Lathe speed

[Mountaincraft]

I am new to turning, and my work would require me to sometimes use recycled wood. Previously, I turned a few ballisters to repair a rail on someone elses lathe. I didn't kill myself, by way of common sense or probably luck.

According to my training (rotational moments of inertia blah blah), I am afraid of a lathe that has a starting speed above 300 rpm. Most of what I would do might be long, possibly thick stuff. Is this a valid concern?

[Monty]

My midi starts at 500 rpm. I'm still here! If you're nervous about an off-balance piece, stand over at the end of the lathe when you start it up.... let it spin for a little bit before starting to work it.

[Mountaincraft]

I have a feeling that a midi won't do what I want with what I'm asked for...

[JRD]

While I'm more of a woodturner focusing on bowls, dishes, and the like, I have turned a few spindle shaped objects. I use a Delta Midi lathe and while the speeds range from about 500 up to 13,000, I almost always stay at 500 rpm and have had no problems.
About the only concern I would have is if the spindle is relatively small in diameter. The longer the spindle and the smaller the diameter the more problems you'd experience with the work "whipping" as you work it, throwing everything out of true round.
What you could do is make a second support out of ply and rollers that would mount to the bed about half way along it's length. That would add extra support to the piece being worked, preventing it from flexing and the resulting out of round problem.
As for the workpiece coming loose, at lower speeds (below 800 or so) I've never had a piece come loose unless I was applying too much perpendicular pressure relative to the piece being worked.
Hope this helps.

[Mountaincraft]

I'm thinking a very long bed, very slow, lathe. A midi with 2 bed extensions and electronicly variable speed. Can't see a need for longer. If piecing together, a mini will do. Just swing is the limit, but no problems with ballasters