Getting started turning

[Cubsfan]

I'd like to get starting into turning some small-ish tings (say, pens, bowls, small legs for projects, etc...)

I'm thinking I need one of the smaller benchtop lathes since I don't plan to do any large projects on it, but I'm a bit at a loss of which one to start looking at, and also what all I'll need.

From what I know, I'll need:
Lathe
Turning tools
Face Shield

Any thoughts on the best things I can pick up here, keeping in mind that price is important?

Would a lathe like:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...6&filter=lathe
or
http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2005...on#information

be the best choice? Something from harbor freight? Looking for a good value for now. If I turn out to really enjoy turning, then I have no problem later upgrading equipment, but before I spend too much money I'd like to be able to play on one and see how much I really enjoy it.

As far as tools, any thoughts there? I assume there's a starter set, but I don't really know what to begin to look for.

Thanks for the help!

[dbhost]

I'd like to get starting into turning some small-ish tings (say, pens, bowls, small legs for projects, etc...)

I'm thinking I need one of the smaller benchtop lathes since I don't plan to do any large projects on it, but I'm a bit at a loss of which one to start looking at, and also what all I'll need.

From what I know, I'll need:
Lathe
Turning tools
Face Shield

Any thoughts on the best things I can pick up here, keeping in mind that price is important?

Would a lathe like:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...6&filter=lathe
or
http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2005...on#information

be the best choice? Something from harbor freight? Looking for a good value for now. If I turn out to really enjoy turning, then I have no problem later upgrading equipment, but before I spend too much money I'd like to be able to play on one and see how much I really enjoy it.

As far as tools, any thoughts there? I assume there's a starter set, but I don't really know what to begin to look for.

Thanks for the help!

Yes, you need what you listed, and more...

To be blunt, I thought that too at first about the benchtop lathe... For the same money, or even a little less on sale, you can get a Central Machinery #34706 (Jet JWL1236 clone), and have a full 36" bed length to turn longer diameter turnings with, things like table legs for example become possible with that...
Not to mention the 3/4 HP motor etc... all add up to a stronger machine in the long run... Mind you the Rikon mini is nice, and if all you are going to turn is tiny stuff, then yeah, the Rikon is great, but why limit your capacity for more money?

Turning tools, a good place to start is a small combination set. I have the PSI LCHSS8 8PC High Speed Steel set.

You may also want to consider the PSI Versa Chisels. They are a lot easier to use, and combine the function of a skew and a gouge in one tool.

The PSI Utility chuck right now has a free set of Jumbo Jaws they are throwing in, making this an excellent bargain.

A face shield is a MUST have. No specific recommendations here, just recommend you get a good one. I got mine from the BORG a couple of years ago. The adjuster flew apart within a month. It's held together with duct tape...

You will want a mess of sanding sponges, and a bowl sander / pads. (PSI doesn't list their bowl sander on their site, you need the current catalog for that...)

You will also want to keep your tools sharp. There are a lot of options here. My setup isn't complete, but in the end it will consist of...

8 inch bench grinder. (I grabbed a Ryobi BGH-827, I tried with a 6" and it gave me hollow grinds).
White Aluminum Oxide grinding wheels. I chose 60 and 100 grit. I probably could go 100 and 150 and end up with better polish, but slowed WAY down sharpening my mower blade too... I have been looking into www.sharpeningsupplies.com as they have the best prices I have found so far. Can somebody chime in here on the company? Are they reputable?

I opted for the OneWay Wolverine sharpening jig, and the VariGrind attachment. PSI has a similar setup for a bit less $$, but from everything I have heard, the documentation is so sparse that getting them set up and usable can be a pain... Which is why I went with the Wolverine...

[BrazosJake]

This message may be better posted under Turning Talk, but...
I just started turning, too, on a Wilton mini I bought about 3 years ago from Amazon for $99. It's worked fine for turning pens & small stuff.

Both mini-lathes looks fine, but if you're going to spend that much on a starter, I'd suggest the Harbor Freight 34706. I believe it's a bit less money and much more capacity. The downside of my little Wilton is no bed extension that I'm aware of.

HF also sells a great starter set of turning tools, the 8-piece Windsor designs. LOML bought me a neat little 3-piece set from Woodcraft for pen-turning that includes an oval skew. Hold a rectangular skew edge on a tool rest for a while, and you appreciate the oval.

Turning tools cut a lot of wood, fast. They don't have to be super sharp, but the have to be sharpened often and bevels re-ground. For high-speed steel, you'll want a bench grinder of some sort. The debate rages as to speed and wheel size. I have a cheapo 3450 RPM, 6" Delta which works fine. Smaller wheels mean bigger hollow grinds and narrower wheels. Higher 3450 RPM vs 1725 means it's easer to mess up a grind or burn. The other thing are the pricey sharpening jigs. Once again, I may be too dumb to know any better, but free-hand is working fine for me. If you sharpen on a bench grinder, especially a high-speed one, the one thing you should not skimp on is the wheels. Throw away those nasty, grey stock wheels and get Norton or Camel white Aluminum Oxide wheels. I've been told the blue and pink wheels are even better, but they're also more expensive. Get a 60-grit to regrind bevels or profiles, and a 120 for sharpening. The two wheels cost 2x as much as my grinder, but are worth it.

Then there's your headstock stuff like spurs, chucks, and pen mandrels..oh, yeah, did anyone tell you it's a slipperly slope? If you turn pens, you'll need a drill press or some means of drilling blanks at 90-degrees, a drilling jig or vise to hold them for drilling, sand paper, a disc sander or barrel trimmer to square ends to the tube, CA adhesive, more sandpaper, a pen press (optional), more sandpaper....

[dbhost]

Brazosjake, I agree with you on freehand sharpening, except that I found out that I suck at it...

If you have the time, and patience to, you can build your own sharpening jig.

The hollow grind you mention with the 6" is what got me to upgrade to the 8". Not even so much for turning tools, but rather stuff like plane irons, and chisels where flatness really matters. Although the hollow is noticeable with turning tools...

FWIW, the blue Norton 8" Aluminum Oxide wheels are available cheap at Home Depot. In 100 grit only... Something like $12.99 at my local Home Depot...

[phrog]

I just started turning a couple weeks ago. I got a HF 34706 based on recommendations on this site and I couldn't be happier. It appears to be well made but only time will tell about the motor and pulley system. Those on this board seem to think this will be no problem either. I paid $184 for mine. It was on sale for $229.99 and with the 20% coupon available in many mags, it brought the price down to $184. Seemed like a deal to me then and even more so now. Just hope it lasts.
Richard

[leehljp]

I will add my 2 yen:

Get one that has an MT#2 (Morse Taper). This is not noticed by people getting started, but for users that last more than a year and do it more than casually, options really expand a lathe's usefulness. There are far more options available for an MT2 lathe, if you decide you like turning and want to expand its usage.

Second, if you go with one of the two that you mentioned, the 12 in Rikon is offers a bit more space that a 10 in does when it comes to bowls and plates.

One item that is treated as an after thought but should be as a part of the whole is the sharpening. Dull tools are dangerous, create frustration and make turning un-enjoyable. A constantly sharp tool changes the scenery more than one would believe. As mentioned above, some people have difficulty in sharpening tools correctly by hand. Minute' angle differences may not seem like much to the naked eye, but make a huge difference in cutting ability. Get some kind of sharpening system and make a jig or buy one. You won't regret it.

[Cubsfan]

Thanks for the advice! You guys have hit on a big problem of mine, which is that adding one more non-bench tool will force me to dedicate one of my garage stalls to tools. While that's something I might eventually have to do, I'd like to avoid it as long as possible I read about the HF lathe, and it sounds quite good for the price but unfortunately I have nowhere to put it.

Thanks again for the help

[guycox]

"I don't plan to do any large projects on it"

That is without a doubt, the funniest thing I've heard all year.. My guess is that you'll want to add 1" of swing for every 1 years you turn.

[leehljp]

"I don't plan to do any large projects on it"
. . My guess is that you'll want to add 1" of swing for every 1 years you turn.

How true! So that is the addiction that has control of my mind.

When I decided to turn a 12 inch plate, I learned quickly that trimming a blank to 12 inches didn't work. I had to trim it to 11 7/8 to a nearly perfect round on the BS and then it rounded out down to 11 5/8 for a finished product. I really was looking to do a full 12 inches. Learned my lesson.

My next will have a tilting head and as much full VS with low end power that I can afford.

[dkerfoot]

If I was to buy a small lathe I would get the Steel City. I took a different route and bought a used Shopsmith MK5 for $250. I did a full review on it (http://bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=46195), but it was a great choice for me.

My entire shop is 10' x 11' (I keep my DC outside the door). By adding a bandsaw and 6"x48" belt sander to the Shopsmith, combined with my CM 21829 TS, I have a very complete shop in a very small space.

Unfortunately, you really can't get into turning inexpensively. By the time you buy a good chuck, HSS tools and an appropriate grinding wheel, you have already spent more than the cost of the small lathe. On the other hand, if you buy wisely, the chuck, tools, etc will still be in use many years later, even if you decide to upgrade your lathe.

[BrazosJake]

will force me to dedicate one of my garage stalls to tools.

One stall? Ha! You and your significant other may as well start parking in the driveway! LOML has given up on ever using the building that houses my tools and wood (and the junk she and the kids don't use) for its original purpose.

[cabinetman]

I bought a cheap import floor model years ago just to play. It was dirt cheap and I couldn't turn it down. It has a metric thread and only came with a spur bit.

I then kept my eyes out for some tools, and picked up a cheap set at a flea market. They have to be continually sharpened. But, I was surprised how efficient the machine was and how easy simple turning was. I use it for mostly spindles, newels, and reproducing wood knobs.
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