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Thread: lathe size?

  1. #1
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    Default lathe size?

    hey everyone,
    i hope this is in the right section...im after some advice about lathe size. my uncle is letting me borrow his lathe to make pens with while his travelling the country side, it looks like the Pops Shed 18x47 variable speed one (not sure if its where he got it). would this be ok for turning pens or is it to big? or is there no such thing as to big? i ask because if it works ok then i moight purchase one down the track to make pens and bowls myself.

    regards,
    ben.

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  3. #2
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    Yeah really no such thing as too big when it comes to lathes, get the largest one you can fit!

  4. #3
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    I have the Hafco 18x47 and have no difficulty turning pens on it. As said before you can turn little things on big lathes, but you can't turn big things on little lathes.

  5. #4
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    Sometimes it is better to have 2 lathes, it works for me.
    A wood fast with a between centre length of about a metre which will happily do small stuff down to pen size and up to balustrade sized bits and bowls to about 300mm.
    And a real tonker of a bigun that can handle most of the hefty jobs one would want to do.
    The bigun is not so suitable for pensized or smaller turnings due to the large bearings and gearing. It would be a bit like going to do the grocery shopping in a Mac semi trailer.

  6. #5
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    This may apply to some of the larger lathes, but in the case of my 18x47 it has a sliding head, so I can set the space between the tailstock and the head to any size, anywhere on the bed. It also has electronic variable speed in 2 speed ranges so can set any speed range I want.
    I did have a smaller lathe, one of the mini Carbatec ones, and would not want to go back to one of those for any price.

  7. #6
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    bad post sorry

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Big Shed View Post
    This may apply to some of the larger lathes, but in the case of my 18x47 it has a sliding head, so I can set the space between the tailstock and the head to any size, anywhere on the bed. It also has electronic variable speed in 2 speed ranges so can set any speed range I want.
    I did have a smaller lathe, one of the mini Carbatec ones, and would not want to go back to one of those for any price.
    Surely it has a limit to the length and swing?

  9. #8
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    He said "Any size, ANYWHERE ON THE BED."

    I doubt someone who's just getting into turning is going to have the room or funds for multiple lathes. It might work for you but that doesn't mean it's the right path for everyone.

  10. #9
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    You can turn small items on a big lathe but you cannot turn big items on a small lathe.

    Whatever lathe you decide on go for the best quality you can afford.

  11. #10
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    to answer your question - yes you can turn pens on your Uncle's lathe
    regards
    Nick
    veni, vidi,
    tornavi
    Without wood it's just ...

  12. #11
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    To reinforce what has been said - I turn pens on a Vicmarc VL300 long bed - a big lathe, so YES is the answer.

    In defence of Artful, the OP would be better off to know that different sized lathes definitely have their "sweet spots". My first experience of turning pens was with John Dennis (Gawdelpus) and he actually used a small metal turning lathe for pens.

    If you know what your passion in turning is then you can buy just the perfect lathe for that task, though, most of us don't know that from the beginning.

    However, down the track, if turning becomes your all-consuming passion then you may decide you need more than one. I know someone who owns about 8 lathes (no DaveTTC, not just you) so each to his own.

    Also, everyone has their own budget, but buying second hand can get you a good buy and enable you to buy top quality instead of also-ran. Artme's advice to buy the best quality that you can afford (even if second-hand I add) is good.

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