Thread: Ci2 Mini Review

Simply put, I LOVE it

I got a box in the mail from Craig a while back, but I was VERY busy renovating one of our older apartments, I was under the gun too, as my SIL was needing it to move into, I was working 9AM to 3:30PM at the renovation and then 4:30PM to 1 AM at the liquor shop. I seriously did not have time to even think about turning

Then on the 27th of September, I fractured my ankle and I've been laid up for three weeks

I got the go ahead to start walking on the leg on Thursday, and over the weekend I've put a few miles on, slowly.

Tonight, I went down into the Dungeon and I got the Ci2 out of the box, and took it for a test drive.

First impressions, it certainly is the little brother to the Ci1, definite family resemblance


Yep, sure looks like the larger Ci1


One quick thing I found out, is that the threaded knob that comes with the deflector shield does NOT reach far enough to clamp the shield onto the smaller Ci2 shaft, but I over came that by putting another bolt in the opposite side of the clamp block, and there was even a threaded hole there waiting for the new bolt

I used the Ci2 to rough out a green Oak blank, the blank was a little over 9" in diameter.

The wood flew fast and furiously, and if I wanted to take a really big bite, I could still stall my DVR 3000, but it was more of a job doing it that with the Ci1 tool.

I did notice that you have to be a bit more careful with the overhang on the tool rest, with the 1/2" square shaft of the bigger Ci1, you could cheat a bit and not worry about a 1" overhang, not recommended, but you did not have to move the tool rest nearly as often, I found with the thinner shaft of the Ci2, you really want to be diligent about moving the tool rest as close as possible, that said, this is not a big factor, as you should be moving you tool rest constantly, just I could notice some flex in the shaft, where as the larger Ci1 had no noticeable flex.

I would have taken more pictures, but my battery in my camera died

Well, that is about is, for now, I'm very sure that I'm going to like this tool a lot, and if you have a smaller lathe, I think this would be the tool you would want, over the Ci1, the Ci1 is a MONSTER, it hogs off wood like crazy but you really do need a large an powerful lathe to run it, IMHO. The Ci2 is better suited to a smaller lathe. I think roughing out a 6" or an 8" bowl on most smaller lathes, this tool would really excel.

Now even if I had a larger lathe, I'd still want both, as I can see all sorts of uses for the smaller tool.

I did not say so earlier, but the fit and finish on the this tool is certainly up the fit and finish on the Ci1, which means it is VERY good, some of the best tools you will ever see or use, IMHO.

Cheers!