To whom ever stumbles on this thread I need your help. I don't know what brand of lathe and tools to buy. Any reconmendations would be nice!!!
Lathe and lathe tool reconmendations
- Thread starter AvocadoesTasteGood
- Start date
What do you intend to make? The tools for a chess set are very different from the ones used in large bowls or architectural columns.
Sounds like someone fell in a rabbit hole.
Don't worry. There's folks here that will help tape up your ankle and give you a lot of help. Not sure they will be able to help you out of that rabbit hole though.
Good luck!
Don't worry. There's folks here that will help tape up your ankle and give you a lot of help. Not sure they will be able to help you out of that rabbit hole though.
Good luck!
I intend on making bowls and brushes just small to medium things
Oh noSounds like someone fell in a rabbit hole.
Don't worry. There's folks here that will help tape up your ankle and give you a lot of help. Not sure they will be able to help you out of that rabbit hole though.
Good luck!
I don't know even know how I fellResearch lathe tool sharpening equipment and techniques first.
Usually 'good' and 'cheap' are mutually exclusive as with any tool/machine buy.
Usually 'good' and 'cheap' are mutually exclusive as with any tool/machine buy.
For medium to small it’s hard to beat the Rikon midi lathe, about $700 last time I checked. --**$900 now**--
Traditional tools are my preference, Oneway grinding jig, 140 and 600 grit CBN wheels, Oneway chuck with several sizes of jaws. I’d say about $2000 all together.
Traditional tools are my preference, Oneway grinding jig, 140 and 600 grit CBN wheels, Oneway chuck with several sizes of jaws. I’d say about $2000 all together.
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Thank you for the reconmendation! I will check it out!
I like the Laguna Revo lathe. If I were to buy one today, that would be my recommendation. I have a Nova 14DR and it is okay, but the Laguna has a lot more capacity and is just an all around better lathe for just a little more money. As far as tools, until you learn to sharpen right, get the cheapest set of lathe tools you can as you'll just lose a lot of metal in the beginning until you learn your sharpening skills. Ron Brown has some pretty decent tools at a cheap cost as great starters. He also has instructional videos and sells guides for sharpening. If you want to learn to turn bowls, I suggest these 3 courses. Good luck!
What do you want to make? Big,,small,,bowls,,,spindles,,,once you answer some of these questions you can narrow down your search
I have the Rikon 70-150VSR. I've been very happy with it. You can get an optional extension bed (shown in the photo), which allows you to do leg spindles for furniture or if you reverse it to the other side, you can turn slightly larger bowls.
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+1 on the rabbit hole.
+1 on it depends largely on what you plan to make.
+1 on using traditional turning tools, grinder, Oneway jig and CBN wheels.
+1 on it depends largely on what you plan to make.
+1 on using traditional turning tools, grinder, Oneway jig and CBN wheels.
- In many ways, the lathe is the easy part. It's everything else that can eat you alive. However, take it from me, it's much less expensive to do things once and well from the onset.
- You can turn small things on a big lathe, but you can't turn big things on a small lathe.
- Lathe working height is, in my opinion, critical. I'm vertically challenged. Working on a tall lathe like, for example, the Nova floor machines, is intensely uncomfortable for me. Yes, you can build a riser platform on which to stand, but tripping over it and cleaning around them seems troublesome (to me).
- Some floor lathes have adjustable kegs or removable leg risers, either of which may make a lathe far more comfortable/enjoyable for long hours of turning. Of course, one can build a bench to an ideal height for a benchtop lathe.
you'll prob get some carbide tools to start. they are fun. but if you progress, the call of the skew chisel will come. buy one with a flat body and not curved.
this: High Speed Steel, 1/2" Skew Chisel, HTT-116, Hurricane Turning Tools 846817015161 | eBay
not this: Shop Fox D3816 Lathe Chisel - Oval Skew 3/4"
this: High Speed Steel, 1/2" Skew Chisel, HTT-116, Hurricane Turning Tools 846817015161 | eBay
not this: Shop Fox D3816 Lathe Chisel - Oval Skew 3/4"
Thank you for the straight forward answer!!!
Thank you for the tips!
Take a class at a facility with different (manufacturers') lathes and tools. Or, visit the shops of turners that will let you experience their machine. After 30 minutes on my lathe a friend gave up on his HF lathe and made a big step up in his lathe and his sharpening system. OBTW, his wife won't let him come back to my shop. Seems I'm an expensive influence.
It's like renting (a) cars before you buy or, going to the range and trying different shapes and sizes of projectile launchers before selecting. Find what fits you. And, consider the finish, e.g., I don't think I'll buy another Thompson tool since I've tried others with a more refined finish.
YMMV
It's like renting (a) cars before you buy or, going to the range and trying different shapes and sizes of projectile launchers before selecting. Find what fits you. And, consider the finish, e.g., I don't think I'll buy another Thompson tool since I've tried others with a more refined finish.
YMMV
