How to get started...

[Mark Beall]

If there is a good recent post that answers this question (I did try to find one) please just point me at it.

I have a few ideas in mind that would require having a lathe and a clue on what to do with it :) Plus, some of the things I've seen in this forum are really just very cool, so I'd like to try this out.

So the really fundamental questions are (please feel free to answer fundamental questions that I don't know enough to ask):
1) what lathe should I buy?
2) what other tools should I buy to start?
3) what safety things should I know?

A pointer to a good book or two (presumably covering items 2 and 3) would be very appreciated.

The things I have in mind aren't very large - bigger than pens, although I'd like to do a few of those since I'm very impressed with what I've seen here - a salad bowl would be about as big as I'm thinking at this point.

Since someone will, reasonably, ask: Assume my budget for starting out is $1000 although a little more would be ok (less is also good).

Thanks,

mark

[ROY DICK]

Mark,
How big of a salad bowl are you thinking to turn and how much money are you willing to spend for : lathe, tools, sharpening system etc.?
It gets deep really fast but worth every cent. IMHO.

Roy

[Mark Hix]

Mark, if I was going to start over, I would locate a local turning clubk, attend a meeting, talk to the turners and ask questions. You will find most are eager to introduce another turner to the fold. Most have some kind of instructional program to help you get started, maybe even try out a couple of different lathes. Nothing better than hands on. There are hundreds of books and videos out there but being with someone in person is usually better.

It is fairly easy to get started and you can easily get the basic equipment for under $1k....it gets over that fairly easily too! There are basic starter sets of tools to get you going and you need some way to sharpen.

It sounds like you have an idea what you want to turn...don't be surprised if it takes off in several directions.

[Mark Beall]

OK, salad bowl might be a bit vague. Let's say that for now, I just would want to turn small, individual, salad bowls - 6" or so. If I decide I really like this turning thing, I'm ok with buying a bigger lathe later.

Also assume I have what I need to sharpen tools (not sure if this is completely true for turning tools, but let's assume this).

mark

[Mark Beall]

Mark, if I was going to start over, I would locate a local turning clubk, attend a meeting, talk to the turners and ask questions.

That sounds like a good idea. I'm not really sure how to find one around me (I'm near Albany, NY), anyone know of one in the area?

mark

[Billy Tallant]

Mark,

I started out last November with the same problem. I wanted to turn pens, maybe a few other items down the road. I started reading all of the pen turning forums I could find. Wonderful information can be found just reading all of the posts & articles...

I started out looking at new lathes from PSI, Rocklers, Woodcrafts... Luckily I found a Jet 1014 with extension plus legs on craigslist. Came with set of turning tools & ended up buying dust collection system from the fellow along with the Jet lathe. Went to Woodcrafts & bought pen mandrel, pen kits, blanks, & bushings. As time went on, just started adding to my collection. Ended up buying a Jet floorstand drill along the way. I've since picked up a couple of bandsaws that I use.

Read a couple of books to get the general idea. Ask questions on here. People are wonderful on Sawmill. They will answer your questions or point you in the right direction. The hobby is also very rewarding. It's great to turn something & say I created that from scratch. Financially you will be spending money along the way.

My initial cost to get started was $370 for lathe & dust collection system. Another $125-150 on pen supplies.

I would eventually like to upgrade to a larger lathe. But I would not get rid of my Jet 1014. Probably use it for a 3 wheel Beall Buffing setup.

So price outlay is really up to how much you want to pay at the start. Spend a little or spend a lot...Doesn't matter, you will be spending more & more on this hobby!

Tools: Lathe (hard to say, everyone has their personal opinion), HSS tools (they make smaller pen turning sets, I use full size tools), dust masks or powered respirator (keeps my safety glasses from fogging up), safety glasses/goggles, face shield, chuck to hold bowl blanks (several on the market, research/ask questions, then decide which one), adustable pen mandrell, pen kits, bushings, & blanks...

If you can find a Rockler or Woodcraft store in your area, go to it. They can show/sell you everything you need. They also do pen turning demo's occasionally on the weekends. Woodcrafts store usually have beginner pen making classes that you can attend. Good way to get your feet wet...

Sorry for being long winded....

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Mark,

There are several turners here at the Creek from your area. As advised, joining a club and attending some meetings would be beneficial. Turners by nature are a generous group. I got into a teasing match with the idiot turners here. At the time I didn't turn. They got their revenge by taking up a collection and sending me a Jet VS Mini, tools and wood. 18 months later I had spent several thousands of dollars of my own money and doggone if they hadn't gotten even with me. I have since bought a bigger and better lathe and passed the one they gave me on to a new turner.

Books "Woodturning - A Foundation Course- by Keith Rowley. An excellent book intended for the beginner with great explanations on why and how and well illustrated too.

Any of the videos by Richard Raffan.

Bill Grumbine's video "Turned Bowls Made Easy".

I'm sure some Creeker from your area will jump in soon. We like company!

[Kenneth Whiting]

If you type "Albany, NY woodturner club" in your favorite search engine you will find a long list of clubs in your area.

As far as equip. I just got started last week with a lathe and starter set of tools from harbor freight (about $270 and $45). You will need a 6 or 8 inch grinder (although I am using a disk sander I already have, it works but not ideal), and a jig so you get the same grind every time (most people like the Wolverine model). For bowls you will need a self centering chuck, they range from $90 to about $300 I think. Oh yeah, most starter sets I've seen don't come with a bowl gouge, they range from $20 at Sears to as high as you want to go, it looks like.

I (along with about 20 other people:D) would suggest watching Bill Grumbines' "Turned Bowls Made Easy." I also suggest watching "Pen Turning with Barry Gross"

I know I am leaving a lot of stuff out, but like I said I just started, I'm sure some other generous folks on here will be more than happy to help you find ways to spend that $1000 starting fund.

[Gordon Seto]

That sounds like a good idea. I'm not really sure how to find one around me (I'm near Albany, NY), anyone know of one in the area?

mark
Actually that is an excellent idea.
http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/LocalChapters.asp

Local Chapter Name - (Meeting City/State/Country)

Adirondack Woodturners Association ( Ballston Spa, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.adirondackwoodturners.org (http://www.adirondackwoodturners.org/)
Central New York Woodturners ( Syracuse, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.cnywoodturners.org (http://www.cnywoodturners.org/)
Chips Ahoy ( NY  )
Finger Lakes Wood Turners ( Henrietta, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.fingerlakeswoodturners.com/
Genesee Valley Woodturners Guild (  )
Web Site: thegvwg.com (http://www.thegvwg.com/)
Hudson Valley Woodturners ( New City, NY  )
Kaatskill Woodturners Association ( Hurley, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.midhudsonwoodworkers.org (http://www.midhudsonwoodworkers.org/)
Lockport Woodworkers ( Lockport, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.lockportwoodworkers.com/newsitewww.lockportwoodworkers.com
Long Island Woodturners Association ( NY  )
Web Site: http://www.liwoodturners.org/
Mohawk Valley Woodturners ( Dolgeville, NY  )
Pembroke Woodturners Guild ( Corfu, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.pembrokewoodturnersguild.com (http://www.pembrokewoodturnersguild.com/)
SPA Woodturning Artists' Guild ( Ballston Spa, NY  )
Thousand Islands Woodturners ( LaFargeville, NY  )
Western New York Woodturners ( Cheektowaga, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.wnywoodturners.com (http://www.wnywoodturners.com/)
Western New York Woodturners II ( Hamburg, NY  )
Web Site: http://www.wnywoodturners.com (http://www.wnywoodturners.com/)

[David E Keller]

My two cents...

I started with a Rikon midi and a woodriver set of pen turning tools. Probably out $350 for that setup. Pen mandrel, pen kits, blanks, CA glue, and a bottle of friction polish maybe another $100. That led to bottle stoppers and lidded boxes. A few small bowls followed...

Just ordered a PM 3520b, have not spent a small fortune on chucks, jaws, better gouges and scrapers. Now find myself looking at every tree and wood pile as a potential turning. I'm practically stalking local tree trimmers. In other words, full blown turning addiction.

In retrospect, I could have just bought the big lathe and nice tools from the beginning, but I didn't know that I would enjoy it this much. I heartily agree with the suggestion to find a local woodturning club and play around a bit before you buy much of anything. If you start to shows signs of addiction, buy the best tools you can afford from the beginning and you'll not regret it.

Have fun.

[Michael Mills]

Hi,
Fairly new turner myself. The attached link gives a lot of "food for thought" starting out. http://www.nealaddy.org/node/39 (http://www.nealaddy.org/node/39) In the left hand panel of the page Neal also list "Wood Lathe Specifications" which give basic spec.’s and prices on a variety of lathes.
For the lathe…
Is the spindle of a size to allow you to use your chuck with a larger lathe later?
Is belt drive OK (mine is) or are you willing to spring for more for an EVS?
I would go with a 12" swing even though it may be more than you need for now.
HP sufficient for larger (10-12") turnings?
And many more questions of course….
Dust Collection Starting around 150 or a shopvac can work.
Good dust mask (Like the 3M disposable) Can still use several times (Just store them in the open – not in a zip lock bag.
Good Face mask. Starting around 30
Grinder if you don’t have one.
Grinding jig – Needed especially for bowls but the tools can be shaped by hand $100
Chuck Starting around $100
Tools - spindle set about 50 and a decent bowl gouge about 65 or less
As you narrow it down these guys can give you a lot of feedback on specific items (models).
Hope this helps.
Mike

[Gordon Seto]

I would rather get a good mini/Midi lathe than a mediocre lathe with larger swing if money is a factor. When a lathe is not running smooth, it is difficult to obtain a nice cut. Imagine giving a baby a hair cut when she is not cooperating.

A mediocre lathe has very little resale value and takes up valuable shop space after you upgrade.