Welcome to the exchange, Brian.
I have a Viel and a Kalamazoo. I converted both to variable speed using the Penn State motors. I had reversing switches installed on both. I was one of the Bessex members who participated with Steve in developing the mounting plate and modified Viel which he sells. His plate and modified Viel transform a machine shop job into a home shop project, at much lower cost. The standard Viel comes with a six inch drive pulley with a half inch bore. Steve's are factory modified to include the smaller four inch drive pulley with the bore enlarged to 15mm to fit exactly with the Penn State motor shaft. Even with no motor speed reduction, the smaller diameter drive pulley reduces the speed by a third. I have found the speed reduction with the smaller pulley and Penn State motor very adequate for my needs.
The Penn State motor converts AC to DC. Reversing DC is just a matter of switching the two leads. I had motor repair shops do mine, although I probably could have done it myself.
My Kalamazoo was a gift.It came without a motor. I designed the motor mounting modification. It requires either the motor shaft diameter to be reduced or the pulley bore enlarged. Neither is a big deal for a machine shop.
I like both units, although I use my Tormek for sharpening knives.
I have a Viel and a Kalamazoo. I converted both to variable speed using the Penn State motors. I had reversing switches installed on both. I was one of the Bessex members who participated with Steve in developing the mounting plate and modified Viel which he sells. His plate and modified Viel transform a machine shop job into a home shop project, at much lower cost. The standard Viel comes with a six inch drive pulley with a half inch bore. Steve's are factory modified to include the smaller four inch drive pulley with the bore enlarged to 15mm to fit exactly with the Penn State motor shaft. Even with no motor speed reduction, the smaller diameter drive pulley reduces the speed by a third. I have found the speed reduction with the smaller pulley and Penn State motor very adequate for my needs.
The Penn State motor converts AC to DC. Reversing DC is just a matter of switching the two leads. I had motor repair shops do mine, although I probably could have done it myself.
My Kalamazoo was a gift.It came without a motor. I designed the motor mounting modification. It requires either the motor shaft diameter to be reduced or the pulley bore enlarged. Neither is a big deal for a machine shop.
I like both units, although I use my Tormek for sharpening knives.