Thanks for your intrest in the L-1 Artisans Lathe!
There are a lot of new lathes on the market today. It seems that most
of them are just spindle lathes,
built on a larger scale. If you are mainly interested bowls and faceplate work, these
machines can be
a bit restrictive when hollowing and working directly into the spindle centerline.
The lathes
that allow the headstock to be rotated 90 degrees are getting closer, but most of
those are still pretty light.
The L-1 has been designed from the ground up for use with a variable speed drive,
and to address features and needs of the artisan turner. No compromise was made in
the basic design for changing belts or pulleys, because you don't! The L-1 uses a
fixed motor mount with an industrial grade 3/8" pitch, 1" wide toothed
belt and pulleys. You never have to touch the
belt unless it breaks from old age!.
The L-1 is a very heavy machine and will work on large out-of-balance rough stuff.
Yet the electronic drive will give enough range of speed to allow work on small spindle
objects where higher speed and less torque is needed. Intentionaly over-engineered,
the machine has the mass to provide a vibration-free woodturning platform of unparalleled
stability. Thinking of the production turner, I've tried to make everything very
durable, easy and quick to operate, and easy to maintain.
The L-1 incorporates a toolrest which allows quick and easy positioning, and provides
a full range of access for the 24" basic diameter. The bed is a bolted on weldment,
and can be removed for specialty work, conceivably allowing a 96” swing!. All movements
are either cam-locked or use large diameter heavy duty knobs for ease of use and
rapidity of operation.
The L-1 is a deluxe machine, hand built to your order. It will last your life time
and quite possibly many more. In addition, the machine can be easily modifed to add
any special feature you may dream up. All functions of the L-1 have been to be as
simple as possible.
You'll always be able to work on an L-1, and fix it yourself!
In the following web pages, you can read about and see photos of, the various features
of this gutty, hardworking machine.
Alan Reinhart
Royersford, PA
USA