New to me first lathe : Vicmarc Vl 100 vs Jet 1221 vs

[RenmanuEl]

I have the opportunity to acquire my first wood lathe. The options I have are to get a used but in excellent condition Vicmarc Vl 100 with GE 2hp motor. Not EVS. The other one is Jet 1221 VS basically brand new, open box condition for about $250 dollars more. With the Vicmarc I have to go pick it up today if I am going to get it. In fact I have to start driving soon.
Jet comes with EVS. Vicmarc I can start using without EVS and convert to an EVS set up eventually.
What do you wise and experienced guys think ?

 

[RenmanuEl]

I have read mixed information on the ability to extend Vicmarc bed. Can I extend Vicmarc vl100 if I need to in the future ? Jet 1221 EVS can take an extension bed for sure.
Even if Vicmarc can be extended, will that be way more expensive than the Jet option ?

 

[DrD]

EVS is extremely handy if you are going to drill, sand and finish with your lathe. A Vicmarc is nice, BUT, I'd def go with the Jet. I personally have a Delta with EVS.

DrD

 

[magpens]

I am not the best person to ask, but my gut feeling is to go with the Jet 1221 VS.

For one thing, variable speed is very important in my opinion, and I think it is best to have it from the get-go.

Another reason is that the Vicmarc company head office is in Australia. . I don't know if that is a real negative for a Nth American turner or not but it just strikes me that it could be.

 

[Kenny Durrant]

Last Christmas I got my second lathe. The first was the Jet mini lathe and the second is the Jet 221evs. The first wasn't VS and after now using one with VS I'll never go back. It has helped my finishing like I'd never imagined. It not only made it easier to finish but quicker and better.

 

[RenmanuEl]

Problem solved.
Picked up the Vicmarc Vl 100. In my van now. It came with 2 ge 2hp DC motors and cards and potentiometer for it and controllers. The previous owner was the sellers dad who passed away. The machine is not used. He had not completed putting it together. He had built the nice cabinet and mounted the motor in it. But not finished the belt slot or wiring. Also came with extra smaller tool rest and some other accessories. I am adding pictures.

I will need some help with wiring this thing up. Expect me asking some questions out of ignorance.

 

[RenmanuEl]

Thanks everyone for the advice to get one with EVS. This coming with the EVS and a price of all these for $375 made the decision easy. I think it is a good deal.
I appreciate all the suggestions.

 

[SteveJ]

Good buy!

 

[RenmanuEl]

Thanks Steve
I am excited

 

[magpens]

Congratulations !!!

But I thought you said in your original post that this Vicmarc does not have VS ??

If it in fact does have VS, that makes a big difference .... and at the price of $375 you can't go wrong.

Good luck !! . Happy turning !! . Keep us in the loop and show us lots of your results !

I doubt I can help you with the wiring of motors but some other IAP members would probably have that "know-how".

Looking forward to hearing/seeing more from you !!

 

[RenmanuEl]

Congratulations !!!

But I thought you said in your original post that this Vicmarc does not have VS ??

If it in fact does have VS, that makes a big difference .... and at the price of $375 you can't go wrong.

Good luck !! . Happy turning !! . Keep us in the loop and show us lots of your results !

I doubt I can help you with the wiring of motors but some other IAP members would probably have that "know-how".

Looking forward to hearing/seeing more from you !!

The guy listed with saying it has 6 speed and he did not know that the motor was a DC 2hp. When I went and looked is when I realized that about it. Like you said that changed things.
Thanks man

I have also just realized that it came with Oneway Morse taper live center pack. Even though I don't know exactly what it does I know that it is a good thing from the little reading I have done

 

[RenmanuEl]

Okay. So here is what I got. I mean please take a look at the pictures. You will see in the pictures that I need to cut a slot for the belt and mount the lathe on top of the cabinet/stand. Then I need to do the wiring. The motor is already mounted inside with a controller card mounted on the side. The motor is mounted on a hinged slab. I will incorporate something that will let me lock it down and release when I need to change the belt.

I know nothing about wiring this thing. Some of you kind souls please help me walk through wiring and setting this up.

 

[RenmanuEl]

I am watching a bunch of YouTube videos to get some idea.
On the motor the label reads 120v and the white thingy on the control board - that I believe is a transformer - says 250v on it . Is that an issue ? Am I supposed to plug this thing into 220v outlet or 120v ? I have both in my garage.

 

[magpens]

The white thingy on the circuit board in the last picture is not a transformer ... it is a capacitor.
The voltage rating on it of 250V is not relevant for determining the correct AC source for powering your motor.

For the motor, its own label is what you should go by. . That label says it is a DC motor and specifies 120 v

But you are not yet ready to plug it in and make it go ... you need more advice.

 

[RenmanuEl]

The white thingy on the circuit board in the last picture is not a transformer ... it is a capacitor.
The voltage rating on it of 250V is not relevant for determining the correct AC source for powering your motor.

For the motor, its own label is what you should go by. . That label says it is a DC motor and specifies 120 v

But you are not yet ready to plug it in and make it go ... you need more advice.

Thanks Magpens.
Yes of course I am not going to plug it in until I get more advices and know what I am doing . I have no clue about these things. But I am ready to learn
Thanks for your advice

 

[magpens]

Yes of course I am not going to plug it in until I get more advice

GOOD !! . I wish I could be of more specific help. . I know a very little bit about electronics (like difference between capacitor & transformer) but I don't know enough about electricity to hook up a motor of this type.

It does look like you got some "good extras" with the purchase, like the cabinet, dial gauge(s), and the 2 Morse Taper live center. . The last two items are worth well over $100, so that's money in your pocket.

 

[RenmanuEl]

I found the following from my online search. And I can identify those connections on the board I got and it is the exact same GE board 44A962492-001 R00. I searched by that number and this came up.

"....The drive board that I have has the following connections on the board...L & N = 120 vac in, M1 & M2 DC out to the motor, TA1 & TA2 tach input from the motor P1, P2, P3, goes from the drive to the speed pot. My drive is a GE, part # TRDM2-44a962492-001-r00....."

Getting some sense about it. Need to figure out what else I need to control speed and if possible to do reverse.

And need to figure out a way to protect that motor and board from dust. The slot for belt is going to let dust go in there. But that comes after I solve the wiring.

 

[Curly]

I'm a little envious that you got such a good deal on a great brand of lathe. Vicmarc lathes are in the same quality ranges as our Oneway or your Robust. Except for the bruise I wouldn't gripe if one landed on my Lap.

 

[RenmanuEl]

I'm a little envious that you got such a good deal on a great brand of lathe. Vicmarc lathes are in the same quality ranges as our Oneway or your Robust. Except for the bruise I wouldn't gripe if one landed on my Lap.

Glad to hear that I got a good one. Thanks Curly.

 

[Charlie_W]

I would suggest having a motor shop help with setting up the Vfd, motor connections, and controls. You sure done want to create an electrical hazard.
Good deal on the Vicmarc and accessories

 

[RenmanuEl]

After watching a bunch of YouTube videos and reading online I am getting a good sense of it. I will keep you all posted. Thanks for the suggestions and support.

 

[PenPal]

I mounted my VL100 on a bench and took the drive through the top of the headstock on the bench keeps the under part of the bench
empty. I will look for pics.I have a VL100 and its larger brother VL150 ,both bought as bare lathes and I fitted variable speed controls to them using three phase 415 motors and controllers that allow 240 in 415 out.My Vl100 is about 30 yrs old.I will take pics tomorrow.

Peter.

 

[ctmayflower]

I've owned a VL100 for almost 20 years and never looked back. I spent $1000 when most new turners were purchasing small Jets for $100. Some of the best money I ever spent. I purchased a bed extension a few years later. Hopefully the pictures will post.

Charlie...........

 

[RenmanuEl]

I mounted my VL100 on a bench and took the drive through the top of the headstock on the bench keeps the under part of the bench
empty. I will look for pics.I have a VL100 and its larger brother VL150 ,both bought as bare lathes and I fitted variable speed controls to them using three phase 415 motors and controllers that allow 240 in 415 out.My Vl100 is about 30 yrs old.I will take pics tomorrow.

Peter.

Penpal pictures will be great.
I am going to eventually set it up with vfd/3phase motor. I would have done it now if mine had not come with the dc motors. I am new to this whole thing. So I am going to get a hang of all this wiring and setting up. Use the dc motor for a while and keep an eye out in the mean time for good 3phase motor and vfd deals.
Hope I will grow into vl150 someday

 

[RenmanuEl]

I've owned a VL100 for almost 20 years and never looked back. I spent $1000 when most new turners were purchasing small Jets for $100. Some of the best money I ever spent. I purchased a bed extension a few years later. Hopefully the pictures will post.

Charlie...........View attachment 288433

Wow great set up.

Where did you get the stand/motor set up below the lathe from ?

What kind of motor set up does it use ?


And how did you get the bed extension

 

[ctmayflower]

Wow great set up.

Where did you get the stand/motor set up below the lathe from ?

What kind of motor set up does it use ?


And how did you get the bed extension

The set up was one of the stock Vicmarc packages at the time and came to me all set up - sort of a plug and play. I have never separated the base from the lathe.

I purchased the lathe and extension bed from a turner in Atlanta who was a small Vicmarc dealer. If memory serves me right his name was Terry Daniels. He was an elderly gentleman then and I lost contact with him years ago.

It has variable speed and forward and reverse as you can see from the controls. It also has 5 belt positions. It runs on 220. No electrical knowledge at all so I can't help you there. I do have an electronics manual from Control Techniques (UK) dated 2002 which makes no sense to me.

Hope this helps .........

Charlie

 

[wm460]

You made the right decision, you got a bloody good deal there.[emoji106]
I have a VL 300 and 2 X VL 100's one that I converted to Variable speed.


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