"George" george@least wrote in message
...
Been taking time away from the garden and household chores to turn all the
oversize stuff I had around. Computed 400mm capacity and figured out why
my
sixteen always seemed too big, and since have been working with a max
slightly less than the 15 3/4, with a flat at the end grain to compensate
for my 15 1/2" drill press. The sides will contract anyway, so nothing
lost.

She has never complained about chunks being a bit out of balance
accidentally or even deliberately. I find myself getting lazy, though,
and
leaving the set at 360 RPM even when hollowing. Got into the lazy habit
from the old one, where the minimum was close to 700. I've slipped the
belt
a few times, but never gronked the 1 HP (14amp?????) motor.

Anyway, after weeding, and in and around washing and hanging two loads of
laundry this morning, I turned a leftover piece of my gift cherry
measuring
13x11x7. Turned it bark up, even though the bark was loose, and was
delighted to find that even this out-of-balance by design chunk stayed
smooth and centered throughout. At a quarter inch thick, it'll be ready
to
finish in a week or so, but I also have nearly 25 "chamber pots" as the
family calls them, of 14" in stages from ready to soaking wet that I've
cut since she arrived in March.

She's a peach! Glad I took the chance. I see a lot of folks with money
upgrading and advertising them for sale. None as good a deal as the one I
got so far, but not outrageous. Good thought for someone itching to turn
something larger in diameter.


=====I debated buying either the 3000 or the DVR and one of the things I
noticed was the rather high speed of the low end of the speed range. 250
for the DVR and 216 for the 3000, I am used to whittling down off-balance
logs at lower speeds, so I don't have the waltzing matilda effect of the
lathe deciding to enter the field of ballroom dancing. Since no one has
mentioned this, I was wondering if I was the only one who will rough out
logs at under 100 rpm? I know you professional turners probably rough out
at 1200 rpm and probably with your thumb nail! *G*

Leif