Wood lathe — Solberga SVT 600
Wood room course required. Yellow-sign machine: no separate course, but you must know how to use it safely — ask for an introduction if you're new to it. Face shield always.
Wood lathe for turning between centres (spindles) and on a chuck or faceplate (bowls).
Solberga lathe with chuck, tailstock, controls and turning tools on the wall
Location | Wood room, turning tools on the wall rack |
Access | Wood room course + know how to use it. No booking, free. |
Speeds | Range I: 390–1300 rpm, range II: 780–2600 rpm |
Chuck | Axminster Clubman SK100 |
Help / faults | Slack #trärummet-woodroom |
Known issues: the SK100 chuck has been too stiff to use (July 2026), the speed lever lock has released by itself (June 2026), and the variator bearings rattle (April 2026). Don't use a stiff chuck or a speed setting that changes on its own — report it.
Materials
Yes: wood, and wood with fully cured epoxy.
Green wood is allowed — but wet shavings must never go into the shared extractor (they clog the filter). Use a separate collection, remove wet shavings afterwards, wipe the lathe dry and apply a thin coat of beeswax.
No blanks with cracks, splits, loose knots, loose bark or metal.
Glued blanks: cured at least 24 h (and the glue's full curing time).
Large, heavy or irregular blanks: get an experienced turner to look first.
Controls and setup
Emergency stop on the front.
Speed lever (variator): only move it while the lathe is running (as marked on the plate). Never force it when stopped.
Motor range switch (I / II): separate control — get the switching sequence shown to you.
Tailstock lever: up = move, down = lock. Check body and quill are locked. If it won't lock, report it — don't adjust the nut underneath.
Chuck (SK100): mounted on a taper adaptor with a drawbar — always fit the drawbar. Remove the faceplate before fitting the chuck. Ask a maintainer to change between chuck and faceplate.
Front controls and speed plate
Safety
Safety glasses and a full face shield. Hearing protection; dust mask when sanding.
No gloves. Tie back hair and beard, secure sleeves, remove jewellery.
Stand out of the line of the blank when starting.
Start slow. Stop immediately on vibration.
Never leave it running unattended.
Stop and power off for setup changes (except moving the speed lever).
How to use
Inspect the blank and workholding. Find OFF and the emergency stop.
Power off: mount the blank. Between centres: engage the drive and tail centres, lock tailstock and quill. Chuck/faceplate: check it's secure. Remove keys and spanners; release any spindle lock.
Set the tool rest close to the blank and clamp it. Turn the blank by hand one full turn to check clearance.
Dry work: start extraction. Green wood: use the separate collection.
Stand to the side and start at low speed. Rough at the lowest suitable speed.
Tool on the rest before it touches the wood, both hands on the tool. Light, controlled cuts.
Stop to move the rest, measure or check the work. Re-check clearance before restarting.
Stop, wait for standstill, power off, clean up.
Sanding: stop and remove the tool rest first. Never wrap sandpaper or cloth around the work or your fingers. Keep away from chuck jaws and centres. No running in reverse.
Troubleshooting
Problem | Action |
|---|---|
Heavy vibration or blank moves | Stop immediately. Recheck mounting, balance and speed. |
Speed lever stiff or range reduced | Don't force it — report. |
Belt slip, squeal, heat, noise | Stop and report. |
Poor cuts or repeated catches | Check tool sharpness, rest position and technique — ask for help. |
Maintenance
Users: vacuum the lathe and floor; keep the bed clean.
Belt, variator, bearings and electrical: maintainers only. Check bearing type before greasing.
Identify the centre type (fixed cup centre vs live centre) before oiling it.
Upper belt was slightly tight after replacement in April 2026.
Maintenance and repairs log — repairs, parts and service schedule.
Specifications
Model | Solberga SVT 600 (older version, mechanical variator) |
Speed | Range I 390–1300 rpm, range II 780–2600 rpm |
Chuck | Axminster Clubman SK100 on taper adaptor with drawbar |
Current SVT600 (reference) | 300 mm centre height, 1000 mm between centres, MT3 both ends — measure ours before buying accessories |
Documents and links
No manual for this machine is available; Kilebrands can supply one by serial/year.
AAW Safety Guidebook for Woodturners (PDF) — printed pp. 7–9: technique and start-up checks.
Book by the lathe: Turning Wood with Richard Raffan, 3rd ed.
Kilebrands: Solberga lathes · spare parts