Doug Turner
Ken, I have a short bed 16" VS Woodfast cica 1982. They are built much better than the Rikon. I believe the original ones were mfgd in Australia not China. A friend bought the tabletop Rikon and broke several parts while he was trying to learn. The casting seemed very brittle and in one case just crumbled. I tried to get him to return it to WoodCraft where he bought it, but he ended up throwing it out in the trash. I am sure WoodCraft would have stood behind it, but he was fed up with it.

My Woodfast will surely outlast me and perhaps a couple of other woodturners with reasonable care and maintenance. This is one of those tools I would buy again Charlie was talking about.

Doug