I am going to get a mini lathe and start using my rod wrapper for...wrapping rods.

The economics of the Penn State Industries products are hard to beat and I have heard good things about them. I was curious about the following.

1. Do I really need a Variable Speed (VS) lathe if I am turning only cork or wood grips?
2. Is there anything more klugey, difficult about PSI's system for changing the belt from/to (1) of (3) pulleys?

The guys at Woodcraft showed me how easy it was to change the belts on a Rikon (which is out of my price range). Is there anything I need to worry about in regards to the PSI systems?

Thanks,

Tony

I've got that one and was cheap by not getting the VS version. I haven't needed the VS at all - I guess if I had it, I might use it. All I turn is handles. I think a lot of the other guys get into turning pens, etc.

The few instances I have needed to change speed, it's just take off the two covers, move the belt, put covers back on. Takes about that long. Maybe with the VS you can fine tune speed?

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VS was not an option when I got mine. I hated changing the belts on my Turncrafter so I left it mid range for almost 4 years. I bought the VS conversion and I love it just like I preferred my smaller lathes which had variable speed already. I you want to do any buffing or polishing it is a real plus to have variable speed. Now it is not a true variable speed--O to max but in ranges like the Jet.

Yes, Alex, you move the belt across (3) pulleys to cover ranges of speeds, then use a dial to adjust up or down within each range.

I posted these questions to make sure the thing was not too klugey. Personally, I wish the whole changing of speeds was done like it is with a poteniometer.

Tony,
If you remember I bought a simple potentiometer at Harbor Freight (advertised as a router speed control) and connected it to my Renzetti - I don't see any reason you couldn't do the same with the lathe you're looking at.

Ken

Be careful! A potentiometer can cause loss of torque at low speeds and can be hard on the motor. At least this is what an electrician friend told me.

These are induction motors on the turncrafter and will not respond correctly to an external vs device like a router speed adjustment. Overheating can be a problem and motor burnout. Besides you have one more item laying around in the way. These are 1/2 hp motors.

Oh, yes, Ken I remember. I was thinking one big stinking dial from 0 - Infinity not 0 - .33* Infinity, etc.. The knob acts as potentiometer on each belt/range.

I have this lathe with the VS option. Personnally, I like the ability to start at the slowest speed possible for the range I am working at so that I minimize the effect of something coming loose when I first turn it on (due a setup error on my part). After I have confidence that nothing is coming loose I can turn up the speed to whatever I want.

One thing I don't like about the speed ranges available with this lathe is the lowest speed is 600 RPM. I would like to have the ability to run it at lower than that once in a while.

I'm a rookie at wood turning but I seem to change speeds a lot. I use different speeds for boring the wood blank, turing the blank, and sanding the handle. Maybe not needed on my part though.

I have a VS lathe on witch I do not need to make any belt changes and I would not buy another without this feature.

Start-up, sanding (cork & wood), polishing and turning wood all require different speeds and just having to twist a knob sure beats the alternative!

So here's a change up...

All these lathes look awfully similar. I know many are made in the same factory in China. Are the PSI products any better than Harbor Freight?

usually Harbor Freight means junk.

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

Fred =
Agree. Normally I would not buy any power tool from them. This (so far) seems to work ok. Of course the Renzetti I have is only a 1/10 hp unit. I have a Grizzly for more serious turning work.

Get the VS. For a little more you won't regret it. Being able to slow the lathe way below the 600 rpm is very helpful to me when I apply liquid finish so that it doesn't fly off. You may not finish wood now if you decide to in the future you will be happy you got it.

You need to know what your needs are. And to quote an old Whole Earth Catalog, you need to be able to differentiate between what you need and what you wish you needed.
I have a Harbor Freight belt/disc sander combo, and it works well for what I use it for. Same goes for a Harbor Freight drill press, which is used exclusively for reaming cork and making clamps. I have had them for 6 years with no problems whatsoever.
Were I buying a lathe, or a piece of precision equipment, I would be looking elsewhere.

Harbor Freight sells a 10" table saw for $89 on sale. I bought a Makita for 3 times as much and have no regrets. I have a Delta 12" radial Arm saw that costs about 6 times as much as a Craftsman...and I need those tools for the work I do with them.

Don't dismiss Harbor Freight out of hand...just understand your needs. If it fits the bill, you save big. If not, go elsewhere.

I am a newbie..this is where I purchased my lathe...variable speed with an extension. I really like the variable speed. One reason is safety as mentioned above. Start out slow and then speed up.

steve

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I don't have a VS lathe and have no complaints. In my research, I found that all the small and mid-sized lathes with VS still require belt changes. With that thought in mind, I couldn't see spending the extra coin AND dealing with another place for failure.

Most likely, you would be tickled to death with the TC Pro standard. Just remember that the lathe isn't even half of the expense. Make sure to budget for mandrels, cutting tools, files, sandpaper, a good chuck, live center, etc.

My mycro machinist lathe with a 14" between center doesn't require a belt change. I can run mine from 0 to over 2000 rpm. so I can apply my CA finish as well as polish it with a twist of a knob.

I love the Turncrafter Pro and since I added the VS conversion kit, I love it even more. Is it necessary, maybe not, but makes life a LOT easier. I would definately get an extension bed.

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Just got my VS unit back from Penn State for a warranty issue on the control circuit board. Evidently, this model of Turncrafter (TCLProVS) has some issues with the module going out. They did repair it at no charge, but it took several weeks.

Les