Hello all:

I was just given a Central Machinery lathe.  It is the floor model, a Jet clone.  (Yes, I know, a lot of you out there will tell me that Harbor Freight stuff is just two steps away from a boat anchor, and that’s on a good day…)  But the price was right, and I figure it will give me an opportunity to do some turning while I decide if I want to spring for something more serious, like a Jet Mini.

As a newcomer to turning (I turned one bowl last summer), I have a couple of questions:

The lathe does not have a chuck on the motor, or a center (I believe that is what it’s called; educate me if I’m wrong) on the tail stock.  The motor has a male thread, and on the tail stock there is a female taper.

I primarily plan to turn bowls and cups.  What do I need to complete the picture?  Where do I find it?  Given the fact that it is a lower-end machine, I don’t want to lay out a lot of cash.   Once I know what I am looking for, is E-bay a good place to look?

Thanks for any input you may have.

Alex