PSI VS Conversion Kit?

[Sprung]

Just wondering what everyone's experiences are with the PSI Variable Speed Conversion Kit.

I have a Jet 1014 (non-VS and with the extension bed) that I'm considering eventually doing this upgrade too. But before I start setting aside money for it, wanted to see what users of it think of it. And if you've upgraded a Jet 1014 with it, is there anything specific I would need to know about the upgrade and was it a worthwhile upgrade? Currently my two most used speed settings by changing pulleys are 840 and 2630 RPM.

Or there's the Rikon upgrade kit too, which looks like it could be a little better, though costs a little more. It might take a little more work to make the Rikon kit fit on my Jet 1014, but I'm good with things like that and it wouldn't pose a problem for me.

 

[KenV]

I have the PSI kit used to power a Bonnie Klein lathe. Also have a Jet 1014vs with the stock motor.

The PSI motor is optimistic as to it's power rating. The torque fall off at 50 % and lower motor speed seems more pronounced. The controls are not as smooth, but can be located where you want them with cord limits. The box is a bit clunky.

It will work, but if you can get another amp, would be nicer.

 

[Jgrden]

I am lurking. Asking the same questions.

 

[CREID]

I purchased this kit about 6 or 7 years ago and put it on a Rockler (what I believe they call Excelsior now) and it worked great and bolted right up.

Curt

 

[Sprung]

I have the PSI kit used to power a Bonnie Klein lathe. Also have a Jet 1014vs with the stock motor.

The PSI motor is optimistic as to it's power rating. The torque fall off at 50 % and lower motor speed seems more pronounced. The controls are not as smooth, but can be located where you want them with cord limits. The box is a bit clunky.

It will work, but if you can get another amp, would be nicer.

Ken, thanks for those thoughts. I have already experienced occasions where I have felt the stock motor on the 1014 is a little underpowered. Especially so when turning a small bowl or a small plate (even with very light cuts). I'm not sure I could do with less power or torque. With that in mind, the PSI kit doesn't look like it would be worth it. Think I'm going to do some more research on the Rikon kit...

 

[hanau]

I put it on shop fox mini lathe and it was under power. i ended up sending it back.

 

[dogcatcher]

I put one on a Taig lathe, even as small as a Taig is, I could tell it was not as powerful as the original Taig motor. The Bonnie Klein lathe is a really a renamed Taig lathe. I don't know about the Rikon version'

Overall for the convenience of not having to mess with the belts the PSI has done a good job. Glad I did it, but then again the Taig is not my work horse lathe, more of a toy for traveling. If I was using it everyday, I might fix it back so I could use both motors and switch them depending on what I was working on.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

Ken, thanks for those thoughts. I have already experienced occasions where I have felt the stock motor on the 1014 is a little underpowered. Especially so when turning a small bowl or a small plate (even with very light cuts). I'm not sure I could do with less power or torque. With that in mind, the PSI kit doesn't look like it would be worth it. Think I'm going to do some more research on the Rikon kit...

If you want to turn bowls and plates at all ditch the 1014 altogether and get a 1 HP midi lathe - jet, delta or rikon. There won't be one day that you regret it.

 

[Sprung]

Thanks, everyone, for the additional comments. I'll pass on the PSI VS kit. Can't find much on the Rikon, but did notice that with the Rikon VS kit, I'd still have to change belts to use my two most used speeds. So, I think I'll just stay non-VS for the time. Belt changes really don't take that long, but I had hoped to be able to lesson how often I have to do them.

If you want to turn bowls and plates at all ditch the 1014 altogether and get a 1 HP midi lathe - jet, delta or rikon. There won't be one day that you regret it.

Someday my plan is to get a larger lathe, something along the lines of a Jet 1642, and then keep the 1014 for small turnings. Right now I'm just trying to work with what I've got, because I know it'll be several years before I'll be in a position to even consider upgrading. I've been very happy with my 1014 - even if a little underpowered for some things, it has done everything I've asked it to do thus far. It was definitely a huge upgrade from the Craftsman lathe I started on and there's no way you'd be able to beat the deal I got when I bought this lathe (and a ton of accessories) from someone last December.

 

[low_48]

Not having to change belts really isn't the point when bowl turning. It's the fact that 50 rpm up or down may take the blank out of resonance and the lathe settles down. For pen turning, it is about changing belts since imbalance does not show up. I bought my first variable speed lathe in 1998, I won't ever go back.
One last point, you actually have to change belts when bowl turning with a VS lathe. It's to keep the motor in a high torque rpm. When I turn a 15" to 18" bowl, I set the belts in the low range and turn up the motor speed. 10" to 15" bowls run in the center groove. Spindle work in the high range. I turn bowls on a Oneway 2436.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

Not having to change belts really isn't the point when bowl turning. It's the fact that 50 rpm up or down may take the blank out of resonance and the lathe settles down. For pen turning, it is about changing belts since imbalance does not show up. I bought my first variable speed lathe in 1998, I won't ever go back. One last point, you actually have to change belts when bowl turning with a VS lathe. It's to keep the motor in a high torque rpm. When I turn a 15" to 18" bowl, I set the belts in the low range and turn up the motor speed. 10" to 15" bowls run in the center groove. Spindle work in the high range. I turn bowls on a Oneway 2436.

The extent to which we change belts or not depends on both what we turn and our preferences. Currently with my two lathes I pretty much never ever change belts. My 1642 stays in the low range all the time for bowl turning and my 1221 stays on high all the time.

I'm sure I will change belts when I turn spindles on the big lathe, but by point is what while changing the belt may be helpful for the ideal ranges, it's not always necessary. If one turns only pens it's not necessary at all on a EVS lathe.

 

[low_48]

Not having to change belts really isn't the point when bowl turning. It's the fact that 50 rpm up or down may take the blank out of resonance and the lathe settles down. For pen turning, it is about changing belts since imbalance does not show up. I bought my first variable speed lathe in 1998, I won't ever go back. One last point, you actually have to change belts when bowl turning with a VS lathe. It's to keep the motor in a high torque rpm. When I turn a 15" to 18" bowl, I set the belts in the low range and turn up the motor speed. 10" to 15" bowls run in the center groove. Spindle work in the high range. I turn bowls on a Oneway 2436.

The extent to which we change belts or not depends on both what we turn and our preferences. Currently with my two lathes I pretty much never ever change belts. My 1642 stays in the low range all the time for bowl turning and my 1221 stays on high all the time.

I'm sure I will change belts when I turn spindles on the big lathe, but by point is what while changing the belt may be helpful for the ideal ranges, it's not always necessary. If one turns only pens it's not necessary at all on a EVS lathe.

Isn't that what I said? Do you keep the 1642 in low range to turn small bowls and vessels? I guess I just turn a more varied diameter than you do. Or else I just prefer less motor whine on small objects.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

Isn't that what I said? Do you keep the 1642 in low range to turn small bowls and vessels? I guess I just turn a more varied diameter than you do. Or else I just prefer less motor whine on small objects.

I bought the 1642 so I won't have to turn small bowls anymore.

Having two lathes does skew my opinion most likely. I was turning pens on the 1642 I'd probably switch it up.

Anyway I'm not really disagreeing with you except to say that there are plenty of people who choose to not change the belt very much at all which does prevent them from turning in the optimal range for many projects.

This would be an interesting poll question sometime.