Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 22
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default Advice on a lathe please

    Hi there, looking to try my hand at wood turning and spotted this for sale Wood lathe, with tools. | Power Tools | Gumtree Australia Stirling Area - Stirling | 1237167326

    I've been googling everything I can find on the subject and the Woodfast M305 seems to have a pretty good reputation, and this one is offered with what seems to be a pretty good selection of Sorby and Hamlet tools.

    Assuming that the lathe is operational and in good condition what do the doyens of woodturning here think? Is it worth me driving four hours up to Perth (and four back again) to have a look at it?

    Thanks in advance for any help on this.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Oberon, NSW
    Age
    63
    Posts
    13,354

    Default

    Here on the east coast, the lathe itself can be bought new for around that price and the tools individually for around $300-400. (They were probably bought cheaper, as sets.)

    I've no idea how shops are for you locally, but assuming that you'd have to buy here and ship over... would 8 hours of your time and fuel/running costs be more economical than freight?
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!! View Post
    Here on the east coast, the lathe itself can be bought new for around that price and the tools individually for around $300-400. (They were probably bought cheaper, as sets.)

    I've no idea how shops are for you locally, but assuming that you'd have to buy here and ship over... would 8 hours of your time and fuel/running costs be more economical than freight?

    OK, so maybe it's not great value for money, especially given the drive (and I REALLY don't like having to drive up and back to Perth), so maybe I can expand the question to include some other new options I've been looking at which would give me EVS and a reversing function.

    1) Hare and Forbes WL-14V @ $572.

    2) Nova Comet II (from Carbatec) @ $929

    These two represent the high and low price points I'd be prepared to pay given it's a first lathe, and of course I'd be needing some tools and probably a chuck after not too long. Is the Nova worth $350 more? Any other observations on these machines?

    Edit And then there's this Rikon 70-220VSR @ $999 315mm (12.5”) x 510mm (20”) Variable Speed MIDI Lathe 70-220VSR by Rikon - Beyond Tools

    So many choices, so much option anxiety.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Adelaide Hills, South Australia
    Posts
    4,311

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!! View Post
    Here on the east coast, the lathe itself can be bought new for around that price and the tools individually for around $300-400.
    Yes, the total if purchased new is about twice the asking price. That is about fair value, so not a rip-off or a bargain.

    Just looking at the photos, the lathe looks like it has been hardly used. Those little Woodfasts are very reliable.

    The issue with getting a bunch of tools included is that you end up with some tools that you will never or hardly ever use, so not as much value as you expect. There are also accessories that are missing, like chucks, faceplates, drivespurs and other toolrests that will have to be purchased at some stage.

    Welcome to the forum if you go ahead.
    Stay sharp and stay safe!

    Neil



  6. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Mandurah WA
    Age
    60
    Posts
    351

    Default

    I agree with Neil, the replacement price including stand and tools is twice that price.
    This is a solid reliable small lathe.
    The Rikon is a big step up from this or the Nova Comet which is underpowered and lightly built by comparison.
    Try contacting Woodturners of Denmark, they may know of lathes for sale in your area.
    You could try a wanted to buy ad on Gumtree in Albany region.

    Steve.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by stuffy View Post
    I agree with Neil, the replacement price including stand and tools is twice that price.
    This is a solid reliable small lathe.
    The Rikon is a big step up from this or the Nova Comet which is underpowered and lightly built by comparison.
    Try contacting Woodturners of Denmark, they may know of lathes for sale in your area.
    You could try a wanted to buy ad on Gumtree in Albany region.

    Steve.

    Thanks for the reply mate, I decided to pull the trigger on the Rikon. Prior to the original post I'd pretty much talked myself into a Midi lathe with EVS and reverse so it wasn't so hard for me to convince myself that I really, really deserved it, you know, for Christmas and all that, plus it's on special at the moment so if you think about it I'm really saving money by buying it.......

  8. #7
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Central Coast, NSW
    Posts
    3,330

    Default

    Good move. Obviously the Rikon doesn’t come with tools. I’d buy a small basic set of quality tools, but I find the tools kind of collect themselves. By the time you buy a few at the markets, get given a few by friends who have one lying about but no idea where it came from etc etc then you will probably find you will assemble more then you need fairly quickly.
    Apologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Arron View Post
    Good move. Obviously the Rikon doesn’t come with tools. I’d buy a small basic set of quality tools, but I find the tools kind of collect themselves. By the time you buy a few at the markets, get given a few by friends who have one lying about but no idea where it came from etc etc then you will probably find you will assemble more then you need fairly quickly.

    Cheers, I'm feeling pretty good about going for what seems like a solid piece of kit. Ordered these chisels from Carbatec Economy Turning Chisel Set - 6 pce | Wood Turning Chisel Sets - Carbatec . Probably best I learn to sharpen lathe chisels with an economy set rather than the premium stuff. Looking forward to making a mess, according to the freight tracking it should land down here on about Tuesday next week. I may not come up for air for some time after that, I'm on 20 acres and there's plenty of wood around here just waiting to be mangled by a rank novice like myself.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Caboolture, QLD, Aust
    Posts
    236

    Default

    Get yourself a basic bench grinder (8 inch of you can afford it but 6 works just as well), throw on an 80 grit wheel and get a decent tool rest, these don't have to cost a fortune. Have a look at Brian Havens and Cindy Drozda for excellent guides on how to sharpen your tools without a fancy (read "expensive") jig.

    Tool rests can be either hard to find or expensive. Here's one that I use and it's certainly cheap enough.

    Chisel Grinding Jig | Sharpening Jigs & Honing Guide - Carbatec

    Have fun!

    Redbeard

    Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

    Cheers
    Redbeard

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    Hi Biggus.
    Congrats on your new lathe. I started with a chisel set like that and like you say you will need to practice sharpening. The tool rest Readbeard linked works just fine.You really dont need to spend a fortune on sharpening. A wood version of that also works fine.
    I got a lot of good info from this site when I was starting out.
    Wood Turning Lathe tips, techniques, instruction
    Regards
    John

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Caboolture, QLD, Aust
    Posts
    236

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Redbeard View Post
    Get yourself a basic bench grinder (8 inch of you can afford it but 6 works just as well), throw on an 80 grit wheel and get a decent tool rest, these don't have to cost a fortune. Have a look at Brian Havens and Cindy Drozda for excellent guides on how to sharpen your tools without a fancy (read "expensive") jig.

    Tool rests can be either hard to find or expensive. Here's one that I use and it's certainly cheap enough.

    Chisel Grinding Jig | Sharpening Jigs & Honing Guide - Carbatec

    Have fun!

    Redbeard

    Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk
    Of course, I meant to say checkout Brian Havens and Cindy Drozda on YouTube for freehand sharpening tutorials and much, much, more. Plus Stuart Batty on YouTube and Vimeo (SB Tools on Vimeo).

    Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

    Cheers
    Redbeard

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Thanks for the tips, I have a very old Ryobi 6" grinder (looks 70s or 80s) that has one standard and one white wheel that I was given about six months ago and haven't even plugged in yet but if that works it should suffice for the moment once I've cleaned it up and dressed the wheels. Later on down the track we shall see if a more appropriate system becomes desirable if not strictly necessary.

    As for youtube it's my new God these days, every time I have to learn something I binge watch 'how to' videos for a couple of weeks. As often as not I come away thinking my tools are not even close to sharp enough. Paul Sellers comes to mind, the guy gets his tools so freakishly sharp I can only watch in amazement. I can spend days watching those guys.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Caboolture, QLD, Aust
    Posts
    236

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Biggus View Post
    Thanks for the tips, I have a very old Ryobi 6" grinder (looks 70s or 80s) that has one standard and one white wheel that I was given about six months ago and haven't even plugged in yet but if that works it should suffice for the moment once I've cleaned it up and dressed the wheels. Later on down the track we shall see if a more appropriate system becomes desirable if not strictly necessary.

    As for youtube it's my new God these days, every time I have to learn something I binge watch 'how to' videos for a couple of weeks. As often as not I come away thinking my tools are not even close to sharp enough. Paul Sellers comes to mind, the guy gets his tools so freakishly sharp I can only watch in amazement. I can spend days watching those guys.
    So long as the old grinder spins true and you've got the white wheel true as well you're good to go.

    Watch the YouTubers, you'll learn a lot, but then get out there and give it a go. Get yourself a good quality face shield and decent dust mask, because safety first. Start small, my first bowl was only three inches across. If something like that gets away from you, and you're not turning at a million miles an hour it's not going to hurt you. And if it does get away from you (and it will happen) it's far from the end of the world.

    If you can join a club I would. It depends on your availability, they're mostly run by retired guys, not working people. That said they're normally a wealth of knowledge just waiting to pass it on.

    And when you've done that bowl or vase or handle you think is pretty good, post some pics up here. Most of the folks here are gentle with the newbies.

    [emoji106]

    Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

    Cheers
    Redbeard

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Redbeard View Post
    So long as the old grinder spins true and you've got the white wheel true as well you're good to go.

    Watch the YouTubers, you'll learn a lot, but then get out there and give it a go. Get yourself a good quality face shield and decent dust mask, because safety first. Start small, my first bowl was only three inches across. If something like that gets away from you, and you're not turning at a million miles an hour it's not going to hurt you. And if it does get away from you (and it will happen) it's far from the end of the world.

    If you can join a club I would. It depends on your availability, they're mostly run by retired guys, not working people. That said they're normally a wealth of knowledge just waiting to pass it on.

    And when you've done that bowl or vase or handle you think is pretty good, post some pics up here. Most of the folks here are gentle with the newbies.

    [emoji106]

    Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk

    I don't know about wood turning clubs but there is the men's shed about 20 ks down the road, I'll have to drop in there for starters. First item on the list to make is a handle for the vise in the workbench that's materialising slowly in my new shed. I've got a heap of very soft pine lying around that I figure shouldn't be too scary to start with. I think we'll leave the Wandoo until I have half a clue, having seen what it does to my chainsaws.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Adelaide Hills, South Australia
    Posts
    4,311

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Biggus View Post
    I don't know about wood turning clubs...
    Not sure where you are on the Sunshine Coast, but the Blackall Range Woodworkers Guild up near Montville is a good club and has sessions on week days and on the weekend.
    Stay sharp and stay safe!

    Neil



Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. New lathe advice
    By Joey13 in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 18th August 2019, 10:38 AM
  2. looking for a new lathe, want some advice
    By MWF FEED in forum METALWORK FORUM
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 16th January 2018, 12:10 AM
  3. New lathe advice
    By adem in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 13th December 2016, 07:34 PM
  4. Advice for new lathe
    By adamthehandyman in forum WOODTURNING - GENERAL
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 10th February 2013, 10:07 PM
  5. New Lathe - need advice
    By Paul B in forum METALWORK FORUM
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 2nd February 2010, 06:44 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •