Lathe for a newbie???

[Doughboy]

Hey all ye fellow woodies..........

I have decided that I need to procure a lathe to help complete my shed. I am a total newb when it comes to lathes so I need help and advice on what to buy. I am prepared to spend money on quality and dont want to buy a cheapie and two years down the track go and buy another that has more modcons. Any help/advice that I receive will be gratefully accepted and thoroughly welcomed. :D :D

BTW I love this forum...
Keep up the great comraderie.........

Pete

[Cliff Rogers]

If you go to the search page & have a fool around you'll find that it has been covered before....

Some samples here.

Lathes
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=33684
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=7550
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=33232
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32732
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32563
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=30765
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31325
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31785
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31382
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31146
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=30216

Tools
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=33747
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32396
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32480
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31773

Chucks
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=33914
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32682
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32463
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32203
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31629
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31081
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=30935

Grinders
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=30089

Maintenance
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=31354

[reeves]

The MC900 is standard newbie lathe that a lot of people use from carbatec.
Its good and unless u wanna do bigger chunks of wood say over 25 kiols or more,useful for most applications. Around 400 bucks and up to 1000 for the enxt model which is an electric variable speed one. Check the carbatec site.

Most fo the really good ones are up over 2000 for the Jets up to 5000 for the big Vicmarcs.

The mod cons u speak of will be at least 2 good quality chucks, several specific sets of jaws, drill chuck for the tailstock, 3 point steady, various toolbar attachments, indexer, several really nice quality chisels and good sharpener.

I spent about 400 on the lathe and 1500 on other items. If i was goona upgrade it would be to a faster smaller lathe for specific projects and a larger heavier bowl lathe. The attachments transfer easily from lathe to lathe.

[Doughboy]

:) Cheers Cliff and Reeves thanks for some pointers now to do some leg work and look around............

Pete

[Skewpid]

Hi Doughy . . Ive been there, not too long ago and started with the Bunnings GMC lathe for $99 .. fine til you want to do some outboard turning.
The GMC lasted 2 months LOL. Updated with the MC 1100, which is the MC 900's longer brother. Its a branded lathe . . you can get from carbotec or Haire n Forbes, Axminster in the UK etc etc .. Has done wonderfully for the past 9 months or so for me, just make sure you keep the head stock gears lubed from time to time or the speed changer will progressively get tougher and tougher to change.

Pic below . .