Further information on the Variable Speed Lathe (CL4) from the manufacturers, Record Power  

Most serious and professional woodturners have realised the benefits of infinitely variable speed control.  This allows the turner to run the lathe at exactly the right speed for the job with a simple turn of a dial.  Speeds can be varied from 13rpm to 4600rpm*. 

In recent years the CL4 has rapidly become Record Power’s best selling professional lathe. With all the build quality and features that have made the CL3 such a popular choice amongst serious turners for decades and now with the added bonus of cam lock banjos, the CL4 builds on this with a powerful 1hp motor and a top quality electronic variable speed system with plenty of torque at low speeds.

Newly upgraded, the electronics and invertor are now housed in a dust proof enclosure certified to IP55 standard. This offers even greater levels of protection for the advanced control circuits. This speed control unit should not be confused with cheap and inferior expanding pulley systems, which have limited speed ranges, often have vibration problems and due to the inherent weakness in their design, wear belts at a rapid rate.

The CL4 uses a 3 phase motor and invertor to provide the power form a normal 240v single phase supply. This is a professional solution and used throughout the machine tool industry. The 3 phase motor provides plenty of power and torque, especially at low speeds and the invertor converts the single phase supply into three phase and enables stepless, infinite speed variation.

Even those who are initially sceptical about the benefits of variable speed do not want give it up once they have tried it. The CL4 is based on the CL3 and shares the same structural integrity and components, such as the phosphor bronze bearing, solid bed bars and heavy duty castings.

* Most turning can be achieved safely between 400 and 2000rpm. The higher speeds, over 2000rpm in particular, are only to be used by experienced turners who have had adequate training and observe all recommended safety and operating instructions.