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Mike Jennens

M

Mike Jennens

Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Messages
19
Likes
3
Location
Bismarck, ND
Hello,
I just started turning with the last month. I'm getting close to retirement, so I'm looking for plenty of hobbies. I love woodworking, so woodturning seemed like a great "next step."
I have a small WEN lathe for now but am already looking to move up to a larger lathe. I also have a shop full of woodworking tools and mill some of my own lumber.
I'm retired military, finishing off my working years as an advisor at a local university. I've been married to the same wonderful woman since 1979. I have two great kids and three wonderful grandkids.
I'm hooking up with a local woodturner group, but am always on the look-out for others in my neck of the woods.
Mike
 
Welcome to the forum.Get the biggest lathe you can afford and have room for in the shop. You won't regret it. My suggestion is join AAW and look at the main website (top toolbar) for a local chapter. Both are worth the investment and time.
FWIW, got nine grandkids and two dogs. All are spoiled.
 
You're in luck ... there is an AAW chapter in Bismark, the Dakota Woodturners and they meet at Bismarck State College Vocational Tech Center on the second Saturday of the month at 9 AM. The club president is John Warren and his phone number is 701-220-6259. You can email him at john.warren.ndwoodturner@gmail.com.
 
Bill Boehme said:
You're in luck ... there is an AAW chapter in Bismark, the Dakota Woodturners and they meet at Bismarck State College Vocational Tech Center on the second Saturday of the month at 9 AM. The club president is John Warren and his phone number is 701-220-6259. You can email him at john.warren.ndwoodturner@gmail.com.
Click to expand...

I've already hooked up with this group. Very friendly and welcoming. I'm looking forward to future meetings Thanks for the info!
 
That's good to hear. I'm looking at the 1221 SP. It's a bit more affordable than the VS and I don't know that the difference between the two warrants the price in my case. Any thoughts on the VS compared to the SP?
Thanks,
Mike
 
Mike Jennens said:
Any thoughts on the VS compared to the SP?
Thanks,
Click to expand...

The castings and most all components are the same on the two lathes.

difference is the 1221vs is 1HP variable speed with 3 step pulleys
The 1221 sp is 3/4 HP with 6 constant speeds from 6 step pulleys.

Variable speed and the bigger HP is really appreciated when doing bowls and hollow form’s.


Pens, boxes, spindles, Christmas ornaments the variable speed and HP would not be missed as much. I could do most with one belt change to go to low speed for sanding at the end after turning the object on a medium high speed. the low speed is 380. I like to sand a little bit slower but I could sand at 380 just fine.
 
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My preference is the opposite of Al's so now you might be on the horns of a dilemma. I would choose the single speed where you change the speed by moving the belt from one pulley step to another. What it lacks in variable speed convenience, it more than makes up in power. If you only intend to turn pens, bottle stoppers, peppermills, and similar small diameter items then the VS is a good choice. If you want a lathe with enough oomph for everything then the fixed speed is what I would choose. Just my 2¢.

Just to expand a bit on my choice, when the motor is running near full speed the two models are about the same in mechanical output power. However, when you are turning large items at slow speed there is a significant power penalty for a variable speed lathe. The power penalty is partially offset by having a low speed pulley range on the VS model, but then you're back to needing to change the drive belt from one pulley position to another. Besides that, I'm phrugal (AKA cheap).
 
Mike Jennens said:
Hello,
I just started turning with the last month. I'm getting close to retirement, so I'm looking for plenty of hobbies. I love woodworking, so woodturning seemed like a great "next step."
I have a small WEN lathe for now but am already looking to move up to a larger lathe. I also have a shop full of woodworking tools and mill some of my own lumber.
I'm retired military, finishing off my working years as an advisor at a local university. I've been married to the same wonderful woman since 1979. I have two great kids and three wonderful grandkids.
I'm hooking up with a local woodturner group, but am always on the look-out for others in my neck of the woods.
Mike
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum. Looks like you are doing all the right things, joining a club is my number one advice for someone just starting. Aloha
 
You can never have too many lathes, having several different sized lathes is always a plus. If you get serious about the hobby, you want to decide on the spindle size and tool up around that thread size and morse taper for the accessories you invest in for the long haul. When a person decides they want a big lathe they usually have to invest in new chucks and accessories that will accommodate the bigger spindle on the bigger lathes.
 
Welcome from SETexas!
Lathes are like tools are to others, there’s always another, better— up to a point.
Get one you’re comfortable with so you can decide what to do later in the long run.
You can do small things on a bigger lathe but not vice versa.
 
I ended up buying a Jet 1221SP. I got it while it was on sale, so I got it for a great price. I'm very happy with it and the lack of variable speed is not an issue. Changing speeds is very quick and simple. I've turned quite a few pieces on it, so I'm just trying to "get the touch" for riding the bevel and cutting smoothly. I'm still working on getting all the accessories, but that will take a little time; I'm keeping myself on a budget. It would be very easy to drop $1000 on "things I need" for it. :)
So far, so good.
Thanks,
Mike
 
There are plenty of accessories for the lathe that you can build yourself if you have the time and a few tools to work with.
There are tons of videos on YouTube that cover different lathe accessories you can build yourself.
 
I think the next accessory that I'm going to get is a steady rest or bowl gouge(s).I've seen a video of a DIY steady rest, so I'm giving that a lot of thought too.
 
Mike Johnson said:
There are plenty of accessories for the lathe that you can build yourself if you have the time and a few tools to work with.
There are tons of videos on YouTube that cover different lathe accessories you can build yourself.
Click to expand...

If I were to rank my "stuff" in order of usefulness I would have to put turning tools (bowl gouges, spindle gouges, skew chisels, scrapers, parting tools, hollowing tools, and even specialty tools way ahead of a steady rest. Postponing building a steady rest will give you time to refine and improve your steady rest design.
 
Mike Jennens said:
I think the next accessory that I'm going to get is a steady rest or bowl gouge(s).I've seen a video of a DIY steady rest, so I'm giving that a lot of thought too.
Click to expand...

Get a sharpening system and a bowl gouge, spindle gouge, parting tool and learn to use them.

A steady rest is essential for deep hollow forms and a string steady is essential for for very thin spindles.
Very few people use a steady rest for bowls - good technique will eliminate all or most of the benefit derived from a bowl steady. Steady scare rests are most commonly used on much larger lathes than the 1221.

If you are interested in turning bowls - this thread has two videos on bowl turning.
http://www.aawforum.org/community/index.php?threads/working-with-green-wood.11626/
 
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