New to turning

[Jack1064]

Hey Fellas,
I just got into turning, I bought a Jet 12-20 this weekend and was looking around online a bit. I love BT3 Central, but was wondering if you guys used another forum a little more when it came to turning. And also any other ideas on what kinda projects or exercises I should start with?
Thanks

[Uncle Cracker]

Lotsa info online... just Google "wood turning". Good books and DVD's available. Woodcraft has hands-on classes. Watch for traveling woodworking shows coming to your area. Look for a local turner's guild or other club. It's all about safety first, then knowing your lathe and your tools, then sharpening, and practice, practice, practice...

[DUD]

A lot of People post about pen turning here, there are some great people on BT3 that

turn also. Welcome to a very addictive hoppy. Bill



http://www.penturners.org/forum/default.asp

[Anna]

Can't give much advice because I'm a newbie myself, but pen turning is a great way to get started, and it's instant gratification to boot. You do have to get some kits and bushings, though. My biggest problem with pen turning was in getting the finishing down. But for starters, you can just use friction finish like we all did. Then graduate to the really fun (and sticky) stuff.

Penturners.org is a good place for advice. If you have access to the public library, they might have the Pen Turner's Workbook which is a great introduction, or just enroll for a day's class at Woodcraft like I did.

Bottle stoppers are also good starting projects. That's about all I've done, though, since I haven't been back at my lathe since November when it became too cold to go in my shop.

Lastly, join a woodturner's club and get access to their library of videos and books. There are some basic videos that show some spindle turning exercises, i.e. how to do coves and beads, etc.

Good luck. It's a fun hobby. And very addictive. When I started pen turning, my husband had some problems getting me out of the shop, and I'd often go even at 10 PM because I needed to turn just one more pen.

[Whaler]

Welcome to BT3 and wood turning. Both are addictive.
You picked a great lathe, I have had my 1220 about 6 months and love it.
When I bought my first lathe a few years ago it was suggested that I start with pens. I have turned a few bowls but most of what I do are pens and bottle stoppers.
I second the advice that the others have given.

[BigguyZ]

Welcome to the most expensive and addicting hobby I've encoutered yet.

Pens are fun- but I warn you that ypi'll end up making 20 of them and start thinking to yourself "what do I need 20 pens for anyways???" But what I like about pen turning specifically, is you get to work with a lot of different types of woods. you have to drill and mill the blanks, so as you work with different domestic and exotics pen blanks, you get a feel for the wood's look and characteristics.

I've long felt that pen turning, or turning in general, really helps a WWer get to know a lot of woods and get some experiance quickly with how different woods work. But I think this is more the case on pens, as you have to drill and machine with your chisel. Also cut on the TS if you make blanks from a larger peice of wood. And you finish them, so you get experience on how to handle them in that respect as well. All-in-all, it's a great way to learn about the hobby in general (unless you plan to make every large non-tuning project out of pine or oak).

[Russianwolf]

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=33450

Jack, have a look at the link above. grab you some scraps and start making some shavings.