Ceaig Duncan

[Craig Duncan]

It appears I've discovered another rabbit hole to spiral down into.
I've been down many in my life.
I'm retired now so what's one more.

I spent my life in the automotive repair industry, 46 years, being both a mechanic and shop owner.
Specialized in European cars.
I loved the work and - most - of the customers.
Ten years ago I sold the business to my son, who's taken it past my wildest dreams.
You can see it on the web and social media.
Duncansauto.com or on Facebook under Duncans European Automotive, there's a bunch of videos there.

I spent more than a few of the last ten years traveling around this great country shooting black powder cartridge rifles at silhouettes and paper targets, from 200 meters to 1000 yds.
In that game you have to cast your own bullets, load your own ammo and often times, make your own brass.
That was, and still is to a degree a very deep rabbit hole.
Challenging and fun.
I've seen a lot of great places and met a lot of great people doing it.

Spent time rebuilding old Kawasaki 2-stroke street bikes.
Then moved on to Harleys.
The old H2 750's weren't as much fun to ride as they were when I was in my 20's
Modern Harley's are like riding a 120HP recliner, which suits my tastes these days.

So about this new rabbit hole, wood turning.
I guess it started a few years ago when a customer gave me an old Craftsman lathe with a bunch of chisels and other tooling.
It looks like the old "tube lathes" but has a cast iron bed.
I sharpened the chisels with a file, fooled around with a few old pieces of wood and then it sat in the back of my shop here at home, collecting dust and "stuff"

I think it was last winter or early spring I saw a video where a guy poured colored resin around pine cones in a mold and turned a vase.
I thought it looked stunning!
Then I thought, "I bet I can do that"

And I thought my tool and equipment buying days were over when I sold my business.
Silly me.

So I bought some budget carbide tools, built a pressure pot, made some molds ect, ect.
Got a band saw and have been on the hunt for a decent used lathe or a new one that's not in the Powermatic class.
I know, I know, bleed once, but I'm not going to bleed that much quite yet.

After a few casting failures and a couple of "unexpected rapid departures" of work from the lathe, I finally turned a somewhat acceptable looking pine cone and resin vase.
I'm not going to buy tooling for, or put any $$$ into that old Craftsman lathe, though I did replace the headstock bearings.
It serving it's purpose of letting me learn techniques for now.
When I find a replacement, I'll pay it forward and give it away.

I enjoy reading the posts here and seeing the work you guys do.
There's a wealth of info here.
"Once you stop learning, you start dying" - Albert Einstein

Thanks for letting me join,
Craig

 

[Mark Hepburn]

Craig, Welcome to the forum! You've had an interesting life. Woodturning will certainly add to it. I checked the shop's website and that's some operation there.

Mark

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Welcome, Craig. You will find a wealth of information here and a group of folks willing to share that information.

 

[Craig Duncan]

I've been reading a lot here on the forums and, using the search feature to answer questions I have.
The search feature here, for some reason, works much better than other forums I participate in.
I've been looking for a lathe and may have found a used one locally.
It's a 2018 Jet JWL1642evs.
I comes with a host of tooling, face plates, chucks and more importantly, spare parts.
Like a couple of spare belts and 2 NIB VDF controllers.
It's the 110v version.
I've read here about the problems some folks have had with electronics and replacement parts.
Asking price is $1200.

I'll check it out in a couple of days when we get back home from vacation.
Hope it looks and works as good as the online listing seems to show.
If so, it should be a good quality tool to learn on.

Thanks for the Welcome,

Craig

 

[Jim Reynolds]

I recommend that you contact Donna Zils Banfield website. Her address is Derry, NH. She is an excellent artist and instructor.

Welcome, be safe.

 

[Mark Hepburn]

I've been reading a lot here on the forums and, using the search feature to answer questions I have.
The search feature here, for some reason, works much better than other forums I participate in.
I've been looking for a lathe and may have found a used one locally.
It's a 2018 Jet JWL1642evs.
I comes with a host of tooling, face plates, chucks and more importantly, spare parts.
Like a couple of spare belts and 2 NIB VDF controllers.
It's the 110v version.
I've read here about the problems some folks have had with electronics and replacement parts.
Asking price is $1200.

I'll check it out in a couple of days when we get back home from vacation.
Hope it looks and works as good as the online listing seems to show.
If so, it should be a good quality tool to learn on.

Thanks for the Welcome,

Craig

Craig, that Jet 1642 was my first lathe and served me very well for years with no issues. I only sold it because, due to multiple surgeries and hospital stays, I didn't think I'd ever get back in the shop. I sold off a bunch of tools then also.

But I'd give it a good look to be sure there are no issues with it now, and I'll bet you'll be pleased with it for a long time.

 

[John K Jordan]

Yes, try it out - it's a great model. I've had two of the 110v versions. Plenty enough power for what I like to turn.

Pretty easy to move too. I've moved and set up both by myself, then took one apart and set it up at a friend's house.

Something that kills lathe VFDs is power surges and lightning strikes. A good industrial surge protector will help. Unplugging the lathe when leaving the shop will help more.

JKJ