PDA

View Full Version : Starting out... again



nathan.e
25th April 2017, 08:24 AM
Hi folks. New to the forum here and looking to get get back into woodworking. I'm a wood machinist by trade and used to make jewellery boxes and clocks for woodwork galleries, but all that was about 15 years ago and I haven't done anything since. Right before I had to give it up and sell off my tools, I was turning pens as a way to collect wood samples. I'd love to get back into turning pens and other small, functional items like tea and coffee cups, as well as small bowls. My question is this:

What kind of basic machinery and tooling would you recommend for someone with very limited space, (so no giant lathes), to be able to accomplish making small functional items? If you want to throw in brand names, that would be much appreciated -- I've been out of the game for a while and don't know what's decent any more.


Cheers!

Sent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk

hughie
25th April 2017, 09:33 AM
There numerous small wood lathes around it does depend on your budget, heres a few links to get you going.

Starting with the more expensive

https://vicmarc.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_product_id=85&virtuemart_category_id=13&Itemid=9999

Woodfast Machinery Co. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. - (http://www.woodfast.com.au/index.php?p=1_5)

https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturning/lathes-and-accessories/lathes/comet-ii-lathe-1-carton-37kg-84-22-45-cm

lower cost

R805 | DML305 Cast Iron 6 Speed Midi Wood Lathe | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au (http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/R805)

https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturning/lathes-and-accessories/lathes/jet-midi-lathe-1-x-10-tpi

Basic tools

https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturning/chisels-and-lathe-tools/wood-turning-chisel-sets/chisel-set-hss-3pce-wooden-box
http://www.hamletcrafttools.co.uk/5pcmini.html

or talk to this bloke sells, turns and is a member of this forum
http://www.cwsonline.com.au/shop/category/woodturning-tools

Dont forget bandsaw, grinder, sharpening jigs, chainsaw. But the above are reasonable brands, if budget is an issue then look at the generic ranges of lathes. They are designed ok but need a degree of fettling to knock off the sharp edges. I ran a generic for several years without too many dramas.
But at the end of the day some sort of variable speed drive set up is what I would recommend. Probably go with quality turning tools [ ie if you buy Hamlet get the 2060 range, P&N do a fine range . I have a range of many different brands not preferrig one over the other] , you can get away with a standard grinding wheel [grey] on a standard grinder. I bought mine second hand off Ebay, along with a Woodcut sharpening jig.
The up side is if you stick to small projects then all your gear will at the lower end of the dollar amount :)

NeilS
25th April 2017, 10:39 AM
+1 for everything that Hughie has said.

Stay sharp!

Neil

Treecycle
25th April 2017, 10:52 AM
Where in Aus are you?

nathan.e
25th April 2017, 11:00 AM
The up side is if you stick to small projects then all your gear will at the lower end of the dollar amount

This is perfect, thanks hughie!

I don't mind taking the time to save up for quality machinery and tooling. I want it to last.

Would you be able to recommend any books for small projects to help get me back into the swing of things? No doubt I'm going to be a bit rusty.



Sent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk

nathan.e
25th April 2017, 11:12 AM
Where in Aus are you?
Blue Mountains, Sydney. I used to be involved with the Blue Mountains Woodworking club years ago when I was still an active woodworker, but I now have insane commitments with full-time work and a full-time PhD scholarship. I was hoping to get back into it as a way of unwinding.

Sent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk

hughie
25th April 2017, 04:57 PM
This is perfect, thanks hughie!

I don't mind taking the time to save up for quality machinery and tooling. I want it to last.

Would you be able to recommend any books for small projects to help get me back into the swing of things? No doubt I'm going to be a bit rependSent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk

Again it depends on what you want to turn

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=wood+turning+books&rlz=1C1PRFB_enAU722AU722&oq=wood+turning+books&aqs=chrome..69i57.5256j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Theres a plethora of turning books out there and then there is Utube 100's if not 1000's of videos there on wood turning and all things related to turning

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0b4nW-Nahr_z0a3aJIJHqA


If your happy to save up for good gear and you intend to do any hollowing. Think about a hollowing rig such as Woodcuts Pro-Forme Woodcut Tools - Woodturner Tools (http://www.woodcut-tools.com/)

or Rolly Munro he has a new rig out and from all accounts its very good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvy0cs2rlhk

In the UK there are similar hollowers available as most do not patent the tools they design due to the high cost. So knockoffs are part of the game for all and sundry.
I own the Proforme and a Sorby Ultima Sovereign Ultima (http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/woodturning/sovereign-system/sovereign-ultima.html) which is similar if not a copy of Rolly Munro.
If you're ever down from the Blue Mountains sometime and have a couple of hours to spare over a weekend drop by as I am in Prestons.

nathan.e
26th April 2017, 09:31 PM
Again it depends on what you want to turn

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=wood+turning+books&rlz=1C1PRFB_enAU722AU722&oq=wood+turning+books&aqs=chrome..69i57.5256j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Theres a plethora of turning books out there and then there is Utube 100's if not 1000's of videos there on wood turning and all things related to turning

Some great information here, Hughie, thanks. I'm specifically interesting in turning (tea and coffee) cups, small to medium sized bowls under 300mm in diameter, as well as pens. I want to keep my focus small and do that well. Use basic or fundamental woodturning techniques to showcase fantastic wood. Beauty in simplicity style pieces are what interest me most.

Sent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk