First Lathe

[ryan.s]

Just picked up my first lathe last night. Jet mini with the nova chuck combo. Didn't get a great deal but all well, paid full retail $329 plus tax. I'm planning to pick up a set of turning tools from HF, heard they're a decent set to start with and made by a well know manufacturer. Anyone know who actually makes em?

I figure I should start by turning some pens. Where's a good place to get pen hardware?

Thanks!

[coach]

Ryan,

The good news:
I've had mine for a total of less than a week, and I love it. I've already turned five of the slim-line pen kits from Rockler, and just ordered an additional 25 kits from an online source. I had never even touched a turning tool, and the results were top notch. I like turning them so much that I am looking into finding a way to sell them.

If you haven't already bought some, the 8pc kit at HarborFreight is darn nice. They might be the best bargain in the store.

I haven't used the Nova chuck yet, but I hear it is a sweetie. I'll get to turning bowls and hollow form items someday, but the pens are doing it for me now.
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The bad news:
Get ready to open up your wallet. Getting the lathe is just the beginning. You will soon find yourself wanting some very figured stock, and it draws a premium..... when you can find it.

Get ready to spend some money on a slow speed grinder or a good sharpener. Those turning tools only do their job when sharp.

Say good-bye to friends and family. It has been less than a week, and my wife asked last night "are you going to be on that lathe again tonight?" --- "well yes, is there anything you'd like me to make?" ---- "how 'bout love?" ---- "with the lathe?" ---- "no, with your soon to be ex-wife if you don't get out of the shop!"

I don't think I'll ever get rid of the mini, unless I wear it out. However, I've already found myself looking at some of the larger ones.

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If you don't have one, a band saw will soon be in order. They are safer than anything else for cutting small turning stock, and you don't lose as much material to the kerf.

If you live in an area with a lot of folks cutting firewood, make them your friend. I don't, but wish I did.

Welcome to the vortex. I hope your other tools don't start to feel neglected.

[gerti]

I have found the HF tools to be good to start with and to learn how to sharpen the tools (you don't need worry grinding away many dollars of steel). But they do NOT compare to high quality tools which are a lot more expensive. Better tools hold their edge longer, more heft leads to more stability etc. But again, use the HF tools to start, they are great for that. And turning pens isn't very demanding on the tools.

[Ken Massingale]

Coach and gerd said it all, just take care on the HF set. Here at least in the store, they have 2 8 piece sets, one is HSS and the other isn't. I only see one set on their site now, this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47066

Make sure the set you get is HSS
k

[BigguyZ]

That looks like a sweet deal. The chisels at Woodcraft were that much for just one, and that was the cheapest line they had!

I myself just got a 1014 used.... I need a livestock, and maybe a faceplate for bowls (don't want to spend 10x for a chuck). Anyone have any pointers for a good DVD/ book? Any items I MUST have to start out? (For sharpening, for example...)

And Coach- I've noticed with just about ANY tool I'm spending more on the extras then the tool itself. But I do think it's much worse with turning....

[Russianwolf]

just saw that penn state has come out with a set of Carbide turning tools. supposedly oyou never need to sharpen.

Might be worth a look.

[coach]

Coach and gerd said it all, just take care on the HF set. Here at least in the store, they have 2 8 piece sets, one is HSS and the other isn't. I only see one set on their site now, this one:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47066

Make sure the set you get is HSS
k

That particular set is decent, but the set with the dark handles is better. I hope they don't stop selling the other set...... maybe I should grab a back-up pack.

[Hallagan]

Congrats on the new lathe. It is a nice one. I bought a PSI Turncrafter Pro back in January and it is the best 159.00 I ever spent. But the 150.00 is just a drop in the bucket as to what I have spent on turning tools, mandrells, chucks and blanks!! Loving it!

Corey

[Ken Massingale]

I agree, Coach. It looks like the red handled ones will be gone when the store stock is sold.

[BigguyZ]

Well, on Friday after I read which chisels to get, I went to HF and picked me up a set of the dark handled chisels. Seem like pretty fair quality tools to me. And definitely a steal compared to $30-$40 for ONE chisel. I figure they're good enough to use to start out at least.

[dale]

I've got the dark handled HF chisels, too. I'm NOT buying more expensive ones until I'm comfortable sharpening these.

I haven't had anything in the budget for pen hardware for a few weeks, and I feel like I'm going through withdrawal. Is that normal?

[bigsteel15]

So I'm just wondering if this (item A)
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...330,49238&ap=1
is the Nova Chuck that everyone is always referring to.

[Jim Boyd]

A really good place for pen kits and supplies.
http://www.arizonasilhouette.com/