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Ted Wetherill

T

Ted Wetherill

Joined
Feb 12, 2026
Messages
2
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Location
Barrington, RI
I have worked with wood my whole life but have never turned. I just acquired an old Delta 46-200 lathe with an interesting manual variable speed mechanism. I haven't turned yet but have tried to learn proper sharpening before I start. I'm sure I will need lots of advice and look forward to learning. I am also new to forums, so learning that also.
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Ted, welcome to the AAW forums! There is a crazy wealth of information here and if you are not already a member of a local AAW chapter, take a look at that as well as nothing replaces hands on learning. One of our members Dave Landers created an interactive map to find chapters. https://www.aawforum.org/community/threads/map-of-aaw-chapters.25224/. If you need any help with the forums please reach out. Looking forward to seeing you around here.
 
Welcome. Sharp tools are a must for quality turning. There is a saying- If you think the tool needs sharpening, you're overdue.
 
Good idea to learn to sharpen. At first, I paid someone at Woodcraft to sharpen my gouge. Then I decided I could do it better.

John Torchick said:
There is a saying- If you think the tool needs sharpening, you're overdue.
Click to expand...
Another saying: if you can't sharpen you can't turn.
(An exception is with Hunter carbide tools with round, cupped tips - razor sharp, used lie gouges, rotate to expose sharp edge. Replace when work. I can sharpen fine but prefer the Hunter tools for somethings anyway.)

Ted Wetherill said:
Delta 46-200 lathe with an interesting manual variable speed mechanism.
Click to expand...
Is that a Reeves drive, belt with variable width pulleys? Many, many people use them. Not as nice as electronic variable speed but will do job.

JKJ
 
Welcome Ted, in the beginning speed numbers seem important. But as experience grows not so much.
 
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