• It's time to cast your vote in the October 2025 Turning Challenge. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Curt Fuller for "Bell Ornaments" being selected as Turning of the Week for October 27, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Newbie advice

C

Cleburne

Joined
May 6, 2005
Messages
3
Likes
0
I'm getting the bug to delve into woodturning, both as recreation and a possible source of income in the future. Can anyone recommend a good starting lathe in the $400-500.00 range. Am primarily interested in learning to do bowls, vases. Also, are there any DVD's that would help my education? Any specific tools / attachments I need to get along with a lathe? I'm in the south Louisiana area. Are there any tuning associations or clubs in my area that anyone may be aware of?

Thanks for the help.

Cleburne
 
Be advised...

If you go to the AAW home page you will see the menu bar on the left. Go to local chapters and search LA for a club in your area. I'm sure you will find answers to all your questions at a local club.

As to lathes: How big? mini, midi, "full size?" When you contact a local club ask if you could "try out" various lathes. The conventional wisdom gleened from this and other forums is: Buy the best you can afford for what you plan to turn. If you plan to turn only pens, tops, small boxes, and bowls then a mini or midi lathe is for you. I personally think Delta make a good lathe.

If you plan to turn larger pieces then you'll need a bigger lathe. Again, the conventional wisdom is that the best lathes for the dollars spent are the Powermatic 3520a and the Vicmarc VL 300.

A good set of tools will cost from $39.99 @ Harbor Freight to $240.00 @ Craft supplies, Lee Valley, or Woodcraft. A chuck will cost about $200.00.

Welcome to the vortex called woodturning. Once you've been sucked in, there's no escape. :eek:
 
Last edited:
Do you really know what your getting in to?

You should run as fast as you can. You can't get out once you start. Hey, I will save you the time. Just send me that money and I will send you some pictures and a bowl now and then. You will really make out in the long run. LOL :D Really there are many already good discussions in back threads about what you need. Good luck on your trip into turning.
 
Many Thanks!

;) arbud,

Thanks for the advice about AAW's website. I did indeed find a chapter close to home! I'm thinking of a full size lathe, and have an old Grizzly catalog. Their machines seem reasonably priced. However I'm not at all familiar with the different manufactures and their reputations.


..........................................................
jmr2001,

Thanks for your offer, it's under consideration.

.........................................................

Jeff Jilg,

I think I'm due for a new addiction. I've been under the spell of target shooting and reloading all my life. I now feel the need to produce things from the heart that will outlast me and be passed from the kids to the grandkids for generations.

.........................................................

Best Regards to all,

Cleburne
 
The main thing I find rewarding about this hobby/work is that while you are having fun doing it, you are also producing something. I have had a lot of hobbies and most of them were fun. But after doing them for awhile I noticed that none of them resulted in anything tangible.

With woodturning you end up with items that you can share with your family and friends. And if you really get addicted you can eventually start selling some of your output. I got started by making a couple of wedding presents. Woodturning can result in some nice gifts that people will enjoy for many years.

Minor downsides are that you get dirty, you get some exercise, and you end up outdoors sawing up logs.....maybe those aren't downsides afterall :cool2:
 
A question of grizzly...

Cleburne, I have a friend that has a the G1495 lathe. Here are the draw-backs according to him: 1. the headstock spindle threading is not The "standard" 1" x 8tpi of 1.25" x 8tpi. 2. the inboard and outboard, headstock, spindle, threadings are different, i.e., not interchangable. 3. The headstock does not swivel for outboard turning. 4. It tends to vibrate/shake quite alot. 5. It's marginally powerful. 6. It needs more than 7 spindle speeds.
And 7. the tailstock "sucks."

My opinion is that the Delta 46-715 @ about $650.00 would be a better buy.

However, in all probability, in 2 years you'll get the "up-grade" bug. If you have the financial wherewithall then skip the $650.00 step and get one of those funky, mustard or blue-gray machines. :cool:
 
Mustard?

:confused: My better half calls it "Calf Sh** Yellow". I'm going to have to set her straight. See you learnd something new each day.
 
Personally, I'm a big advocate of picking up a Jet Mini as your first lathe. Inexpensive, extremely well built, portable, and will cover pretty much anything you need during the initial learning period. Most folks I know who own a Mini have moved on to larger lathes but kept the Mini, as it is such a good lathe and all projects don't need a full sized lathe. I still use mine as much as I do my larger lathe and, as we speak, my Mini is at a club demo, along with 6 others.

If you start with a Mini, by the time you're ready to spend the money on a larger lathe, you'll know what you want. Also, at $200, you leave room for a face shield, respirator, tools, and chuck.

Happy turning,
Dietrich
 
I went through the upgrade routine. I started with an old (40+ year old) lathe I purchased for $100. Then I wanted something larger. Did that. Then I wanted something larger. Bought another larger lathe. Finally I got some sense and purchased a Oneway 2436 - which hopefully is the last lathe I "need". I found most of the lathes in the for sale adds in papers. Buying a used lathe is cheaper than buying a new lathe. In the end I think I agree that buying a small Jet or Delta lathe as a first lathe is a real good idea. Good lathes for the price. And you can find out if you really enjoy wood turning. Then you can go to the larger end lathe without all the ones in the middle. This way you do not have to purchase too many sets of face plates and chucks, etc. Jet puts out a nice variable speed small lathe at a very reasonable price.

Just my two cents worth.
Hugh
 
Start small

Cleburne,

My recommendation to a Newbie is to start small. Get a Jet Mini with variable speed and get a Talon chuck. Buy a few good tools from Packard or Craft Supply. Your first problem will be "How do I sharpen them?" A basic grinding wheel with the Oneway Wolverine system is one solution. At this point you have spent about $280 + $220 + $80 + $130 = $710 as a minimum before you buy the tools.

As typical males, "Bigger is Better". Resist the temptation to go down that street. Work hard at becoming good at small things before you get that big lathe. Make small bowls, ornaments, light pulls, ringholders, and honey dippers and get good at them before you start to think big. It is the theory of some that one becomes better with the tools if you go through this phase. Then, if you haven't found your niche, expand your horizons and move on up the chain. But start with a good foundation.
 
New Lathe

I recently purchased a new Craftsman Lathe from Sears. It is a 15" lathe that will turn up tp 20" outboard with the head turned sideways. It has a 2hp motor and is variable speed. It was around $500. This is the 2nd Craftsman lathe I own and so far I love it. Check it out here.15" Sears Lathe ;)

Mark Lynch
Southern Ohio
 
Last edited:
Thanks Again!

Many thanks again for all the helpful suggestions. A friend has offered to give me a Delta wood lathe that needs some TLC. I don't yet know its model number or size, but expect to have it in my little shop this weekend. He got it from a local trade school that was discarding it. This may be something other newcomers to the craft may want to keep in mind. I'll soon be rolling up my sleeves and jumping in. Will keep y'all abreast of my progress once I'm able to get underway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top