Robust - Sweet 16 (Rating: 5)
I treated myself to a retirement gift. I could not have made a better choice.
I have been using using this for 2 months now. I wanted my review to be based on what I've done with it.
I looked at everything I could see in person,and read for hours on the web what others have to say about their lathes. I had certain needs that had to be filled, plus I wanted options to grow into as my experience grows.
My main concern was getting it into my basement shop. I wanted bigger capacity than the Jet 1220vs I started out with. Variable speed is important to me. Indexing is very important to the projects I want to get into. Quality and safety go hand in hand, you can't have one without the other. I wanted a powerful motor with reverse. Many lathes out there will do all of these things. For my situation, this was clearly the right choice.
This is the shortbed, 2 h.p. version. It's a gap bed lathe. A section comes out of the bed that can be attached 2 different ways. 1 way is to increase swing over the bed, the other to increase spindle length capacity. This puts a lot of lathe in a small footprint.
The first 2 pics are of a big slab of cherry, 18" x 18" x 6" , bandsawn to about 17" diameter. Rough turning was easy in this configuration. Of course, I could make it dance all over if I wanted to, but being able to slow this down to as low as 58 rpm made it safe. Speed control is attained by turning a knob, no belts to change, just speed it up or down to where you want it. Look at how much swing room is left. I would need a hoist to load up a piece that big.
Pic 3, the spindle, is a cane I made and posted here. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/34710
I used a forstner bit in a jacob's chuck to bore out both ends. It was easy and safe to do. Fun, too.
The indexing was used to layout the twist on the cane, along with the spindle lock to lock the piece in position for shaping after the turning.
I also used those features for this: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/34144
This is a stable platform for this type of work. Lots of room to get in there, I can rotate it where I need and then lock it down.
The control box is a great feature, just put it where you need it to be.
One thing I really like is being able to turn from both sides. I have found that in certain situations, I get much better access to the workpiece from the other side. It's simple to move the toolrest, start the motor in reverse, and have the control box right where I need it.
I have 2 more pics in My Workshop.
I have seen others review and recommend the tool rests that Robust makes, and I agree. The rest of the lathe is at the same high standards and quality.
They are good folks to deal with, and they make them in Wisconsin, USA.
Here's a link to Robust: http://turnrobust.com/Index.html
Watch the videos.
I treated myself to a retirement gift. I could not have made a better choice.
I have been using using this for 2 months now. I wanted my review to be based on what I've done with it.
I looked at everything I could see in person,and read for hours on the web what others have to say about their lathes. I had certain needs that had to be filled, plus I wanted options to grow into as my experience grows.
My main concern was getting it into my basement shop. I wanted bigger capacity than the Jet 1220vs I started out with. Variable speed is important to me. Indexing is very important to the projects I want to get into. Quality and safety go hand in hand, you can't have one without the other. I wanted a powerful motor with reverse. Many lathes out there will do all of these things. For my situation, this was clearly the right choice.
This is the shortbed, 2 h.p. version. It's a gap bed lathe. A section comes out of the bed that can be attached 2 different ways. 1 way is to increase swing over the bed, the other to increase spindle length capacity. This puts a lot of lathe in a small footprint.
The first 2 pics are of a big slab of cherry, 18" x 18" x 6" , bandsawn to about 17" diameter. Rough turning was easy in this configuration. Of course, I could make it dance all over if I wanted to, but being able to slow this down to as low as 58 rpm made it safe. Speed control is attained by turning a knob, no belts to change, just speed it up or down to where you want it. Look at how much swing room is left. I would need a hoist to load up a piece that big.
Pic 3, the spindle, is a cane I made and posted here. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/34710
I used a forstner bit in a jacob's chuck to bore out both ends. It was easy and safe to do. Fun, too.
The indexing was used to layout the twist on the cane, along with the spindle lock to lock the piece in position for shaping after the turning.
I also used those features for this: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/34144
This is a stable platform for this type of work. Lots of room to get in there, I can rotate it where I need and then lock it down.
The control box is a great feature, just put it where you need it to be.
One thing I really like is being able to turn from both sides. I have found that in certain situations, I get much better access to the workpiece from the other side. It's simple to move the toolrest, start the motor in reverse, and have the control box right where I need it.
I have 2 more pics in My Workshop.
I have seen others review and recommend the tool rests that Robust makes, and I agree. The rest of the lathe is at the same high standards and quality.
They are good folks to deal with, and they make them in Wisconsin, USA.
Here's a link to Robust: http://turnrobust.com/Index.html
Watch the videos.
