(Sorry for repeating this ... a third time ... but it didn't seem to
get through the first two tries)
Slowly trying to get into woodworking after my Dad left me a bunch of
tools, slowed down a bit by a military career, being recently married,
moved, and now expecting ...
SWMBO hasn't really been interested in woodworking so
far--until I happened to watch an episode of "Woodturning Basics" I
saved on my DishPVR while she was in the room. Now she's interested
in learning to turn wood. And far be it from me to turn down an
opportunity and blessing to buy new machinery!
Any recommendations? We're not really interested in just
turning pens, etc., so we'd like something capable of turning both
decent-sized bowls and spindles. I'm torn between getting the $150
Grizzly basic model as an introductory/eventually discard starting
lathe, and spending a bit more and getting something we can grow into
... I've done a google search, and gotten nothing very current (and a
boatload of reviews of the movie "Lathe Of Heaven" which seems to be a
bastardization of an Ursula K. LeGuin novel ...)
Also, what should I look for in a lathe? I've done some
reading, and based on that it seems distinguishing features include:
- Between centers length==maximum length of object
- Over-bed swing==maximum radius of object
- Rotating headstock==bowls, etc. greater than Over-bed swing
- Live center on tailstock
- Spindle through-drilled
- Faceplate and chuck (also available as accessories?)
- Cast-iron bed
- Indexing capability
- Variable speed
I've also noted different lathes have different morse tapers
and threading ... I'm assuming this affects what accessories I can
purchase. Which is more important, a common morse taper or a common
threading? I ask because one list of four lathes had varied between
3/4 and 1", and 8, 12, and 16 TPI. Do accessory makers cover them all,
or should I try and hit the most common? If so, what IS most common?
Help, please! She's repeatedly said she'd like to learn to
turn, so to me that sounds like a hint to buy a holiday gift we can
share ... so I don't want to dawdle!
I have a Delta Midi lathe and love it, turned lots of things. took a
course at the StateU and will now be buying a Jet 1442. Very stable
base, plenty of HP and rotating headstock if I ever need to turn a bowl
larger than 27" in diameter. the "disposable" lathes with be tolerable
for spindle work but it is my understanding that the bearings make bowl
turning difficult. #2 morse taper and 1" 8 TPI is the more common
although most chucks and centers come in a variety of sizes.
there are a lot of female turners in this area, hopefully she will get
addicted. :-)
BRuce
Dave G wrote:
> (Sorry for repeating this ... a third time ... but it didn't seem to
> get through the first two tries)
>
> Slowly trying to get into woodworking after my Dad left me a bunch of
> tools, slowed down a bit by a military career, being recently married,
> moved, and now expecting ...
>
> SWMBO hasn't really been interested in woodworking so
> far--until I happened to watch an episode of "Woodturning Basics" I
> saved on my DishPVR while she was in the room. Now she's interested
> in learning to turn wood. And far be it from me to turn down an
> opportunity and blessing to buy new machinery!
>
> Any recommendations? We're not really interested in just
> turning pens, etc., so we'd like something capable of turning both
> decent-sized bowls and spindles. I'm torn between getting the $150
> Grizzly basic model as an introductory/eventually discard starting
> lathe, and spending a bit more and getting something we can grow into
> ... I've done a google search, and gotten nothing very current (and a
> boatload of reviews of the movie "Lathe Of Heaven" which seems to be a
> bastardization of an Ursula K. LeGuin novel ...)
>
> Also, what should I look for in a lathe? I've done some
> reading, and based on that it seems distinguishing features include:
>
> - Between centers length==maximum length of object
> - Over-bed swing==maximum radius of object
> - Rotating headstock==bowls, etc. greater than Over-bed swing
> - Live center on tailstock
> - Spindle through-drilled
> - Faceplate and chuck (also available as accessories?)
> - Cast-iron bed
> - Indexing capability
> - Variable speed
>
> I've also noted different lathes have different morse tapers
> and threading ... I'm assuming this affects what accessories I can
> purchase. Which is more important, a common morse taper or a common
> threading? I ask because one list of four lathes had varied between
> 3/4 and 1", and 8, 12, and 16 TPI. Do accessory makers cover them all,
> or should I try and hit the most common? If so, what IS most common?
>
> Help, please! She's repeatedly said she'd like to learn to
> turn, so to me that sounds like a hint to buy a holiday gift we can
> share ... so I don't want to dawdle!
--
---
BRuce
Fri, Dec 5, 2003, 8:13pm (EST-3) [email protected]
(Dave=A0G) claims:
<snip> slowed down a bit by a military career,<snip>
A job is only a career when you stay in it long enough to die still
working at it. Otherwise it's just a pastime.
and now expecting ... <snip>
Expecting what?
Any recommendations? <snip>
I'm happy with the HF one, 37" between centers. Cost me $129 new,
and I think they're still about the same price. I don't figure on ever
upgrading. Or, you could make one.
You'll really get better advice from the rec.crafts.woodturning
guys, on the whole. news:rec.crafts.woodturning
JOAT
Where the choice is between only violence and cowardice, I would advise
violence.
- Mohandas Gandh
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 6 Dec 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
So you want to turn something. Using a turning lathe may require a
9-10 ability to understand how it works and the proper use.
What you want is a Legacy Ornamental Lathe. This lathe can turn
spindles that have a twist like rope on them, or you can unwrap the rope
and turn what is called "hollow rope " which is open in the center.
You can also do flutes, reeds, fancy spirals where the top may be wider
than the bottom,as well as duplicate anything as an exact duplicate.
How would you like to turn 4 table legs that are exact duplicates, and
with a tapper and knobs as well as mortice joints in the exact 90 degree
locations?
Here is what you do. Call1-800-279-4570 and ask them to send you a free
DVD which shows everything. Once you've seen this machine, you won't
want another.
OH!!! and if you decide you want to use tools with a morse taper, it
will handle tat as well as their own tools, live tail stock, left and
right spiral, and items too great to number that a common lathe can't
do. OH!!! And you don't need to know much except how to set the depth
of a plunge router and to turn a crank. The system has locks on it so
you can't overrun the stops and as long as the settings are the same,
the duplication is the same.
So if you're a professional like Norm who has the 9-10 experience and
you're not interested in doing reeds, flutes, tapers, rosettes,
mortices, arches, contours, dados and much more with very little
knowledge, get a lathe. But if you're not that experienced, get this
DVD and see if it is for you.
Tell them WoodworkerJoe told you to call.
--
Lathe Recco for SWMBO
Group: rec.woodworking Date: Fri, Dec 5, 2003, 8:13pm (MST-1) From:
[email protected] (Dave=A0G)
(Sorry for repeating this ... a third time ... but it didn't seem to
get through the first two tries)
Slowly trying to get into woodworking after my Dad left me a bunch of
tools, slowed down a bit by a military career, being recently married,
moved, and now expecting ...
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0SWMBO hasn't really been
interested in woodworking so far--until I happened to watch an episode
of "Woodturning Basics" I saved on my DishPVR while she was in the room.
Now she's interested in learning to turn wood. And far be it from me to
turn down an opportunity and blessing to buy new machinery!
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Any recommendations?
We're not really interested in just turning pens, etc., so we'd like
something capable of turning both decent-sized bowls and spindles. I'm
torn between getting the $150 Grizzly basic model as an
introductory/eventually discard starting lathe, and spending a bit more
and getting something we can grow into ... I've done a google search,
and gotten nothing very current (and a boatload of reviews of the movie
"Lathe Of Heaven" which seems to be a bastardization of an Ursula K.
LeGuin novel ...)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Also, what should I look
for in a lathe? I've done some reading, and based on that it seems
distinguishing features include:
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Between centers
length=3D=3Dmaximum length of object
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Over-bed
swing=3D=3Dmaximum radius of object
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Rotating
headstock=3D=3Dbowls, etc. greater than Over-bed swing
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Live center on
tailstock
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Spindle
through-drilled
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Faceplate and chuck
(also available as accessories?)
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Cast-iron bed
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Indexing capability
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0- Variable speed
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0I've also noted
different lathes have different morse tapers and threading ... I'm
assuming this affects what accessories I can purchase. Which is more
important, a common morse taper or a common threading? I ask because one
list of four lathes had varied between 3/4 and 1", and 8, 12, and 16
TPI. Do accessory makers cover them all, or should I try and hit the
most common? If so, what IS most common?
=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0=A0Help, please! She's
repeatedly said she'd like to learn to turn, so to me that sounds like a
hint to buy a holiday gift we can share ... so I don't want to dawdle!
--
Woody
Check out my Web Page at:
http://community-1.webtv.net/WoodworkerJoe/WoodworkerJoesInfo
Where you will find:
******** How My Shop Works ******** 5-21-03
* * * Build a $20 DC Separator Can Lid. 1-14-03
* * * DC Relay Box Building Plans. 1-14-03
* * * The Bad Air Your Breath Everyday.1-14-03
* * * What is a Real Woodworker? 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Definitions. 2-8-03
* * * Murphy's Woodworking Laws. 4-6-03
* * * What is the true meaning of life? 1-14-03
* * * Woodworker Shop Signs. 2-8-03
[email protected] (T.) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Fri, Dec 5, 2003, 8:13pm (EST-3) [email protected]
> (Dave G) claims:
> <snip> slowed down a bit by a military career,<snip>
>
> A job is only a career when you stay in it long enough to die still
> working at it. Otherwise it's just a pastime.
SWMBO has (probably rightfully) come to the conclusion that I've
gone too far to back out without reaching retirement now.
> and now expecting ... <snip>
>
> Expecting what?
To have proof that I've engaged in marital relations with my wife
... or at least that somebody has ;>
> Any recommendations? <snip>
>
> I'm happy with the HF one, 37" between centers. Cost me $129 new,
> and I think they're still about the same price. I don't figure on ever
> upgrading. Or, you could make one.
Hah! Make one ... seriously, I want to strike while the iron's hot
and get something before she decides she's not interested.
> You'll really get better advice from the rec.crafts.woodturning
> guys, on the whole. news:rec.crafts.woodturning
Thought about that, but haven't looked for the mailing list
interface to that. I get rec.woodworking via WOODWORK-L, and prefer to
have answers delivered to my email box rather than have to go look for
them. However, I've since popped in over there via google groups.
"Joe "Woody" Woodpecker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
So you want to turn something. Using a turning lathe may require a
9-10 ability to understand how it works and the proper use.
Exactly how does that differ from anything else???
What you want is a Legacy Ornamental Lathe. This lathe can turn
spindles that have a twist like rope on them, or you can unwrap the rope
and turn what is called "hollow rope " which is open in the center.
I thought that machine was for people that can justify the expense or those
that could not master a lathe.
Tell them WoodworkerJoe told you to call.
Will they find that funny?