wood Lathe

[JonB]

I try to post all my Off Topic posts in the "so waht ya doin today?" thread, because this is a bullet casting forum and I have a little OCD which prevents me from cluttering a great bullet casting forum with Other Stuff, LOL. BUT, I don't want this to get buried or lost in that thread. Also, I figure there is some craftsmen here who turn wood.
OK, that's out of the way.

I've turned a few items over the last 30+ years...very few, like 5 or 10 items. Most were turned on a very old wood framed wood lathe, which looked like it might have been made from a kit advertised in a Popular Mechanics magazine in 1900. It originally came with a flat belt pulley, like it may have been driven by a old external flywheel engine. Anyway, I never knew what I was doing, I didn't read any books and I didn't have a mentor. I didn't know how to properly use the tools and I found it difficult to keep the "work" (turning item) attached to that antique lathe. I sold that lathe a couple years ago ...and sold the DIY tools(I made them the early 1990s when I had access to a sheet metal shop, but I didn't know much about that either, LOL). Since then, I have been looking for a lathe that would better suit what I think I need. I won't go into all that now, but what I can say is...

I made the next step into turning. I ordered some new Benjamin Best tools and a HF 10x18 wood Lathe. From the used vintage (or not vintage) Lathes, that I've seen in the various classifieds, for their price if it's a good one, I figured one from HF would be the best bet for the money...and the 10x18 has surprisingly good reviews, it's suggested by many to confirm alignment and a few other things, before the 90 days return/replace warranty is up...but if you find a good one, it should last a good long while for a hobbyist.

Now my reasoning for starting this thread, if it's not obvious, I need to learn. So besides youtube, I'm looking for a real paper book to acquire and also the Best woodworkers forum with a good section of wood turning. AND, of course any basic hints/tips/tricks I may need while getting started.

 

[oscarflytyer]

Thanx Jon! I am in need of the same. Bought a used lathe and the move, etc got in the way. Never used one. I can use all the advice I can get! Thanx

 

[Gary]

You can make duck calls, ect on one of those.

 

[Joshua]

I see an unlimited number of mold mallets in your future! Ash, Hickory, Osage Orange, Black Locust, Hornbeam, maybe a cerimonial one in Purple Heart!

I’ve only turned maybe ten items years ago when I was much younger. So no real help here. I will say that there are some great wood working tutorials on Youtube.

 

[JustJim]

It kind of depends on what you want to do with it. Paper book (general intro) try Woodturning: A Foundation Course by Rowley. I also think very highly of the books and videos by Richard Raffin. Best woodturning forum in general is probably that of the American Association of Woodturners https://www.woodturner.org/ The diversity of thought there will help you figure out your own approach to things.

Best advice in general is to take an introductory class if you can: community college, seminar, whatever. There are basics and safety stuff that is easier to pick up when you see them than when reading about them. Learn to sharpen. Get a mask and first aid kit.

From there, it depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to make parts for furniture or handles for moulds and similar (spindle turning, mostly), Mike Dumbar's Woodturning for Cabinetmakers has some good examples of how to work and why. Toymaking is another area, and like making duck calls, it is an area I've not played in much. Bowlmaking (and turning in general), I think Raffin is best because he teaches theory in his books.

 

[Gary]

Drosda; Jordan; Raffin; Rowley; Nish. All cited are legends in fine and artistic woodturning. Right now the master of Segmented turning is an artist that lives in the Tahoe area by the name of Malcolm Tibbets.
I have a $5000 Lathe and it can't spin wood any better than the HF model. I can sling a chunk of wood much larger than the HF lathe but the basics are just that, the basics.

 

[JonB]

From there, it depends on what you want to do with it. If you want to make parts for furniture or handles for moulds and similar (spindle turning, mostly), Mike Dumbar's Woodturning for Cabinetmakers has some good examples of how to work and why. Toymaking is another area, and like making duck calls, it is an area I've not played in much. Bowlmaking (and turning in general), I think Raffin is best because he teaches theory in his books.

SNIP>>>

To start...I want to make some handles for files. I have a large collection of vintage files, that I had professionally sharpened and I want to use them. I only have a couple handles and have swapped them for use right now. I considered going the golf ball route, but I like the idea of turning wood.
Also, every once in a while, I have a need for a wooden dowel to fix something or build something, usually I can find the size I need at a home improvement store, but not always.

I currently have NO desire for bowl turning or building Pens or other decorative items ...although I could see turning as part of the process of making knife scales?

Honestly, I struggled with the idea of spending this kind of money (Lathe and tools) for something to make handles, when I could just cut up shovel/rake/hoe handles from 50¢ garage sale purchases. BUT, I look at this as developing a new skill and maybe I stumble into making something I haven't even dreamed up yet, that could make enjoyment or money?

Best advice in general is to take an introductory class if you can: community college, seminar, whatever. There are basics and safety stuff that is easier to pick up when you see them than when reading about them. Learn to sharpen. Get a mask and first aid kit.

SNIP>>>

There is a local "wood workers" club in my small town, but is currently not functioning due to Covid ...Maybe I join after that opens back up?

 

[JustJim]

I've got a copy of Raffin's Turning Wood DVD I'll send you--PM me a mailing address. Done as an intro, it covers a lot of the safety stuff, and Raffin is a good teacher. It gets into sharpening, spindle turning, and faceplate turning.

When I make file handles, i usually do a bunch of them at once. I drill the blanks, center on the hole, and turn from there. I did hundreds like this (literally--one of my warm-up exersizes while learning) before I got a 4-jaw chuck, so I know it is doable. Copper pipe or shotgun shell bases have worked well for ferrules.

 

[JonB]

Wow, that's a great offer, thanks.
PM sent.

 

[Brad]

Sharp tools are everything.

 

[Ian]

There's a big turner's club here, I think it's a chapter of the AAW, headed up by a local toolshop owner. I went to a few classes but vases and bowls aren't my thing either, although you learn useful and broadly applicable skills and techniques no matter the project of the evening. I would highly recommend joining up with one of one these clubs (fees are very reasonable) more for the safety training aspect than anything.

 

[oscarflytyer]

I've got a copy of Raffin's Turning Wood DVD I'll send you--PM me a mailing address. Done as an intro, it covers a lot of the safety stuff, and Raffin is a good teacher. It gets into sharpening, spindle turning, and faceplate turning.

When I make file handles, i usually do a bunch of them at once. I drill the blanks, center on the hole, and turn from there. I did hundreds like this (literally--one of my warm-up exersizes while learning) before I got a 4-jaw chuck, so I know it is doable. Copper pipe or shotgun shell bases have worked well for ferrules.

Jim - any chance I could piggy back off that offer as well?

 

[JonB]

Jim - any chance I could piggy back off that offer as well?

I can surely forward it to you after viewing it a couple times
But to be honest, I'm not sure when I'll be all set up to turn on the lathe, and depending on the DVD's content, I might want to keep it until then? another factor is the two books I ordered, and if they contain similar content.

 

[Cliff]

I've been trimming LC brass, but currently uniforming primer pockets on the wood lathe.

 

[oscarflytyer]

I can surely forward it to you after viewing it a couple times
But to be honest, I'm not sure when I'll be all set up to turn on the lathe, and depending on the DVD's content, I might want to keep it until then? another factor is the two books I ordered, and if they contain similar content.

I missed that it was a DVD. (my mind "read" CD!) Sorry about that!

 

[JonB]

Another question: Standing or sitting?
I haven't seen any images or videos where people are sitting while turning wood.
My knees can't handle standing stationary for long periods of time. I was thinking of setting it up at a height so I can sit.
Is there some reason (Safety?) that I should not setup this lathe at a lower height suited to sitting while operating the lathe?

 

[Cliff]

Never sat at the lathe. Rule of thumb - Lathe chuck should be about elbow height when standing in front of the lathe.

 

[RBHarter]

I had a shop teacher that used a stool when he worked small parts on the lathe or bench router . I can't remember now if he had the car accident or the Vietnam shell fragment . They had about the same damage but one of them wasn't all there everyday . Might have been oil and lead based paint though the Auto shop teacher was definitely a victim of carbon tetrachloride and ether .

 

[Cliff]

Also, I figure there is some craftsmen here who turn wood.

I don't know about the craftsman part, but here is a few ideas besides turning bowls..........

 

[JustJim]

Heading to town soon to get this DVD mailed, do some last minute shopping, etc. JonB is going to forward it to Oscar when he's done--anyone who wants to see it after him can chime in.

I'm kicking myself--I never thought of using my wood lathe to trim brass! Not sure if it would be worth doing for routine trimming, but when forming it could be great.

I've known of people who turn sitting down. it might be worth mining the AAW site for info.