Just Getting Started

[Bill in SC]

Well, I have read just about every topic in the forum, and I'm ready to pull the trigger.

Deciding what I need has been pretty easy after reading all the different recommendations and discussion.

Here is what I'm looking at;

Lathe - HF 34706
Live Center - HF 38573
Basic Tools kit - HF 47066 (HSS Kit)

What I'm planning on doing with this is making Bowls, Pens etc... Nothing wild and fancy, just a hobby.

They have a WoodCraft here in Greenville, and I plan on checking it out today. I see they have some hands on courses available and I plan on taking a few. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since the last time I switched on a wood lathe.

Picked up a few books on turning at the library and have been been refreshing the old brain cells.

So... What have I missed or forgot?


Thanks for all the great tips and discussion.

Bill In SC

[Radman]

Bill...
I just picked up a HF 34706 last week. It was on sale for $199 and I had a 20% off coupon. Really made it a deal. Don't have any tools, chucks or anything else to with it yet. It's still in the box in the garage while I clean up my "workshop" in the basement in preparation for the new machine. Also picked up the HF dust collector, also on sale.
Good luck...
Tom

[gerti]

That lathe comes with a usable live center, so you wouldn't need the extra one.

You do need a grinder to sharpen the tools.

Sand paper: I recommend the Norton 3x variety, it lasts MUCH longer than all others I tried. 150, 220, 300 and 400 should get you started, maybe some 600.

For pens you'll need a mandrel, bushings (type depends on pen kit), drill bits of correct diameter for the pen kits. Some jig to drill pen blanks (self made jigs will work), super glue to glue the brass tubes into the blanks. The ends need to be trued, a stationary sander can do that, or better a Barrel Trimmer. Something to finish (for pens Crystal coat is a great choice for starters). Clamps will do for pen assembly.

And rather sooner than later you will want a decent chuck for bowl turning, a bandsaw for bowl blanks. Bowl gouge. Better quality tools. The list goes on... But it is a lot of fun.

[Jim Boyd]

quote:Originally posted by Bill in SC


What I'm planning on doing with this is making Bowls, Pens etc... Nothing wild and fancy, just a hobby.

Thats what they ALL say[8D]