Thread: Jumping Into This Turning 'Thing' Everyone Talks About!

Will , welcome to the asylem

Your two chucks are for a metal lathe . You could sell or swap then for a woodlathe scroll chuck .

About the lathe itself , dunno , but somebody will

cheers ,
Jock

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

Your two chucks are for a metal lathe . You could sell or swap then for a woodlathe scroll chuck

Well that's handy isn't it! Shows how much i know...

Originally Posted by jackliveshere

Well that's handy isn't it! Shows how much i know...

Hey mate , don't beat yourself up about it .
The first dedicated wood lathe scroll chuck was only produced 21 years ago.

Some turners still use wood in the metal ones.


Post those two chuck photos in the metal turning forum and find out about them

Originally Posted by jackliveshere

So I got the lathe, a set of chisels which have never been used (look pretty cheap too), 2 x scroll chucks (i think that's what they are) one is well on it's way rusting and the other isn't too bad, also the little cheap clamp on tool rest for the disc sander on the other end - $125. I really don't know too much about lathe pricing - did i do ok?

The price sounds fair. They're the great-grandfathers of the GMC lathes... and are more robust & usable than a GMC. They're pretty restricted in some ways though.

If you get bitten by the turning bug, odds are good that you'll want to upgrade soonish. But that's OK. That one will make a great linisher! (Mine did, anyway! )

- do face-plates usually come with a new lathe (I know mine isn't new, just curious!) or do you have to buy them?

They usually come with a faceplate.

- I have a bench grinder that i can use for sharpening - can you get those aluminium oxide wheels for sharpening from Bunnings? If not, where's the best place to head to?

Yes.

http://www.cws.au.com/cgi/index.cgi/..._id=1107144917 is an alternative. (If you take up turning in a big way, get used to browsing Jim's site. )

- Can someone please point me in the direction of a simple homemade jig setup to aid in sharpening turning tools with the bench grinder?

http://www.cws.au.com/cgi/index.cgi/..._id=1107144916

I'm partial to the Tru-grind setup, but even the basic grinding platforms (about $50) can make life easier.

- are safety glasses ok to start with, or should i look into getting a full face shield?

A full face shield is better, but I only use safety glasses as I can't stand face shields fogging up.

However, you should be aware that if you're hit in the glasses by a large lump, the glasses tend to make a mess of the bridge of your nose... DAMHIKT.

I've been meaning to buy a wire-mesh brush-cutter sheld instead, just gotta get a round tuit.

Originally Posted by jackliveshere

Been looking to get into turning for a while now, but never really found a second hand lathe or had the money (or MRS approval) for a brand new one Anyway, found one in the paper this morning and thought I'd hit the bloke up about it. And before I knew I had a lathe at home

You too, eh? It's weird how you go out one day and accidentally come home with a lathe. Yours looks a little prettier than mine, but I paid about the same - only cranked mine up for the first time last week.

Yeah Juffy, it's funny how things just 'end' up in the ute sometimes! I'm looking forward to cranking it up tonight and giving it a go, been quite a while since I turned anything.

Cheers,

Will

Thanks for the reply Skew - so you reckon I'm better off just buying a simple jig to get me going sharpening then building something?

Now that I know I've got two metal work chucks, I'm interested to get everyone's opinions on scroll chucks. How much turning can I do and try out with out any face plates or wood chucks? What sort of money am I looking at for something half decent in the way of a chuck? They definitely seem like some serious dollars from the quick look I've just had. Hmmm....maybe better to keep an eye out for a second hand one?

Also, just having a browse through Carroll's Woodcraft supplies - man there is some gear there - I've noticed on the chucks that they say "choose an insert to go with your chuck". I'm guessing that is the insert which fits the thread of the lathe shaft? Seems like a lot of sizes to pick from there....how would I find out the particular details I need for mine?

Sorry for all the questions, but I figure that if I don't ask, I'll just take ages to get to the right answer and wood working related time is pretty scarce and precious these days! And everyone on this forum is very helpful too.

Cheers,

Will

Gooday Will
I had a similar lathe until just before Xmas when I bought a better one from Carbatec.
the biggest problem I had was trying to find accessories with the right tread to fit the drive spindle so you might be able to remove the jaws from one of those chucks an turn it into a faceplate, that will solve 1 problem at least.

All the best with it and remember its all about having fun.

Cheers Terry

Originally Posted by jackliveshere

Also, just having a browse through Carroll's Woodcraft supplies - man there is some gear there - I've noticed on the chucks that they say "choose an insert to go with your chuck". I'm guessing that is the insert which fits the thread of the lathe shaft? Seems like a lot of sizes to pick from there....how would I find out the particular details I need for mine?

Ask Tea Lady , shes' an expert ..... now

Re homemade gouge grinding jig here's one design with links to others:

http://www.harderwoods.com/gougejig.html

For most of your tools a quality flat platform in front of the grinder will do the job. Jim's site has one or two listed.

Originally Posted by jackliveshere

Now that I know I've got two metal work chucks, I'm interested to get everyone's opinions on scroll chucks. How much turning can I do and try out with out any face plates or wood chucks?

Personally I'd answer another question first - what do you WANT to turn? I get the impression a lot of these guys are bowl turners, which leads to the focus on chucks, jaws and whatnot. But if you want to turn spindles (legs etc) you could wander along quite happily with a simple spur drive. And playing with short spindles is a good way to learn basic tool use without a huge threat of things disintegrating across the room at mach 2.

I did the same thing with mine - "oh hey, I need a chuck!"...then realised that my lathe came with a simple spur drive and a small faceplate, and I might as well see how far they take me before lashing out hundreds on scroll chucks etc. If you want to use a chuck, do as Manuka suggested and use your metalwork ones. *shrug*

Yeah good points there Juffy. Definitely not going to outlay a couple of Benjamins just yet for a scroll chuck. I'm going to practice just with the spur drive just to get used to the things. But along the line, I definitely would like to turn bowls and the likes more so then spindle related items - even though there are plenty of things to turn with just a spur drive as you mentioned. Just read an article a little while ago about making your own face plates too, so might give that a shot as well initially.

Cheers,

Will

Welcome to turning Will,
Check out this site Wood turning lathe tips:techniques: woodturning instruction
A fair bit of info to get you strted.
Regards
John

Thanks for those links Ern & John - there is a sharpening jig that looks pretty straight forward on that Around The Woods site which I might have a shot at making. I figure that if I can get the sharpening going pretty well at the start it'll help in the long run and I won't get discouraged with blunt chisels

Cheers,

Will