Anyone here have this lathe? Pros? Cons? Is the 1 hp motor enough for what
the rest of the lathe can do and is it up-gradeable. I'm just starting to
look at this category of lathe and I would be interested in comments about
similar lathes. I would use it for bowls, deeper hollow vessels and more as
my skills improve. I currently have the Jet midi.

Thanks!

--
Tom in Qualicum Beach, BC

Hi Tom,

I own the General General 16018-2-M2 I am very satisfied with the lathe.
It is very solid and stable just sitting on a cement floor. I have had
no problems with it so far. I have rough turned wood blanks that were
15" diameter with no problem. The 1 HP motor handled it no problem. I
also do allot of smaller work such as pens, and other little projects. I
only have space for one lathe and must say I am very happy with the
ability to do both small and large work on this unit. As someone else on
this group once told me, "you can always do smaller work on a larger lathe."

I would recomend running a seperate circuit just for the lathe as loaded
down it can draw around 15 amps. So if you have anything else on the
circuit you could end up resetting the breaker allot. I also like the
fact you dont have to manually move the drive belt from one pulley to
another. The dial on the front of the stand is very easy to adjust
speeds. Overall I recomend this lathe to anyone who has been turning for
awhile before and wants to get into larger projects.

I know there are other great lathes out there, and I am sure others here
will be happy to tell you there thoughts on them.

If I can help answer any other questions please ask.

Donald Vivian

"Dvivian" wrote in message
news:MEeuf.8641$tl.2239@pd7tw3no...
Hi Tom,

I own the General General 16018-2-M2 I am very satisfied with the lathe.
It is very solid and stable just sitting on a cement floor. I have had no
problems with it so far. I have rough turned wood blanks that were 15"
diameter with no problem. The 1 HP motor handled it no problem. I also do
allot of smaller work such as pens, and other little projects. I only have
space for one lathe and must say I am very happy with the ability to do
both small and large work on this unit. As someone else on this group once
told me, "you can always do smaller work on a larger lathe."

I would recomend running a seperate circuit just for the lathe as loaded
down it can draw around 15 amps. So if you have anything else on the
circuit you could end up resetting the breaker allot. I also like the fact
you dont have to manually move the drive belt from one pulley to another.
The dial on the front of the stand is very easy to adjust speeds. Overall
I recomend this lathe to anyone who has been turning for awhile before and
wants to get into larger projects.

I know there are other great lathes out there, and I am sure others here
will be happy to tell you there thoughts on them.

If I can help answer any other questions please ask.

Donald Vivian

Just out of curiosity......what is the minimum speed on this lathe?

--

Regards,
M.J. (Mike) Orr
www.island.net/~morr

According to this site:
http://www.utterguys.com/product.php...&cat=10&page=3
it's slowest speed is 500. Seems a bit fast for large rough blanks.
Otherwise, a most interesting possibility. Now if I can just find one
used and local...

wrote in message
oups.com...
According to this site:
http://www.utterguys.com/product.php...&cat=10&page=3
it's slowest speed is 500. Seems a bit fast for large rough blanks.
Otherwise, a most interesting possibility. Now if I can just find one
used and local...


The picture has a Reeves drive, so I presume that it, as well as a
step-pulley design is available. Variable speed can also be a function of
the motor.

As most will have noticed, this is standard old iron in design.

wrote:
According to this site:
http://www.utterguys.com/product.php...&cat=10&page=3
it's slowest speed is 500. Seems a bit fast for large rough blanks.
Otherwise, a most interesting possibility. Now if I can just find one
used and local...


500 rpm is definetely somewhat frightening for large rough blanks. After
my first experience I always try and rough out my larger blanks with a
chainsaw or on the bandsaw. And that takes some of the scariness out of it.

Donald Vivian

"Tom Storey" wrote in message
news:Zycuf.123148$2k.55121@pd7tw1no...
Anyone here have this lathe? Pros? Cons? Is the 1 hp motor enough for what
the rest of the lathe can do and is it up-gradeable. I'm just starting to
look at this category of lathe and I would be interested in comments about
similar lathes. I would use it for bowls, deeper hollow vessels and more
as my skills improve. I currently have the Jet midi.

Thanks!

--
Tom in Qualicum Beach, BC


I don't have that lathe but I have the big General26020VFD which has a 20"
swing and electronic variable speed. It also has a 4-step pulley to maximize
torque at low speeds but it isn't cheap since it lists around $4500 Cdn
retail price. A comparable size Oneway is at least 50% more.
What I really like about my lathe is the electronic variable speed which
will go right down to zero rpm. IMO, starting a large off-balance blank at
500rpm is too fast in many cases.

Having professed my love for my General, I would suggest you have a look at
the Nova DVR as a possible upgrade for your lathe. The mechanical
variable-speed Reeves drive like the 160 has works but it doesn't have the
range of the electronic variable speed and is subject to more noise and
typical mechanical issues. General International has some electronic
variable speed lathes with rotating headstock which look a bit like the bed
of the General 260 if you look quickly. I have no idea how reliable and well
made they are. General International equipment is made off-shore (China??,
Taiwan??) and should not be confused with General's "General" line of tools.

billh

Donald, how long have you had this lathe and does it have a reeves
drive?

Tom, I had a 160 General with the reeves drive and after a year, it was
nothing but trouble. Now I may have gotten a "bad" lathe but everyone
told me to get the 260 VS, I didn't listen because I didn't want to
spend the extra $1,000. Two years later and 2 new reeves drives
(which I had to replace myself........alone) I sold the 160 for very
little and bought the General 260. NOW I'm totally content. The
General 260 holds its value better than any 160 plus the range of
speeds and the reverse feature is worth the price alone.

Think about it.

Ruth
www.torne-lignum.com

wrote:
Donald, how long have you had this lathe and does it have a reeves
drive?

I bought it in June, it does have a reevse drive. But as of yet it has
not caused me a single problem. I bought it from House of Tools, and the
salesman I dealt with has been great, he helped me out when it came to
getting a new piece for the tailstock at no charge, and I was at fault
for the handle breaking. I have heard both good things and bad things
about the reeves drive. For the amount of turning I do, I didnt want to
spend the extra $1700 for the larger model. I will wait and see how it
holds up, if it gives allot of trouble I will then have to look at
something different. Bot for now I am very pleased with it.

Donald Vivian

"billh" wrote in message
...

"Tom Storey" wrote in message
news:Zycuf.123148$2k.55121@pd7tw1no...
Anyone here have this lathe? Pros? Cons? Is the 1 hp motor enough for
what the rest of the lathe can do and is it up-gradeable. I'm just
starting to look at this category of lathe and I would be interested in
comments about similar lathes. I would use it for bowls, deeper hollow
vessels and more as my skills improve. I currently have the Jet midi.

Thanks!

--
Tom in Qualicum Beach, BC


I don't have that lathe but I have the big General26020VFD which has a 20"
swing and electronic variable speed. It also has a 4-step pulley to
maximize torque at low speeds but it isn't cheap since it lists around
$4500 Cdn retail price. A comparable size Oneway is at least 50% more.
What I really like about my lathe is the electronic variable speed which
will go right down to zero rpm. IMO, starting a large off-balance blank
at 500rpm is too fast in many cases.

Having professed my love for my General, I would suggest you have a look
at the Nova DVR as a possible upgrade for your lathe. The mechanical
variable-speed Reeves drive like the 160 has works but it doesn't have the
range of the electronic variable speed and is subject to more noise and
typical mechanical issues. General International has some electronic
variable speed lathes with rotating headstock which look a bit like the
bed of the General 260 if you look quickly. I have no idea how reliable
and well made they are. General International equipment is made off-shore
(China??, Taiwan??) and should not be confused with General's "General"
line of tools.

billh

To be a little more specific:
I wouldn't trade my General 26020VFD for a Nova DVR but the DVR is a lot
less money about $2500Cdn which would put it more in the range of the 160. I
would never buy a lathe that didn't have electronic variable speed if it
were to be more than a first lathe.
billh

Donald, I hope it keeps working just fine for you. Like I said, it
probably was just the lathe I had. After 8 months I replaced the
reeves drive, about 9 months later I had to replace the whole unit,
worm, spindle and pulleys (first time it was just the pulleys).
About a year after that the far right pulley just fell off the spindle
and that was the end for me.

I now have, I think, the same lathe as billh (above post). It's a
26020 VS; I don't know what the VFD is. I paid $3,000 including taxes
and delivery but I bought it at the Albany Symposium last year. You
really can't beat the show specials!

Ruth
http://www.torne-lignum.com

wrote in message
ups.com...
Donald, I hope it keeps working just fine for you. Like I said, it
probably was just the lathe I had. After 8 months I replaced the
reeves drive, about 9 months later I had to replace the whole unit,
worm, spindle and pulleys (first time it was just the pulleys).
About a year after that the far right pulley just fell off the spindle
and that was the end for me.

I now have, I think, the same lathe as billh (above post). It's a
26020 VS; I don't know what the VFD is. I paid $3,000 including taxes
and delivery but I bought it at the Albany Symposium last year. You
really can't beat the show specials!

Ruth
http://www.torne-lignum.com


Ruth,
You have the same lathe as mine, the VFD designation I used is because I
forgot that it is called VS. The price I quoted is the full list in Canadian
dollars since Tom lives in Canada.

PS: I am the person who spoke to you at the Valley Woodturners meeting in
Ottawa (I mentioned your posts on Woodcentral) last fall when your
attendance was unfortunately cut short.
billh

wrote in message
ups.com...
Donald, I hope it keeps working just fine for you. Like I said, it
probably was just the lathe I had. After 8 months I replaced the
reeves drive, about 9 months later I had to replace the whole unit,
worm, spindle and pulleys (first time it was just the pulleys).
About a year after that the far right pulley just fell off the spindle
and that was the end for me.

I now have, I think, the same lathe as billh (above post). It's a
26020 VS; I don't know what the VFD is. I paid $3,000 including taxes
and delivery but I bought it at the Albany Symposium last year. You
really can't beat the show specials!

Ruth
http://www.torne-lignum.com
========================

Ruth,
VFD in lathe terms is "Variable Frequency Drive". The motor runs at line
frequency, and the controller varies the line frequency. It must have a 3
phase power source, and probably should also have an extra fan motor since
the fan mounted inside the motor won't turn fast enough at low speeds to
control over heating problems. Hope this helps.

Ken Moon
Webbervile, TX.

"Ken Moon" wrote in message
nk.net...

wrote in message
ups.com...
Donald, I hope it keeps working just fine for you. Like I said, it
probably was just the lathe I had. After 8 months I replaced the
reeves drive, about 9 months later I had to replace the whole unit,
worm, spindle and pulleys (first time it was just the pulleys).
About a year after that the far right pulley just fell off the spindle
and that was the end for me.

I now have, I think, the same lathe as billh (above post). It's a
26020 VS; I don't know what the VFD is. I paid $3,000 including taxes
and delivery but I bought it at the Albany Symposium last year. You
really can't beat the show specials!

Ruth
http://www.torne-lignum.com
========================

Ruth,
VFD in lathe terms is "Variable Frequency Drive". The motor runs at line
frequency, and the controller varies the line frequency. It must have a 3
phase power source, and probably should also have an extra fan motor since
the fan mounted inside the motor won't turn fast enough at low speeds to
control over heating problems. Hope this helps.


What Ken means to say is that the controller receives power at 60/50 HZ,
single or three-phase, and uses that power to produce other frequencies
which determine the rotation speed of the motor.

http://www.drivesys.com/asdis.html

Alternative is the DC motor. Or mechanical transmissions such as the Reeves
drive.

"George" George@least wrote in message
...

"Ken Moon" wrote in message
nk.net...

wrote in message
ups.com...
Donald, I hope it keeps working just fine for you. Like I said, it
probably was just the lathe I had. After 8 months I replaced the
reeves drive, about 9 months later I had to replace the whole unit,
worm, spindle and pulleys (first time it was just the pulleys).
About a year after that the far right pulley just fell off the spindle
and that was the end for me.

I now have, I think, the same lathe as billh (above post). It's a
26020 VS; I don't know what the VFD is. I paid $3,000 including taxes
and delivery but I bought it at the Albany Symposium last year. You
really can't beat the show specials!

Ruth
http://www.torne-lignum.com
========================

Ruth,
VFD in lathe terms is "Variable Frequency Drive". The motor runs at line
frequency, and the controller varies the line frequency. It must have a 3
phase power source, and probably should also have an extra fan motor
since the fan mounted inside the motor won't turn fast enough at low
speeds to control over heating problems. Hope this helps.


What Ken means to say is that the controller receives power at 60/50 HZ,
single or three-phase, and uses that power to produce other frequencies
which determine the rotation speed of the motor.

http://www.drivesys.com/asdis.html

Alternative is the DC motor. Or mechanical transmissions such as the
Reeves drive.
===================
George,
Is it a sign of old age when someone else understands what you're saying
better than you do??!! :-)

Ken

"Ken Moon" wrote in message
ink.net...
George,
Is it a sign of old age when someone else understands what you're saying
better than you do??!! :-)


Nope, it's a sign that you are so familiar with what you're talking about
that you subconsciously fill in what is missing to those who are trying to
learn.

Never proofread your own copy unless it's had a week to cool.