Thread: Having a Go.

Steve

Very nice pens for a first effort. There is just so much to learn off this forum and everyone will help you out.

Ledacraft looks good on the website but I don't know anything about them. However, before you decide look at the Woodfast Midi lathe. Its a bit dearer but is a proven machine with the added advantage that you can bolt an extra bed (around $80) to it to make it a full length lathe. You can get them from Carbatec or from Woodfast direct. Carbatec has some nice gear but is very expensive to buy from. In the way of tools I would recommend the Woodchuck Pen Pro which does nearly everything. You really only need a small parting tool and a small gouge with it to make almost every pen to begin with. Also the Pen Pro does not need constant sharpening as the other tools do. Have a look at it at http://www.woodnworkshop.com.au/adva...8757a&x=6&y=13

If you decide on it then only order the R2 blades as the R4 are too big for pens.

Welcome to the craft. The fun begins

Thanks Plantagenon, that Woodchuck Pen Pro looks pretty cool. I like the idea as much as I hate sharpening tools.

As to Leda Machinery, I have a shed full of it, & I swear by all their gear. Leda started in Adelaide when non of the other better known companies wanted to set up shop here, possibly with the exception of Woodfast back in the days when they were made here in Adelaide. The After sales service is great, they are always competitive, & I have nothing but praise for this great South Aussie Company. (No Affiliation)

But as John pointed out with changing speeds, the MC 1018 does look like it could be a little difficult where as the Woodfast Midi looks like it would be a breeze. But then do I throw another $80 on top of the price of the woodfast & go for the Leda MC900. Lathes - Wood : LEDACRAFT MC-900 WOOD LATHE

I would have a lathe that is bigger, has a 3/4hp motor & a 310mm SD, & cost twice as much as the MC1018. I suppose its possible that I will want a bigger lathe one day, but I really feel it is unlikely.

This is getting confusing.

If I only want to turn Pens, is it likely that I will have to change the belt position once set?
Every thing I did with Cyril the other day was done at one speed.
Am I over looking something?

Sorry, but it seems the more I learn... the less I know.

Steve

At the moment if its affordable you will be much happier in the long run with the better machine ,Variable speeds are very convenient and yes you do need to change speeds on a regular basis ,slower speeds for sanding and CA finishing, when you get to that point of trying to get the best and most durable finishes in the future, and should you decide to do some further experimental turning in the future you will have plenty of capacity. With that style you simply move a lever with the spindle turning and increase or decrease your speedsto suit. I basically only do pens,but from time to time I also do 12" pepper grinders ,I can turn them on my woodfast,but have to drill them on an old metal lathe which is much bigger. Couple that with a pen pro carbide tip tool and you are away and running hehe. Other things will come along in time such as a mandrel saver,which basically is a hollow live centre that slides over your mandrel ,supporting it and replacing the screw that tightens the bushes onto the blank for turning . As you said ,the more we know, the more we know we don't know I have been doing pens around 5 years,and still finding new things and ways enjoy the addiction Cheers ~ John

Thanks John,

So, I guess the MC 900 is still not a lot of money.

I wonder if anyone knows the machine, It would be interesting to get a point of view.

Is it worth spending the extra $80 to get the Mc900, or should I get the Woodcraft. I think it is worth noting that I am able to get both of these machines within 1/2 an hour of my house. Naturally, I will go & have a look at them, but with my knowledge of Lathes, its almost a pointless exercise.

Steve

The conversation has moved on but I want to say well done on your first pens.

G'day Christos, you bump into all sorts of people over in this little corner of the forum, don't you.

Thanks for your encouragement mate.

Steve

Ticky I have the woodfast Midi and its quite good for pen turning ,but I moved up to that through a range of cheaper less able machines ,the belt change is very easy on this model the back plate is hinged so just drops down for easy access for belt changes . In saying that I still converted it to variable once I could afford it ,but I am a retired fitter and turner and have a fairly good turnover at the local markets ,consequently I have to work efficiently and quickly most times . I recently changed the headstock bearings took about 1 hour all up including going out to buy the bearings ( $22 dollars for 3 bearings )
I appreciate at this time you are largely guessing about your future turning ,but if you do get really involved you want to give yourself the best possible equipment you can in preparation for things to come . You probably have no real idea at this time what this addiction can lead to hehe, from casting your own pen blanks to making pens without kits ,after about 5 years and thousands of pens I am still finding new ways and variations ,and am still a long way from exhausting the possibilities . I suppose in a long winded way I am advising the Nova simply to allow plenty of wriggle room for the future cheers ~ John

Morning Mr T,

I have followed this thread with great interest so far.

The Leda machine (small one) would give you complete satisfaction I have been making pens for 20 plus yrs always fastest speed.Recentish yrs I succumbed to fitting a variable speed motor and control (I dont need it).

A mate of mine a Professional Turner in his day bought a small lathe head stock about the same size as the Leda he then turned his pulleys in timber,made a long bench and used it to turn up to four metre posts using only a skew chisel and matching the posts by eye, no need for sandpaper.

Now I note for 40.00 Leda make a bed extension takes the bed to one metre. any legs you may want to turn will fit if longer dead easy to join.

With regard to tools look up Woodworking Groups or Guilds in Adelaide and go there and have a look at their set ups speak to Penmakers I commend the tool mentioned but first up it could bite you they are not forgiving.

Wish I lived locally but real advantage in having a local firm making that lathe the larger one is like a teenager yet to get full strength and all over the place in size.

IMHO its easier to upsize then look further much later on.

Which lathe when you come to choose check your one with a dead centre fitted i the head stockand tail stock are they meeting point to point and when you plaqce a thin strong item such as a feeler guage as they the points come together you will be able to determine deflection up down or sideways this is important before purchase.

Please have success and look around a bit try to go to the Leda Factory and speak with quality control as well there.

Have fun mate we all try to and enjoy our pens.

I like your first ones and see you are addept and already have a seeing eye.

Kind Regards Peter.

First, great results for your first time, that mullberry looks like a lot of fun to work.
Second, I believe the Rikon lathe is sold there as WoodFast...for the money, you get a little bigger "mini" lathe than most, 1" higher swing over the bed than most, and it is about 2" longer, plus you can buy a 16" bed extension so table legs are not a problem.
It is a heavy, strudy, well designed tool, not fancy, but well built.
As for tools, if you can pony up the cash, the Pen Pro or the Easy Wood Tools chisels with the carbide insert are hands down the best for pen turning, both wood and acrylic, and I have done a chair leg with it, smooth as butter.
Beyone that, a good parting tool will come in handy also.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work here, enjoy the additiction...

Thanks John, I can see what you mean, & that seems to be the general feeling. It appears that when most people start turning, they tend to creep out of their comfort zones & try ever bigger & more technical projects. I am saying that wont happen, but then I used to say the only way to join 2 bits of wood together was to bang a nail in each & weld the heads together. Who knows what the future holds.

Peter. Thank you for your input. I think your right about the Leda mini lathe, I think it will turn pens wonderfully. That was good advice about checking the center. I will have to have a look at some next week. Went to Woodcraft today but they are shut... Bummer.

Ed, Thanks mate, yeh, that mulberry was a lot of fun to work with. The raw timber was quite light, bit yellow actually, but the polish brought it up nice.

I see what you mean about the Woodfast / Rikon. It appears to be the same machine. Maybe that's the way I should go.

While I am keen to go & just buy a lathe & get started, I think I will keep listening to what everybody here has to say, & just think about it for a short while longer.

Steve

Well, I have had the weekend to think about Lathes, & today, (Monday), I went down to Leda Machinery & had a look at the Mini lathe & the MC 900.

The Mini Lathe is OUT. I am leaning heavily toward the Leda MC 900. However, I am going to have a look at a couple of second hand Lathes tomorrow, & the Woodfast shop as well.

The MC 900 is a Variable speed, 3/4 hp Lathe with a Rotating Head. I believe
this lathe will be more than adequate for my needs, which will mainly be Pen Turning, & if I get adventurous, I might have a go at furniture legs, or Bowls, or something like that, but that is way off in the future.

Anyway, I think by tomorrow night, I will have made my decision. I think I already have, but I am gona look at these others tomorrow.


Steve

If you want to have a play on the woodfast midi 305 come over and have a play
The other thing the woodfast midi has 300mm on center the other larger lathe you looked at had on 310 mm not that much difference
As to changing the speed on my midi it takes seconds to do.
I turn my pens on 2300rpm or above, sand & apply ca finish on under 600rpm so I don't wear out the sand paper. I then polish over 2300 rpm
When I upgrade to a lager lathe I will still be keeping my midi
Regards Michael

Since talking to Gawdelpus I have slowed my lathe to 1000rpm to turn the blanks and its working out a lot better. I have no luck sanding at a slow speed so I am sanding at 1000rpm as well and it seems to be working out. Applying CA is at the slowest speed otherwise it is flung all around the shed.

Originally Posted by coffenup

If you want to have a play on the woodfast midi 305 come over and have a play

Regards Michael

Hey Michael,

Thank you for your generous offer. I went to woodfast this morn & had a look at the WF Midi, & it's a nice machine.

I am now almost certain I will get the Leda 900, I have bought nearly all my gear from them & they look after me pretty well, so the difference between the midi & the Leda 900 is quite small.

Maybe I might still come up & have a look at you workshop, & learn a bit more about pen turning as I have only had one go at it.

Could you pm me your contact details some time, if you don't mind. I am at North Haven, so only 30 - 40 mins away.


Steve