Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 15, 2005 08:13pm | #1

   Darn!  I thought (from the title) there was a free lathe waiting for me, ROFL!!  I doubt he's bought any additional "tooling" -- you're speaking of chucks and such?  I kind doubt it, and any gouges and such he has are old and treasured, to be used on the new lathe.  So, say I'm going to turn some knobs and small spindles, what tooling might I have to save up for?  Small bowls?  I am so clueless about turning stuff (except for what you taught me, thanks!)

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   DennisS | Nov 16, 2005 07:29am | #2

   Jamie -For the kind of little knobs and feet which were the subject of your earlier inquiry, I'd opt for a 3/8" spindle gouge and re-grind it to what's called a fingernail grind. That's with the flutes ground back so it looks, oddly enough, like a fingernail (grin). If you can find and buy dowels of the proper diameter to start with so you're not having to turn square stock round, you could dispense with a roughing gouge for the moment. You'll eventually want one, to be sure but for the immediacy of your project, ready made dowels would be the production path I'd take. As you probably noticed, all my tools are Sorby's. That doesn't mean they're the best, just the best I could afford at the time I bought them. They're OK.You'll probably want a scroll chuck for the lathe, too. Start out with a longish piece of dowel in it with the free end secured by the live center/tail stock, turn a knob, part it off (oh! You'll need a parting tool, too), then bring the tail stock back up for the next one and so on and so forth until you've used up that piece of dowel, then start over.What's called a steady rest would be really handy for dealing with the longer pieces in spindle mode. They're not that hard to make - you can make one out of plywood, MDF or hardwood. It's just three wheels (I used in line skate wheels for one I made) that can be positioned to hold the spindle at any point along the lathe bed. They're available for purchase as well but you're imaginative enough I suspect you could make one pretty easily.For the size of that lathe a 3/8" bowl gouge would probably suffice once you start doing those .... and a round nose scraper. Those two tools should, I would think, get you over the hump to begin with, then there's the roughing gouge, probably a 3/4" would do. You can rough down with the bowl gouge it just takes longer since it's not designed (read hefty enough) to be taking large amounts of material off in a single pass. Nor can it jump tall buildings in a single bound. (hehe)You can also spin metal on this little lathe!

2. 
   DennisS | Nov 25, 2005 05:35am | #3

   So what's the deal then, Jamie? Did you get the lathe?

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 25, 2005 05:52am | #4

   Not yet!  I'm not pressing him on it.  Here's his status at the moment:

   Just finishing up a complete remodel of a "new" house

   House comes with a "mini-house" which also needs upgrades

   His entire shop has to be moved next week

   He's a theater director in the throes of building props for the Christmas show, directing rehearsals and making sure everything else gets done

   Besides, if he knows I'm lusting after it, it might turn into a harder "buy!" 

   You'll be the "first to know" if/when I get it, 'cause I'm going to need some advice!!!!  ROFL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   DennisS | Nov 25, 2005 09:09am | #5

   Kewl, Jamie. Best we let nature take its course, then. For sure when (if) you get your hands on it we'll have a turning session!

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 26, 2005 08:40pm | #6

   "we'll have a turning session!"  I think about that for sure!  It'll fit nicely in the back of the Blazer, even with Boo in there!

    forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   DennisS | Nov 27, 2005 04:23am | #7

   Jamie -Something you might want to be part of - next Feb a fellow named Terry Tynan, a metal spinner from back East is coming out to demonstrate to our wood turning club. He'll be showing how to spin on the club's Jet lathe plus in his Metal Spinning Workshop DVD he even shows how to spin simple parts on a mini lathe like the one you might be getting. Not that you would be anticipating doing in spinning but it's a fascinating process to see done first hand.

3. 
   forestgirl | Nov 28, 2005 02:04am | #8

   Thanks, Dennis, I'll keep it in mind.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)