Newbie looking for lathe time

[Greg Haggard]

Newbie here, and relatively new to woodturning. Prior to moving to Western MA in October, I was a member of Lowell Makes, where they have a couple of really nice Rikon lathes.

I hope to have space to set up my own lathe and shop in the near future, but am wondering if anyone has suggestions for acquiring lathe time in the area. From what I can tell, makerspaces around here don't really have decent functional lathes if any.

 

[Dean Center]

Contact your local turning club and I bet you'll find some folks happy to share. (It is Santa's Workshop season, so they might be too busy for a few weeks)

You can find your local club on the AAW web site (woodturner.org), click on "Chapters", then "Find a", then put in MA, NY, and maybe some of those bitty surrounding states, since the closest chapter may be over the border.

From your description, I'd guess it'll be the Western Massachusetts Woodturners, in West Springfield. They probably have a web site.

 

[Odie]

Or......just get yourself Raffan's first book and some professional videos.......and dive right into it!

=o=

 

[Phil Hamel]

I know we have members here that are from the Belchertown, Chicopee area. I would try the above listed advice of looking in the W.Springfield area. Closest club to me is in Hudson. That would be quite the distance for you.
You should probably edit your thread title to include western Ma. Would hopefully get more help that way.

 

[Greg Haggard]

Thanks, Phil. I joined the Western MA Woodturners Club and am making connections. I have been in discussion with someone locally from the club who has a lathe I can use. Hopefully I will be posting new work soon!