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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
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    Default Starting out... again

    Hi folks. New to the forum here and looking to get get back into woodworking. I'm a wood machinist by trade and used to make jewellery boxes and clocks for woodwork galleries, but all that was about 15 years ago and I haven't done anything since. Right before I had to give it up and sell off my tools, I was turning pens as a way to collect wood samples. I'd love to get back into turning pens and other small, functional items like tea and coffee cups, as well as small bowls. My question is this:

    What kind of basic machinery and tooling would you recommend for someone with very limited space, (so no giant lathes), to be able to accomplish making small functional items? If you want to throw in brand names, that would be much appreciated -- I've been out of the game for a while and don't know what's decent any more.


    Cheers!

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Flinders Shellharbour
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    There numerous small wood lathes around it does depend on your budget, heres a few links to get you going.

    Starting with the more expensive

    https://vicmarc.com/index.php?option...13&Itemid=9999

    Woodfast Machinery Co. (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. -

    https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...kg-84-22-45-cm

    lower cost

    R805 | DML305 Cast Iron 6 Speed Midi Wood Lathe | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au

    https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...the-1-x-10-tpi

    Basic tools

    https://www.carbatec.com.au/woodturn...pce-wooden-box
    http://www.hamletcrafttools.co.uk/5pcmini.html

    or talk to this bloke sells, turns and is a member of this forum
    http://www.cwsonline.com.au/shop/cat...dturning-tools

    Dont forget bandsaw, grinder, sharpening jigs, chainsaw. But the above are reasonable brands, if budget is an issue then look at the generic ranges of lathes. They are designed ok but need a degree of fettling to knock off the sharp edges. I ran a generic for several years without too many dramas.
    But at the end of the day some sort of variable speed drive set up is what I would recommend. Probably go with quality turning tools [ ie if you buy Hamlet get the 2060 range, P&N do a fine range . I have a range of many different brands not preferrig one over the other] , you can get away with a standard grinding wheel [grey] on a standard grinder. I bought mine second hand off Ebay, along with a Woodcut sharpening jig.
    The up side is if you stick to small projects then all your gear will at the lower end of the dollar amount
    Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso


  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Adelaide Hills, South Australia
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    4,311

    Default

    +1 for everything that Hughie has said.

    Stay sharp!

    Neil
    Stay sharp and stay safe!

    Neil



  5. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Leopold, Victoria
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    Where in Aus are you?

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
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    AU
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hughie View Post
    The up side is if you stick to small projects then all your gear will at the lower end of the dollar amount
    This is perfect, thanks hughie!

    I don't mind taking the time to save up for quality machinery and tooling. I want it to last.

    Would you be able to recommend any books for small projects to help get me back into the swing of things? No doubt I'm going to be a bit rusty.



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  7. #6
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    Apr 2017
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    AU
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    Quote Originally Posted by Treecycle View Post
    Where in Aus are you?
    Blue Mountains, Sydney. I used to be involved with the Blue Mountains Woodworking club years ago when I was still an active woodworker, but I now have insane commitments with full-time work and a full-time PhD scholarship. I was hoping to get back into it as a way of unwinding.

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  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
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    Flinders Shellharbour
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    Quote Originally Posted by nathan.e View Post
    This is perfect, thanks hughie!

    I don't mind taking the time to save up for quality machinery and tooling. I want it to last.

    Would you be able to recommend any books for small projects to help get me back into the swing of things? No doubt I'm going to be a bit rependSent from my SM-N915G using Tapatalk
    Again it depends on what you want to turn

    https://www.google.com.au/search?q=w...hrome&ie=UTF-8

    Theres a plethora of turning books out there and then there is Utube 100's if not 1000's of videos there on wood turning and all things related to turning

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0b...hr_z0a3aJIJHqA


    If your happy to save up for good gear and you intend to do any hollowing. Think about a hollowing rig such as Woodcuts Pro-Forme Woodcut Tools - Woodturner Tools

    or Rolly Munro he has a new rig out and from all accounts its very good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvy0cs2rlhk

    In the UK there are similar hollowers available as most do not patent the tools they design due to the high cost. So knockoffs are part of the game for all and sundry.
    I own the Proforme and a Sorby Ultima Sovereign Ultima which is similar if not a copy of Rolly Munro.
    If you're ever down from the Blue Mountains sometime and have a couple of hours to spare over a weekend drop by as I am in Prestons.
    Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working. — Pablo Picasso


  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    AU
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    12

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by hughie View Post
    Again it depends on what you want to turn

    https://www.google.com.au/search?q=w...hrome&ie=UTF-8

    Theres a plethora of turning books out there and then there is Utube 100's if not 1000's of videos there on wood turning and all things related to turning
    Some great information here, Hughie, thanks. I'm specifically interesting in turning (tea and coffee) cups, small to medium sized bowls under 300mm in diameter, as well as pens. I want to keep my focus small and do that well. Use basic or fundamental woodturning techniques to showcase fantastic wood. Beauty in simplicity style pieces are what interest me most.

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