It sounds as if you have not yet turned those 20" diameter by 20" long
vessels. If you had you'd see that there is not a lot of fun in them,
they really beat you up, and they don't usually sell for an amount to
make them worthwhile turning projects, at least if money is an issue at
all. Further, for most of us, logs large enough to make outsized
turnings are few and far between. We have a 23" bowl on the dining room
table and it goes under the bed when company comes -- it is too big to
be useful for anything at all. Better to make the perfect shape in the
perfect piece of wood as opposed to huge.

The Stubby 750 is a 16" machine over the way and a 30" machine when you
pull the way (or bed) out. You can start a 30" blank between centers,
as long as it isn't also very tall. The Stubby 1000 is a 20" lathe over
the way and 42" or 43" over the 'gap' which is the same length as on the
750. Further, with both machines, you don't have to deduct anything
from the swing for the banjo because you can mount it on the aux bed
where it is out of the way of the work and convenient for you. You can
start big pieces between centers -- both for safety and for artistic
reasons.

As for parts on the Stubby -- I stock pretty much everything. If you
drop your headstock off the roof of a 6 story building, I can send you
another and it will bolt right on to your machine. Further, many of the
parts are off-the-shelf -- whenever possible. If a banjo lock fails,
for instance, you can get one from me or from McMaster Carr or several
other places. The electronics are all done here, by me, and are
Eaton/Cutler Hammer industrial controls. Bearings are SKF or equal and
standard metric parts. I stock them but so does any large bearing
house. The motors are stocked here but I've never replaced one except
for physical damage. The castings -- what's to go wrong? Further,
there is a large and knowledgeable group of Stubby owners around, in
touch pretty regularly, and able and willing to help if somebody has a
problem.

If I were dropping that amount of money on a lathe, I'd want to test
drive it first -- you did that with your last car or truck -- right? I'd
be happy to fix you up with a Stubby owner if you are interested. Then
drive the other lathes and decide which you really want.

Earlier in this thread, somebody opined that the Oneway was the best. I
wonder what other lathes he's spent any time with.

Bill


Lawrence Day wrote:
I will most likely be turning over the bed to start (a 24" diameter blank is
pretty large, the VB has a 26" capacity with the tailstock attached and the
Oneway has a 24" capacity over the ways) but like the idea of a large
outboard area to do larger pieces as my experience grows with larger work.

One of my concerns with the Stubby and VB is getting service/parts in North
America. I understand that the Stubby was not imported for several years
and know little about the VB's track record on service/parts availability


"William Noble" wrote in message
.. .
if your intent is to mostly turn outboard on the oneway, you probably
should look at the stubby also - there is a real advantage to being able
to start with a tailstock against the piece, or to start between centers
and adjust a bit as you go - turning outboard doesn't let you do either.
There are some other large capacity lathes if you hunt around for them.
the other note, is that if you are mostly turning outboard, why buy a
oneway? get something that does't have the ways and stuff that you won't
be using


"Lawrence Day" wrote in message
...
I have been turning for several years on a Oneway 1224 and I am
considering moving up to a larger lathe. The two that I am considering
the most is a Oneway 2436 with the 44" outboard setup or the VB-36 with
tail stock setup. What do you guys think? Which is more user friendly?
Which one is easier to get parts for, etc? Thanks


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