My First Lathe

**Dirk_Pittwater** · 19th March 2016, 09:30 PM

So the story starts off as a young boy who has been around the carpentry and cabinetmaking industry from the word go.

Grew up loving and working with timber in my hands in dads workshop and every opportunity I was in there helping or trying to make something.

Skip a few years and I was finishing school at 16 and onto my apprenticeship. This is when I started to go to woodworking shows and what not as part of the family business. At theses shows is where I would see all these tools and machinery that I knew later down the track I would be purchasing and using on a daily basis.
The lathe was never a machine that we would use as an income producer in the business so I always overlooked it but thought it was a neat thing to have a go at one day knowing I would enjoy it.

Skip another 9 years to a Dooen gtg (my first forum gtg) and to finally meet some ladies and gents that are apart of this wonderful forum.
The wonderful host Dave, also a good friend saw how keen I was to use a lathe. We all know he has a few. So he was kind enough to give me a lesson on his awsome setups. Then there were all the other gents that we're giving me tips and tricks and letting me use their chisels and the wonderful demonstrations. I was definitely hooked.

All that info that was passed around at the gtg was amazing. From chisels to lathe's, to experiences and different chucks and things you can turn. There were some lovely samples aswell.

So from that weekend on I've been talking to various people. Researching various lathe's, chucks, tools and projects to start on as soon as I make all this happen.

That leads us to another fabulous gtg hosted by Fletty a couple of weeks ago based on sharpening systems. I was extremely excited as Dave had brought my sorby chisels that he had acquired for me up from vic and I had the chance to learn how people sharpened them including how a professional turner sharpens his very own.

That was another fabulous gtg done and a whole lot of knowledge that I had gained.

So I'm hooked on turning, I've got the chisels needed to start, I've got the knowledge on how to sharpen them and I've ordered the jigs for my tormek. Now I need a lathe and some chucks and I'll be in business. (I have enough timber at work to practice on)

Onto tonight's escapade.

Late this afternoon I got a message from Dave. It was a link to a forum post in the auction section. Next thing I know, I own a Vicmarc VL175.

Now to pick that up and then I'm almost ready to start turning.
To say I'm excited would be an understatement.

Thanks to all of the gents that have helped me along the way and showed me the ropes. No doubt I'll be learning a heap more off you and many others.

I will be adding pics and comments here as I progress. So keep an eye out for things to come.

Cheers to an exciting new skill I'm eager to pursue.
Dirk.

**Simplicity** · 19th March 2016, 09:44 PM

Awesome Dirk
Fantastic write up
Will you be showing your dad how to finish is little egg soon

**Uncle Al** · 20th March 2016, 08:19 AM

Gees, you have gone in boots and all! That is a fabulous lathe and a good selection of tools which many turners would be envious of.

The journey has well and truly begun, may it be a safe and exciting one.

Alan...

**Sawdust Maker** · 20th March 2016, 08:55 AM

nice pickup
are you going to look at Ern's tools as well?

PS
and I'm particularly impressed that your chisel number has already outgrown the chisel rack!

**Dirk_Pittwater** · 20th March 2016, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

nice pickup
are you going to look at Ern's tools as well?

PS
and I'm particularly impressed that your chisel number has already outgrown the chisel rack!

Going to have a look to see if there's anything I may need or want in Ern's tool and chuck collection.

Thats a pic from the seller that I got sent. I'm yet to make a rack. Thinking of something like that but all on 1 row. I'm going to wait till I start turning to see how I use the tools and design it from there.

**Dirk_Pittwater** · 20th March 2016, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Awesome Dirk
Fantastic write up
Will you be showing your dad how to finish is little egg soon

Don't know if I'll be showing him how to do it but he can certainly use my lathe.
I think I can trust him enough.

Originally Posted by Uncle Al

Gees, you have gone in boots and all! That is a fabulous lathe and a good selection of tools which many turners would be envious of.

The journey has well and truly begun, may it be a safe and exciting one.

Alan...

Thanks Al.
I will be keen to bounce ideas and how to do things of all you experienced turners.

**DaveTTC** · 20th March 2016, 09:30 AM

Great write up Dirk. I'll be flowering this with interest and hope you keep adding to this for many many years. My first lathe was blue too.

Most of my first chisels were Sorby though i lacked the benefit of gtg's and mentors. I truly envy your youthful start. I'm sure you will go from strength to strength

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

**Big Shed** · 20th March 2016, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

.......... I'll be flowering this with interest..........

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Really?

**DaveTTC** · 20th March 2016, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Big Shed

Really?

Dont get any ideas. When it says turning cowboy we're not talking 'broke back'

To edit or not to edit .... that is the question

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

**Big Shed** · 20th March 2016, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

Dont get any ideas. When it says turning cowboy we're not talking 'broke back'

To edit or not to edit .... that is the question

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

That may be the question, but turning off auto correct may be the answer.

**Christos** · 20th March 2016, 11:01 AM

Well done on your first lathe.

I should add that after you have received the initial guidance on using the tools at the GTG at Dave place. And now that you have a lathe you should practice with the tools.

Don't worry too much about making something practical but more about knowing what the tool will do.

**Pat** · 20th March 2016, 02:53 PM

Dirk, get whet ever you can out of Ern, he has the best toys and is a reasonable bloke about it too.

Practice pieces, learn spindle turning first, tool presentation and how to manipulate the tool to give a good finish is a start.

You are welcome to wander down the coast for "mucking around" with lathes and Tormek gear.

**Sawdust Maker** · 20th March 2016, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by Pat

Dirk, get whet ever you can out of Ern, he has the best toys and is a reasonable bloke about it too.

Practice pieces, learn spindle turning first, tool presentation and how to manipulate the tool to give a good finish is a start.

You are welcome to wander down the coast for "mucking around" with lathes and Tormek gear.

I agree with the spindle bit

and you're welcome over this way as well - but Pat's probably betterer at it than me

**Treecycle** · 23rd March 2016, 02:02 PM

Well done Dirk, that is a great lathe. So many people say start with a Vicmarc, but not everyone can afford it when starting out.
I am sure you will impress us with your brilliance as you seem to be able to take to turning like a duck to water.
Looking forward to your journey.

**Dirk_Pittwater** · 2nd April 2016, 07:21 PM

Thanks everyone for all the kind words and all those willing to help.

Here's an update on what's been happening.

Ern tempted me with all his other gear, my play money can only go so far so I decided on getting the vicmarc vm100 chuck and all the jaws to go with it also got longworth chuck and a 150mm faceplate.
I think that should do me for awhile.

Yesterday the tormek 186 jig and profiled leather wheels were delivered and I started to sharpen a bowl gouge (I think). Woohoo!

Question for all those with tormek sharpening system.

What grinds do you recommend? And what do you use them for?

I'm looking at all my chisels aswell as looking at the tormek book and I dont know what profile to choose for each chisel?
Note I have 2 bowl gouges that are identical that I will put different profiles on each and another 2 that one is a shallow flute and the other is deep. Any idea what to do with these?

Some of these chisels have been really roughly ground and can't follow what they are hence why I'm asking.

Also whats the difference between a bowl gouge and a spindle gouge? They look the same to me.

Sorry if these questions seem really simple...I really jumped into the deep end like I always do. Its the fastest way I learn haha

Cheers
Dirk.

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