Lathe,chuck etc??

[Newby]

I recently saw some woodturning displays at our fair and decided that I would like to give it a go. I have only just started! I decided to buy an inexpensive lathe to begin with and I bought a GMC lathe. This is alright for a beginner I guess. However the instructions were only how to put it together (and not very good ones) and then there was talk of a chuck. I don't know what sort of chuck I need to buy - is there a specific chuck for each lathe? http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/confused.gif Please help anyway you can. GMC do not seem to have a website that can help.

[Sir Stinkalot]

Hey,
This is a link to the GMC web page. Not a great site as it doesn't even show the entire range. Oh well here goes ...
<a href= "http://www.gmcompany.com"> GMC </a>
The lathe is on this page
<a href= "http://www.gmcompany.com/Fastening%20and%20Grinder.htm"> GMC Lathe </a>

As for the chuck to use there are obviously many to choose from. Just type in chuck in the search engine of this BB and you will see the debate that it has started. There was some discussion last week on it I believe.

I too have just stared and I bought a Teknatool Nova 3000 and a Super Nova Chuck. Seems to be working well so far. As for which chuck you will need for the GMC you will need to check the spindle thread on the lathe and then get the appropriate insterts to suit the selected chuck.

Check this site on how to size up the spindle thread.
<a href= "http://www.teknatool.com/products/Chucks/Identifying%20your%20lathe%20spindle%20thread.pdf"> Teknatool lathe spindle size guide </a>

I hope that this helps. I am sure that there are many more out there with more information on the subject than I but thats what I found out when I was looking.


<color=#FF3399><h1>Happy Stinking</h1>

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May the stink be with you

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 16 July 2002).]

[ubeaut]

G'day Newby - Welcome to the Bulletin Board.

Take yourself off to see (AGMS) Alan Goodbun, 17 Princes Rd Hyde Park (Townsville) Ph 4721 2881.

Alan is president of the Townsville Woodturning Group and would be more than happy to help you out. I am sure that the club would also welcome you with open arms.

Phone before you go to see him as he is not always there. You should be able to get your chuck from him.

You should be aware that a halfway decent chuck will cost almost as much as the lathe and halfway decent tools will cost that much again.

However, both should also out last the lathe by about 10-20 years (give or take a month or two).

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers - Neil

PS Before you get too carried away go and get some lessons. Diving in with no knowledge can be pretty dangerous, especialy if you are going to play with bowls. Also you will need to learn to sharpen your tools correctly or you will just be wasting your time.

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STINKY - been having fun with html code eh. Well done. Just a little thing. Don't mix UBB Code with HTML code it can cause some rather interesting problems. That is why your http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif didn't work.

Neil

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Nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit.