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old55
9th September 2007, 10:47 PM
Hi i My name is Robert and have been retired for the last 9 years TPI now 52 and the wife wants me out from under her feet. I restored an old car but sold that when we moved from Qld To Vic I now want a new hobby so i am looking at buying a wood lathe between $300 and $400 for general turning
But need advice as to what i should look for and were to buy from .
i live in the western suburbs of melbourne also are there any clubs out this side of the ciity
any help or advice welcome
Thanks
robert

hughie
9th September 2007, 11:38 PM
Robert,

Short of second hand you had better look at a MC900 as they are around $300. Avoid the GMC at $99 its over priced, consider looking on E-bay as well.

But this is only the beginning you will need to outlay further for all your turning tools. Also some sort of chuck, perhaps not right away, but certainly eventually.

HSS tools are the only way to go, carbon steel is not an ideal even at the low price that they can be bought at.


As to what tools you will need depends on what you have in mind to turn. Pens,spindles or bowls.........or the lot :U

Failing that try this carbatec link as they are in Melbourne
http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=300_14570

smidsy
9th September 2007, 11:39 PM
Robert,
For that sort of money there is only one option (without considering the mini lathes) and that is the MC900 - sold in various colours by most of the better woodwork machinery dealers.
I won't retype what is here in dozens of posts already, but do a search of this forum for MC900 and you'll find plenty to read.
Cheers
Paul

mick61
10th September 2007, 01:28 AM
G`day do your self a favour and spend a couple of hundred more and get a midi lathe like a jet or woodfast it will give you a greater scope from pens too a bowl around 300mm save you a bit in the long run.
Mick:D

joe greiner
10th September 2007, 02:00 AM
There's an AAW chapter in Moorooduc Plains. Wrong location for your enquiry, but might not be so bad for only once a month. Our North Florida Woodturners club has members in Thomasville and Lake Seminole, GA - about half as far as you, according to my crude guess, as well as a few only slightly closer.

From here: https://www.woodturner.org/

Boink "AAW Local Chapters"
Then "Local Chapter List"
Then "Victoria"

Contacts might be able to advise something closer (non-AAW).

Joe

RETIRED
10th September 2007, 08:07 AM
Bit far to travel I think Joe.:wink: :D

Calm
10th September 2007, 08:53 AM
Robert welcome to the forum.

The Melbourne WWW show is coming up in October. That would be the best place to start before you spend any money.

Check out whats on offer

Talk to the learned gentlemen with forum hats on and put all the info you get tegether then make make your decsion.

Welcome again and good luck.

rsser
11th September 2007, 09:42 PM
Come to the mini-turnfest on Sunday Robert ... there'll be plenty of surplus brains to pick and Sean will have his treadmill powered lathe to show how you can turn on a budget ;-} ... you won't meet a nicer bunch of guys (excluding me ... I'll be the one in a frock).

See here for details: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=54407

Frank&Earnest
12th September 2007, 12:40 AM
you won't meet a nicer bunch of guys (excluding me ... I'll be the one in a frock).

See here for details: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=54407

This is quite a surprise...Australian humour or is it Ernesta?:U

joe greiner
12th September 2007, 02:18 AM
Bit far to travel I think Joe.:wink: :D

Yeah, I know, . Probably at least two hours each way. I posted it mostly for the contact info.

Google found a club in Sunbury. Might be closer.

Joe