Thread: Advice on a lathe please

Originally Posted by Biggus

Not on the Sunshine Coast mate, I'm in the South West of WA. If I drive about 75 kms south and don't apply the brakes in a timely manner I'm in the Southern Ocean and it's clear all the way to Antarctica.

Apologies, Biggus... I was way off there!!! Another senior moment ... probably not helped by having had yet another long day and evening yesterday closely monitoring the nearby fires up here in the Adelaide Hills.

In my experience, there is little woodturning expertise in local Men's Sheds.

So, it looks like it is going to be YouTube for you and maybe some DVDs.

Stuart Batty's excellent Vimeo series is/was free and a very good starting point, although some of us are not dedicated adherents to his grinding profiles and turning techniques SB Tools on Vimeo

I suggest you also consider buying at least some of Glenn Lucas' DVDs (eg. No.1, 2 & 3) to get some different perspective to that of Stuart Batty.

DVDs and Downloads – Glenn Lucas Master Woodturner

And, of course, anything from Richard Raffan is recommended. His books do come up on special or secondhand from time to time.

Originally Posted by NeilS

Apologies, Biggus... I was way off there!!! Another senior moment ... probably not helped by having had yet another long day and evening yesterday closely monitoring the nearby fires up here in the Adelaide Hills.

In my experience, there is little woodturning expertise in local Men's Sheds.

So, it looks like it is going to be YouTube for you and maybe some DVDs.

Stuart Batty's excellent Vimeo series is/was free and a very good starting point, although some of us are not dedicated adherents to his grinding profiles and turning techniques SB Tools on Vimeo

I suggest you also consider buying at least some of Glenn Lucas' DVDs (eg. No.1, 2 & 3) to get some different perspective to that of Stuart Batty.

DVDs and Downloads – Glenn Lucas Master Woodturner

And, of course, anything from Richard Raffan is recommended. His books do come up on special or secondhand from time to time.

Good luck with the fires mate, we've had the Stirling Ranges (about 13km from me at the closest) go up twice in about the last month, both lightning strikes which I guess makes it better than some idiot firestarter. The second one started on Boxing Day and went on for about a week. Seems the whole country is on fire.

Hey Biggus, perhaps you could have a chat with the folk at WA Woodturners Association. They have a chapter at Manjimup, which isn't exactly close but it's not Perth either. Of course they might press you into service to visit Djarilmari for them!

Rikon gear is quite good for the money you pay. I’ve got a couple of their machines and can’t fault them at all, good luck.

Originally Posted by djeddy

Hey Biggus, perhaps you could have a chat with the folk at WA Woodturners Association. They have a chapter at Manjimup, which isn't exactly close but it's not Perth either. Of course they might press you into service to visit Djarilmari for them!

Yes I spotted that mate, will have to head over that way some time.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

Rikon gear is quite good for the money you pay. I’ve got a couple of their machines and can’t fault them at all, good luck.

First off I'm a complete lathe newbie so I can't offer any specific comments on it as a lathe, but the fit and finish are really very good for what is still a very affordable piece of kit, far in excess of stuff I have by either Hare and Forbes or Carbatec brands. Early days yet and I'm still very much fiddling around trying to get a feel for each of the chisels and how to use them but I'm finding it all pretty intuitive, just spindle practice at the moment but I also picked up a Nova G3 chuck so will have to have a crack at a bowl at some time. It's quite an experience this woodturning, like taking a shower in wood shavings. I guess with experience I learn where and where not to stand when I'm addressing a piece, but it's still good clean fun anyway. Cheers!