New lathe setup and running;

[kwgeorge]

I was so glad for the weekend to come as I have had the new lathe just sitting on the floor of the shop and that has been making me crazy! I had to build a bench to put it on and I just went ahead and followed the plans in the Nova 3K manual. Well, sorta anyway. The plans made a very solid bench and I am happy with it although I added more cross bracing and I also placed 100 pounds of sand in the bottom and I will eventually enclose this bench and then make drawers for it. I used 1 piece of 3/4” MDF and then layered another piece of 3/4" of that pre-laminated pressboard stuff. I would call it by its name but since I don’t have a clue in the spelling I will call it “Laminated Pressboard”. I then spent several hours cleaning, lubricating, tuning and just general playing with the lathe. I really like it a lot and I think it makes a great addition to my shop.



When I picked up the lathe from Dan he was kind enough to give me 6 or so large Cypress blanks to play with. Well no better time than now! This bowl is the results of my turning today. As I said it is Cypress and 11-1/4” wide 3” tall and the wall thickness is 1/4”. The Cypress was very dry as I measured 9% for a moister content.



Inside view;




Thanks for having a look.


Oh yeah, Jim Boyd, []

[Whaler]

Ken, You have done it again. Awsome.

[GeekMom]

Very nice bowl! And congratulations on the lathe.

[boblon]

Ken, you really do beautiful work.

Seems like every picture of a lathe in your shop has oodles of chisels by it. You must collect them like the rest of us try to collect clamps

[Ken Weaver]

Nice setup for the lathe Ken, be sure to send pic after you close it in. Oh - BTW - nice bowl, your playing around is better than my best efforts.

[gerti]

Besides the lathe (very nice addition, consider me colored yellow) those chisels had me wide-eyed too! Couple questions though:

1) You got chisels behind the lathe. In my tiny turning shag that would have been the logical spot as well, but I was concerned about the temptation to reach over the spinning lathe to quickly grab a tool (you know, clothes catching and so...). What's your point?

2) I see for some of the chisels you use one of those magnetic tool holders. What is holding me back from using those is that I am afraid they might magnetize the tools, and each time they go to the grinder some of that metal dust will stick to them. Is that a valid concern?

Oh, and nice job on the bowl, not that we expected anything different from you...

Gerd

[Jim Boyd]

quote:Originally posted by kwgeorge




Oh yeah, Jim Boyd, []

Glad to see you are growing up Looks like your out to give someone a serious case of chisel envy too[)]

[kwgeorge]

Well Gerti you are asking pretty much the questions that entered my mind when I originally set all this up. With that said let me tell you why I did it this way and how it has worked out for me. I don’t have a very big shop and space is very precious too me so pretty much everything I do has to be thought out before hand. I started out with the chisel rack that you see behind the headstock. If you will look at the layout you will notice the large gouges are to the left and progress downward in size to the right. When reaching for a larger gouge it is more economic in movement for me to use my left hand. Normally when I am changing tools I am contemplating what I am going to do next so the lathe is off anyway. Now regardless of the rumors spread by Jim Boyd [:P], I am 6’2” tall so reach is really not an issue either when I do change tools with the lathe running. I have had this setup since I started turning and have yet to have a problem with it and I like being able so see the tips of the tools as I have various grinds on duplicate tools.

On to the magnetic holders, I have read many people who discourage the use of them and I was a little concerned when I decided to go this route also but it was the best way to go for me so I decided to give it a try, I figured if they did not work out I would just move them and use them for something else. I also got these tool holders from Rockler when they first opened in Houston so I got them for like $8 each. Now to the nay-Sayers of these holders I can’t help but wonder if they ever tried them or are just making an assumption. The magnets are really not that strong and even though they hold the tool well they don’t magnetize it so that it is noticeable. Also notice that the tips of the tools are really not that close to the magnet part. I sharpen all the time on the grinder and have no issues at all with the residue sticking to the tool. What is missing from the picture is the rest of the tools; I also have some very large scrapers, hollowing tools and such that I keep in a tool chest that is down and to the left in the picture. I found that the magnets really don’t hold the really big tools very well and I was out of wall space.

As a note to everyone on the new lathe setup. I raised this one even higher than the other ones. This ones spindle center is about an inch above my elbow and it was great turning this large bowl! No back pain after turning and I was able to rest the tool handle against my right forearm while using a big scraper and while doing the final shear scraping. This height is much more comfortable to me and really helped with tool control and stability.

[dlanicek]

Kenneth,

Glad you are enjoying the lathe. You're starting to make me regret selling it. Nah, I know you'll do more with it than I ever would. Glad to see it's going to good use. I guess I'm one of those rare turners who is not into making bowls. I make one on an occasion but I prefer to turn other stuff.

Nice bowl you have there, Kenneth! BTW, I forgot to mention that one of the conditions of taking the bowl blanks was that you needed to send me a finished one. Just kidding, I don't expect that but if you are ever in Austin again I do expect you to give me a call.

[wassaw998]

Looks great Ken !

[gerti]

quote:Originally posted by kwgeorge

Well Gerti you are asking pretty much the questions that entered my mind when I originally set all this up. With that said let me tell you why I did it this way and how it has worked out for me.

Thanks for the detailed response, Ken!

quote:I don’t have a very big shop and space is very precious too me

Maybe you'll have to slow down with those lathe purchases?

quote:...
As a note to everyone on the new lathe setup. I raised this one even higher than the other ones. This ones spindle center is about an inch above my elbow and it was great turning this large bowl!

I already raised mine to about elbow height, maybe I'll try another inch. I often do catch myself leaning over just a bit, which isn't the best posture.

Thanks again for your detailed response! I'll be rethinking the wall behind the lathe which is still pretty much empty. And my turning shag is probably a bit smaller than yours...

Gerd

[monte]

Nice work Ken, and congrats on your new lathe!

[mudder]

I figured out your problem Kenneth.

You gots too many dang tools! Tell you what I'll do for you.......Send me everything but a skew chisel, a pair of scrapers and a spindle gouge and you practice with them tillz you gets reel good. Then let me know and I'll send you one tool every 6 months or so. at that pace you should master all of them by the time you getz em back. watcha' think of dat?

[kwgeorge]

Not my tools Scott! I need them! They are all different and they are my friends!

[DaveinFloweryBranchGA]

Ken,

Very nice setup. I think this proves that starting with a HF or a Grizzly low cost mid sized lathe and progressing to a better lathe when the skills demand it is the best way to go. Thanks for the pic.

Dave