanks...
The 240 is my favorite bowl lathe. Swing to the 30 degree spot and you can stand up straight and keep your elbows and arms in by your side.
robo hippy
robo hippy
I believe that the swing away fits both the 240 and the 300. vicmarc.com does show both a 300 and a 240 with a swing away mounted. Check out products >> lathe accessories.
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Yes.. they have a different but similar model for the 240 and the 300... different because of the casting depth of each I suspect.
Youtube search of "vicmac swing away" will provide a brief video.
Mark, you'll be VERY happy with it. Ken is pretty good too!
I have a question that I’m planning to ask Ken, but someone here might know. Does the swing away fit onto the end of the 500mm vl300 bed extension? I am assuming so, but the reason I ask is the end of extension has two bolt holes, but the adjoining plate for the swing away has 4 bolt holes (which fit the 4 bolt holes at the end of the normal Lathe bed).
Based on the Vicmarc web site, there is a different manual for the 240 and 300. not sure if it's the same piece of kit but it does suggest that there's a swing away for each.
Thanks for the reply, John. Correct there is a swing way for both models. I’m just wondering if the swing away will attach to the end of a bed extension, like it would the end of the bed. The number of bolt holes is different, but it appears the top two are in the same location. I would be surprised if the extension and swing away were incompatible, but am curious.
I love my 240 (got it from Ken) and as with Reed, I find it especially good when you rotate-out the head for a bowl. I find it so much better--for both comfort and control--not to have to lean over the bed, that I can't imagine going back. All of the normal banjo and tool rest positions and options work with the headstock rotated. It locks back inline with a beefy pin that lands it dead-on center with the tailstock. Perhaps because it is so heavy and closely-machined, I have never sensed any vibration from the fact that the headstock is able to rotate.
I also got the swing-away bed extension, which is very handy for getting the tailstock out of the way (and essential for baseball bats etc.). I got the outrigger unit, which is very sturdily built; I have it installed on the lathe, but it folds out of the way behind the headstock, waiting for a really big bowl.
I also got the swing-away bed extension, which is very handy for getting the tailstock out of the way (and essential for baseball bats etc.). I got the outrigger unit, which is very sturdily built; I have it installed on the lathe, but it folds out of the way behind the headstock, waiting for a really big bowl.
I did use the extension thing for the bowl rest, and I think it is best for the 90 degree rotation. However, it is not efficient for production bowl turning. It is a bit cumbersome for moving around like all the mini adjustments I make with my banjo.
robo hippy
robo hippy
I got to lay eyes and hands on the VL240, what a beauty! Definitely machined to finer tollerances and heavily built. Excellent feature set, including a TS swing away. But a price tag to match.
FYI. I own a VL240 with a swing away. I have had it for several months. I am very happy with it. My back and neck appreciate the rotating headstock! Ken Rude is a pleasure to work with. You are correct it is indeed pricey.