Chris Tedford
01-11-2012, 1:23 PM
Hi all,
Haven't posted in quite some time. I made a bunch of birdhouse ornaments and pens this past Holiday season for an Artists Co-Op that I belong to. Was using the old Delta 46-700 that my work shop has, but I was given a nice Christmas present of a 46-460. Turned my first project on it last night, just a pen but......so quiet, so smooth, the speed control....think I might have to revisit my whole "no bowls for me" philosophy. I recently bought the Easy Rougher and Easy Mini-Finisher. Both are great and helped me immensely with the older lathe, and will be of use in the future, but I'm realizing their limitations. The skew I've been using is oval and I haven't had much luck in controlling the thing, it rocks to much on the tool rest, so have given up trying.
My question is this-and I know there are many different opinions-should I get a Sorby Spindle Master, or a new Skew? If skew, what type, size, etc? I don't think I'll be happy with an oval, but don't really know what size to get anyway. Currently I turn predominantly pens and birdhouse ornaments, but want to try my hand at icicles and globes with icicles. Pros and cons to one tool over the other? I have a grinder setup, so that's not an issue for sharpening (thinking of upgrading my Wolverine to a Tormek, but not sure yet).
I realize either tool is going to take lots of practice to use well, but I'm at the point where I'm willing to put in the time so as to not be limited by the tool (which is what I'm finding from the Easy Tools).
Will try to get some pictures posted of the lathe and first pen turned on it.
Thanks,
Chris
Haven't posted in quite some time. I made a bunch of birdhouse ornaments and pens this past Holiday season for an Artists Co-Op that I belong to. Was using the old Delta 46-700 that my work shop has, but I was given a nice Christmas present of a 46-460. Turned my first project on it last night, just a pen but......so quiet, so smooth, the speed control....think I might have to revisit my whole "no bowls for me" philosophy. I recently bought the Easy Rougher and Easy Mini-Finisher. Both are great and helped me immensely with the older lathe, and will be of use in the future, but I'm realizing their limitations. The skew I've been using is oval and I haven't had much luck in controlling the thing, it rocks to much on the tool rest, so have given up trying.
My question is this-and I know there are many different opinions-should I get a Sorby Spindle Master, or a new Skew? If skew, what type, size, etc? I don't think I'll be happy with an oval, but don't really know what size to get anyway. Currently I turn predominantly pens and birdhouse ornaments, but want to try my hand at icicles and globes with icicles. Pros and cons to one tool over the other? I have a grinder setup, so that's not an issue for sharpening (thinking of upgrading my Wolverine to a Tormek, but not sure yet).
I realize either tool is going to take lots of practice to use well, but I'm at the point where I'm willing to put in the time so as to not be limited by the tool (which is what I'm finding from the Easy Tools).
Will try to get some pictures posted of the lathe and first pen turned on it.
Thanks,
Chris