GALLERY – Robust Tools

Linda Ferber "Stay Sharp & Turn Safe!"

Tom Silva "I couldn't be happier with my Robust American Beauty. It's a quality machine whose power and stability make for a smooth turning experience no matter what I'm working on."

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Joseph B. Unverzagt “I've been enjoying my lathe as much as I can. I gave myself a tiny goal of 1 item per week.”

Jim DiStefano and Friend

Jim DiStefano (on right) with Friend “Thanks so much for introducing me to this machine. It’s gonna be amazing to work with for the next 30 or so years. ;)”

Danielle Barbour

Danielle Barbour

Bruce Hage and Wife

If you like our new website design, you can thank AB owner Nick Reale. Nick says: My American Beauty is a great piece of machinery. No vibration, no struggle to start and lots of torque

"I am enjoying it, almost daily. I have no regrets about getting this, other than I should have bought it sooner. It gives me confidence, knowing the lathe will do its part.

“I did a class last weekend and they asked everybody about their lathe and I told them about my new AB. Having a Robust is like being a teenager and getting a Ferrari for your 16th birthday!”

“As you know, I was considering a Powermatic 3520 at about half the price. If I would have bought that lathe, I would have been kicking myself each time....love the stainless steel bed and moveable control.”

“My lake-side workshop is no longer called the ‘Shop’. With your beautiful lathe it is now called the ‘Studio’. I use it almost every day. It is an absolute joy to use. I may sleep out there with it tonight.

“The crate arrived as scheduled. I’ve now finished two projects and everything works great. Thank you again for a fine product. Keep up the good work!”

Bruce Markwardt

“The versatility of the Sweet 16 was one of its main attractions. I have a very small shop and the Standard Bed Sweet 16 is a perfect fit. It does everything I need and then some!”

“Check out the chips this baby makes. This large salad bowl is its first turning. What a fantastic machine. Lots of keen features. It's been worth the wait. Yes, I'm having fun now.”

Brian Lensink “I turn daily and love this American Beauty. I just like everything about it.” Brian particularly enjoys segmented turning and basket illusion work. See his work at www.lensinkcreations.com

Bob has been wanting to make big platters for years. With the Robust Sweet 16 he can do just that. Here is Bob with a recently completed 26" Maple master piece.

“It is a pleasure to stand over this machine and I'm still amazed at just how well it operates. As I was using the lathe today. I kept thinking just how much I liked the thing.”

Andrew Rothwell

If you'll forgive the modified saying, "his turning is so bright he needs to wear shades!" Ralph Benson, our dealer in Reno, assisted Andrew with the sale and delivery.

Andrea-Morandini

Andrea makes a style of bagpipes commonly called Uilleann Pipes. Andrea writes: “Just a few words to say how happy I am with your lathe. In short, everything is state of the art, as I expected.”

Amy was the first woman to send us a picture for the owner's gallery. We are fortunate to have quite a few female owners, and they are about equally divided between the Sweet 16, AB and Scout.

“I just wanted to thank you for all the help getting my American Beauty and building such a wonderful machine. It has been a joy to use and far as I am concerned is the best designed lathe on the market”

"The lathe continues to be everything I hoped for and more. I got more lathe than I planned to when I my search began, but I've always been a believer that you should get the best you can in tools.”

“Wanted to let you know that I got the big wood mounted and spinning. The lathe doesn't even seem to notice the load and starts and runs no differently that when working with normal sized pieces.”

Roger is an active turner, doing many craft shows and has work in a number of galleries. He and his wife Jackie are both active carvers, and their Santa Claus figurines are a must-have gift.

Robert Fletcher

“Sending you this photo of one of three finished spheres I turned on the American Beauty. They are to be part of an art sculpture going in the vocational technical high school in Wasilla, Alaska.”

“The Sweet 16 finally arrived! I actually "love" it. I did not realize how uncomfortable I was turning on the Jet, which was a fine machine but was too tall for me.”

Richard Chiswell

Phil was our very first Robust owner, shown here picking up AB (we kept #1 for ourself). That's Phil on the left. Phil passed a few years ago, and we leave him the gallery for sentimental reasons.

In my thirty-year career as a pro turner traveling the world teaching and demonstrating, I have finally found the perfect lathe for me, the American Beauty. It ticks all the boxes and then some.”

Nathan purchased the long bed AB with the 16" bed extension. That makes a pretty impressive wood lathe! It didn't take he and his son long to get it uncrated and to start putting it through its paces.

I love the lathe. It is really one sweet machine and a pleasure to use. I use it constantly, and have done some whacky off-center pieces on it without adding weight or bolting it to the floor.”

“Just wanted to show you the bowls I turned so far on this awesome lathe. Only one complaint: I can't find enough time to spend on it! Thanks for building such a great lathe!”

"Thank you so much for making such a wonderful lathe! I struggled mightily between a Oneway and an American Beauty. After one session on this amazing tool, I have no doubt I made the right choice!"

“I was very pleased with the stability of the lathe and am now able to complete my projects much more quickly and safely. Thanks for a great design!”

“Thanks for making such a wonderful lathe. I'm the envy of my friends in the turning club.”

“After attending a David Ellsworth class I realized that I needed a better lathe. After consulting with David I went with the American Beauty and I could not have made a better choice.”

“A member in my woodturning club said that if I wanted the best lathe to look at Robust. After touring the shop I ordered a Sweet 16 lathe. The quality and ease of operating the lathe is exceptional.”

“I am so pleased with my new Sweet 16. A few guys from the club have been to see it and all are well impressed. Comments range from "Rolls Royce" to "Green with envy" as well as “well done”.

I received my Sweet 16 and in just a few hours had it set up and in place. Thank you for making such an amazing product that is just so completely thought out and is a pleasure to use!

“Having owned three lathes over the past 14 years I decided that my retirement gift to myself would be the last lathe I would ever need or want: this American Beauty. I could not be more pleased”

Jose Garcia from Boyce Louisiana sent us this photo of his new American Beauty in his really nice woodworking studio.

John does a lot of art and craft fairs. We really like this photo because it shows the advantages of the American Beauty's sliding headstock and Tilt-Away better than words can describe.

“Please find a photo of myself and my American Beauty. What is there to say about it except that it is all I expected and wanted in a lathe I am delighted with it.”

“I could not be happier with this machine, everything is just as advertised and there is not one thing i can think of that would improve it.”

When Jim got his American Beauty, he’d turned before, but from the looks of this box elder piece, he’s catching on just fine. That’s Jim’s granddaughter checking for consistent wall thickness.

“My new Robust American Beauty lathe has made its way to its new home! I’m really impressed! Please thank your all of your Associates that played a part in its production and shipping.”

Jim and Luke Viar

";We received our American Beauty. Everything was perfectly shipped and arrived safely… I was most impressed with the attention to detail… we will treasure this for at least a generation or two.”

t;I can’t say enough about my American Beauty - it’s just a rock-solid piece of gear and it’s the center of my workshop now. Thank you!

"Since I didn’t start turning until I was in my late 60s, I felt I was too old to go thru the usual progression of "beginning low-end lathe to last hi-end lathe" and just cut to the chase with my American Beauty”

“I spent two years reviewing lathes specifications before purchasing the American Beauty. My research paid off because my AB is everything I ever wanted in a lathe, and lots more.”

“I’m thrilled with my American Beauty lathe. It has exceeded all my expectations. I wish I had gotten it sooner. From the ordering phase to final setup in my shop your service was exceptional.”

“Attached is a picture of getting the lathe into the house. My two favorite colors, Robust Gray and John Deere Green!”

Graeme and Melissa

Mr. Kim is from South Korea and purchased a fully loaded long bed American Beauty to compliment his well-equipped wood working studio. We were able to arrange shipment at a reasonable price.

“I was upgrading from a midi-lathe and looking for a lathe that wasn’t too big or heavy, but one that had the power and capacity to expand my turning repertoire. The Scout and Universal Stand fits the bill”

“Have my new Sweet 16 set-up and giving it a whirl. Thanks again for all your support throughout this process and THANK YOU for building such a wonderful lathe that I know will last me forever.”

Del Hollingsworth

“I was concerned that it didn't have a digital readout, but that quickly faded; I set the speed based on the material on the lathe. This thing is so well engineered, I am out of superlatives to describe it.”

David Ellsworth

David is shown turning an extra-long spindle for a bed-post, the other end of which is supported by a live center mounted to the wall! David featured this picture in an article for American Woodturner.

Chris spent a lot of time choosing just how he wanted this lathe set up, and he got all the bells and whistles!

“Since I'm 75 years old at the moment, as I told my turning club, "I hope to outlast the warranty". Thanks again for a wonderful piece of equipment.”

Tom makes beautiful spinning wheels. Here's a picture of Tom's Sweet 16 spinning a "spinning wheel". The gap is removed on the front of the headstock, where it supports the banjo for turning the rim.

Terry is a retired businessman and we had a great conversation about "Made in the USA" including the importance dependable suppliers. Terry, we built your new AB to be is as dependable as they come.

Stuart reports ..how great it is to turn on such a fine machine. I knew I was going to like it but I am amazed at the difference it makes in even a 14 inch platter

Steve is proprietor of “Advanced Lathe Tools” and a superb woodturner with pieces in prominent galleries and museums. Steve chose a long bed AB with Tilt-Away for his demanding pieces.

“Thanks for making me such a GREAT lathe. I am really impressed with the fit and finish on the lathe. The guys that helped me move it into the shop were also impressed.”

Shintaro Nakajima

Shintaro sent us this picture after using his American Beauty for a while. A picture truly is worth a thousand words.

Ron is a retired museum curator and makes museum quality bowls and platters on his American Beauty.

Lois Henry and her Birthday Present Lois's husband bought her a brand new Sweet 16 for her birthday and she just couldn't be happier. Her husband says she's asked for a bigger turning studio next year !