JC

"Joe C"

23/01/2004 1:08 AM

Lathe purchase advice

So, SWMBO's and my 10th anniversary coming up. Not wanting to screw this up
too badly, I go make the obligatory jewelry purchase, get the card and am
good to go. Now just waiting for the date.

We're talking the other night and she says she wants me to start looking for
my gift since there's no way she can pick it out. This sort of statement is
always a good sign and more often than not precedes a tool purchase.

I am not disappointed.

Now, however, I need to start shopping around for a lathe. Any advice would
be appreciated on your experiences, good or bad, with particular brands,
etc.... I'm looking for enough capacity to turn table legs as well as the
occasional small bowl.

Oh, and a neener in advance.

Joe


This topic has 8 replies

ka

"kb8qlr \(a.k.a. Mr. Cheap\)"

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

22/01/2004 8:51 PM

Or you could just build one. I did. Check it out on my workshop page...
http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/kb8qlrjoe/page5.html






--
Be sure to check-out our webpages...
http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/kb8qlrjoe/index.html
New pictures & links being added frequently.

Sd

Silvan

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

24/01/2004 12:06 AM

[email protected] wrote:

> Start collecting fresh cut wood and sealing the ends with anchorseal.
> You do realize this is as bad as plane collecting, right?

Depends on what kind of planes you collect. I know a guy with a whole bunch
of WWII planes that are pretty damn expensive to maintain. Especially the
B17.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

Bn

Bridger

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

23/01/2004 1:30 AM

On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 01:08:36 GMT, "Joe C" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>So, SWMBO's and my 10th anniversary coming up. Not wanting to screw this up
>too badly, I go make the obligatory jewelry purchase, get the card and am
>good to go. Now just waiting for the date.
>
>We're talking the other night and she says she wants me to start looking for
>my gift since there's no way she can pick it out. This sort of statement is
>always a good sign and more often than not precedes a tool purchase.
>
>I am not disappointed.
>
>Now, however, I need to start shopping around for a lathe. Any advice would
>be appreciated on your experiences, good or bad, with particular brands,
>etc.... I'm looking for enough capacity to turn table legs as well as the
>occasional small bowl.
>
>Oh, and a neener in advance.
>
>Joe
>



I recommend south bend.

d

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

23/01/2004 1:39 AM

Joe C wrote:
> Now, however, I need to start shopping around for a lathe. Any advice would
> be appreciated on your experiences, good or bad, with particular brands,
> etc.... I'm looking for enough capacity to turn table legs as well as the
> occasional small bowl.
> Oh, and a neener in advance.

rec.crafts.woodturning
You'll need to know what your price limits are and remember that tools
will cost you several hundred dollars unless you buy HF's $40 set.
Start collecting fresh cut wood and sealing the ends with anchorseal.
You do realize this is as bad as plane collecting, right?
Dave in Fairfax
--
reply-to doesn't work
use:
daveldr at att dot net
American Association of Woodturners
http://www.woodturner.org
Capital Area Woodturners
http://www.capwoodturners.org/

Sd

Silvan

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

24/01/2004 12:07 AM

D. Martin wrote:

> for a lathe. Spend the extra saved money on good quality wood turning
> chisels. (Not sure if its chisels or knives) Mixed up with my french
> sorry.

FWIW, I avoid the awkwardness by calling them "turning tools."

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

tT

[email protected] (Tom Bergman)

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

24/01/2004 6:59 AM

Well, I have the Nova 3000k. Had I known how much I'd enjoy the lathe
and could go back in time, I'd probably have sprung for the Nova DVR
or the steel bed Delta. Both of those are in the $1600 range (USD).
I paid about $850 (USD) plus got a free Nova chuck and the usual
doo-dads the lathe comes with.

The Nova 3000k is a nice lathe, I've since extended the bed (a nice
fixture) and have 43" between centers (built the stand planning on
this). It has a 1HP Leeson motor, the lowest speed is 214 rpm (in US,
60Hz) which I was willing to shell out the extra money for over the
500 rpm lathes that are a bit cheaper. It also has a larger spindle
(thus stiffer) than the lower priced lathes out there. Everything was
lined up and ready, the bed is well-machined, no discernable vibration
(unless an unbalanced chunk is on of course), etc.

It would be nice, however, to have true variable speed like the DVR &
steel bed Delta. The biggest chunk I've loaded up was about 14"
diameter, wet, probably weighed around 35-40#. Even at 200 rpm that's
a pretty exciting piece of wood to make round. Once it's round of
course things get easier.

In my dreams I own a Stubby, but I doubt I'll ever get there since I
haven't pushed the Nova anywhere close to the limits, and I could
convert it to a DVR or add variable speed DC or AC for considerably
less money.

DM

D. Martin

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

22/01/2004 9:55 PM


I have owned a Rockwell/Beaver for 25 years and I'm very satisfied
with it. If you can find a used one that would be my recommendation
for a lathe. Spend the extra saved money on good quality wood turning
chisels. (Not sure if its chisels or knives) Mixed up with my french
sorry.

Daniel



On Fri, 23 Jan 2004 01:08:36 GMT, "Joe C" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>So, SWMBO's and my 10th anniversary coming up. Not wanting to screw this up
>too badly, I go make the obligatory jewelry purchase, get the card and am
>good to go. Now just waiting for the date.
>
>We're talking the other night and she says she wants me to start looking for
>my gift since there's no way she can pick it out. This sort of statement is
>always a good sign and more often than not precedes a tool purchase.
>
>I am not disappointed.
>
>Now, however, I need to start shopping around for a lathe. Any advice would
>be appreciated on your experiences, good or bad, with particular brands,
>etc.... I'm looking for enough capacity to turn table legs as well as the
>occasional small bowl.
>
>Oh, and a neener in advance.
>
>Joe
>

Sd

Silvan

in reply to "Joe C" on 23/01/2004 1:08 AM

24/01/2004 12:03 AM

Joe C wrote:

> So, SWMBO's and my 10th anniversary coming up. Not wanting to screw this
> up too badly, I go make the obligatory jewelry purchase, get the card and

> Oh, and a neener in advance.

You suck. I just went through this with SWMBO (also our 10th...
congratulations, we're both statistical anomonlies in this age of two-year
marriages). I got her some diamond-encrusted anniversary ring thingie, and
what did I get in return? A DVD. Whooee.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/


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