Assorted Woodturning Lathes Test Reports

Miss Yvonne Arlott
(Proffesional Woodturner and teacher) Cornwall
Cut and paste the following link to her website http://www.yvonnearlott.com/

Yvonne's review

The only lathes I’ve had a proper go on apart from the Polaris have been my other lathes, Omega Stubby S750, Axminster M330 old demonstration lathe and my first lathe that’s now broken which was a Mejix. The Polaris outstrips both the Mejix and Axminster M330 lathes, not surprisingly since they aren’t designed as professional lathes, and so I won’t even bother trying to compare it to these. So my opinion on the Polaris is in comparison to my Omega Stubby lathe which cost over a £1000 more to buy in the first place.

Firstly I love the electronic speed control and direct drive since you have so much more control over the speed than with the stubby. I found a couple of things I’ve turned actually seemed to turn smoother on the Polaris and I think it was just because of the extra control you have over the motor.

The magnet on the hand controller is brilliant and makes it a lot easier to put it anywhere without risk of it falling and getting broken. I like the idea of the Digital Speed Read-out as well, since I think it is easier for beginners and complete novices to turning.

The tailstock and rest were really comfortable to use with large levers that lock down very well and the lathe bed seems nice and sturdy.

Mounting the chuck or faceplate was really easy with a rod dropping into the headstock to hold the spindle still whilst they are wound and locked on.

There was a minor problem with the lathe when it turned up, which was two wires were connected up wrongly, but it was easily fixed and the customer service is excellent. In fact there was another electrical fault, which I have informed the manufacturer about and which I assume will be fixed on future machines.

I am very critical and the following things were the only drawbacks I could find.

When you put the rod in the headstock to hold the spindle still while you wind the faceplate or chuck on there isn’t any safety device to stop you accidentally starting the lathe with the bar left in, whereas the Stubby has various safety cut outs.

I would have preferred larger start and stop buttons on the hand controller since I do start and stop the lathe frequently when I’m doing my thin bowls and lacework bowls. Also I found you have to be very definite when you hit the buttons compared with the Stubby which can be very irritating.

When I tried turning a large log of Cherry wood I couldn’t stop the motor but the lathe did start resonating when I applied the chisel, so I had to reduce the speed. In fact in most circumstances I couldn’t get the speed as high as when I use the Stubby, due to the same resonating motion occurring. At the moment the lathe isn’t bolted down, which may contribute slightly to this effect. Also the stand on my Stubby is a very sturdy home-made one and I’m pretty sure if I put the Polaris on a sturdier stand it would help improve it’s stability, though I’ve yet to try it.

I’m still trying the lathe out but so far I would say that it’s a very good lathe for the money. The main area that lets it down, understandably, is its stability compared to the considerably more expensive Stubby, which is basically a large chunk of cast iron that’s been bolted down well. I also find its lack of a built in indexing ring a problem for the type of work I do. Even so I’m pretty sure I could turn anything I turn on the Stubby on the Polaris and achieve the same results, albeit in a slightly longer time, due to the need for slower speeds.

From what I have seen so far, obviously I have no long term experience with the Polaris, the DVSL Polaris seems a useful lathe for both the general public and professional turner requiring a good all round, inexpensive lathe.
Click here to link to Yvonnes web site

Mr A E Twine
Very good machine, quiet running and well made. Improved my turning.

Yvonne Arlott
The only lathes I’ve had a proper go on apart from the Polaris have been my other lathes, Omega Stubby S750, Axminster M330 old demonstration lathe and my first lathe that’s now broken which was a Mejix. The Polaris outstrips both the Mejix and Axminster M330 lathes, not surprisingly since they aren’t designed as professional lathes, and so I won’t even bother trying to compare it to these. So my opinion on the Polaris is in comparison to my Omega Stubby lathe which cost over a £1000 more to buy in the first place.

Firstly I love the electronic speed control and direct drive since you have so much more control over the speed than with the stubby. I found a couple of things I’ve turned actually seemed to turn smoother on the Polaris and I think it was just because of the extra control you have over the motor.

The magnet on the hand controller is brilliant and makes it a lot easier to put it anywhere without risk of it falling and getting broken. I like the idea of the Digital Speed Read-out as well, since I think it is easier for beginners and complete novices to turning.

The tailstock and rest were really comfortable to use with large levers that lock down very well and the lathe bed seems nice and sturdy.

Mounting the chuck or faceplate was really easy with a rod dropping into the headstock to hold the spindle still whilst they are wound and locked on.

There was a minor problem with the lathe when it turned up, which was two wires were connected up wrongly, but it was easily fixed and the customer service is excellent. In fact there was another electrical fault, which I have informed the manufacturer about and which I assume will be fixed on future machines.

I am very critical and the following things were the only drawbacks I could find.

When you put the rod in the headstock to hold the spindle still while you wind the faceplate or chuck on there isn’t any safety device to stop you accidentally starting the lathe with the bar left in, whereas the Stubby has various safety cut outs.

I would have preferred larger start and stop buttons on the hand controller since I do start and stop the lathe frequently when I’m doing my thin bowls and lacework bowls. Also I found you have to be very definite when you hit the buttons compared with the Stubby which can be very irritating.

When I tried turning a large log of Cherry wood I couldn’t stop the motor but the lathe did start resonating when I applied the chisel, so I had to reduce the speed. In fact in most circumstances I couldn’t get the speed as high as when I use the Stubby, due to the same resonating motion occurring. At the moment the lathe isn’t bolted down, which may contribute slightly to this effect. Also the stand on my Stubby is a very sturdy home-made one and I’m pretty sure if I put the Polaris on a sturdier stand it would help improve it’s stability, though I’ve yet to try it.

I’m still trying the lathe out but so far I would say that it’s a very good lathe for the money. The main area that lets it down, understandably, is its stability compared to the considerably more expensive Stubby, which is basically a large chunk of cast iron that’s been bolted down well. I also find its lack of a built in indexing ring a problem for the type of work I do. Even so I’m pretty sure I could turn anything I turn on the Stubby on the Polaris and achieve the same results, albeit in a slightly longer time, due to the need for slower speeds.

From what I have seen so far, obviously I have no long term experience with the Polaris, the DVSL Polaris seems a useful lathe for both the general public and professional turner requiring a good all round, inexpensive lathe

Keith Willis 2 September 2005
Excellent machine for almost any turning attempted so far.