Hi guys and gals I am brand new and just getting started turning. I was given an old lathe that I have been playing with for about a week. Yesterday I received a starter kit for making pens only to find out that it will not turn a true circle. I am trying to instal new bushing to true it up. But, noting having a lot of luck. So I would like to buy a new lathe and I only have about 600 to spend. So I am looking for suggestion from you all on what to buy so that I can turn bowels and such in the near furture. Thanks in advance for any info.
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buying a lathe
- Thread starter wheels4
- Start date
Although I've not had any first-hand experience with one, I see a lot of positive comments on different forums about the Harbor Frieght lathe. You might want to check that one out.
That said, when I was teaching, I always told the kids to purchase the best tool that they could afford--even if it meant saving up their money for another couple of months. When you purchase a cheap tool you often spend more money in the long run because you have to include the cost of the inferior one in with the cost of the better one when you upgrade. Better to buy right to start with, IMHO!
Joe
That said, when I was teaching, I always told the kids to purchase the best tool that they could afford--even if it meant saving up their money for another couple of months. When you purchase a cheap tool you often spend more money in the long run because you have to include the cost of the inferior one in with the cost of the better one when you upgrade. Better to buy right to start with, IMHO!
Joe
choose wisely
Personally it was worth getting into a little debt for a year ( 0% interest deals) and getting the lathe that really works well. I am not a fan of getting a cheap lathe then 2 years later upgrading- 4 years later upgrading-and so on. Now I would of loved the $5000 Oneway lathe but oh well - that is a little to much debt to handle. A DECENT LATHE STARTS AT $1800.00 IN MY OPINION - But hey, I am just one opinion. If you can swing it and (debt that is) the Powermatic 3520A for 2400.00 is the deal...
Personally it was worth getting into a little debt for a year ( 0% interest deals) and getting the lathe that really works well. I am not a fan of getting a cheap lathe then 2 years later upgrading- 4 years later upgrading-and so on. Now I would of loved the $5000 Oneway lathe but oh well - that is a little to much debt to handle. A DECENT LATHE STARTS AT $1800.00 IN MY OPINION - But hey, I am just one opinion. If you can swing it and (debt that is) the Powermatic 3520A for 2400.00 is the deal...
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lathe purchase
Hello and welcome to the world of turning. A good starter lathe would be a jet mini. It is a good lathe for pens and small bowls or turned boxes. It has a belt on a step pulley that you change positions to adjust speed. I've had mine for about 6 months and really enjoy it. You can catch them on sale for under $300 and use the extra money for a chuck or additional lathe tools. There are bigger and better lathes out there but this is a good starter. JMHO
Bobby McCarley
Hello and welcome to the world of turning. A good starter lathe would be a jet mini. It is a good lathe for pens and small bowls or turned boxes. It has a belt on a step pulley that you change positions to adjust speed. I've had mine for about 6 months and really enjoy it. You can catch them on sale for under $300 and use the extra money for a chuck or additional lathe tools. There are bigger and better lathes out there but this is a good starter. JMHO
Bobby McCarley
with 600 to spend
with only $600 to spend just starting out I would go one of two routes. If you only have space for a mini there are a number of good ones on the market from the cheap end of $159 for a PSI to right around $600 for the vicmarc mini. I have used the jet, vic and carbatec and all of the performed reasonably well. If you want a full size lathe with only $600 to spend i would go with a HF 34706, which are regularly on sale for $179.99 at the store. I would then spend your remaining money on 3 good tools (gouge skew and parting tool) That is another easy 100. Any grinder will work, but a good grinding jig will run you $100 to $150 in total.
Depending on what your turning interests are either get a chuck or pen making supplies/jigs but don't skimp on either or you will just be disapointed with them.
with only $600 to spend just starting out I would go one of two routes. If you only have space for a mini there are a number of good ones on the market from the cheap end of $159 for a PSI to right around $600 for the vicmarc mini. I have used the jet, vic and carbatec and all of the performed reasonably well. If you want a full size lathe with only $600 to spend i would go with a HF 34706, which are regularly on sale for $179.99 at the store. I would then spend your remaining money on 3 good tools (gouge skew and parting tool) That is another easy 100. Any grinder will work, but a good grinding jig will run you $100 to $150 in total.
Depending on what your turning interests are either get a chuck or pen making supplies/jigs but don't skimp on either or you will just be disapointed with them.
financially challenged
Good day, Willy: I turn on a Harbor Freight, $399.99, lathe using $39.99 Harbor Freight gouges. I do this out of necessity, I can't afford a more expensive lathe. True, I'd love to have a Vicmarc or a Oneway lathe but that's not about to happen until & unless I win the lottery.
That being said, all the pieces in my gallery were turned on my HF lathe. The blanks were cut on a HF bandsaw. I've had no problems with HF tools.
Good day, Willy: I turn on a Harbor Freight, $399.99, lathe using $39.99 Harbor Freight gouges. I do this out of necessity, I can't afford a more expensive lathe. True, I'd love to have a Vicmarc or a Oneway lathe but that's not about to happen until & unless I win the lottery.
That being said, all the pieces in my gallery were turned on my HF lathe. The blanks were cut on a HF bandsaw. I've had no problems with HF tools.
I will assume the $399.99 model you have is the 15" model, I can't comment on the model as I have never seen or used one. I don't believe I said there was anything wrong with HF tools, btw I am formerly an assistant store manager for HF. Some of the tools are great, some are crap. As far as lathes go I have tried 2 of them the cheap one that sells for $80 bucks is crap in comparison to the 34706 model (my second lathe) which is a knock off of a jet 1236. The HSS tool set is decent though I think the steel is a little too soft for my taste, atleast in the set I bought, however if you need a mini parting tool the $10 mini HSS set is a deal. BTW I own the bandsaw with risers, raidal aarm DP and Compressor and many other tools from them as well. However my current lathe is an ancient behemoth with a modern motor. I got an old industrial lathe from american machinery by simply offering to haul it away last summer. This thing had sat in a barn for several decades but is a beauty with 96" between centers. This thing was built for doing coopered columns but turns bowls like a dream.arbud said:Good day, Willy: I turn on a Harbor Freight, $399.99, lathe using $39.99 Harbor Freight gouges. I do this out of necessity, I can't afford a more expensive lathe. True, I'd love to have a Vicmarc or a Oneway lathe but that's not about to happen until & unless I win the lottery.
That being said, all the pieces in my gallery were turned on my HF lathe. The blanks were cut on a HF bandsaw. I've had no problems with HF tools.
I am considering a Penn State midi lathe for about $160.
Have any of you used one. How do you like it?
Have any of you used one. How do you like it?
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Hey thanks everyone for the info . Since I posted I have looked at a Jet 1236 and a Craftsman 15" I can buy the Craftsman for 499 lmionus 10% or the Jet with stand for 550, Don't have to pay ahipping on either. I was also given a Eight peice Craftsman tool set that was still in the package and I got a gouge, parting tool and skew with the pen set. What feed back does anyone have on these too lathes? I have put in a order for Nova chuck in my latter to Santa. Thanks again and I only hope to turn something that I feel is good enough to send in a picture.
If the craftsman is the geared variable speed, it works well but sounds like a freight train. Also, the spindle has a bit of play that is not curable (bout 2-3/100 of an inch).
I'm a huge fan of the Jet Mini and it can be aquired in non-VS form for under $200 (6 speed step pulleys that take about 30sec to change speed). Been using mine for 5 years and beat the living crap out of it. It's amazing what you can turn on a lathe with a 15" bed and a 9" swing.
Figure the Mini for $200, a set of HF tools to start out for $50, an old Nova chuck (the tommy bar kind) for $130, a face shield for $20 (required, goggles won't save your face from shrapnel), a respirator for $30 (also required, dust masks don't work and sanding dust is dangerous), a couple of nice crown or sorby gouges for $75 each, and various finishes, sandpaper, and CA glue for the remaining $50.
Congrats, you have a turning shop for $600.
Good luck and welcome to the vortex.
Dietrich
I'm a huge fan of the Jet Mini and it can be aquired in non-VS form for under $200 (6 speed step pulleys that take about 30sec to change speed). Been using mine for 5 years and beat the living crap out of it. It's amazing what you can turn on a lathe with a 15" bed and a 9" swing.
Figure the Mini for $200, a set of HF tools to start out for $50, an old Nova chuck (the tommy bar kind) for $130, a face shield for $20 (required, goggles won't save your face from shrapnel), a respirator for $30 (also required, dust masks don't work and sanding dust is dangerous), a couple of nice crown or sorby gouges for $75 each, and various finishes, sandpaper, and CA glue for the remaining $50.
Congrats, you have a turning shop for $600.
Good luck and welcome to the vortex.
Dietrich
I'll agree with Dietrich in all respects except about the Craftsman lathe. IMHO I wouldn't consider the Craftsman lathe. The one I've used, well let's just say, I think it won. It certainly fought me every step of the way. The Jet, on the other hand, is a sweet machine, in its class.
Whit
Whit
My wife and daughters bought me a Delta Midi (almost identical to the Jet mini) about 18 months ago for my birthday. This was the first lathe I had touched in more than 25 years I think. It rapidly had me hooked on turning. I joined the local AAW chapter and they convinced me to buy a "real" lathe, so I started looking. Several of them have Oneways or something similar. As I continued to turn on the Delta I realized that it did almost everything I ever asked it to do. Most of the problems I had were with my skill level, not an issue with the lathe. As I have developed better skills the Delta still does everything I ask. I may still buy a bigger lathe someday, but I can't convince myself that I need to spend as much as I paid for my first new truck! I don't think you will go wrong with a Delta or Jet mini, both use 1" x 8tpi and a #2MT.
The only problems I know of is the VS Jet is extremely underpowered compared the regular Jet or Delta. With a minimum speed of 500 rpm it is nerve-racking to start a large bowl, it helps to be sure the lathe is bolted down to something HEAVY.
I finally realized the difference between good woodturners and bad woodturners is the skill level, not the lathe. Off to make some more shavings-
Ray
The only problems I know of is the VS Jet is extremely underpowered compared the regular Jet or Delta. With a minimum speed of 500 rpm it is nerve-racking to start a large bowl, it helps to be sure the lathe is bolted down to something HEAVY.
I finally realized the difference between good woodturners and bad woodturners is the skill level, not the lathe. Off to make some more shavings-
Ray
wheels4 said:
Since you have put yourself on a strict budget for turning, I suggest that you put off getting a chuck. You simply don't need one, and they're expensive. Newer turners don't seem to realize that before 1990, the 4-jaw chuck didn't exist. We did just fine without them. I have two, an early Nova and a Stronghold. I seldom use either. I do most of my vessel turning using a glue block and a screw chuck. If you need info on using glue blocks, just ask.
Hi, Wally.
I've got to ring in here about not needing a chuck. I'd personally consider one as a must have, following the lathe, basic tools, and safety equipment. It's true that, before 1990, they pretty much didn't exist (at least not in the form they are in today). That being said, alot of what we use as standard equipment today didn't exist in their current form until pretty recently, including the deep bowl gouge, HSS tools, variable grind jigs, hollowing tools, etc.
Personal opinion is that, though a chuck isn't required, it is a highly functional tool that makes turning in general much more versatile and convenient, not just a luxury or a complicated toy. Best comparison I can give is that you can do cabinetwork just fine with a handsaw, hand drill, chisel, etc. You don't NEED a table saw, drill press, router, morticing rig, etc (please take this in the hyperbole form as it is intended).
IMHO,
Dietrich
I've got to ring in here about not needing a chuck. I'd personally consider one as a must have, following the lathe, basic tools, and safety equipment. It's true that, before 1990, they pretty much didn't exist (at least not in the form they are in today). That being said, alot of what we use as standard equipment today didn't exist in their current form until pretty recently, including the deep bowl gouge, HSS tools, variable grind jigs, hollowing tools, etc.
Personal opinion is that, though a chuck isn't required, it is a highly functional tool that makes turning in general much more versatile and convenient, not just a luxury or a complicated toy. Best comparison I can give is that you can do cabinetwork just fine with a handsaw, hand drill, chisel, etc. You don't NEED a table saw, drill press, router, morticing rig, etc (please take this in the hyperbole form as it is intended).
IMHO,
Dietrich
dkulze said:
You're right, the 4-jaw is a very functional piece of equipment, but I don't agree with your comparison of a handsaw, hand drill etc. As I mentioned, I have two chucks that are seldom used. My choice. I've turned hundreds of vessels using glue blocks, and I've taught about 300 students in classes, nearly always using glue blocks. I explain fully the various methods for fastening a blank to the lathe. Many of these students, years later, are still using glue blocks, others are using chucks. Matter of choice. There are advantages for both. But the glue block isn't an outmoded way of turning. I know other very experienced turners who use glue blocks. I still say that a turner on a budget is better off spending his money on good tools, and equipment that is really necessary for good turning.
IMHO you will have more fun with a $400 lathe and a $200 chuck then with one of those $1000+ lathes. To me fun is what it is all about :cool2: