Dustin Lorenz
08-26-2009, 8:53 AM
I recently purchased my first lathe! I am the kind of guy that can't do things small and simple though, so I bought a 12 x 38 2hp lathe. Now I know you guys probably want to know what kind it is, but you have to remember it is my first one and I wanted a larger one to suit my larger projects I like to try without spending a whole lot in case I didn't care for it. So I bought a craftsman but for only 75.00 with a dozen tools I didn't think I could beat it. It seems to do a pretty good job it is not one of the old antiques, but what I believe was the last large lathe they sold. I am sure some of you guys know which one I mean I think it was also built under another name I can't remember. I have converted my dad's garage into my shop because he does not use it, and the first day I got the lathe I had to try it out. I grabbed a piece of 6"x6"x24" oak block and started turning. I really didn't have any thing in mind to make the piece into just wanted to turn. Well the shavings started flying and I was having a blast. A while later my dad came in and there I was standing in a huge pile of shavings grinning from ear to ear. He looked at me and said so what did you make. I stepped to the side and said well can't you see my new 1" dowel! :D Anyways as you have read I love it now, I have done a lot of metal maching work that turned out beautifully, but I can just tell there will be a lot more self satisfaction with wood turning.
I did have a couple of questions about my lathe though. I have not taken a look under the motor cover yet, but I am assuming(I know u & me :rolleyes:) that this lathe is not variable frequency but rather voltage. I did stop it a couple times in the begining, but the tools I got with it were pretty dull and I have not purchased a sharpening setup yet. Any insight on what I should get? The guy had used it to make two vases and then he gave up on it. He said it was to tedious and not his cup of tee. I also have to turn the speed all the way down to get the lathe to restart if I should happen to switch it off rather than turning it all the way down which also does turn it off.
I did have a couple of questions about my lathe though. I have not taken a look under the motor cover yet, but I am assuming(I know u & me :rolleyes:) that this lathe is not variable frequency but rather voltage. I did stop it a couple times in the begining, but the tools I got with it were pretty dull and I have not purchased a sharpening setup yet. Any insight on what I should get? The guy had used it to make two vases and then he gave up on it. He said it was to tedious and not his cup of tee. I also have to turn the speed all the way down to get the lathe to restart if I should happen to switch it off rather than turning it all the way down which also does turn it off.