Rupert,
I agree that the Viel Generation III is a fine machine. I appreciate the help you and others have given me with this project. I am pleased to post whatever help I can for other members making conversions.
I can certainly share that the way I have done the project is definitely not cost efficient. I purchased the bare Viel unit from Lee Valley, which is fine. After I discovered that none of my three shop motors were the correct size, I purchased a motor from Viel. The motor (fixed speed, now not used) is fine, as was the service from Viel. I have found Viel's instructions bare bones at best. I have also never received a reply from the two emails I sent to Tech support at Penn State Industries. (That makes the advice from this exchange even more valuable, my only good source of information.
I spent $150 having a local motor repair shop turn down my motor shaft and install a reversing switch. Their work was adequate, and I realize the job was priced as a "one off" job. I have close to four hundred dollars in this job, and I have done a lot of the work myself. This is not cost efficient.
The cost efficient way should have three choices:
The first choice would be to post in depth instructions for someone with machinist skills to the entire job himself.
The second choice would be to provide directions for the person to do some of the work himself with some of it being done by a motor or machine shop. These directions would benefit from a list of known good and reasonably priced machine shops, or at least one
The third choice, the turnkey option, would be to find a machine shop to do the entire job. The cost would go down if the order was for ten or twenty units. In this case, someone would need to fund the project, and reasonably expect a reasonable business return on his capital.
I believe this is a good project. Even at Gen I and II, I like the performance of the Viel. It is a useful sharpening and grinding tool. I am glad to advise others with their own conversions. At the risk of seeming selfish, I have neither the skill, time nor desire to undertake this project for others.
I suggest that those interested post their desire to included in the project. Once plans are drawn up, the hunt for a good machine shop should begin. By banding together, everyone would get a good job at a lower cost.
Ken
I agree that the Viel Generation III is a fine machine. I appreciate the help you and others have given me with this project. I am pleased to post whatever help I can for other members making conversions.
I can certainly share that the way I have done the project is definitely not cost efficient. I purchased the bare Viel unit from Lee Valley, which is fine. After I discovered that none of my three shop motors were the correct size, I purchased a motor from Viel. The motor (fixed speed, now not used) is fine, as was the service from Viel. I have found Viel's instructions bare bones at best. I have also never received a reply from the two emails I sent to Tech support at Penn State Industries. (That makes the advice from this exchange even more valuable, my only good source of information.
I spent $150 having a local motor repair shop turn down my motor shaft and install a reversing switch. Their work was adequate, and I realize the job was priced as a "one off" job. I have close to four hundred dollars in this job, and I have done a lot of the work myself. This is not cost efficient.
The cost efficient way should have three choices:
The first choice would be to post in depth instructions for someone with machinist skills to the entire job himself.
The second choice would be to provide directions for the person to do some of the work himself with some of it being done by a motor or machine shop. These directions would benefit from a list of known good and reasonably priced machine shops, or at least one
The third choice, the turnkey option, would be to find a machine shop to do the entire job. The cost would go down if the order was for ten or twenty units. In this case, someone would need to fund the project, and reasonably expect a reasonable business return on his capital.
I believe this is a good project. Even at Gen I and II, I like the performance of the Viel. It is a useful sharpening and grinding tool. I am glad to advise others with their own conversions. At the risk of seeming selfish, I have neither the skill, time nor desire to undertake this project for others.
I suggest that those interested post their desire to included in the project. Once plans are drawn up, the hunt for a good machine shop should begin. By banding together, everyone would get a good job at a lower cost.
Ken