First Lathe - Hooked

[Greg Parrish]

We picked up a new addition to the work shop with a Nova Comet II midi lathe last month and I finally got a chance to play with it this weekend. We bought the lathe, a Nova G3 kit with multiple jaws, and a 6 piece starter Benjamins Best tool set from PSI. I already had a Rikon 8" grinder with One Way wolverine jig.

Anyway, I know these are not great but were my first learning experiences yesterday and today. I didn't have any decent wood for bowls so I just grabbed some very dry, very old pieces from the fire pile. Got them from a friend and have no clue what the wood is. I think it might have been a type of dogwood or something.

Any constructive tips are of course appreciated. I feel that I need to add a tool or two, and maybe a couple of rests to make doing bowls and vases easier. Also, I need to pick up some pre made bowl blanks and get started making some of my own on the band saw with some green wood.

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v105/p2173141110-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v159/p2173141156-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v173/p2173141331-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v3/p2173141584-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v73/p2173141635-4.jpg


Neither of these would be functional bowls. The wood was full of cracks and voids and I didn't fill it with anything. So, just for the sake of art or something I guess.
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v37/p2173141679-4.jpg

[Adam Petersen]

That's a nice firewood pile you have there! I think those are some excellent first couple of pieces. That pen is very regal looking.

[Greg Parrish]

That's a nice firewood pile you have there! I think those are some excellent first couple of pieces. That pen is very regal looking.

Thanks Adam.

The pen blank was purchased in a grab bag from Woodcraft, but the bowls were turned from pieces of a small tree I cut down for a friend. They didn't know what it was but it had died and was next to their house. They let me have the wood for taking it down, but since it was dead it was hard to identify. At this point, the bark has all gone, and all I have are the really small, hard, dry pieces. They are too small to cut real blanks out of them so I had to turn these with the grain the wrong way, but regardless I worked with what I had. Wish these had been properly cut and dried but oh well.

[Don Jarvie]

Nice job for the first time.

[David Herring]

Looks like you're off to a great start Greg. From the looks of the fit on that pen, it almost looks like you've been doing it for a while.

[Stefano Bastianelli]

Greg, I have started with the same lathe, same tools, same grinder as you just a little bit more than a year ago. It seems a real deja vu for me :)
For my personal little experience, I can tell you that for the size of bowl you can turn, at the moment you just need more a longer tool rest than a dedicated bowl rest. If you can get both, good for you. Nova sells modular tool rests at a good price.
Regarding turning tools, depends on what you want to turn. For bowl, I would get a bowl scraper for sure. Then try a different bowl gauge because what you got from the PSI Benjamin tools set is a bowl gouge with a grind ideal for the bottom of the bowl; and for my honest opinion is a little too short.

[Thomas Canfield]

Welcome to turning. I bought a Nova Comet II when they first came out and wrote a review posted on Sawmill Creek and showed some modifications made to make a better mount. I use it often to supplement my Powermatic 3520 and like to turn small items on it. I would encourage you to turn some side grain bowls out of construction 2x6 material for practice to work on curve sides. I have turned some 12" items, but find that 8" and under work better, and the slow speed range is almost useless for power. Lathe is nice for travel and class.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Welcome, and pretty nice work, but watch that high speed with splits in the wood, you would not like to wake up laying in front of your lathe and wonder what happened, some turners never wake up when hit with a piece of wood, be safe :)

[Greg Parrish]

Thanks for all the comments and tips guys. :)

[Tim Passmore]

Welcome aboard! Nice work. My guess is that you think you're "hooked", but don't have any clue what the long term ramifications will be��. The VORTEX has a mighty pull.

[Greg Parrish]

Welcome aboard! Nice work. My guess is that you think you're "hooked", but don't have any clue what the long term ramifications will be��. The VORTEX has a mighty pull.


Well, let's just say that I've been having crazy thoughts of selling my 1972 fully restored PM66 and my PM jointer to buy a bigger lathe like a PM3520. Crazy, I know but I really like making 3D pieces so far and can't afford the bigger lathes. Trying not to rush into anything though. :)

[Greg Parrish]

Made a few more since my last post. Still learning but I want a bigger lathe. :)

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v46/p2194688756-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v172/p2194689094-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v98/p2194689507-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v66/p2194689488-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v117/p2194689540-4.jpg

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http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v46/p2194689444-4.jpg

[Greg Parrish]

I've made a few more creations with the new lathe. Figured I would continue to share for feedback.


This his one was made for a friend from a 1"x8"x12' cedar board
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v114/p2199860897-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v110/p2199863491-4.jpg


Then I took some wood from the firewood pile that a friend gave me and pieced together a couple of 11.5" blanks. This first one is only about 2.25" thick. This is spalted ambrosia maple.
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v53/p2199863185-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v161/p2201663718-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s2/v72/p2202646251-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v93/p2202646323-4.jpg


the next one is from a piece of 6"x6"x3" yucatan rosewood from Rockler
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v9/p2203382593-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v111/p2203382564-4.jpg


lastly I'm working on this one now. It's a piece of spalted red sycamore picked up online.
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v16/p2203382542-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v88/p2203382485-4.jpg
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http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v49/p2203382262-4.jpg

[Adam Petersen]

Seriously, where is this firewood pile of yours!

[Greg Parrish]

Seriously, where is this firewood pile of yours!

Ha. Just a dead tree I cut down for a friend. Just dumb luck.

[Doug Herzberg]

Welcome to the vortex; hang on to your wallet. That's a nice collection of first efforts and experiments, much better than I was doing at first. Let me echo what Leo said about safety. Bad wood is dangerous, but not all firewood is bad wood. Look for bad checks and voids and either take measures or don't use the wood.

We used to discuss design and form a lot here, but lately most of the posts I see are about technique and equipment. You might consider looking at the work of some accomplished turners, such as Richard Raffan's The Art of Turned Bowls https://www.amazon.com/Art-Turned-Bowls-Designing-Spectacular/dp/1561589543. Last time I looked at member John Keeton's website http://johnkeeton.com/, it was full of great examples.

[Tim Passmore]

I also would encourage you to check out John Keeton's site (and others). I'm always looking at other turners works for ideas and inspiration------you can find many accomplished craftsmen on this sight.

[Greg Parrish]

Thanks guys. I'll check it out. Always welcome tips as I really want to improve on the lathe. Will be a while before I can afford the bigger one so I'm going to wear this one out in the mean time. :)

i picked up a rack today to start stocking wood and blanks for lots of fun and practice. I'm wanting to tackle a vase and a bowl with lid in the near future. I'm also experimenting with finishes. Thanks again.

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v33/p2203777826-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v89/p2203777410-4.jpg

[Jon Shank]

That is the way it goes, first you realize your hooked, second I shoulda gotten a bigger lathe!. There's a reason we all call it the vortex.

For first steps that all looks really good, definitely off to a heck of a start.

Jon

[Greg Parrish]

Made a few more. Not nearly as nice as the ones you guys post but I'm getting a little better.

Rough turned this walnut, put CA in a few cracks and then re-waxed to finish drying
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v109/p2214740081-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v173/p2214740057-4.jpg


Rough turned this bradford pear, put CA in a few cracks and then re-waxed to finish drying
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v16/p2214747107-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v91/p2214738384-4.jpg


Rough turned spalted maple. re-waxed to dry
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v124/p2214734699-4.jpg


Spalted Ambrosia Maple made from small logs from the firewood pile glued together
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s4/v69/p2210833563-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s5/v118/p2210833456-4.jpg


And a small piece of spalted hickory with a little natural edge dubbed the "Eyebowl".
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v40/p2210849166-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v154/p2210849344-4.jpg
http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s3/v23/p2210849445-4.jpg

[John K Jordan]

Well, let's just say that I've been having crazy thoughts of selling my 1972 fully restored PM66 and my PM jointer to buy a bigger lathe like a PM3520. Crazy, I know but I really like making 3D pieces so far and can't afford the bigger lathes. Trying not to rush into anything though. :)

Very nice start! If you are like most people you will soon have a bigger lathe.

I bought a little tube lathe, got hooked, and soon had a new Jet1642. After a dozen years or so I added a PM3520b which has not limited anything I have wanted to do. Along the way I picked up a second 1642 and a couple of Jet minis for the road. (I think that's enough lathes for now!)

The 1642 is a healthy lathe but if I knew then what I know now I would have saved up and bought the PM sooner.

If you have the space you might keep the Nova as a second lathe. I find a second lathe useful to quickly turn a jam chuck or another project, test something, finishing and buffing, and to double the fun when visitors come. (And to keep turning if the main lathe needs servicing!) I've even had all five lathes set up at once for a small class but that sure made for a crowded shop. The downside of keeping a second turning station is the need to keep duplicates of some measuring tools and things close to each lathe.

If you can swing it, keep the flat work tools also - extremely useful even if only for making turning accessories. The more creative turners I've known over the years had flat tools and often metal-working tools. Frank Penta, for example, does a lot of laminated turnings with colorful exotic woods - he makes heavy use of the table saw, drum sander, and other flatwork tools. Many advanced turners do amazing segmented and staved work, difficult or impossible without the flat tools.

If you can control the urge, the wise thing might be to do just what you said about not rushing! - hold off, keep the flat tools, and save up for the bigger lathe. While saving, concentrate on getting all you can out of the Nova which is a perfectly respectable lathe, perfect for developing tool control.

If you haven't, join a club and take pieces and ask for honest critique on form and technique. (You have to ASK - otherwise all you will get is "that looks great" even if it's not.) Take a course or two. Find a mentor. Read some good books. Learn how the structure of wood affects turnings. Tame the most basic of all turning tools - the skew chisel. Beware of learning bad techniques from bad YouTube videos (the AAW has a developing list of good videos to help navigate the swamp.) Discover the joy and economy of turning small things. Learn how to make finish cuts without horrible tear out, how to see and eliminate circular scratches - and do these without making clouds of dust with coarse sandpaper!

If your goal is to be the best of the best, the biggest thing I can recommend is become proficient with spindle turning before you lose yourself on the big bowl path. (Your current lathe is perfect for that) Many of the experts say the same thing - spindle turning will teach the fine tool control that will let you turn anything. They say it doesn't work in the other direction. (some bowl and hollow form turners don't like to hear this.) I can provide references and 1st-hand stories about "spindle first" if you are interested.

JKJ

[Greg Parrish]

walnut. Still wet so I rewaxed it and set aside to dry untill I can finish later.

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s12/v175/p2223107193-4.jpg

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s7/v161/p2223107173-4.jpg

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Spalted Red Sycamore. Still wet. Rewaxed to dry.

http://txbonds.zenfolio.com/img/s1/v54/p2223124834-4.jpg

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