I have always wanted a lathe but haven’t used one.
I know from past experience it’s a bad idea to buy cheap
because as I’ve grown proficient I always upgraded. I have
lofty goals becoming proficient of turning deep vessels. I don’t want
to spend 6K for a huge lathe. Would the Woodtec sold at Woodworker’s Supply be a
good choice for me as a beginner with the potential to turn out fine
work?
Thanks
Ken
Replies
May I make a suggestion?
I've been using the Delta Midi lathe for 3 years in my business. Use it every day. It is especially suited for doing small things.
Everything about it has worked great. I did repair the switch once and doctored the tool rest holder so I could pull it up and off the machine and not have to slide it to the end to get it off.
But, I would have to classify it as a great machine for a beginner and a great learning tool. Right now, I cannot economically justify a 'better' machine, though I can now think of several additions that would be great, but just not needed at the present time. Things I'm now aware of because of having some experience.
The Jet and the Delta midi lathes are about the same. I opted for the Delta because at the time the extension bed came free with it. I have turned 36" table legs on it.
So, consider buying cheap, keep the box, and after a year of two, sell it on Ebay! In my case, I will give it to my son, who loves to come over and make shavings with this one.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Mike:
I appreciate your imput. Can vessels be turned on
a midi lathe? My only interest is turning bowl and
eventually vessels, some as deep as twelve inches
and possible as round as 8 or ten inches. Can this
type work be achieved with your lathe? If so, I'd
be tickled.
Thanks much
Ken
Ken -
No, nothing with a radius more than 5". I got a bunch of itsy bitsy teenie weenie bowls I've turned on it!
For large bowl turning you want a power head that swivles 90 degrees out to the front. Also variable speed would be suggested. Several different tool rests will be needed and probably two or three different chucks, or more. Lotsa speciality chisels out there too for bowl turning.
Your asking the right questions. With most tools, you first gotta figure out what you want to do with it. Knowing that, you can better target your needs. That's why I bought the Delta. It was exactly what, and all, that I needed at the time.
You might look around for some to the turners magazines. Lot of ideas there.
Of all the things you can do with a lathe, I would put bowl turning at the highest level of skills required. That, and bobbin lace bobbins!
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
Mike:
Once again. Thanks
Dovetail -
I would agree with the buy small (inexpensive) at first to get started then upgrade to what you will, at some point in the future understand as what you need to realize your goal(s). I bought the midi benchtop Delta to get started. Got to where I could make some fairly interesting spindle things and small bowls. Then I chucked a large out-of-balance blank on the thing, as large as it would take, and the thing did the samba across the shop floor at no more than a few hundred RPM. The message: Mass is one of the more important specs with respect to a lathe if you're intending on doing large hollow vessel items.
Also, the power and mass to use something like the larger four jaw chucks is vital for this kind of work. While the One Way Talon chuck is pretty hefty, the larger Stronghold is better - for larger pieces especially when roughing out. Granted you'll be able to get the blank pretty rounded out on the band saw (you have one, of course?! - another essential item for the serious turner) but you'll always have some eccentricity and out-of-balance when you first mount the blank on the lathe. Mass counts for a lot when shopping for a lathe for this kind of work.
What sort of sharpening tools do you have and are you familiar with sharpening gouges, scrapers and the like? Granted, tools hold an edge much longer if you rough turn your pieces from green wood and limit turning of seasoned, harder wood just for the final truing up, shaping and finishing. But none the less, you will need to spend a lot more time sharpening turning tools than the average wood worker spends sharpening chisels and plane irons and so forth.
True hollow vessel turning, something I' not at all profecient at doing, almost necessitates some specialty turning aparatus. Boring bars and hook tools and stuff I can only dream about while leafing through tool catalogues. Join a local club, rub elbows with them that's doin',.... it's a great way to expand your horizons.
All that said, turning is at once one of the more satisfying forms of woodworking and frustrating as well. Just as you're about at the end of the final cut shaping the outside of your masterpiece you get a catch, however so slight that totally ruins the piece. I've has some of the most artful looking fires in the fireplace you can imagine! (grin)
Enjoy .... but rest assured once you start there's no turning back - pun intended! It's an addiction.
...........
From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
Dennis
Dennis:
Thanks for taking the time to answer. Good advice I'm sure.
Unfortunately where I live in Palm Desert CA there are no woodworking
clubs or orgs.
Ken
Dovetail,
Have you checked in Palm Springs for woodworkers/woodturners? Or if you don't mind a little drive there is Inland Woodworker's Association in Riverside. They meet at Reel Lumber. Also one more recommendation for a good mid priced lathe, the Nova 3000. I paid around $1300 for mine 2 yrs ago. GP
Dovetail,
I've had the Jet 1442 for several months now. It is very nice and was a good value for the money. I don't anticipate having to upgrade. It will do bowls, spindles, 40" long legs. Just about anything I can anticipate doing, this will do. It's big, heavy and solid.
Mike
Anyone have an opinion on the Ridgid (12 or 14 inch, I can't remember which) lathe? I see it for $197 at my local HD, and wonder if it's a better choice than a midi.
Stan -
You really need to specify what you intend to turn in order to get meaningful feedback. I don't know this lathe you reference but it sounds small - is the 12" refering to distance between centers or the over the bed turning diameter?
...........
From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
Dennis
Stan,
Look at Sears.. they have a cast iron base lathe that sells for around $400 on sale and it's a honey.. (normally I hate Sears) but there are exceptions and this seems to be one.. (please don't waste your money on that tube frame piece of junk) Make your own base since we all vary in height and it's very important with a lathe the turning center is where your hands are comfortable..
It has a head that swivels. so that you can turn bowls as large as you want.. 48 inch? no problem! 72 inch? still no problem! the base is long enough that you can turn spindales without an extension. It's rigid enough to give you the stability that is so important.
that plus it's a variable speed. Very important. Don't buy a lathe that needs you to shift the belt around to get a differant speed..
(by the way in talking to people the only short coming of this lathe is that the variable speed switch may give out.. if that happens don't order the replacement from Sears, go to Radio Shack with it in your hand and they will sell you a replacement for less than a third of the Sears switch that solves the problem for good!)
Now the good news..
The lathe should last your lifetime! what will need to be upgraded is the lathe tools.. you will find certain tools just work better for you.. please don't just buy the most expensive ones.. (nor the cheapest ones) the handle and the quality of the steel is very important.. If you find a steel that holds it's edge for a long time but the handles sux, just make your own handles (you've got a lathe now, right? )
shapening systems are what will become your main focus with a lathe.. It's very important to keep a sharp edge. Some woods just dull the cutting edge in minutes.. You'll need to find a way to sharpen the edge quickly and get right back to cutting..
I've used a variety of systems everything from scary sharp to the Tormex..
Find what you are comfortable with and then use that..
Thanks Frenchy. Didn't mean to attempt a thread hi-jacking. I don't intend to focus on turning, so wanted a decent start.
Ken
"I have lofty goals becoming proficient of turning deep vessels."
The best way to learn to swim is to jump in- You need a heavy duty lathe heavy duty tools this can cost heavy duty money .
Turning Bowls and Vessels the lathe takes a real beating especially when you are learning.
If you buy a cheap lathe don't expect to much from it - might look for a used lathe that is strong enough to take the kind of turning you want to do- you need a heavy spindle - good bearings- power & a strong rest
Vessels turning you need BEFFY tools and slow speed- Buy some books do a little reading so you know what you are getting in to.
Glad to hear theres a new Turner
you know FWW is going to have more articles on turning
I HOPE I LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THE ARTICLES
Ron
You might want to be a little more specific about your budget. Less than 6,000 but your looking at 1,000.00 machines is a little broad to narrow in on a recommendation. Also, don't forget to factor in the cost of the chuck, a decent variety of turning tools and maybe some specialty hollowing tools if your going to try to tackle hollow forms right off the bat. You might even want to think about the cost of a couple of books and a sharpening system if your not proficient at sharpening things with curved edges (so far, fingernail gouges and I don't get along so well).
That having been said, I bought the Delta 16" steel bed lathe because I got a hell of a price on it ($1260.00) If I hadn't gotten the bargain, I would have seriously considered the Jet 1642 and maybe one of the smaller General Machinery lathes.
If I were you, I would at least consider starting out on one of the midi-lathes (I think you can get the Jet with speed changed by belt for $200) or bite the bullet and look at some heavier lathes then the smaller Woodtek.
If you have a basement shop like I do, don't forget you're going to have to get the thing down the stairs. Good luck.
Matt
Ken,
I know this may not even be close to what you are wanting but I thought I would throw it out as another option to look at. Lathes are one of those tools that don't seem to keep their value as well as most other ww machines. They also (usually) don't get as abused as most tools. So that being said, a used machine might fill the bill. I know on Ebay there are several for sale all the time (Powermatic is what I'm most familar with). In fact there seems to be several in the Southern Cal area. For somewhere between $500-800 you could pick up a machine that would allow to turn larger bowls and even spindles as you get more skilled. For a serious bowl lathe you would have to pay real bucks. Hope this helps, good luck with your search.
Dennis
OK, no fooling, here. To turn deep vessels requires a lathe with substantial mass and heavy duty bearings. The right tools help, too, but regarding the lathe itself, a substantial investment is required. The Oneway 1224 costs about $2K, and is an excellent machine. The Nova is in the same price range, and is also a great lathe. Both of these have the capacity you're looking for. Unfortunately, the next step up in capacity and quality moves you to the $3-6k range. I have a Jet mini, and for it's size, it's great. I can turn bowls up to 10" dia,. but that really pushes the limits of a mini (10" swing) lathe. Turning anything deeper than a 3" bowl really needs more lathe than a 10" mini/ midi will have.
Step 1: Join your local chapter of the Association of American Woodturners. http://www.woodturner.org You will find turners to be the most helpful and sharing group there is.
Step 2: Take a couple of lessons. You don't even need to own a lathe to get some instruction. Check with your local Woodcraft store, if there's one near you. The AAW can also help with instruction and classes.
Step 3: Don't but a crappy lathe. Just like your other tools, quality costs, but is worth it in the long run. A quality lathe holds it's value and won't frustrate you with it's limitations as your skills grow. If you buy a Oneway (or similar quality lathe) now, and find you don't like it, I'll buy it from you for 50 cents on the dollar a year from now!
Email me if I can help,
Paul Shotola,
President, Chicago Woodturners
http://www.chicagowoodturners.com
Dovetail, In additions to Dennis's recommendation about E-bay, you should also check the local high schools and vo-tech schools. Unfortunately, high schools are phasing out woodshop as a choice (now that all the kids care about are these insane computers). The machines that come out of schools are usually very heavy duty. Since they don't get used in a production environment and are normally maintained well you stand a pretty good chance of finding an older, robust machine that is in like new condition. Prices will astonish you (cheap). Keep an eye on auctions.
Just like any machine purchase, don't be in too big a hurry and you'll get the right thing at a good price. Ken
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