General 26020 lathes

Re: General 26020 lathes

Roger Dunn

>Joe,

I've had mine for three years and am very happy with it. The handle and spring loaded knob on the tool rest is the flimsiest part of the lathe and I replaced mine with a good quality allen headed bolt about a year ago.

Good luck,

Roger

I Love Mine XXOO

[email protected]

>Hi Joe,

I've had my 26020-VD for almost 3 years now and I love it. It was the perfect "fit" for me in several ways. I knew I wanted a VS lathe and this one worked in both size and price as well. General machines are very well built and I'm certain this will be my last lathe purchase. The 2HP motor is perfectly adequate for what I do and the reverse drive is a function I could never live without. Let me know if I can answer any specific questions you might have!

Jennifer : )

Re: I Love Mine XXOO

Joe Petecki

>Thanks for your responses. Now I'm even more excited. I am wondering if it is possible to remove the head and tail stocks so I can slide the machine into the back of my pickup (I have a cap)so I can avoid shipping charges.

Re: General 26020 lathes

Mike Rubes

>Hi Joe,

I don't have a General 260, but have only heard good things about them. My local woodworking shop store has just started carrying a full line of General tools and they have a 26020 sitting on the showroom floor. I'd seen pics but was unprepared for how massive this thing is. It looks to be a really well made and solid machine.

Good luck with your decision, let us know what you do.

Mike

Spinning small and dreaming big in Apex, NC....

Yes you can!

[email protected]

>

Re: I Love Mine XXOO

Dave Shombert

>Joe - First off, I'll add my voice to the chorus of satisfied General 26020VD owners. Mine's also about three years old and I've had no trouble or complaints. The one thing that I wish was different on this machine is that the quill travel is only a couple of inches, vs. four or even six on some of the other high end machines. But that's easy enough to live with that. I added the outboard turning setup later, for another $300 or so, and I think that was money well spent.

The toolrest locking handle on mine also gave up after about two years. My dealer (Woodwerks, of Columbus, OH) replaced it for free even though it was out of warranty. When I got the outboard attachment, the locking handle on that part was much more substantial, so maybe they've changed that.

You can take the tailstock off, but not the headstock. And you'd need quite a crew to load this into the back of a pickup. Mine was delivered by motor freight to a local business, then transported to my place (in the woods) in a friend's step van that has been set up for hauling pianos. We got it started into the step van by picking it up with a forklift (at the headstock end, of course), and that was pretty scary. If your shop is accessible by the motor freight guys, I'd say it's worth having them deliver it. THis thing weighs close to six hundred pounds, and every one of them is heavy.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Have fun.

Dave Shombert

Elkins, WV

....also......

[email protected]

>....if I may suggest. I would opt for the gap filler that fills in the gap at the end of the of the ways at the headstock. It's a $60.00 add on, but I'm glad I bought it. I find that I pull the banjo right up to the headstock frequently and if I didn't have the gap filler I would have trouble getting it that close.

Jen

Re: General 26020 lathes

Joe Petecki

>Thanks Roger, Jennifer, Dave and Mike. The gap filler I'm going to waite on my buget is already blown out of the water and Dave, I'm going to take your advise and get it delivered, what the heck, its only $200 and it will be worth it. I plan on driving to Orlando Saturday morning and picking it up. I'll let you know how I make out.

Re: General 26020 lathes

Bill Howatt

>Joe,

I have had mine for a year and it is a smooth running machine. Only minor complaint is the back of the stand can drum or resonate at times. Although I haven't done it, it apparently is easily stopped by screwing a board onto the sheet metal joining the two pedestals or by hanging a bag of sand onto the sheet metal.

I heartily second what Jennifer said about the gap filler block; I am very glad I bought one since I like to bring the toolrest behind many pieces.

While the headstock doesn't come off as easily as sliding the tailstock off, it is only 4 bolts easily accessible with a socket. If you do remove it follow General's advice and note how much you loosen each alignment screw so you can put them back in the same place when you put the headstock back on if you change your mind about delivery service.

Enjoy it!

Bill

Re: General 26020 lathes

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Joe...another General owner. Go for it!!!!A fine running machine. Extremely well balanced, even the faceplates are drilled for balance. 4 speeds, all variable.

The only changes I would make....an indicator light to tell when power is on, like the vicmark, to make sure the machine is OFF. ( not just turned way down)

I would like a lower tool rest for my turning style and to fit accessories.Will last a lifetime or two.

Re: General 26020 lathes

TDaniel

>Joe, check it out carefully. General until recently was one of my favorite lathes. However, the last one I saw was not the General that I was familiar with. It appeared to be cast in

China even though it had a sticker on it that said "Made in Canada". I have tried to get more info on this but have had no luck. My suggestion is " do your homework before making this purchase".

TD

Re: I Love Mine XXOO

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Dave, I'm thinking of purchasing the outboard extension as well..... do you think it is long enough? It also appears to fit the other end as well, which would be nice. Can you tell if it will indeed fit?

I want to install an indicator light in mine, so I know at a glance that the power is off for the night. I,ve accidentally left mine on all night with the speed turned all the way down. I need to study the wiring scematic to do it. Keith

Re: General 26020 lathes

Jim Putnam

>Joe,

I compared the Powermatic 3520 to the VS General as they set next to each other in the show room and selected the Powermatic for my needs (bowls) because of being able to turn off of the end, for the longer travel on the tailstock (4.5"), for the more rigid tool rest and banjo (my very unscientific evaluation) and for the lower price ($750). That said, they both are very good machines and my guess is that, except for price, I would have been really pleased with the General, it's a very nice machine.

Re: General 26020 lathes

Keith Tompkins

>Hi Terry, THAT would be a shame if they did that. Unfortunately, it would be easy enough to do, especially with their line of General International imports.

The first time you posted about this subject I admit I kinda panicked! My castings are not as good as an old Powermatic 90 I've used, but the machine runs flawlessly so.....PS Are you going to Orlando?

Re: General 26020 lathes

Keith Tompkins

>Hey Joe, I just remembered.... if you go to canterburyworkshop.com you can view my General in action. It's a smooth running machine. Keith

Re: I Love Mine XXOO

W.C. Turner

>Jen,

What all do you use the reverse for, in what way?

W.C.

Re: General 26020 lathes

adrien

>One added response from a satisfied owner:

I understand from "Christian" at General that they soon epect to have a remote switch available (circa February?)

Re: General 26020 lathes

Chris Wright

>Joe,

I had the pleasure of demonstrating for General at AWFS 2003 last summer. I had never seen one of their lathes in person before, but after learning the machine on the first bowl, I had a great time.I would definitely suggest the gap filler though, as Jen said it makes a heck of a difference when you want to get close.

To answer one of your other questions, I do believe the outboard extension will bolt on to the bed, it is the same as the 12" bed extension .

On the China thing, they do have machines made in China as well as Canada. Make sure you order out of the correct catalog (there are 2). The correct one says General Machinery...the other is General International Machinery. If you have any other questions your local dealer can't answer drop me a line and I can find out who the General Regional Rep is for your area.

Regards,

Chris

Re: Old General 26020 lathes

George Troy

>My General is a 1987 model which started out as a 12" swing with an outboard tool rest. The reeves drive belt has been replaced. This was necessary when I put the 4" riser kit in. Because I had an outboard tool post I was able to use it on the regular bed. I do not have a gap filler piece, there has been many times I wish I had one. The rear nose of the spindle is 1 1/8" x 8. My machine is non-reversable. I frequently lube the reeves drive to keep it from squealing. My orginal magentic switch was disabled to keep it from turning off when in use. The tailstock does not hold well and never did. At least the tailstock will let you eject the morse taper. There is some druming and noise with the drill system and cabinet. The Delta variable reeves drive is more noisy than the General. At the time of purchase I believed it to be the best heavy duty machine available. I still use it occasionally for roughing out. A year ago I upgraded to the Vicmarc 300 and have never looked back. I would still druther have this old General, which will last another lifetime than one of the China clones. Showing a pic of the Kelton system and Oneway bowl steady on the old girl.

Re: General 26020 lathes

Joe Petecki

>Hi everybody!! Today I took the plunge, I ordered my 26020-M2 lathe and yes it is pure bread Canadian. I ordered the gap filler also and they are to be delivered Tuesday. I'm excited but I also feel I must be out of my mind because this is only a hobby, I'm not a professional turner. I'm considering attending a class in Orlando for green bowl turning and to learn how to use the skew which I'm having a problem with.

Well I'll let you all know how I made out.

Re: General 26020 lathes

Bill Howatt

>Joe,

Don't worry in the least (as long as you can pay the rent and eat) that you spent the money for your General hobby machine.

I also wondered and remarked to my friend helping me get it into the shop about spending all the money for a hobby machine. He asked me the cost and after I told him he said it was only about one-third the cost of a new snowmobile. You can use your lathe all year-round and it won't be worn-out worthless junk in a few years.

That's the beauty of a good tool they have a real lifetime and it's typically very long.

Enjoy!

Bill

Re: General 26020 lathes

Joe Petecki

>(as long as you can pay the rent and eat)

Aren't you supposed to buy wood first, then food if there is any money left over???

Re: Food?

TDaniel

>Actually Joe, you buy the wood (if you can't find it for free), then you make curls, then you put the curls outside on the ground, then you put some plants in the middle of the shavings, and voila...you have veggies. You eat the veggies and become very healthy so you can turn more wood and make more curls, which makes more veggies..... This is the full life cycle of a turner.

Re: Food?

Chris Wright

>you can also trade some of the finished bowls (made from free wood of course) for a chicken or two and have eggs and meat (from the subsequent chickens) if the veggies don't cut if for ya!