Hi Charlie

The VS on those minis would be nice if not for the drawback that you
have the least amount of power when you should have the most.

The other thing is if you turn a "large" that is as large as possible
say a 10" platter and you're cutting with your tool from the edge to
the center, do you keep changing your speed ?? or keep the speed that
is safe for the size ??, this gets much more serious when turning say a
20" bowl or platter.

In most cases when turning a certain project the whole machining part
of the job can and very often is done with only one or two speeds, like
spindles, pens, at the high end and larger bowls and platters at the
lower end of the speed range.

The sanding is certainly done best at the lowest setting for bowls and
platters.

For a commercial steady for a 10" swing lathe Pennstate carries one.

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/lsr2.html

Have fun and take care
Leo Van Der Loo