Excelsior 5-Speed Mini Lathe

my daughter (posts here as ProfistofDoom) has had her’s for more than a year now. it gets used every week
runs very smoth i would buy again

-- self proclaimed copycat

I believe the ad reads: buy lathe $199.00 get extended bed for .99 cents.

-- Bob Kenosha Wi.

Thanks for asking this Blankman! I got an email this morning from them about it and was wondering the same thing. Sometimes my Powermatic 3520b is just too big for some stuff. Free shipping too, except the $35 overweight fee.

Here’s the text from the email I got:
Excelsior 5-Speed Mini Lathe w/Bed Extension!
We’re spinning huge savings your way with this week’s Web Buster! When you purchase an Excelsior 5-Speed Mini Lathe (normally $249.99), you get a Bed Extension (normally $79.99) for only $.99 – that’s a savings of $129! Plus we’re offering FREE shipping this week, so you can get your other items for less too!
Sale $199.99! (Total value $329.98!)
Note: While basic shipping for this item is FREE, the $35 charge for overweight shipping still applies.

Does anyone know if you could make this a variable speed lathe by putting the belt on the highest setting and then putting something like a router speed control or something like that on it? It’s only 1/2 horse.

-- Chip -----------http://www.penmanchip.com-----------------Micah 6:8

i don’t have one but i’m gonna get one as soon as i put the money together it will be my first lathe but i think this is all i need unless i can find a delta one for cheaper or the same price same size as this one. thats my take on it i would say go for it if u got the money.

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com

Yeah you guys are right I misread that, $0.99 for the extension bed, pretty much the same though, $200 for the lathe and bed.. Still a better deal at the store though. Buy it for $199 get the $100 gift card, buy the bed for $79 have $20 left for other goodies. (Minus taxes.)

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

You are absolutely right Blankman. If I had a store near me, I wouldn’t hesitate. :)

-- Chip -----------http://www.penmanchip.com-----------------Micah 6:8

Chip, I would think you could do that with a variable speed control, as long as it’s rating can handle the current. Worth a try in my mind.

The only difference that comes to mind is routers are universal motors and this has an induction motor. If the speed controller works by only turning on part of the each half ot the AC sine like most of them do it should work. (Used to work in engineering at Allen-Bradley Drives Division so I understand this stuff.) The only thing I’d check out is if it’s ok to use its motor with the partial since wave controller (probably the same for any induction motor) and speed regulation under heavy load (maybe not noticable though) and torque might be an issue. But I’d be willing to give’r a try.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

I’ve been thinking about a lathe for a while. After getting the Rockler email this morning, and reading some comments on the internet, I just pulled the trigger. Stay tuned.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

ike i would get the Excelsior over the delta i was asking my daughter about this post and she said this lathe is
better that the delta at her schools woodshop and is about the same as the jet at school

-- self proclaimed copycat

You are absolutely right Blankman. If I had a store near me, I wouldn’t hesitate. :)

oops, don’t know how this posted twice. Mea culpa.

-- Chip -----------http://www.penmanchip.com-----------------Micah 6:8

Blankman,
Just read up on the router speed controller, and once again, you are absolutely correct! :) Sheesh, don’t get a big head now!

Since my ‘accident’ I have been doing turning almost exclusively. My legs can’t handle the walking/holding/lifting/bending/stretching that other woodworking requires. I have also been interested in doing some pens and smaller stuff.

Besides, can one have too many tools? :) LOL.

I also have an old, unused $150.00 gift certificate from Rockler. It’s time. Yup, yup, yup.

-- Chip -----------http://www.penmanchip.com-----------------Micah 6:8

Hello Blankman , I was told years ago that you could use a speed control on any motor that has brushes in it .
Use on other types of motors would cause damage or not work at all. Does that make sense to you ? Thank you : )

-- When my Grandmother became 60 years old , she started walking 5 miles a day...She's 97 now , and we have no idea where she is ! Ellen Degeneres

Dusty, yeah that’s why I mentioned to check it out, an AC motor with brushes is a universal motor, so called because most can run on DC too. But the fan in my hood over the stove is an induction motor and it has that type of speed controller I referred to and all ceiling fans are induction motors and their speed controllers are of this type also. That’s why I’m thinking it might be possible. Granted these motors are not of that high of horsepower so that was why I was hedging.

If I get some time I’ll dig thought my college books, I also majored in this in college, and do some research to see what I can find out. I like Chip’s idea and if possible would probably do it myself. Beats changing belts or gears all the time.

These controllers when they turn on at say 90 egress into the sine wave go from zero current to rated current almost instantaneously, that can produce a lot of RF interference too.

The more I think about this the more I’m leaning not, and is why speed control of AC motors is done by changing the frequency. It’s the 60Hz that controls the speed by the rotation of the magnetic field, that’s why it’s done by changing the frequency. And the reason it works for universal motors is because they act like DC motors in this instance, the inductance of the armature averaging the chopped sine wave into a lower voltage ergo lower speed and the counter EMF limitling current and providing decent speed regulation.

Been a while, not in that field for 20 some years, had to think, but it’s coming back to me. So I’d have to say it probably won’t work or not be good for the motor.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

I have been looking for a good used mini-lathe for my children to use, does such an animal exist? I prefer to buy new, then to get some elses problem child. Right now my son is just tall enough to work on my full size lathe, but my daughter has to look up, not down at her work. The thrill and joy of her first turned pen could not be contained. She showed it to everyone she could. Now Daddy, you need to get a little lathe, so you bring it to school and show everyone. Oh Boy. I am out fitted with #2 MT and 1 1/4 chucks. I will need to retool if I head down this path.

-- So Many tools, So little time

WoodSparky, I have the Jet VS and woud it would be a good candidate for a kid. I belive it is a MT #2…... The stand does have a little bit of adjustability but not enough for a child. You could get a table or bench that is at the right height.

I see them for sale every once in a while on Craigslist.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

hey charlie…why dont you point the barrel my way and you pull the trigger…...i wont mind at all…..then i could do a review….and tell you how nice it works

-- YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED BY THE GRIZZMAN...[''''']

Well I went to Rockler and bought one. Never really wanted a wood lathe but for $99 that’s too good of deal to pass up and now I can expand my horizons. Put it in the truck, went back in and bought the extension bed for $79 so now I have make table legs if I want. And I just may have too. Gotta get some cutting tools though, good thing to put on my Christmas list.

Looked at the Jet Mini Lathe they had on display and another brand, can’t remember it’s name though, and they’re all the same. This is definitely one of those times when the only difference is the color of the paint. And maybe the on/off switch and the covers, but from the same factory. Castings look just like the Jet above. Well except chrome verses black for some of the handles.

WoodSparky, took it out of the box and checked out the tapers, both the head and the tail stock are are #2 MT. Used a drill chuck that I use on my milling machine and metal working lathe and it fit nice and tight in both.

Wayne, I like what I see of that stand on the Jet, got another picture showing more of it by chance?

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

I went out and took some. Let me know if you have any questions or want to have a close up of a specific area.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Thanks Wayne that’s a great picture. Just want to see what it’s footprint would be. Little bit bigger then I expected. I’m thinking I’d like to put it against a wall.

But, thanks to your picture I’ve got another item for my Christmas list, a face shield.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

I have never done any turning on wood but could not pass up that deal either and it should be perfect size for my shop, very limited space. I used the $100 gift card toward the sorby tools they also had on sale. I cant wait to try it out, but need to do some reading and maybe a video or two first so I dont do to much damage when I do try.

-- Gary, Missouri

If you have a woodcraft around or perhaps a local turning club it is good to get some advise on turning and sharpening. Woodcraft has some introductory courses….

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Gary
The funny part about wood turning is that the lathe is the cheapest part of this whole endeavor.
Try and hold out for the better turning tools, whether it be Sorby, Crown, or any of the name brands.
Those 10 piece sets for $99.00 are made in China and require may trips back to the grinder. As for inexpensive tools, try Penn State. I have pick up a few tools from them, just to experiment.

-- So Many tools, So little time

The Rockler by me always has some turning type instruction going on it seems. They have 3 of these Mini Lathes set up to do that in the store (multiple brands). In fact when I picked mine up yesterday there was a class going on.

Hey Chip I think you’re going to like this thing. Took it out of the box yesterday, which is unusual for me I usually let something new sit in the box till I’m ready to use it, and I was impressed with the fit and finish. Manual is kind of lacking though. Belt changing to change the speed is really easy and easily accessible. And no big head, I just try to share what information I know, not always 100% accurate but once in a while…

Yeah and I once I got it out of the box I realized, hey I don’t own no turning tools! To bad they don’t give you a starter tool or two. :)

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

Just want to say thanks to all that posted to this thread. Being a complete newbie in this new turning endeavor, for one I would have missed out on the Sorby tools at Rockler. I had no idea what good tooling costs and when I looked at the prices at the individual Sorby tools at Rockler my jaw kinda dropped.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

Just ordered one , If you moan and groan you can swap out the bed extention for a $100 gift card. If I had to turn any the over 17”, I would head to my full size lathe. They tried tap me for shipping plus $35.00. The free shipping code is on their web site.

-- So Many tools, So little time

Don’t overlook the specials that PSI is running right now. Some pretty good deals.

-- Jef Spencer - Refined Pallet - http://www.etsy.com/shop/RefinedPallet

I’m going to hold off until after Christmas now, ow, oo, eh, it’s gonna be hard, but I’ve got a lot of the stuff on my Christmas list so I’ll see what I get then decide what I need. Usually I can’t think of anything for my Christmas list so this is pretty much a first. In fact, everything on my Christmas list is lathe related.

-- -Curt, Milwaukee, WI

PSI is great. I just order a bunch of stuff from them. Free shipping with a purchase of $75 or more