Thread: Advice for a first lathe

Hi Lithro, Whilst reading you post I can see you have several areas that you should address, MY advise would be to join a Woodturning Club where the members are willing to teach, advise or show you the different aspects of turning and what is required. There are several Clubs in Sydney area you can contact or visit,
Good luck

CHUCKY

Thanks mate, after having a bit of a hunt the western sydney turners seem to a good call. Hopefully i dont lose an eye trying to fiddle about before then.

People use bench grinders for sharpening for a reason. Like with all woodworking, having sharp tools helps a lot, and its commonplace to be sharpening each tool several times in a turn session, depending on how dense the wood is. Doing that with stones would be tedious to say the least.

Given all that you have said, joining a club is a must I think. But the up side is that the wood turning community is very helpful to all and sundry. Also there could be an opportunity to get tools and accessories at a good price, as many times members offer the odd tool thats not used to the newbies at mates rates.
Sharpen, yup you will need a grinder and a jig to accurately sharpen your tools, plus instructions etc, and if you dont have a bandsaw as yet, put that on the list to.
Miniature tool set, probably isn't ideal, but then it does depend what you want to turn. Plus given that the lathe is small so it wont be a hassle at this stage. Just go with what you have and makle the best of it, experience will indicate over time whats required.
As a matter of interest the lathe cost is always the smallest cost over time even if you spend a great deal more than the 1500. The only difference is its done over time and so less noticeable.

At this stage its all about getting good help and developing your experience safely, lathes can be dangerous when the operator is unfamiliar with them.

Thanks for the replies, picking up a bench grinder and jig this weekend.
The current question that is bothering me: Is there an large difference between the cutting style or use of different guages? Is it a mortal sin to hollow something with a spindle or part with a skew?
Thanks guys again, any words are encouraging and helpful.

Originally Posted by lithro

Is it a mortal sin to hollow something with a spindle or part with a skew?

Yes. It may be mortal as it is unsafe.
A spindle gouge doesn't have the support under the flute to project far from the rest.
A skew tapers from the point and will bind and grab in the parting. There are reasons why we have the different tools and can't have a one tool does all.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

Yes. It may be mortal as it is unsafe.
A spindle gouge doesn't have the support under the flute to project far from the rest.
A skew tapers from the point and will bind and grab in the parting. There are reasons why we have the different tools and can't have a one tool does all.

Follow this advice as if your life depends on it.

Originally Posted by lithro

Thanks for the replies, picking up a bench grinder and jig this weekend.
The current question that is bothering me: Is there an large difference between the cutting style or use of different guages? Is it a mortal sin to hollow something with a spindle or part with a skew?
Thanks guys again, any words are encouraging and helpful.

Hollow with bowl gouges
Make legs etc with spindle gouges
Use skews on spindles

Join a club asap as your asking questions that indicate you need some basic training on the tools etc. In many instances using these tools in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose will draw blood, yours! At a minimum.

Hi once again Lithro, As I mentioned earlier go and join a club ASAP before you dig yourself into a hole, or even injure yourself. You have purchased a lathe and mini chisels which is only the start of woodturning. but like a baby you have to crawl before you can walk, go and join the club you mentioned earlier ask as many questions and be shown and taught the basics and all the different aspects involved with wood turning. As a past president of a club I can say there is a wealth of knowledge ect. with in the club you will not find in books or on the internet.

I dont know what happened to my last post, but the long and short is i have shot an email to them. Hoping to organise a beginner's class. Thanks for the concern and advice.

Originally Posted by chucky

Hi once again Lithro, As I mentioned earlier go and join a club ASAP before you dig yourself into a hole, or even injure yourself. You have purchased a lathe and mini chisels which is only the start of woodturning. but like a baby you have to crawl before you can walk, go and join the club you mentioned earlier ask as many questions and be shown and taught the basics and all the different aspects involved with wood turning. As a past president of a club I can say there is a wealth of knowledge ect. with in the club you will not find in books or on the internet.

. club will really help him
I think its your 2nd warning.. and I agree with you

The questions you have posted are quite varied. I would also suggest that joining a wood turning club. Before I started turning I was fortunate enough to get basic tool usage from one of the forum members. I also joined the Eastern Wood Turners which are part of the Sydney Wood Turners Guild. There are a number of affiliated clubs around Sydney.

Personally I think Youtube is a lovely resource for creativity and when people share their projects. The concern I have is when I watch a video and I see something that is risky. Then a new turners comes to the hobby and experiences something not expected.

This is just my personal thoughts and not a very good example. I don't like hot melt glue to hold a piece on the lathe. Two reasons for this, in order to get a good bond between the pieces the glue gun has to be really hot and once they are put together you can not move them until they set.

Getting hold of wood for turning can be easy, yes i did say easy. Keep your eyes out for garbage collection days, tree being cut on someones land for what ever reason or even looking at the market section of this forum for species that are not available in your area.

Originally Posted by chucky

Hi once again Lithro, As I mentioned earlier go and join a club ASAP before you dig yourself into a hole, or even injure yourself. You have purchased a lathe and mini chisels which is only the start of woodturning. but like a baby you have to crawl before you can walk, go and join the club you mentioned earlier ask as many questions and be shown and taught the basics and all the different aspects involved with wood turning. As a past president of a club I can say there is a wealth of knowledge ect. with in the club you will not find in books or on the internet.

It is also much easier to learn which tools are appropriate for the task, and how to use them safely first off. Much more difficult, to unlearn bad habits, then start again learning correct technique.

Originally Posted by Mobyturns

It is also much easier to learn which tools are appropriate for the task, and how to use them safely first off. Much more difficult, to unlearn bad habits, then start again learning correct technique.

Absolutely