Joining the darkside

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Gotta love my wife.

She encouraged me to go, and accompanied me, when I told her I was finally seriously thinking of getting the lathe that's missing in the shop. I've been talking about it for a while and holding out since I don't have the room for it right now anyways.

Well, I went and did the deed.

I bought the General International Maxi Lathe VS+ model 25-200 FEATURES
- Quick lock control levers easily position tool rest.
- Large 12-inch inboard bowl turning capacity.
- Stable cast-iron frame, head & tailstock to reduce chatter and vibration for smoother turning.
- Maximum distance of 17 5/16”between centers.
- Quick release lever for quick belt positioning changes.
- 3 Variable speed ranges: 400-1000, 790-2000 & 1500-3800 RPM.
- Digital spindle speed display.
- Headstock pivots 360° with 180° positive stop for outboard turning.

SPECIFICATIONS MODEL 25-200 M1Spindle speed 400 to 3800 RPM
Swing over bed 12” (304 mm)
Swing over tool rest 9 1⁄4” (236 mm)
Swing over side bed 19 1⁄4” (490 mm)
Swing over side tool rest 16 5⁄8” (424 mm)
Distance between centers 17 5⁄16” (440 mm)
Spindle thread 1” - 8 TPI
Tailstock through hole 3⁄8” DIAMETER
Morse taper MT #2 (Headstock & tailstock)
Self ejecting travel 2 1⁄8” (55 mm)
Tool rest 6” (152 mm)
Face plate 3”(80mm)
Motor 3⁄4 HP, 110 V, 8A, 2500 RPM,(E class)
Weight 146 LBS (66.5 kg)
I got the accessory stand for it along with the General Knives set, as it seemed like a goot set for a beginner




(Developed, tested and approved with the participation of master turner Eddy Noël.)

It's now in the basement waiting for a place to sit in the shop. (Soon I hope) Got a basic turning book, and 2 pen turning books to read in the meantime.

And, as if this wasn't already enough, she 'insisted' I buy the Porter Cable 557 biscuit jointer that I had said I was going to need in the future (I told her I didn't want to do it right away, but she said I would do it anyways and it was 50$ off, so I really should get it over with)

And the salesman convinced me I did need that Osborn mitter gauge for my tablesaw (Yea right... I needed convincing Once I saw it was 119$).

Yes, it's way more than I should have spent, and thank God my credit is good.
I know: I'm a tool junky and compulsive buyer in need of serious help. But... D**mn it was fun spending that money!

Now, I already told her I'd have to spend on pen kits, and other assorted hardware to "make" sellable things on the lathe: Compact mirrors, perfume atomizers, pens, letter openers. Other suggestions? PM me please

I think that next year, I will have to have enough production ahead for a craftshow or something in order to get some of that money back.
Guess some practicing is in the air.

Regards,
Marcel
PS: you can PM me any good Wood turning links you got, it would be appreciated. Thanks

[bearfretworks]

Oh Yeah!!!! Another one sucked into the abyss!!!! you will soon find your tablesaw makes an EXCELLENT turning blank storage unit.

Congrats on a great purchase....and PM on the way.

[utbva]

Very good Marcel! It does look like a great lathe. I do enjoy turning even though I have not done it very much. Have fun with it.

[tcleckler]

Way to go Marcel, you are going to love the lathe. Haven't heard many talk about it on this site but turning celing fan pulls or light pulls make fun projects and don't take a lot of wood. Congrats on the lathe!

[workin for wood]

Let me know if you need a good pen parts supplier. Don't forget about bottle stoppers, key rings and spinners for the kids. Your scroll saw and your lathe are fully compatible too, so I wouldn't consider you to be moving to any sort of dark side at all. The scroll saw makes the lathe work more unique and interesting. We need more scrolled turnings on this site so that we can convince Bob to open a new forum area for us.

[Dragon]

I guess this will be a nice way to spend your convalescence!!!! I can use a pen for my birthday Marcel LOL
Diane

[Rolf]

Marcel, You are so screwed!!
I slipped over to the Dark side a couple of months ago and turning is almost as big a money pit as my boat and house and sports car and!!!!
And it is worth every penny.

I guess you are feeling better, tools will do that for you.

This is a great site with supper service. http://www.packardwoodworks.com/
Don't forget us scrollers.

[William Young (SE BC)]

Congratulations Marcel.
That is one sweet little lathe you chose . It is totally amazing how many scrollers are adding a wood lathe to their collection of tools. They work very well with one another on so many projects .
Turning is also a nice change from scrolling while being able to make so many nice things on a lathe right from start to finish including and easily applying a professional quality final finish right on the lathe and all in such a short time period.
When you make your first pen I know you won't be able to stop.
I quit counting mine after 100 but I know it is well over 200 now and that is only pens . I have made just as many of the other great little tunings that are so popular on lathes.
I feel sure you will enjoy your time immensly while cranking out beautiful and well accepted gift items.

One of the parts suppliers had a special just recently on bottle stopper kits so I ordersd a bunch while they were on sale.. When they arrived I spent a couple hours on my lathe and made these to try out a few of them. .

Left to right is black walnut , buckeye burl and yew wood. All free donated wood.
One of the best parts about turning is that once you start you will find an endless supply of wood being donated free just in exchange for making the doner a nice little gift from it .
Some turners even swap wood with each other to get an even bigger variety .
W.Y.

Congratulations!!!! Always great to see a new tool bought. Better to see a tool bought and used. Way to go

[Pop]

Yep... you've got it! The "sapgetsintoyou" disease. It starts when you buy your first wood working tool and touch your first piece of project wood. Then the more you use it, the more it spreads into your brain. You start thinking, "If I had this tool I could do more". So you buy another tool. After a while it hits again! "If I had this tool... I could do so much more!" It seems like you and I have the worst version of the disease. We have a wife that keeps encouraging it's spread. Mine has never questioned my need for another tool so mine spread so quickly, I outgrew my first shop. Now when she ask if I need anything, this robot voice responds with,"I have everything I will ever need for my workshop." Her response is usually, "Are you sure you're feeling OK? Did you take your temperature lately?"

I started on the dark side and came over to scrolling but in between I've done just about every thing associated with wood. It all started when I was watching my dad build his workbench for his shop about what seems like a hundred years ago. It continued and got serious when I heard the whine of shop tools as I passed the wood shop in school. I haven't been the same since.

What you're really showing is the need to be more creative with this wonderful medium called "wood".