Thread: First lathe

Can't comment on quality of build between the two, but variable speed is a definite advantage.

Buy new and you can concentrate on turning and not the equipment. You can get a reasonable capacity mini with electronic variable speed and a scroll chuck (deffinitely needed to give you versatility in work holding) delivered for around a grand.

A lot of turners started with a lathe similar to the 900 which gives you a good initial range of options. The variable speed is a 'reeve' drive, which works on a paired set of spring-loaded cone pulleys to achieve the speed change. It is quite good once you get the basic principles sorted out. In the long term they often have maintenance issues, but this is more an issue for second-hand buyers I think. By the time these issues emerge with a new machine you will have likely upgraded to a better machine or lost interest in turning.

The things to look at with lathes include:

* the motor - 3/4 hp is probably a minimum for general turning and the 1/2 could be limiting for some projects.
* the spindle thread - both have 30mm thread which is becoming standard on larger lathes.
* the distance between centres limits the size of the projects you can do. You rarely need to go over the capacity of the 900 (840mm ), but the 440 on the midi is getting to the small side (which is why it is called a midi).
* the swing (swing over bed) limits the diameter of projects. The 900 has a swivel head that is an option for larger projects - rarely used though I suspect. There is not a lot of difference in swing between the two. The midi could technically handle a 520mm bowl blank (with no clearance) and the 900 a 600 mm blank, but both would struggle with power for a bowl of that size.
* Both lathes have an m2 taper which is the common standard.

Make sure that any supplied tools are not the old-style carbon steel. You want HSS (high speed steel) - or they may offer a carbide tool package (unlikely I think) which would be OK too.

Bruce

what was attractive about these 2 was that being second hand, i could dip my feet in the water of turning and see if i got hooked.... the chisels with the midi look better (the set for 189 from carby) - whereas the 900 model just says HSS chisels. both look like they have the 5 main shapes (like i even know what those are)..
what would be a fair 2nd hand price for an old model 900? assuming no flaws (and what would you look for in case of them?)

i could push to a grand and buy new, but it would limit other projects that i have on the go

I would suggest you have a look at Hare and Forbes (Hafco) for another variant on machinery available. They are in Melbourne (Dandenong) and their products are reasonable.

Their midi is an electronic variable speed, which if you decide you don't like turning will certainly help move a sale greatly. It has greater capacity, slightly lower minimum speed, which helps with heavier or out of balance timber. There is an extension bed for a modest sum which gives you great length for spindle work, think table legs.

It has two tool rests, 150mm and 300mm which will be handy for different sized work, not a requirement, but certainly handy.

Hafco also have a variation on the starter kit, which is cheaper than the Carbatec version. It is HSS material and I know it is of reasonable quality as I picked up a set around 12 years or more ago and still use four of the chisels regularly.

You don't need a chuck, but trust me it certainly makes life easier for some things. the cheaper chucks may have a limited range of jaw sets available. Standard will be 50mm jaw set of close to that. The cheaper chucks are alright, the more expensive brands have a dizzying array of jaw sets for specialised gripping and different sizes. But that is down the track.

You will need to be able to sharpen your chisels, if you have a 200mm bench grinder, you are halfway there. There are squillions of ways to sharpen turning chisels, you just need to get one way to keep your chisels sharp. If you take shavings from your timber, you are using sharp chisels, if you take sawdust from your timber, your chisels are blunt.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Print?Code=W385

W302 - WT-6 HSS Wood Turning Tools - 6 Piece Set | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse

Mick.

Originally Posted by Optimark

...if you have a 200mm bench grinder, you are halfway there.

But if you only have a 150mm bench grinder, that will do for now.

i actually do not own a bench grinder at all.... my minimal sharpening to this point has consisted of work on diamond stones.... i have been ok, but not 'sharp'

It is definitely possible to sharpen turning gouges by hand; I observed a member of my turning club do just that over a period of about three years. Essentially he had the shape he desired, then at suitable intervals he would run either a small stone or a credit card sized plastic thing with fine diamonds on one side. Basically he re-sharpened by swiping the stone/card over the desired area much like a snooker player chalks their cue tip.

Mick.

hmmm - looking at the hare and forbes website - they have the 900mm version of the midi on sale at 649 at the mo... W382 - WL-18 Swivel Head Wood Lathe | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse - for 50 bucks i assume its worth getting the longer bed than the midi

how long is the likely lifespan of one of these units (piece of string?) 3yrs? 10? 650 plus 110 for chisels is still coming up at 760 all in... more than i prefer to spend, but if its something that is measurably better than what i listed earlier, i would probably go for it (christmas present to myself) but if not then would save the cash to buy timber and continue building stuff

Originally Posted by Hangfire

...would save the cash to buy timber

Few of us buy wood for turning...

Have lathe, wood will come!

you guys got me looking at hare and forbes....

now i am giving serious thought to this - K021 - WL-20 Swivel Head Wood Lathe & Tooling Package Deal | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse

1100mm
variable speed
and it comes with accessories

my question there is are they the ones that people usually need?

i am hoping to get into this and some chopping boards etc over the christmas break....

To put your toe in the water.....have you thought of asking a wood turner from this Forum and is handy to your address, to give you a "play" with his set up and take you through what can be done with a wood lathe. By doing a hands on appraisal you will find quickly if the activity for you.
Its just a thought.

i contacted the local mens sheds a while back and didnt get much of a positive vibe... and i tend to get time poor - snatching an hour here and there in between the family time to get some r+r in the garage making something....
i live out in the eastern suburbs of melbourne

That complete starter kit you referred to, would be a suitable complete starting kit if you have nothing. Keeping the gouges sharp is the only thing missing, but we've discussed that already....

You will also require some face protection and you will really need to figure out how to keep damaging dust away from your lungs.

The chisels in the kit look to be a better balanced kit than the smaller one you were originally looking at. The handles are a bit on the short side at 230mm, but with minimal experience you could re-handle them with longer handles you turn up yourself.

Mick.