How do I get started turning pens?

[TB Roye]

Just got an Email form Amazon. Free 2 day shipping it will be here Thursday. Got a free month of their PRIME program, free 2 day shipping on all I buy.

Tom

[Alex Franke]

Looks like mine shipped as well, so now I'm shopping for tools =)

So what's up with the crazy variation in the cost of the turning tools? Grizzly has an 8 piece HSS set for $380 (Sorby), and PSI has an 8 piece HSS set for $50. That's a pretty big difference in cost! Is it the type of steel they use? Or the actual tools?

Grizzly:
1/2" round scraper, 1" square scraper, 3/16" diamond side cut scraper, 3/4" standard skew, 3/8" bowl gouge, 1/2" spindle gouge, 3/8" spindle gouge, 3/4" roughing gouge

PSI:
3/16" Parting Tool, 5/8" Spear Scraper, 1" Skew Chisel, 5/8" Skew Chisel, 5/8" Round nose scraper, 1/2" Bowl Gouge, 3/4" Spindle Gouge, 7/8" Roughing Gouge

There are also about a zillion mandrel sets at the psi site. Anyone know which one is compatible with the Delta lathe?

http://www.newwoodworker.com/turning/trnpens.html

Great article, Tom. Thanks for the link!

[Whaler]

I will add some of my humble thoughts.

Turning tools: As I was going to start out just with pens the turning expert at Woodcraft suggested just a Crown 3/8" spindle gouge and add from there. I did just that and as I found a use for another cutting tool I added it.
For pens, I found out over the years, the only tools I was using were 1/4" spidle gouge, a 3/8" spindle gouge and a 1/2" skew. Two Crowns and a Pinnacle.

After selling off my shop I now find myself in a position to get back into turning. I am starting with 3 Pinnacle tools from www.woodcraft.com
#145903 1/4" spindle gouge $24.98 sharpened
#145904 3/8" spindle gouge $29.98 sharpened
#146231 1/2" skew $35.98 sharpened
In my old shop I had Crown (I liked them), Pinnacle (great tool for the money) and Sorby (I couldn't see the difference for the price).

Pen Mandrel: I have had good luck with the Woodcraft #145997. It is #2MT which should fit the Delta lathe.

[TB Roye]

Well the lathe got here about 1pm, day late, but it is here. Got it set up quickly and made a mess. Now I will have to go out after my haircut and clean all the preservative off it. To excited to get going so will get out the break clean and clean it up and wax it. Talking about instant gratification, turned down a limb it brough home yesterday from tree we cut down at church. Will stop and way home form hair cut and get some more. Will also stop by Borg and pick up a face shield. Will also have to get a smock to wear, talk about making sawdust. This is going to be fun. Another good deal beacuse of the people at BT3Central. Thanks guys.

Tom

[ragswl4]

Well the lathe got here about 1pm, day late, but it is here. Got it set up quickly and made a mess. Now I will have to go out after my haircut and clean all the preservative off it. To excited to get going so will get out the break clean and clean it up and wax it. Talking about instant gratification, turned down a limb it brough home yesterday from tree we cut down at church. Will stop and way home form hair cut and get some more. Will also stop by Borg and pick up a face shield. Will also have to get a smock to wear, talk about making sawdust. This is going to be fun. Another good deal beacuse of the people at BT3Central. Thanks guys.

Tom

Hey, now that's a great picture of a new tool and in use already. You sound like you are having fun. Can't wait to see your first finished project. I came close to getting the LA200 but too many projects already.

How about a review of the lathe after you get comfortable with it?

[Alex Franke]

Well the lathe got here about 1pm, day late, but it is here. Got it set up quickly and made a mess...

Nice. I'm so looking forward to when mine arrives!

I think I'm going to pick up that $50 set of PSI HSS turning tools. If nothing else, they'll be good to learn with...

[TB Roye]

Alex

I picked up a 3 piece HSS Pen Turning Set at Woodcraft for the same reason. I am waiting to see if I get any thing as Birthday gifts before I plunge in and buy more. I am going to pick up full face shield tomorrow the regular saftet glasses just don't cut it with all the stuff flying around. LOML is going to have a lot of compost next spring. Will be playing tomorrow got all the yard work done today. I got a basic Turning DVD at Woodcraft so I will be watching that to practice turning. Have fun when it gets there, clean it before you start. Quiet, and vibration free. stood a nickle up with no problem on the bed. Changing the speed is a little pita but not bad. I like the spring loaded handles on the adjusting lever so you can reposition them so the are not in the way. For a $122 and free shipping we stole them. Woodcraft had one on the floor for $299.

Tom

[Russianwolf]

Alex

Quiet, and vibration free. Tom

Wait till you put a piece in it that is out of balance...... she'll vibrate right off your bench.

It's normal though, the Midi's just don't have enough mass and weight to spin an out of balance piece at a high RPM. Slow the RPM down and you can true it up, then increase the speed where you want it.

Oh, one more piece of advice on the pen making supplies. Micro Mesh sand paper. You can get it through Arizonasihlouettes or PSI or half a dozen other places. Get the whole range of grits (1200-12000) and you'll be able to get really good results on stuff. It's washable and lasts a nice long time.

[Alex Franke]

Hooray! My lathe arrived today! Dang that thing is HEAVY!

...too bad the tools don't arrive until tomorrow...

I think I'll go out and pick up a face shield today from HD. Once I get the basics down with scrap wood, I'll pick up a pen kit and see what happens.

[TB Roye]

Took LOML and myself to get it out of box and onto work bench. Get the face shield and make sure the spur center and live center are firmly in the head stock and tail stock. Also make sure the wood is firmly mounted on the two spindles. Make sure it clamped down or mounted on something as if it isn't and the wood is unbalanced it will walk. From lessons learned this weekend. One other thing about lathes, they make a big mess. and one other thing they make a real big mess. Other wise enjoy, it is fun. LOML is going to have a lot a mulch this fall and next spring. I have signed up for a couple of turning classes at the local Woodcraft early next month. Pens one day and Spindles on the other. Be prepared to learn how to sharpen the tools. get a couple of DVD's or Books on Turning, they will help. I need to get more tools other the the 3 piece pen turning set. You are kind of limited on what you can do, found that out already. LOML jokingly(I hope) said I should sell my vintage Midget to help pay for all my Lathe stuff. Told her the tools would be a wedding present from my next wife. The look on her face was priceless. I wouldn't get rid oh her not after 41 years. But the Midget is not going either. We sat on the Patio and had a glass of Andretti Merlot and a good laugh. The Lathe is worth the money. Have fun

Tom

[Alex Franke]

Here it is: My first turned object =)

Well, the turning tools arrived this afternoon, so I grabbed a piece of firewood and spent the last hour playing. Here's what I ended up with. I'm not exactly sure what it is -- looks like a goblet, though, except that it's not hollowed out.

Anyway, it was my first go at turning something, so I though I'd share it. =)

[Ken Massingale]

That's a darn decent first time, Alex.

[Whaler]

You are off to a good start.

[TB Roye]

Alex

That looks good for the first try, how big a set of tools did you get? I have the 3 piece pen turners set from wood craft. I can use the 3/8 gouge and the parting tool but the skew is giving me nothing but problems, not the tool the operator. will back out to the shop and give it a another try. I have made a couple of cylinders with a few coves and grooves. Maybe I am being a little to cautious.

Tom

[Alex Franke]

Thanks, guys!

I'm glad I took a picture of it when I did -- There's a little critter in there eating holes into it. That's what you get for using firewood, I guess.

I bet he's dizzy.

I got this set of tools: PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 8 Piece HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Set (referral credit to BT3Central)

They're pretty big tools, but they seem to work OK. I had a couple of mishaps with the skew, too. I think this weekend I'll try to sharpen them up real nice and use a better wood to see how different it is...