Thread: A barrage of questions from a newbie:

Originally Posted by JonoCarver

Hello folks:

So my Dad got a small lathe for Christmas and his and my attempts at turning anything have been frustrating to say the least. I've tried to find the answers to my questions using the internet, but there is a limit to how much you can learn from youtube.

Try and find a local men's shed! A cheep and social way to get a few pointers to start with.

1.) Tools. Dad intends to make bowls. I want to make boxes, which I can then decorate with carving (I've done carving for the past 3 years). Unfortunately, we're a bit low on money at the moment so we want to only buy the tools we need. At the moment I'm thinking a roughing gouge, bowl gouge and a skew chisel. Do you think this would be enough or am I heading for disaster? You should probably both just start with doing spindles. I know you probably think it will be boring, but it will teach you all the skills you need for anything else. Which means you probably need a spindle gouge on that list too. A round nosed scraper comes in handy too to smooth out a curve on the inside of bowls. Might need a parting tool too.

2.) At the moment we have a Hamlet roughing gouge from carba tec. Dad's been using it to turn cypress blanks. The other day I noticed that the joint between the tang and the handle was wobbly. I gave it a gentle tug, and the tang came out. Is this normal? It hasn't happened with my carving tools. Is the tang tapered? Just bang it in harder. Sometimes in different weathers the wood expands or contracts and handles will fall off. Stick a bit of epoxy down the hole if you are worried.

BTW I hope your dad isn't trying to use the roughing gouge on bowl blanks. Bit of a no no cos it is easy to catch the wings! There is a thread on here somewhere about it. Just use a bowl gouge on bowls.

3.) Timber. I have a small supply of Jacaranda and cypress logs and branches. Is there a way of splitting them (to remove the pith) that doesn't involve a splitting maul or chainsaw? I don't think I have anywhere near the strength to swing a maul, and I have a morbid fear of chainsaws. Befriending someone with a big band saw? How big are the "logs" Some peoples small is smaller than others.

Thanks a bunch

Jonathan

Have fun.

Join a club, get some basic lessons.

Originally Posted by JonoCarver

Hello folks:

So my Dad got a small lathe for Christmas and his and my attempts at turning anything have been frustrating to say the least. I've tried to find the answers to my questions using the internet, but there is a limit to how much you can learn from youtube. Join a club.

1.) Tools. Dad intends to make bowls. I want to make boxes, which I can then decorate with carving (I've done carving for the past 3 years). Unfortunately, we're a bit low on money at the moment so we want to only buy the tools we need. At the moment I'm thinking a roughing gouge, bowl gouge and a skew chisel. Do you think this would be enough or am I heading for disaster?Yes

2.) At the moment we have a Hamlet roughing gouge from carba tec. Dad's been using it to turn cypress blanks. See here: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f8/spi...ml#post1386430

The other day I noticed that the joint between the tang and the handle was wobbly. I gave it a gentle tug, and the tang came out. Is this normal? It hasn't happened with my carving tools.

3.) Timber. I have a small supply of Jacaranda and cypress logs and branches. Is there a way of splitting them (to remove the pith) that doesn't involve a splitting maul or chainsaw? I don't think I have anywhere near the strength to swing a maul, and I have a morbid fear of chainsaws.

Thanks a bunch

Jonathan

The minimum tools for the sort of work you envisage doing is: 1:Get lessons.

2: a 3/8 bowl gouge with a slight swept back grind. This will do both bowls and boxes.

3: Get lessons.

The bowl gouge can be used to rough down as well. (shee, did I say that) but as you have a spindle roughing gouge that is better for the outside of boxes PROVIDED the grain runs parallel to the bed. DO NOT USE A SPINDLE ROUGHING GOUGE ON BOWLS.

4: Get lessons.

5: Did I mention to get lessons.

Bugger postus interuptus and it is answered.

Thanks for the replies!

Join a club and get lessons, I’m starting to see a pattern here .

Unfortunately my current living arrangements make it extremely difficult to do either of these things. I’ve been looking for a local Mens shed for the past 2 years. I spend most of the year in Brisbane, as a student, but I’ve got no car. I get to spend about 6-8 weeks of the year in Sydney. The local Men’s shed (Forestville) only allows fully retired men older than 55 to join. As I am 20, I would have to wait a long time for this. I’ll turn up to the woodworking expo in May though, and hopefully I’ll learn a thing or two!

It’s nice to know that the roughing gouge isn’t stuffed.

Thanks for the heads up on equipment Tea Lady. As for the logs, they vary from small branches (8cm diameter) to trunks (about 30cm diameter). The larger ones are the preferred material for bowl blanks. Looks like I’m going to have to get over my chainsaw-phobia.

And , I saw your little safety video yesterday. Fortunately, we had only been using the gouge to smooth the outside. From carving, I know what happens when the blunt corners of any chisel embed into wood, and there is no way that I’ll be using a spindle gouge to hollow out anything. Kind of ironic that you brought it up, because I currently have 3 sutures in one of my fingers from a little mishap with a carving gouge...

Thanks again

Jonathan

May I suggest you get a set of chisels like this

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W301

There are similar sets from other places such as carba tec and I think Gary Pye in Brisbane.

They are not the greatest quality but they work and it will give you a good range of tools to get started.

If you buy individual name brand tools you will be paying $40.00 plus per tool.

Hi JanoCarver.

Try this link to find a Men's Shed in Bris.

Men's Shed - Queensland | Queensland Men's Shed Association | Mens Shed QLD

Or go to.

Men's Sheds Australian Men's Shed Assocaition AMSA Then look at "Find A Shed.

Oh, by the way. "Get Lessons". Sorry, could not help myself there.

Paul

Originally Posted by JonoCarver

Thanks for the replies!

Join a club and get lessons, I’m starting to see a pattern here .

Unfortunately my current living arrangements make it extremely difficult to do either of these things. I’ve been looking for a local Mens shed for the past 2 years. I spend most of the year in Brisbane, as a student, but I’ve got no car. I get to spend about 6-8 weeks of the year in Sydney. The local Men’s shed (Forestville) only allows fully retired men older than 55 to join. As I am 20, I would have to wait a long time for this. I’ll turn up to the woodworking expo in May though, and hopefully I’ll learn a thing or two!



Jonathan

If you want to learn woodturning, find a woodturning club.
The skills learnt at men's sheds are usually very general.
The skills that you need for woodturning are specialised.

Jonathan the Mens Shed which has the age limit is not by law permitted to set such under discrimination laws. Unless of course they have made application to HRC in ACT and been granted such. Its the first Mens Shed I have heard of such. Of course other than the insurance age limit which is usually 16.

Not to worry these blokes will look after you I am sure The Woodturners Society Of Queensland Inc

Did some one mention Get Lessons


Not sure if you can get this Woodturning - woodturning_Books - The GMC Group book over there but I found it very useful as long as you follow the and practice as you read through and no jump ahead of yourself.

This does not mean that you should not seek advice on turning through some sort of personal instruction from a competent turner

I had (still have) heaps of books & videos & they weren't much help until I got some lessons on how to sharpen my tools & how to stand & present them to the the spinning lump of timber.

If you don't have a car, you'll have to find a woodturner who lives near by who will come around to your place & give you a hand to get started.

Originally Posted by Avery

May I suggest you get a set of chisels like this

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W301

There are similar sets from other places such as carba tec and I think Gary Pye in Brisbane.

They are not the greatest quality but they work and it will give you a good range of tools to get started.

If you buy individual name brand tools you will be paying $40.00 plus per tool.

I'm not a fan of those el cheapo tool sets myself. Sooner or later you won't be satisfied with them and you will have spent $100 that could have been put towards some good tool steel. I advocate buying tools one at a time, as you need them, and buying the best you can of each at the time. That way it won't hit the budget too hard at any one time and you will end up with what you need and quality tools that you can use for many years, whereas those sets have tools in them that never or rarely get used.

The Hamlet spindle roughing gouge was a good start to your tool kit.

Tea Lady and have given you good advice on the next tools you will need. And, whoever you get lessons from may have slightly different advice. Maybe wait until then before investing in more tools.

If you can't afford a bandsaw at this stage or don't have or are not comfortable using a chainsaw, a large bow saw will do the job, just slower and you get some exercise while you are at it. A sawbuck (and here)is useful whether hand or chain sawing.

I'd get on to Dave Drescher at SE Qld Woodworking supplies and tell him where you live and he is bound to know of a club or a Turner who lives near you who would be willing to help. A pity I was in Brisbane a week or two ago looking for something to do

Thanks again for all the replies.

Thanks especially for telling me about the Queensland woodturners society- its actually accessible by bus.

I think I'll make a sawbuck, and use my bow saw on the logs.

As for tools, I suss that out when I don't have a headache.