Replies

1. 
   BG | Oct 13, 2003 01:17am | #1

   TD,

   That looks terrific!  Hope he finds turning a lot of fun.  Your gonna have to start salvaging the chunks of wood from the pallets for him to play with.

   If you need to add weight to the base for stability, you might think about a bench under it with some draws.  I did that and it has worked out well.   
1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 13, 2003 02:00am | #2

   BG : IM not using the stand that came with the Lathe,We built a much heaver one from Angle that I welded up & put a HD top made out of MDF.. Yup keepin my eyes peeled for Turnin wood at work..

                                                                              ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

2. 
   ron61 | Oct 14, 2003 06:06am | #8

   GREAT

   Glad to hear you are getting the young man into Turning . My Dad let me start Turning about the same age. It was my favorite tool in the shop.

   Way to Go Dad

   Ron Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins

2. 
   DennisS | Oct 13, 2003 06:16am | #3

   T.D. -

   This is a terrific way to get an introduction to turning - a low cost entry level machine like this. But I think you'll find that if the addiction takes, the way it took on me, anyway, you'll end up getting a more sophisticated lathe after a while.

   That's not to say that your HF lathe won't make some nice stuff, or that the smaller Delta and/or Jet "benchtop" lathes aren't capable of producing nice things, either. Just that once you try your hand at a big, heavy, powerful floor mounted machine, the smaller ones really don't measure up. And turning being as addictive as it is .....

   Start saving yer money, pal! (grin)

   Something to stretch your youngn's imagination would be segmented or glued up turning. Take advantage of all those nice hardwood scraps in the salvage bin!

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 13, 2003 06:23pm | #4

   DENNIS: I already know that this turning stuff is costly bought a set of Sorby HSS Turning Tools..Yikes $$$$..LOL.. oh well if we get really hooked guess I'll up grade to a Bigger & Better Lathe.. only time will tell, but for now we both will enjoy the HF.. Thanks for the Great advise & take care..

                                                   ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

1. 
   DennisS | Oct 14, 2003 06:04am | #7

   T-Doc -

   You will *never* regret spending the money on the best tools for the lathe. They're probably the most "portable" part of the equation - from one lathe to another. Plus they make the whole process all that much more enjoyable.

   Don't know what your background is with turning at this point, but if you're just (both) starting out, a word of ad-vice ....

   You'll spend a lot more time at the sharpening bench than you do for any other aspect of woodworking. Work out a scheme for quickly putting a good edge on the tool, but my advice would be not to spend time honing it to the point you would a good paring chisel. You want it as sharp as possible with the least effort. A mirror polish isn't required. That kind of edge is gone in a heartbeat, especially in seasoned wood.

   Which leads me to another point ....

   Try turning green wood. It's a hoot, mon! Rough turn stuff like say a bowl or other hollow vessel to about 3/4" thick. Aim for a good even wall and base thickness. Put it (and several others) in a paper sack, date it, put it up on the shelf and forget about it for a month or so. Do this every once in a while until you've got lots of roughed-out blanks to go back to.

   Turning green wood is a lot easier on your edge tools, not to mention easier on your nerves. The shavings come off like apple peelings - flying over your shoulder in a continuous stream. Sometimes I'll just put a junk piece of green wood on the lathe and turn shavings just for the helluvit to see the shavings come off (grin).

   Which reminds me .... I haven't had the lathe fired up for couple weeks now.

   Gotta go ....

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 14, 2003 07:03am | #12

   DENNIS: Yup can't wait to try our hands at turning some green wood,but first were honing our basic skills,I had a old ..plz don't Laugh  AMT Lathe in the shop for years & never did use it much,but my little  guy wants to rise to higher Levels of skill level soo decided to check the Lathe field out pretty much looked at all the Mid size Lathes out there,but this was IMHO the Best Deal going,Lots of my Buddies over at WoodNet bought em & there well pleased soo we took a look see & bought one..I know that HF gets lots of Bum raps for some of there power tools,but this & the HF D/C & there BandSaw & there Drill Presses are 4 Gems compared to all the Tons of Junk they handle..

   Sharpening the Lathe Tools is no problem for me as IM well equiped to sharpen em.. as I progress & get stuck I can always throw Questons at you & the other Lathe Gurus here at Knots..

               Have a good one & Thanks..    ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

1. 
   wundernaloud | Oct 14, 2003 09:40am | #14

   Just got a new Jet mini for 199.00 bucks and have been thinking about a chuck. price has narrowed my considerations to the One Way for 162.00 or the Nova for about 140.00. The OW comes with the center woodworm screw. Been doing my spindle scales and now I'm getting antsy to hollow something. Would a center screw face plate suffice or should I just invest the money in a chuck. Stack of firewood keeps getting smaller and the cat box filler is getting bigger.

   This post is for ALL not telemiketoo just was'nt paying attention.  Okay thats an X in the OW column, it can take different size threaded inserts.

   Edited 10/14/2003 2:49:54 AM ET by woodnthoughts

2. 
   DennisS | Oct 15, 2003 06:48am | #17

   Wood'nthoughts -

   I think all the scroll chucks can be fitted with inserts to fit different size spindle threads. Beyond that, most of the midi sized lathes use the same size threads anyway. It wouldn't be until you decied to go to a much larger floor mounted behemouth that you'd probably run into a spindle thread size change.

   The start-up cost for hollow turning is certainly a lot less going the face plate route rather than a scroll chuck. But the chuck provides more versatility, in my opinion. And, perhaps more importantly, is a lot faster with respect to getting something mounted on the lathe and producing some shavings.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

3. 
   10fingers | Oct 21, 2003 12:57am | #24

   Hello,

   If you want an inexpensive lathe chuck, check out Penn State Industries.  They have the Nova Compac Mini Lathe Chuck for $76.95.   There is also a Made in China Nova clone for $44.95.  I have a standard Nova on my older style Harbor Freight lathe and I still haven't outgrown it yet.  

   My Harbor Freight lathe uses metric style belts.   I got a replacement at the local bearing supply, the auto parts belts were too wide.

   Hope this info helps,

   Chuck

2. 
   ron61 | Oct 14, 2003 06:13am | #9

   Talking Tools check out Ebay I seen lots of Good Turning tools just about any brand

   most looks like they where never used.Who Ever Has The Biggest Pile Of Tools When You Die Wins

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 14, 2003 06:51am | #11

   Ron: Good advise,I will scope E Bay out for any treasures, Thanks

                                                ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

3. 
   CharlieD | Oct 13, 2003 10:50pm | #5

   Hey, Doc,

   How's the lathe working out? I've been waiting for a long time for a lathe in this price range to start on. Not sure I'd really ever want to upgrade, I want to get adequate but not necessarily great the first time. What do you think? Having bought one, is this the deal I've been looking for? Anybody else have opinions?

   Charlie

   ps Will add'l gear like Morris Tapers and face plates and the like fit whatever lathe one gets, or are these specific to the tool one buys? For example, I'd want to turn banjo tone rings, so I'd need a special tool rest for turning bowls, right? Can I get one for this lathe? Thx

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/13/2003 4:22:50 PM ET by CharlieD

1. 
   DennisS | Oct 14, 2003 05:54am | #6

   Charlie -

   I'm not ToolDoc but I thought I might answer your question about the morse taper thing -

   Most mid to large size lathes use Morse #2 tapers in both the head and tail stock. The only one I know of in the really large category is the OneWay which uses a Morse #3 taper in the head stock and #2 in the tail stock. Some of the really small ones might use #1 taper but I doubt anything in the size of machine you're looking at will.

   The headstock spindle threads vary moreso than the morse tapers. The bigger the lathe, the bigger and coarser (in general terms) the threads. The headstock threads is where the face place screws on.

   Scroll chucks usually come with interchangeable inserts to adapt the chuck to different headstock thread size(s). OneWay, for instance, uses metric threads while PowerMatic and most 'domestic' lathes use English or Imperial thread sizes. I say the chucks "usually" come with adapters however I only own two OneWay chucks so I can't vouch for the others............

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

2. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 14, 2003 06:49am | #10

   Charlie: I see my ole Buddy DENNIS pretty much answered the Queston for me,but heres some info anywho.. the HF uses standard #2 morse & 1" x 8" Tpi threads.. the tool rests uses a metric size hole thats close to 1" soo standard tool rests fit or might need a tweaking so IM not expecting an problems outfittin this puppy with any need goodies.. below are some links to places that offer catalogs for turners goodies..

   http://www.woodcraft.com       http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com   

   I have both & been scoping em out for some goodies..LOL

    EDIT==> Both me & my Son just Love this Lathe,been puttin round with it

                             ToolDoc

   Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

   Edited 10/13/2003 11:52:31 PM ET by TOOLDOC

1. 
   GeeSeaWhy | Oct 14, 2003 08:50am | #13

   Yep, the one oddball thing about the HF lathe is the tool rest. It needs a 25mm post. Lee Valley carries a modular system which includes a 25mm post, so does http://www.bestwoodtools.com. I don't know if the two systems are interchangeable, but I suspect not.

   The HF was the first real lathe I bought and I've been very happy with it. The only problem I've had is wearing out drive belts. Tom Hintz has a page (here: http://www.newwoodworker.com/bltrplcjwl1236.html) on how to change the belt (for the Jet 1236, but the HF is almost identical apart from the paint).

   Apart from tools and a grinder, the one item you'll want soon is a chuck. I bought the Supernova largely because it mounts to the spindle with a removable insert - if you buy another lathe with a different spindle size, all you need is a new insert.

   Then all you need is a big broom to sweep up the shavings :-)

   Graeme

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 14, 2003 04:38pm | #15

   GEESEAWHY: I will keep my eye on the drive belt or maybe just go ahead & change it to a better one.. Yup have already been lookin in catalogs for a chuck,not sure which one IM getting yet..

                                             ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

1. 
   koikid | Oct 15, 2003 06:45am | #16

   Tooldoc  Don't remember if it is you that is in Atlanta or if that is Sarge, but since you & your boy are getting into turning one of your best sources for info is the AAW... and I bet there is a chapter in your town or nearby.  If you in Atlanta I know there is cause I always try to make their meetings when I happen to get to Atlanta and am there the correct week.

   http://www.woodturner.org/   go to the site and down on the left side there is the local chapter locator by state.  They are a good bunch of folks and all willing to help, and is a good source for instruction, and used stuff. 

   And for what it is worth I haven't seen many good turning tools on e-bay...most are cheep ones that are not much use.

   Enjoy   Marsh

2. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 15, 2003 07:09am | #18

   KoiKid: its my ole Buddy & Chief of "Trouble" here at Knots==> SARGE who is in Atlanta , Im in Pennsylvania.. not sure if there is a Local chapter close to me or not guess I'll have to check & see..I already bought a real niffty set of Sorby HSS turning tools..

                                            ToolDoc

   EDIT===> I checked & there is a Local chapter the Lehigh Valley Chapter there bout oh maybe 30 or so miles awy,guess i will contact them..again Thanks..

   Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

   Edited 10/15/2003 12:54:36 AM ET by TOOLDOC

3. 
   koikid | Oct 15, 2003 03:35pm | #19

   Well go for it then 30 miles is is nothing, I have to drive 100 to get to either of the chapters that are closest to me and then another 100 back. It's tough for me any more since a lot of months I cant get away from work till 6pm and the meetings start at 7pm.  And my eyes don't really like driving at night in the big citys any more either.

   Sorby is good, so you are OK there, Gee speaking of work I need to get to work!

   Marsh 

4. 
   CharlieD | Oct 16, 2003 01:56am | #20

   DOC! I got one! I agree, it's a great tool for the money. What a blast (I'm terrible at it...)

   Ch

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 16, 2003 06:42am | #21

   Charlie: Glad to hear you picked up  a HF Lathe. there tons of fun,your going to be hooked now,I can't get my Son off mine..err ours..LOL for the $$$ it can't be beat. one of the Best kept secrets out there..

             Happy Turning..     ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

5. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 19, 2003 07:22pm | #22

   I found  this turning site pretty neat..

   http://www.turningtools.co.uk/

            

                                             ToolDoc

   Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..
   

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/19/2003 12:27:36 PM ET by TOOLDOC

1. 
   CharlieD | Oct 20, 2003 07:36pm | #23

   Wow, Doc,

   That IS great. I spent every last dime on that HF lathe and a set of cheesy tools from HD for $30, no $ left for even the simplest book on turning. I've got some info from my more general woodworking books, but it clearly barely scratches the surface. What a great resource!

   CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 21, 2003 06:48am | #25

   Charlie: No Problem IM here to Help.Even if you Don't want Help! LOL

                                                              ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..