Which lathe?

Re: Which lathe?

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>Nova and PM always good !

Also consider the Vicmark 200 or 300

The top end is the Oneway but high dollar.

I have a Oneway 2436 and a Vicmark 200 and like them both but the Oneway is far ahead of the Vic.

Good turning and be safe

Bill

Re: Which lathe? *LINK*

Fred Holder

>I've had a Nova DVR 3000 lathe for two years now and am very pleased with its performance. It will do all of the things that you mention that you wish to turn. You may wish to add a 20" bed extension to make it 44" between centers and possibly spring for the cast iron legs. Mine is mounted on a stand built from 2" x 6" stock and is weighted down with a lot of rail road spikes and other steel scraps. It is a very fine lathe and has done anything that I ask of it. Vibration is minimal to non existant unless the wood is significantly out of balance. One note, if you build your own stand for this machine, I suggest that you leave space under the bed bars so that the shavings can fall through otherwise they will build up under the bed of the lathe. I used two 2"x6" boards for the top and spaced them apart about three inches at the center. The chips fall straight through.


Fred Holder's Domain Site

Re: Which lathe?

Jim Putnam

>Don't overlook a Midi lathe with an extension for spindle work. I have a Delta Midi, which can turn up to 36" between centers and it has plenty of power. With my PM3520 the limit between centers is around 33".

I thought that I'd get rid of the little Delta when the PM arrived, but the Delta still is used for spindle work and buffing. It was turning bowls that made me choose the larger lathe - and I do like the larger machine.

You didn't mention if you had been turning for a while or were getting started. I found that I when I bought the Delta that I quickly doubled the cost of the lathe in chucks, chisels and other materials and attachments. I also bought chisels that I 'thought' would be used and wasted my money - I should have gotten 4 or 5 basic chisels and purchased others later as actual needs became evident.

Re: Which lathe?

jg

>I looked at the vic, on their website, and maybe I'm missing something, but they looked like bare bones for a lot of money....

Am I missing something?

Re: Which lathe?

jg

>I'm just starting, but I've been buying tools (guns, computers, scubab gear, cars...etc) long enough to know that I do best when I get the best I can afford from the start.

I do, however, understand the tools cost, and the part about not get a wad of stuff at once. I want to get the best lathe, in the 2k price range, and then build up my tools and accessories over time.

There are 2 Vics...

TDaniel

>the one sold by Craft Supplies and the factory one. These are 2 totally different machines. I have the Vic VL300 with the factory cabinet and motor/controller. This machine is on par with One-way plus it will turn 50" between centers and has a nice outboard turning unit. The dollar is rebounding somewhat now so the Vics may be reasonably priced again shortly. This lathe is a pleasure to use. Others who have turned on the CS version were not impressed. I think General has cut their quality from a couple of years ago but they are still a respectable lathe.Many people give the DVR high marks but I have not turned on one so I cannot say. My suggestion is to get some time on each lathe that you are considering and then decide. A lot will depend on your turning style and what you like to turn. Put your first dollars in a good sharpening set-up and a good (Sorby) 1/2" fingernail grind bowl gouge and a cheap set of tools from HF and a good chuck; everything else can be added one item at a time as you discover you have a need.

TD

Re: Which lathe?

Doug Trembath

>JG, I think once you have some experience on a lathe, you'll think a bit differently. As TD mentioned, there are a number of options with the Vic, short bed and long bed on the 300 series, and the mini 100 series. In the Vic/Oneway comparison, it behooves us to compare apples with apples. The Vic will absolutely turn anything the Oneway will, just as smoothly and reliably, and cost significantly less. This is a very fine piece of machinery. I have compared them closely, and turn on a VL300 shortbed daily.

As far as the comparison TD makes with the Craft Supply lathe versus the factory product, it bears saying that the only difference is the base and the drive motor and controller. CSUSA simply has Vicmark send them the bare bones lathe and manufactures and installs a base and adds the motor and controllers of their choice. This saves them a ton of money on shipping.

I have turned extensively on both versions, from bowls to full sized cowboy hats, hollow vessels and spindles. Functionally, the only real difference here is the Stop bar across the face of the base on the factory line. I have this lathe, and after finally getting used to the idea that I couldn't lean against the base to make a cut without killing the power, I found that the bar makes it so much easier to turn, since you can activate the stop switch from anywhere within reach, at any time. IMHO, it makes turning a much safer and more pleasant undertaking. But, again, this is the only significant operational difference between the factory lathe and the CSUSA offering.

Doug Trembath

Studio in the Woods

Re: Which lathe?

Bapa

>JG

About me: a novice, self-taught, hobbiest, retired and I have time. I wanted power, control, and NO limits.

Delta 46-746 -- Nova 3000DVR -- PM 3520 -- Jet not considered, not in this league.

Power: it's a wash - all three about 2 hp, (Nova 115 volt???)

Swing: Delta 14 - 16" Nova ?- 16" PM 16 - 20"

Off the end: Delta - Powermatic only, limited by your BRASS!!

Nova: the same - but a "PIVOTING" head "ALL" the rules say NO???

Speed: Delta 0-1000, 0-2000 or 0-3000

PM 0-1200 or 0-3200

Nova 0-3500

1st, 2nd or 3rd gear?

1st or 3rd gear?

or just HIGH gear?

Weight: Delta 400lbs w/Hollow legs and rails for additional weight

Nova 181lbs - now Build a stand

PM 717lbs

Everything else is about the same.

Delta, up for sale

Powermatic, now a part of Jet

Nova, way down there.

Remember - Over $25.00 and Amazon ships free and NO sales tax (9.5% here in CA) and they will match any published price and they are easy to deal with and their service is excellent.

Here is a web site - www.toolseaker.com - they compare prices etc.

I went with Delta $$$. Powermatic's cost was a little high for me. At that price I believe I would have gone with the General and I DREAM of a ONEWAY.

That is MY 2 cents for what they are worth.

Good luck and Have Fun

Bapa

Re: Which lathe?

jg

>Bapa, wadja mean by;

Off the end: Delta - Powermatic only, limited by your BRASS!!

Nova: the same - but a "PIVOTING" head "ALL" the rules say NO???

Are you saying turning with the head swiveled is bad?

Re: There are 2 Vics...

Fog Tanner

>There is really only one Vicmarc and it comes from Australia. Craft Supplies has thier CS-Blue and their CS-Green. The bed and headstock of one resembles a Vic and the other a Woodfast. Other than that....

And you are right the VL300 is a true dream to use and makes you wonder why you ever used anything else..

Fog

Re: Which lathe?

Bapa

>JG

The drive assy on both the Delta and the Powermatic 3520 slide along the lathe bed, therefore when you want to turn something very large, move the drive assy to the right end of the lathe bed and have at it. Size, well that is where you are limited by common sense and your nerve!!!!!

The drive assy on the Nova pivots to allow you to turn larger pieces. It is my understanding that this is not the best way to go. In my opinion it is makeshift and a compromise. I have read, on this forum and others, of numerous alignment problems and problems in general associated with pivoting drive assys.

RIGHT or WRONG, I do not know. That was part of my decision process and I chose not to deal with it.

As I said earlier that is my 2 cents for what it is worth, now 4 cents.

Good luck, have fun.

Bapa