Tweet
Hello everyone! I've always been intrigued by turning ever since I first got to use a lathe back in middle school, and now that I own my own house, I've been thinking about building a woodshop. Funds are tight, though, so i need to prioritize, and I decided that turning interested me more than any of the other aspects of woodworking, so rather than save up $500 for a contractor's saw, I'd rather see what I'll need to get into turning!
I'd be starting with small stuff -- pens, wee bowls, boxes, goblets if I ever get that good, maybe even baby rattles with captive rings once I have skillz! Some day I'd like to turn a chess set, but who knows when.
Anyhow, given that funds are tight, what's the minimum toolset I would need? Obivously I'd need a lathe, i was thinking along the lines of a Jet Mini. I'd need a tool set, and I've heard that something like the cheap HF set will get you started -- is that a good way to go, or would I be better off picking and choosing just a few higher quality turning tools?
Other than the lathe and the gouges/skews/etc., what else would I need before I could get started? I see grinders on everyone's list o stuff to buy, but are they really necessary for the novice? I'm assuming you use them to sharpen your tools? I can see sharp tools as a requirement, but wonder whether there are other (cheaper) ways to keep your tools sharp.
Is a drill press required? How much easier is it to do things when y ou've got a bandsaw? Right now my tools consist of drills (a cheesy 6V ryobi cordless is hiding in a box somewhere, and I picked up a corded one when the hurricanes came through) and an el cheapo circular saw (bought to cut plywood for storm shutters). I've got a razor saw somewhere, and some basic exacto knives as well, but no dremel or other wee power tool.
I'm trying to figure out how much money I'll need to save up before I make the plunge, so that I don't get stuck with a lathe (whee!), but dull tools that I have no way to sharpen, or a lathe and sharp tools, but no way to do the required prep on the wood to get it ready for turning.
thanks for your time,
Rick Lindsey
I'd be starting with small stuff -- pens, wee bowls, boxes, goblets if I ever get that good, maybe even baby rattles with captive rings once I have skillz! Some day I'd like to turn a chess set, but who knows when.
Anyhow, given that funds are tight, what's the minimum toolset I would need? Obivously I'd need a lathe, i was thinking along the lines of a Jet Mini. I'd need a tool set, and I've heard that something like the cheap HF set will get you started -- is that a good way to go, or would I be better off picking and choosing just a few higher quality turning tools?
Other than the lathe and the gouges/skews/etc., what else would I need before I could get started? I see grinders on everyone's list o stuff to buy, but are they really necessary for the novice? I'm assuming you use them to sharpen your tools? I can see sharp tools as a requirement, but wonder whether there are other (cheaper) ways to keep your tools sharp.
Is a drill press required? How much easier is it to do things when y ou've got a bandsaw? Right now my tools consist of drills (a cheesy 6V ryobi cordless is hiding in a box somewhere, and I picked up a corded one when the hurricanes came through) and an el cheapo circular saw (bought to cut plywood for storm shutters). I've got a razor saw somewhere, and some basic exacto knives as well, but no dremel or other wee power tool.
I'm trying to figure out how much money I'll need to save up before I make the plunge, so that I don't get stuck with a lathe (whee!), but dull tools that I have no way to sharpen, or a lathe and sharp tools, but no way to do the required prep on the wood to get it ready for turning.
thanks for your time,
Rick Lindsey
Comment