Robust Lathe Review - More Woodturning

Robust Lathe Reviewby Reed Gray (aka robo hippy)I went to the Portland AAWSymposium in 06 for a couple of reasons.It was just down the road, andI had never been to a symposium. Ialso was selected to do 2 rotationsof demonstrations, presenting a toolreview of the 3 different bowl coringsystems that are available. I hadsome disposable income at the time,and wanted a new lathe.I had started turning on an Atlas4 speed lathe. I worked it to death forabout 2 years, and customers keptasking for bigger bowls than my 12inch lathe could turn. I stepped upto a PM3520A. I had turned on itfor 8 years, and loved it, but wantedsome thing with more horsepowerMore Woodturning is published monthlyexcept April and October for $35.00 peryear by Fred and Mildred Holder at 19805Fales Road, Snohomish, WA 98296. MailingAddress is P. O. Box 2168, Snohomish WA98291-2168. Telephone: (360) 668-0976.E-Mail: fred@morewoodturning.net, WEBPage URL: http://www.morewoodturning.net. Periodicals Postage paid at Snohomish,Washington and at additional mailing office.More Woodturning is sold by subscriptionat $35.00 for one year and at a singlecopy price of $4.00 plus $1.50 postageand handling. Editorial material submittedfor publication must be accompaniedby a stamped, self-addressed envelope toensure return if it is not accepted for use.More Woodtunring uses materials frommany sources and many authors, the viewsexpressed herein are, therefore, those ofthe authors and not necessarily those of thePublishers. More Woodturning receives anumber of products each year for evaluation,but accepts no responsibility for return ofthose products unless specifically requestedto do so, in advance!POSTMASTER: Send address changesto More Woodturning, P. O. Box 2168,Snohomish WA 98291-2168.USPS No. 015387Page 4 More Woodturning February 2010Robust 25” Swing American Beauty like the author purchased.and torque. I had narrowed my mobility kit, tilt away tailstock setchoices to the Robust American up, and a steady rest. Total bill, includingshipping was over $8,000.Beauty, and the VB36. My turningroom in my shop is rather small, Brent English told me it would takeabout 8 by 12, and the lathe sits in about 3 months, and me, knowinga corner. Outboard turning isn’t an that it was custom made, expectedoption, so that ruled out the Oneway it to take about 4 months to get here,and the Serious lathe. I know this which it did. Brent did call me to tellis silly, but the Stubby just looked me that it would be about a monthalien to me, and didn’t look like it late.would work.I had sold my PM to a friend,I chose the Robust over the and he got here the day my RobustVB36 for a couple of reasons. One arrived. We dismantled my PM andwas that no matter what the set up fit it into his Volkswagon Jetta (thatwas on the VB36, it looked like a could be a story in itself), then proceededto get the Robust uncrated.dedicated bowl lathe. Probably 90%of my turnings are bowls, but I do Not too much of a problem with anothercouple of friends. I had to getsome spindles and hollow forms,and liked the set up of the Robust it onto the mobility wheels, and laybetter. Add to that the sliding headstockwhich I was used to from my the gravel and into my shop. Theout 3/4 inch plywood to get it overyears on the PM, and the fact that mobility wheels are really smooth,it was made in America, and I was and once it is on concrete, it is reallysold. I ordered the American Beauty easy to move around. I have beenwith the 3 hp motor, bed extension,