Gloat....maybe...

[David Gunn]

Well, I went ahead and bought the lathe that nobody had ever heard of. I got it and 14 turning tools with it for $50. It also came with the stand. The stand is pretty heavy, it has about 200 lbs. of sand in the legs.
I am going to learn how to sharpen and hopefully learn some things in St. Louis next weekend and maybe get sucked into this vortex I keep hearing of.
Pics can be seen here:
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/gloat005.jpg (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/dlgdoo/gloat005.jpg)
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/gloat004.jpg (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/dlgdoo/gloat004.jpg)
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/gloat003.jpg (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/dlgdoo/gloat003.jpg)
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/gloat002.jpg (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/dlgdoo/gloat002.jpg)
http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/h...o/gloat001.jpg (http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh4/dlgdoo/gloat001.jpg)

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/misc/progress.gif

[Aaron Dunham]

The only Tristar I know of is the gun manufacturer. Can't go wrong for $50.00 though...

[Joe Scarfo]

Just remember what it is.. a $50 lathe....

I wouldn't count on a great piece of machinery and what you have is a great low cost entry into turning.

My first lathe was a delta iron bed lathe I picked up from a guy down the street. I've graduated to a new delta midi in the basement I'm constantly making pens with...

Now if i could just get the knack of sharpening, it would be even better.

Good Luck....

Joe in Green Bay

[John W. Willis]

The bottom line is, "it's a lathe". You can go from there. For the money I'd say you did well.

[Wade Lippman]

Never heard of it, but as long as it works it is easily worth twice what you paid.