Vega Wood Lathes and Wood Copy Lathes

Series 1500 T Wood Lathe

STANDARD FEATURES INCL.

• 3 inch Faceplate
• 12 inch Tool Rest
• Tool Rest Base
• Spur Center
• Cup Center (1553)
• Live Center (1596/15120)
• Mesh Lathe Guard
• 12 Month Warrant

THE LATHE BED

The lathe bed is fabricated from 4  x 3 x 3/16 inch wall structural tube which yields a very rigid and wide lathe bed for excellent tool rest support.  Holes are provided at the tailstock end of the machine for filling with concrete or sand if desired.  (Concrete has 11 times the vibration absorbing capability of cast iron).

THE LATHE SPINDLE

The 1500s headstock spindle is precision CNC machined from 1-1/4 inch round stock.  It is supported i in the cast iron headstock by an oversize 30 MM double row ball bearing on the inboard and a single row 30  MM single row bearing on the outboard side.  This combination of bearings provide  very high end thrust and  axial load capacities with essentially zero end play.  The spindle has a #2  morse taper and is through drilled for spur center extraction and gun drilling if desired.

THE TOOL REST

The tool rest base is a heavy steel weldment which is then surface ground on both sides.  The tool rest itself is fabricated from 3/16 x 3-1/2 inch steel (for a slim cross section) and welded to a 1-1/4 inch shank for excellent rigidity.

THE TAILSTOCK

Made from cast iron, the tailstock of this lathe utilizes a large diameter handwheel for the ram advance, a hefty 1-1/4 inch  spindle with a #2 morse taper, and a 5/8 inch acme screw.  Positive locking of the tailstock to the bed of the lathe is done through a top mounted handle.

REVERSING FEATURE

This is standard on all versions of the 1500 series lathe.  The reasons for this are two fold.  First, reversing the rotation direction for sanding reduces the amount of sanding required and makes it safer.  Second, if  using a duplicating attachment, you can position the tool rest on the back side of the lathe, and still hand turn with the lathe running in reverse.  Faceplates are  secured  by a brass tipped set screw for reversing.

BASIC A/C WITH DRUM REVERSING SWITCH

The basic variable speed drive system consists of a 2 step pulley on the Headstock spindle and a high quality variable pitch pulley on  the  motor shaft.  This combination yields a high and low ranged with infinitely variable speeds in each range.  Speed change is accomplished by  simply raising or lowering the motor.  The standard motors on the 1500 series lathes are American made TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) Standard motors for the different models are as follows ; 1553 - 1HP, 1596 - 1.5HP, 14120 - 2HP.

INVERTER DRIVE SYSTEM (Optional)

An option for the 1500 Series Lathe is an inverter  drive (see  below for technical information on this  system).  Speed change with the Inverter consists of simply rotating a knob on the control box.  High or low range can still be selected, depending on the diameter of the  workpiece.  There is a 1HP system available for the 1533 which features a premium  Tosihba motor and KB inteverter.  There is a 2HP system for any of the 1500 series lathes which features a premium Toshiba motor and Toshiba inverter.  The 2HP  system is a state of the art industrial drive, with digital readout  for motor RPM's and is programmable.

SAFETY SHIELD

The welded steel mesh of this unique safety guard provides far greater impact protection than plastic.  Equally important, it provides a clear view of the work.  Plastic shields actually attract sanding dust, consequently  are typically not used.  The steel mesh ins out of the focal range of the operator  so it t imparts very little visual obstruction.  The safety shield is mounted on a steel track that runs the  length of the lathe bed.  It is mounted on rollers, making it easy to position where you want it.  A unique locking system automatically locks the guard when the mesh is lowered.  It is also available as a kit to mount on other lathes.

OUTBOARD TURNING SUPPORT (Accessory)

The massive outboard turning support bolts directly to the end of the lathe.  This provides very secure tool rest support that is necessary for safe and controllable outboard turning.  This is not obtainable with traditional pedestal supports.  If large diameter outboard turning is going to be done on the lathe we strongly suggest the 2HP Inverter Drive Option.  It  provides the low  RPM's needed for safe turning of large pieces.                  

ACCESSORIES

Slender Turning Accessory 1.875
A traveling steady rest which solves the problem of spindles whipping. (Because they are structurally weak due to their length to diameter ratio.)     This device bolts to the front of the Duplicator carriage and supports the spindle inside a large bearing with 4 opposing 3/4 inch diameter set screws (Handles up to 1-7/8 inch square stock).

Spiral Attachment
Turn the Spindle using the duplicator cutter and then mount a router on the duplicator.  The Spiral Attachment will rotate the spindle while cutting the flutes or reeds.  Has a built in 24 tooth index plate.

Router Bracket
Lets you mount a round motor router to the tool holder spindle of the duplicator.  Use your lathes indexer to position the turning for fluting.  New design allows vertical or tipped back positioning of the router to accommodate larger diameter turnings.

Diamond Vee Cutter
This is a high performance cutting system utilizing double ended Carbide inserts.  Advantages include superior surface finish on turnings, long cutter life, no sharpening, indexable for fast and accurate tool changes.  Great for most types of wood.

Special Cutters
The Square Shoulder Cutter is a carbide insert cutter for cutting clean 90 degree left or right facing shoulders.  It uses the Diamond Vee style insert to cut furniture knobs and round type shapes.  Both are indexable tools.

Steady Rest
This steady rest bolts to the lathe bed. It has 2 arms with soft rollers and bearings.     The soft material helps prevent the wood from compressing while spinning. This keeps the steady rest running smooth and quiet. This design is very good for small batches of parts or occasional long spindles.

Template Maker
This tool lets you quickly and easily draw profile onto template material form an original turning.  Simply put the master turning in the lathe and follow the profile using the template maker following tool.  A pencil then traces the profile onto the template material.  Cut your template and make your turnings.

Woodworking Lathe Chucks, Tools and Duplicators
TeknaTool Nova Precision Lathe Chuck,Jaws and Inserts	Easy Lathe Tools and Chucks	VEGA PRO Lathe Duplicator

#1 BEST SELLING CHUCK
SUPER NOVA 2 CHUCK

This powerful and solid chuck is perfect for use on lathes with up to 20 inch/508mm swing. Brilliant all around geared chuck for a majority of users.

 Chucks Require Seperate Insert for Final Insulation and Additional Jaws Sizes are Available

Easy Rougher - The Next Step in Woodturning

The Easy Rougher is a carbide cutter woodturning tool that addresses fatigue, safety, and efficiency like no other type of tool on the market. Designed to be kept flat on the tool rest and level to the floor, the Easy Rougher will effortlessly hog away massive amounts of material for any woodturning process without the need for sharpening. The tool design provides support directly beneath the cutting edge transferring the cutting pressure downward allowing the lathe to take the pounding that you would normally suffer through when using a conventional bowl gouge for roughing. No more white knuckling a bowl gouge.

• Cuts left, right and straight in without changing approach angle
• Truly deeper cuts up to 1 inch off the diameter in one pass with the Full Size Rougher.
• Requires very little physical strength or exertion
• Your feet and hips stay in nearly the same position for the blank roughing process.
• Very minimal handle bouncing on irregular shaped blanks
• Reduced kick-back or sucking into work piece
• Available Chip Deflector keeps most projectiles away from the face and neck
• No intimidating cutting angles to learn and remember
• No bevels to ride
• No fear of a dangerous catch

Easy Finisher - Yet Another Innovation in Woodturning

With another step forward in woodturning innovation, Easy Wood Tools now offers you a tool to take up where the Easy Rougher leaves off. The Easy Finisher has a round carbide cutter perfect for doing the inside work on smaller bowls and for larger coves on spindle work. Our carbide inserts are made in the USA and we are pleased to offer you a tool that is 100 percent made in America.

If you own one of our existing Easy Roughers, you well know by now that we deliver even more than we advertise, as hard as is was for you to believe before your first purchase. I assure you the productivity of this tool will exceed your highest expectations. You just can not predict the possibilities or joy this tool will provide you. In testing the prototypes for this new design, I found myself creating forms that were never even on my list to try because the dangers and complications of existing tools were just not worth the trouble.  Craig Jackson, Founder

Like the other Easy tools, the Easy Finishers are designed to be used with the tool rest set so that when the tool is held level the top of the cutter is on center. Then just keep it level to the floor and flat on the tool rest for all types of cuts... it does not get any easier than that. There are no complicated approach angles, or bevels to ride. The design of this tool allows the Easy Finisher to effortlessly cut from the center of a bowl out to the rim OR from the rim to the center! All without changing any angles whatsoever. You just stand in one spot and cut coming and going until you get to the shape you want.

The Easy Finisher utilizes the same carbide cutter technology as the Easy Rougher that reduces strain and fatigue, improves productivity, and virtually eliminates sharpening. It comes loaded with one round cutter and when it gets dull, you just rotate the cutter for a fresh cut. Please note: The round cutters are not interchangeable with the carbide cutters on the Easy Rougher tool bars.

When the cutter eventually gets dull, just loosen the retaining screw and rotate cutter about 1/4 of a turn, then re-tighten the screw.

We promise this tool will open up a whole new level of design possibilities for your craft and it will exceed your expectations. If not, return for a complete refund.

Replacement carbide cutter number is engraved right on the tool bar.

Available in four sizes - Mini, Mid-Size, Full-Size and Pro. See purchase page for all products, sizes and accessories.

Easy Rougher - The Next Step in Woodturning

The Easy Detailer tools really pick up where other tools leave off and provide another level of woodturning creativity as the unique diamond cutter shape fits in tight places where the cutters on the other tools will just not fit.

These tools were designed for the primary purpose of doing the small intricate work and cutting final details on your projects such as small coves and beads on both spindle and bowl work. They are also very handy for cutting chuck tenons and making inside reverse angle cuts for inside chucking bowls with dovetail jaws. You may find they work well for hogging your green wood projects too.

The Easy Detailers are engineered to cut going straight in employing just the nose of the tool.

The Easy Detailer tools are engineered with a reduced relief angle to the long cuttings edges making the long edges less aggressive when held in contact with the wood as the nose of the tool is cutting. In use, the long edge is intended to perform as a "control surface" and serve to be in contact with the wood just behind the cut; much like a bevel is being rubbed.

For safety reasons, avoid plunging the tool so deep into the work at once to the depth you would have both sides of the cutter in contact with the wood too greatly at the same time. This could cause too much force at once and lead to binding of the tool in the groove.

Each diamond-shaped Easy Detailer cutter is engineered to fit all size Detailer tools in our current product line. When the cutter eventually dulls, just loosen the retaining screw and rotate cutter, then re-tighten the screw.

Replacement carbide cutter number is engraved right on the tool bar.
Available in four sizes - see purchase page for all products, sizes and accessories.