Dan Forman
11-12-2007, 5:41 AM
New to turning here, and already deep into the vortex. Bought a Rikon mini a couple of weeks ago, but before even setting it up realized that I would want to upgrade soon, so it's still sitting in the box waiting to be returned/exchanged for something bigger (I know myself pretty well by now). I'd keep it if I had room for two, but I don't, as is the subject of most of this post.
In the meantime, I took a turning 101 class with Russ Fairfield, who some of you might know of from Wood Central, and will be taking an introductory bowl class with him at the end of the month. I also turned a pen for a service person at Woodcraft on Sunday. I think I'm hooked. So here are my questions...
I've read comments about turning green wood, where folks talk about being able to feel moisture getting sprayed about while roughing out. I'm sure this isn't like a hose or anything, but does it pose a problem if you have cast iron tools in close proximity?
How much room do you like to have behind you when turning, and why? The only location that makes sense in my shop would put me between the lathe and a wall. That would allow me to share the 5" dust collection hose from my jointer/planer with the lathe, without tripping over the hose. I don't see any way of getting more than 4 feet between the lathe and the wall. Is that enough to work comfortably?
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/P1010696.jpg
and from a different angle...http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/P1010697.jpg
It would basically take the place of the router table, which will be banished to another room in the basement. For reference, there is about 7.5 feet between the wall and the table of the jointer/planer. The wide angle lense makes it look like there is more room than there actually is. The big white boxes in the corner will be out of the way as soon as I finish the rolling cab I'm making for the sander.
The one other option I'm considering for placement would be the other room mentioned previously, which is currently a storage area, with wood and other stuff in there now. Problem there is that it would be hard to get dc hose in there, and I'd have to run an extension cord for the 220. It would make more sense to me to keep the other mobile things in there until needed.
Another factor for locating would be height of the lathe. I'm considering either the Powermatic 3520B or Jet 1642, either of which stand a little higher than would be comfortable for me, as I am somewhat vertically challenged. That would mean I would probably want to make a platform to stand on when turning, to have better control of the tools. With my back to the wall, I could leave the platform in place. Anywhere else, and I would have to be moving it out of the way on a regular basis.
I'm sure some here would suggest just getting rid of all those "flat tools", but I'm not there yet. :eek:
I would appreciate any suggestions you might be able to make. I want to get in on the one week sale Woodcraft is having in the middle of the month, with hefty WC gift cards as well as Jet/Powermatic product gift cards.
Dan
In the meantime, I took a turning 101 class with Russ Fairfield, who some of you might know of from Wood Central, and will be taking an introductory bowl class with him at the end of the month. I also turned a pen for a service person at Woodcraft on Sunday. I think I'm hooked. So here are my questions...
I've read comments about turning green wood, where folks talk about being able to feel moisture getting sprayed about while roughing out. I'm sure this isn't like a hose or anything, but does it pose a problem if you have cast iron tools in close proximity?
How much room do you like to have behind you when turning, and why? The only location that makes sense in my shop would put me between the lathe and a wall. That would allow me to share the 5" dust collection hose from my jointer/planer with the lathe, without tripping over the hose. I don't see any way of getting more than 4 feet between the lathe and the wall. Is that enough to work comfortably?
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/P1010696.jpg
and from a different angle...http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l279/T-Caster/P1010697.jpg
It would basically take the place of the router table, which will be banished to another room in the basement. For reference, there is about 7.5 feet between the wall and the table of the jointer/planer. The wide angle lense makes it look like there is more room than there actually is. The big white boxes in the corner will be out of the way as soon as I finish the rolling cab I'm making for the sander.
The one other option I'm considering for placement would be the other room mentioned previously, which is currently a storage area, with wood and other stuff in there now. Problem there is that it would be hard to get dc hose in there, and I'd have to run an extension cord for the 220. It would make more sense to me to keep the other mobile things in there until needed.
Another factor for locating would be height of the lathe. I'm considering either the Powermatic 3520B or Jet 1642, either of which stand a little higher than would be comfortable for me, as I am somewhat vertically challenged. That would mean I would probably want to make a platform to stand on when turning, to have better control of the tools. With my back to the wall, I could leave the platform in place. Anywhere else, and I would have to be moving it out of the way on a regular basis.
I'm sure some here would suggest just getting rid of all those "flat tools", but I'm not there yet. :eek:
I would appreciate any suggestions you might be able to make. I want to get in on the one week sale Woodcraft is having in the middle of the month, with hefty WC gift cards as well as Jet/Powermatic product gift cards.
Dan