Just ordered a lathe and all tools, etc. Read a book and made a list and bought the whole list. I think I have a good idea of how to start turning small bowls and boxes (that’s what I’m interested in). The only thing I haven’t been able to discern from the book I have is what wood would be best to start with. I suspect that mahogany might be the best, but I am unsure. By “the best to start with” I mean which wood is the easiest to turn on the faceplate.
The lathe and tools will show up mid-this week and the turning bug is really beginning to bite hard. I just want to make sure I am completely ready when the thing shows up. By the way I bought the Jet 1236 from toolcrib through amazon.com (it was on sale). Along with bowl turning tools from Lee Valley and a good sampling of finishing products from the same, I think I am close to being ready to go when the lathe shows up. Now I just need to find a place to put the lathe in my shop!
Thanks,
Adam
Replies
Adam,
My experience is the more you do the faster you get comfortable with doing. It's probably best to take a class on basics (Woodcraft and others offer these classes) it'll really speed up your learning curve.
To start off see if you can get some green wood ...maybe a 8-10" wide 2' log. Cut a square out of the log length wise...and round it. Mount on face plate and do the back side first...You might want to start with a 3-4" thick piece...making a shallow bowl....good luck
BG,
I've got some fresh-cut fire wood. I'll use some of that as some of my starting "practice" pieces. As far as a class goes, I haven't got the time or the money and my wife may have a fit as I need to finish the schooling I'm already in. So I think I'll get as many tips as I can get here and through books, but for the future I'll keep the classes in mind...
Ron,
I ordered a face shield right along with the lathe. It came up in the "Some Customers also bought" section and I thought, "What's another $20 after the lathe!" The book I said that I bought turns out to be the book you suggested, I guess I got lucky! I've been studying the book as it pertains to the sharpening of the tools. I know that is a very important part of all woodworking and getting it right will take plenty of practice. Also, I did buy a Bowl gouge, in fact the list of purchased tools includes, 1/2" Bowl Gouge, 1/4" Bowl Gouge, 1/2" Square Scraper, 1/2" round-nose scraper, 1/2" parting tool, and a drawer full of old files that can be ground into whatever I need. I've already made two scrapers from my old files just waiting on this lathe...
SawdustSteve,
I will try to stay away from those woods you have mentioned, especially when getting started. I will also keep in mind all of the safety concerns you have brought up.
Thanks to all for you comments! I'm expecting my lathe the middle of this week we'll see how this all goes...
Adam
I hope you retempered the the files or they are heavy section .If not you may need the face shield!
Don’t use the files! Way to dangerous! Inexpensive HSS blanks are available from Woodcraft and are great for skews and scrapers. Best advice, just turn, a lot. The beauty is, firewood is free and green shavings are a lot of fun. Any book or video by Richard Raffan is well worth the investment. Wives love those weed vases, small bowls, scoops etc. Another great use for cherry, maple, birch firewood; rolling pins, great gifts and fast to make, (I did 18 in an afternoon this year). Welcome to turning! You'll be spoiled from now on.
Thanks for the advice... Can you point me to the blanks you are reffering to, I cannot seem to find them on the Woodcraft website...
Thanks,
Adam
Adam
Good for you !
You will love Turning- you bought the 36 in. Pivoting Head Stock that will turn up to 16 1/2 in. outboard ? Sounds like a good lathe.
Dry Wood is what you want for boxes
Easier to start with ? Just a few thing I learned the hard way
#1 Speed Kills - Go slow on the speed of the lathe , when I started I would run the lathe 3-4 times faster than I should have the wood chips just a rippin , I was very lucky that I wasn't beheaded . Now I run it as slow as I can , Get a Face Shield - This will make things eraser and less painful.
#2 One of the most important things that will make thing easy is having sharp tools all the time- Learning to sharpening your tools is a must to turning.
#3 - Save your best stock " practice on green wood,scrap,glue up stock, fire wood "I have turned to chips lots of NICE walnut cherry maple it makes me sick thinking about what I had wasted. Green Wood is fun to turn and cuts like butter great for practise and for bowls " rough turn and let dry" Dry Wood is harder and turns slower need sharp tools- Green Wood is easier turning.
Got to ask did you buy a Bowl Gouge ? I was trying to turn bowls with a spindle gouge at first It was pure HELL until I bought a Bowl Gouge.
Adam a Great Book I think you will get a lot from I know I did
Turn A Bowl Getting Great Results The First Time Around With Ernie Conover
I wasn't sure when I ordered it but it is well worth getting lots of info. on chucking - using tools - Green Wood Turning- & lots more , you will love it.
Keep your Tools Sharp and the Bevel Rubbing and you are half way there.
Have fun
Ron
Adam... first order of business... Sharpen the lathe tools or have someone do it for you. Start with some of the 'harder' woods like oak or maple. Soft woods (pine, willow, poplar) tend to rip rather than cut. Again, SAFETY, SAFETY SAFETY. Never touch a piece of wood while it is spinning on the lathe. Roll up sleeves, wear an apron (tied in back) use the tailstock to support the free end of the wood while roughing out a bowl. If the lathe did not come with a ball-bearing 'live center' get one. After mounting a piece of wood in the lathe, rotate it by hand to make sure it does not touch the tool rest, and there is 1/4" or less space between the wood and the rest. Learn what is the proper height for the tool rest while using different tools. After turning or a few minutes, check and re-set the tool rest to maintain the 1/4" space. Yes, as stated in another post, keep the speed down, especially if the piece you are working on is not perfectly round. If you are sanding on the lathe, remove the tool rest so there is no chance of getting your fingers trapped between it and the wood. Go to it!!! Make splinters and sawdust and enjoy yourself. SawdustSteve
Adam, you've gotten a bunch of good suggestions so far. I would suggest finding a local American Association of Woodturning ( AAW ) chapter and pick the brains of the people there. The AAW web site is http://www.woodturner.org . You'll find a lot of nice people there with the same affliction, oops, I meant interest, in woodturning as you.
While we are on the subject of lathes, does anyone have experience or knowledge with Wivamac lathes? This is a Belgium lathe marketed through the "toolpost" in the UK.
Thanks,
Bill
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