First Turning Project & Intro

[Andrew Little]

Hello Everyone from the Mitten State,

I just picked up a lathe (10" x 18") and some tools from the local Harbor Freight. After watching a few videos and reading a few reviews it seemed like a good lathe to start with without spending a lot of money. With a sale, coupons, and a couple of gift cards I got out of the store pretty cheap.

I think I'm going down another rabbit hole with this new hobby. I stayed up till 1 AM the other night turning my first project, a new shift knob for my Saturn Ion. Honestly I think it's too nice for the car!

I'm sure I'll have a bunch of questions and have a lot fun using this new toy. I already have gifts figured out for four or five friends and family.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc456/MrPikeRider/ShiftKnob-1_zpsytovtw2n.jpg (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/MrPikeRider/media/ShiftKnob-1_zpsytovtw2n.jpg.html)

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc456/MrPikeRider/ShiftKnob-2_zpsxostxdom.jpg (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/MrPikeRider/media/ShiftKnob-2_zpsxostxdom.jpg.html)

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc456/MrPikeRider/ShiftKnob-3_zpsrk9op1rj.jpg (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/MrPikeRider/media/ShiftKnob-3_zpsrk9op1rj.jpg.html)

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc456/MrPikeRider/ShiftKnob-4_zpsn4madazl.jpg (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/MrPikeRider/media/ShiftKnob-4_zpsn4madazl.jpg.html)

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc456/MrPikeRider/ShiftKnob-6_zpsmaywa3oz.jpg (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/MrPikeRider/media/ShiftKnob-6_zpsmaywa3oz.jpg.html)

Thanks,
Andy

[Roger Chandler]

Nice shift knob! Welcome to the Vortex we call woodturning.........if you are like most who embark on this hobby, then that won't be your last lathe! ;)

[Ryan Mooney]

Nice job on the first project. It is indeed a rabbit hole, welcome to the vortex :D

[daryl moses]

Nice looking shift knob, you did good!!

[David Delo]

Nice job Andrew on your first piece and welcome to the dark side.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Nice job!
How did you drill the hole for the stick? In case you didn't already know, you can get a drill chuck for the tailstock, and drill a perfectly centered and straight hole.

[Bruce Pratt]

nice first one. Now the question is what finish to put on it. Ask 10 people and get 15 different opinions!... which is part of the fun...

[Andrew Little]

Nice job!
How did you drill the hole for the stick? In case you didn't already know, you can get a drill chuck for the tailstock, and drill a perfectly centered and straight hole.

I used the point from the live center as a centering hole and hand drilled it. I need to pick up a Jacobs chuck for the tail stock.

I'm a little familiar with lathe work from my highschool and college machining classes. But using your hands to sculpt the shape you want it fun.

[Thom Sturgill]

I used the point from the live center as a centering hole and hand drilled it. I need to pick up a Jacobs chuck for the tail stock.

I'm a little familiar with lathe work from my highschool and college machining classes. But using your hands to sculpt the shape you want it fun.

And the speed with which you get results is addicting...

Welcome to the vortex - Take out your wallet and look at the money inside - this may be the last time there is any in there!:eek:

If you got the best tool set HF has you may be good to learn on. There are many threads on here about starter sets. Two things we all pretty much agree on - get a good grinding station - 8" slow speed grinder with a wolverine arm or something similar. (Wolverine seems standard). And find a club (check the AAW site) they generally provide mentoring and can help with a lot of issues, like trying a new tool before buying it yourself.

[Dennis Collier]

Thats the lathe I started on. Its a great lathe for the money. Rockler sells an extension for it if you ever need one. I got the extension so I could make 12" peppermills and bore them on the lathe. It lacks a bit of power. I know they say it has a 10" swing but it struggles to spin a blank larger than 6". Learn is limitations an stay within them and its a fine machine. The tools you got, as long as you didn't get the really cheap carbon steel set, are pretty decent. Ive upgraded most of mine since but still use a couple of them.

Your going to spend a ton of money in the near future buying accessories and other needed goodies. Start focusing on a sharpening system. Even doing small projects like the shifter knob, your tools are going to be dull very soon and dull tools are dangerous.

Congrats on your new toy. If your anything like me, the rest of your tools will see minimum to no use from here on out!

[Steve Schlumpf]

Welcome to the Creek! What part of the mitten are you from?

[Andrew Little]

Here's the knob after two coats of Honey Pine stain and two coats of Wipe On Poly. It looks pretty good. I'm still considering burning the shift pattern on the end of it, but eh who knows. I am noticing cracks that are starting to grow on the end of the knob. This piece of wood must have been sitting in my garage for 5+ years. I've only lived in the house for 3, but the guy who owned it before me had a lathe and made furniture. So I'm a little surprised that it's drying and cracking. It's really interesting to see that people turn green wood. I always thought you had to really dry the stuff before even considering working with it.

http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc456/MrPikeRider/ShiftKnob-7_zpsktoicd6l.jpg (http://s1212.photobucket.com/user/MrPikeRider/media/ShiftKnob-7_zpsktoicd6l.jpg.html)

I jumped into this without thinking about some of the additional tooling I'll need. I will have to buy a grinder setup in the near future, otherwise I'm sure turning with dull tools is not fun.

I'm originally from Bay City, MI, but now I'm located near Pontiac, MI.

[Andrew Little]

Any suggestion on a good grinder? I'm seeing a lot of options. I'll search the forums too.

[Ryan Mooney]

http://www.amazon.com/RIKON-Power-Tools-80-805-Grinder/dp/B00H2B78YG also available from highland, woodcraft, etc... Woodcraft used to sell basically the same thing under their own brand which is what I've had for several years. Its served me well. Getting something of significantly higher quality starts to drive the price up rather quickly.

A lot of folks (myself included) add the wolverine sharpening kit (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/125676/Oneway-Wolverine-Grinding-Jig.aspx), its nice because you can get consistent grinds on your gouges . If nothing else an upgraded rest is nice because the one that comes with it is a bit tin can like :D

The trick with green turning is that it allows the wood to move some during drying. Of course there are a ton of tricks to minimize movement and/or cracking during the proces (boiling, DNA, soap, etc...). How much and in what ways the wood moves and how thin you should take it is some of the art (or in my case luck and windage :D).

[Andrew Little]

Thanks for the reply Ryan. I discovered that grinder while doing some searches on google and this forum. I will have to get one in the near future because I have a lot of things to make for upcoming anniversaries and birthdays.

[Andrew Little]

I've discovered that I can't stop searching craigslist for free cut down trees. I've got 4 ads saved in my area and I might go grab a few logs. This rabbit hole might get deep.

I'm eyeing up two black walnut trees in my backyard as well. :)

[Doug Ladendorf]

Congrats on the lathe. Welcome to the forum and the vortex! No need to take down mature trees unnecessarily. It took a long time for them to get that way. As you look around you will find plenty of wood. Make friends with the township crew that removes trees now and then. You will run out of space!

[Andrew Little]

Congrats on the lathe. Welcome to the forum and the vortex! No need to take down mature trees unnecessarily. It took a long time for them to get that way. As you look around you will find plenty of wood. Make friends with the township crew that removes trees now and then. You will run out of space!

Thanks for the thought Doug, the one walnut tree I'm eyeing up actually a little suspect. A branch from a bigger near by oak tree fell off and broke three or four branches off of the walnut. The branches are hanging towards the ground and I have to dodge them when cutting the grass. I'll probably knock that one down and leave the healthy one.

[Mark Greenbaum]

Make friends with a local Arborist, and join a local Woodturner's Club. Free wood abounds when you have connections. After storms pass through Middle Tennessee, I can drive to work and practically fill my pickup truck, if I want to.

[Ryan Mooney]

I've discovered that I can't stop searching craigslist for free cut down trees. I've got 4 ads saved in my area and I might go grab a few logs. This rabbit hole might get deep.

I'm eyeing up two black walnut trees in my backyard as well. :)

:D I've been known to grab my hat and start running out the door when I hear a chainsaw in the neighborhood "Hey that's the song of my people". At this point loml just rolls her eyes.

Wait until you have stacks of bowls and scoops and stuff around the house, eventually I'll have to sell some just to make room.