Hi all,

I have a DML24 for 13 or so years and I'm pretty happy with it, except
the size restirction on bowl turning.

I was looking at buying a bigger lathe with a rotating headstock when
I came across the "DMLSHU SWIVELHEAD UPGRADE FOR DML24". Looks like
it'll do the job for my exsiting lathe.

The question is - is it worth it? According to the record website it's
60 quid sterling - but I can't find it for less than 80 on the
web...add shipping to ireland and I could be paying 100 quid
sterling...and while that's a lot cheaper than a bigger lathe....if it
doesn't do the job well then that's 100 quid down the drain.

Appreciate your input,

Shep

P.S. I'm in the Republich of Ireland if anyone has suggestions for how
to get these cheaper.

On Jan 9, 3:55*pm, Shep The Turner wrote:
Hi all,

I have a DML24 for 13 or so years and I'm pretty happy with it, except
the size restirction on bowl turning.

I was looking at buying a bigger lathe with a rotating headstock when
I came across the "DMLSHU SWIVELHEAD UPGRADE FOR DML24". Looks like
it'll do the job for my exsiting lathe.

The question is - is it worth it? According to the record website it's
60 quid sterling - but I can't find it for less than 80 on the
web...add shipping to ireland and I could be paying 100 quid
sterling...and while that's a lot cheaper than a bigger lathe....if it
doesn't do the job well then that's 100 quid down the drain.

Appreciate your input,

Shep

P.S. I'm in the Republich of Ireland if anyone has suggestions for how
to get these cheaper.

Sounds like a great item. You may also have to get a new banjo that
would have to reach out to the face of a large bowl you would be
turning and the unsupported extension from the ways could present an
unsafe condition.
My lathe has a sliding headstock so I can go to the end of the ways
and turn same as outboard.
You maybe could look around for a good used lathe with at least and
outboard turning feature.
Murray in Cape Breton, Canada

If you look at the Record web site is also shows a listing for Nova series
lathes. I am in the states and have a Nova DVR. One feature of it is the
swivel headstock. I bought this lathe for two reasons, one being the
variable speed and the other being the swivel headstock.

I really like the swivel headstock, it lets me work the inside of bowls
without having to lean over the ways. My back really appreciates that. The
Nova has a long banjo that allows for the swivel headstock.

Russ
"Shep The Turner" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

I have a DML24 for 13 or so years and I'm pretty happy with it, except
the size restirction on bowl turning.

I was looking at buying a bigger lathe with a rotating headstock when
I came across the "DMLSHU SWIVELHEAD UPGRADE FOR DML24". Looks like
it'll do the job for my exsiting lathe.

The question is - is it worth it? According to the record website it's
60 quid sterling - but I can't find it for less than 80 on the
web...add shipping to ireland and I could be paying 100 quid
sterling...and while that's a lot cheaper than a bigger lathe....if it
doesn't do the job well then that's 100 quid down the drain.

Appreciate your input,

Shep

P.S. I'm in the Republich of Ireland if anyone has suggestions for how
to get these cheaper.

On Sun, 9 Jan 2011 13:55:25 -0600, Shep The Turner wrote
(in message
):

DMLSHU SWIVELHEAD UPGRADE FOR DML24

not being familiar with this machine I had to take a few looks on the web,
ditto for the upgrade unit.

On some other lathes, if the work is being turned outboard, a separate
freestanding pedestal is used to mount a tool rest.

If you get one of these conversion units in order to swing your power head
around 180 degrees, you would of course have the ability to spin a block of
wood much larger than your ordinary capacity over the ways or bed. With a
suitably heavy and stable pedestal you could certainly mount a tool rest on
that pedestal for outboard turning. You'd need to make certain sure that the
forces acting between the tool and the work do not cause the tool
rest/pedestal to dance about, though. May have to fasten the pedestal to the
floor securely so it will not move. You would not want this for a dancing
partner.

If you are willing to add a swivel to your lathe for outboard turning, maybe
you might consider simply making a specialized stand just for the power head
unit. If like me you have more time than money - and access to appropriate
wood materials for making a sturdy stand, you're in business. Sturdy enough
to not vibrate or move around, and made in such a way that a suitable tool
rest structure is incorporated into this power unit stand - you would have a
purpose-built bowl turning lathe. Bear in mind the power limitations of your
particular power head, though, and the attendant vibration associated with
ever larger blocks of wood.
tom koehler

--
I will find a way or make one.

Not sure how the record swivel head works but the Nova has 2 detents, one at
30 deg from center and the other at 180. The 30 deg position uses the
standard banjo and tool rest but give slightly larger turning capacity and
as I said in the earlier post the ability to work the inside without leaning
over the lathe.
"tom koehler" wrote in
message net.net...
On Sun, 9 Jan 2011 13:55:25 -0600, Shep The Turner wrote
(in message
):

DMLSHU SWIVELHEAD UPGRADE FOR DML24

not being familiar with this machine I had to take a few looks on the web,
ditto for the upgrade unit.

On some other lathes, if the work is being turned outboard, a separate
freestanding pedestal is used to mount a tool rest.

If you get one of these conversion units in order to swing your power head
around 180 degrees, you would of course have the ability to spin a block
of
wood much larger than your ordinary capacity over the ways or bed. With a
suitably heavy and stable pedestal you could certainly mount a tool rest
on
that pedestal for outboard turning. You'd need to make certain sure that
the
forces acting between the tool and the work do not cause the tool
rest/pedestal to dance about, though. May have to fasten the pedestal to
the
floor securely so it will not move. You would not want this for a dancing
partner.

If you are willing to add a swivel to your lathe for outboard turning,
maybe
you might consider simply making a specialized stand just for the power
head
unit. If like me you have more time than money - and access to appropriate
wood materials for making a sturdy stand, you're in business. Sturdy
enough
to not vibrate or move around, and made in such a way that a suitable tool
rest structure is incorporated into this power unit stand - you would have
a
purpose-built bowl turning lathe. Bear in mind the power limitations of
your
particular power head, though, and the attendant vibration associated with
ever larger blocks of wood.
tom koehler

--
I will find a way or make one.

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:56:25 -0500, Russ Stanton wrote:

I really like the swivel headstock, it lets me work the inside of bowls
without having to lean over the ways. My back really appreciates that.
The Nova has a long banjo that allows for the swivel headstock.

I bought the little General lathe for the same reason. Your back and
mine must be relatives :-).

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

I have never used a DML24 but I do have a Poolewood twin tube lathe with
swivel head. The problem I ran into was when I swivelled the head to turn
a larger diameter, the round ways were not rigid enough to handle the
extension of the banjo that far out resulting in the tool rest not being
steady any longer. And, of course, you lose tailstock support. I suppose
you could try propping the tool rest up with a stick to the floor. My
solution was to make a free standing tool rest, but it was a pain to use
so I gave up and converted the ways into something more substantial with a
cast bed from an old Rockwell lathe. For the last 10 years I have been
using a Powermatic 3520 for my bigger pieces, and I gotta tell you, that
sliding headstock allowing you to work off the end of the lathe is really
the way to go if you ever have the option to upgrade. It's a wonderful
system. I don't make a lot of bowls anymore but do make a ton of hollow
forms and, again, being able to work off the end of the lathe is such a
blessing I can't imagine going back. I haven't swivelled the head on the
Poolewood in 10 years and am glad to be done with that.
-mike paulson, fort collins, co


I have a DML24 for 13 or so years and I'm pretty happy with it, except
the size restirction on bowl turning.

I was looking at buying a bigger lathe with a rotating headstock when
I came across the "DMLSHU SWIVELHEAD UPGRADE FOR DML24". Looks like
it'll do the job for my exsiting lathe.

The question is - is it worth it? According to the record website it's
60 quid sterling - but I can't find it for less than 80 on the
web...add shipping to ireland and I could be paying 100 quid
sterling...and while that's a lot cheaper than a bigger lathe....if it
doesn't do the job well then that's 100 quid down the drain.

Appreciate your input,

Shep

P.S. I'm in the Republich of Ireland if anyone has suggestions for how
to get these cheaper.