routermaniac
2nd April 2005, 09:43 PM
G'day fellows,
Getting a bit bored playing with my planes and mortice chisels so I went down to Bunnies and got myself an el crapo GMC lathe (the above adjective as per multiple reviews on this board).
I have never touched a lathe before but armed with a few www sites and some online videos I started to tackle some hardwood blanks that I thicknessed to about 2x2 inches.
Now, why the hell did I do that and not go the MC900? The answer is simple, didnt want to spend so much money ($300 can buy a lot of old planes :D ).
BTW, I am actually just using half a lathe at the moment (bed about 500mm), I think this is probably the simplest way to avoid flex as this lathe (if you want to use the full 1000mm) is joined in the middle with bolts. I really dont mind this as I am just concetrating on turning chisel handles and decorations for my timber windows...
Anyway got started on the hardwood and there and behold, lots of fun making coves and beads and a very dodgy attempt at a pummel...
While I was in the middle of some planing cuts, my 1/2 inch el cheapo chisel split in half :D ... didnt phase me much cause I was hiding behind my triton respirator...
So my question is what is a fairly reasonable set of chisels that I can buy for preferable less that $50-60??? I'm starting to warm to this woodturning business so chances are I would keep these chisels a little while...
Also, does anyone know of any good sites that go through sharpening woodturning chisels??? I can sharpen the run of the mill chisels to perfection but I have come to realise I have no idea what I am doing when I have to use a bench grinder and hollow grind...
And one last question... I have heard a lot of you speak about turning green timber... do you first bandsaw the sides flat if you are turning between centres?
regards
marios
Getting a bit bored playing with my planes and mortice chisels so I went down to Bunnies and got myself an el crapo GMC lathe (the above adjective as per multiple reviews on this board).
I have never touched a lathe before but armed with a few www sites and some online videos I started to tackle some hardwood blanks that I thicknessed to about 2x2 inches.
Now, why the hell did I do that and not go the MC900? The answer is simple, didnt want to spend so much money ($300 can buy a lot of old planes :D ).
BTW, I am actually just using half a lathe at the moment (bed about 500mm), I think this is probably the simplest way to avoid flex as this lathe (if you want to use the full 1000mm) is joined in the middle with bolts. I really dont mind this as I am just concetrating on turning chisel handles and decorations for my timber windows...
Anyway got started on the hardwood and there and behold, lots of fun making coves and beads and a very dodgy attempt at a pummel...
While I was in the middle of some planing cuts, my 1/2 inch el cheapo chisel split in half :D ... didnt phase me much cause I was hiding behind my triton respirator...
So my question is what is a fairly reasonable set of chisels that I can buy for preferable less that $50-60??? I'm starting to warm to this woodturning business so chances are I would keep these chisels a little while...
Also, does anyone know of any good sites that go through sharpening woodturning chisels??? I can sharpen the run of the mill chisels to perfection but I have come to realise I have no idea what I am doing when I have to use a bench grinder and hollow grind...
And one last question... I have heard a lot of you speak about turning green timber... do you first bandsaw the sides flat if you are turning between centres?
regards
marios