Is there a stand-out lathe for beginners?

Sheesh, if you are too lazy to ask the question, I guess I"m too lazy to answer it... the usual about people not being very specific about their needs, hopes, or skill level inserted here.

Remove the nospam from my address to email me!!

Tough question. The normal answer would be Jet Mini, Delta Midi, Fisch, General and maybe a couple others. These are all very much alike with basically the same specs and mostly cosmetic differences. I think you mentioned that you must turn from a seated position.

All of the above lathes have the motor mounted below the ways. (I know that is true on the Jet and Delta, not 100% sure of the others. This is a concern for you since you would like to have the spindle at about your elbow height. Pretty hard to do that with these lathes due to the motor placement.

There is a Bonnie Klein lathe that allows the user to place the motor where it is most convenient. With this machine the motor could be mounted to the rear of the lathe. But there is a downside to everything. This is a small lathe. You can turn pens and tops and maybe small boxes but don't think about anything large. And...it is expensive for it's size.

Definitely something to take a look at. Hope this helps,

Harry

Slipslide over to the rcw archives. Lots of the usual, and unusual, blah blah about your question there. If you don't find your answer, please return here with specifics re your turning ability, price range, brand bias, turning plans, space, present and future objectives, equipment on hand, ...blah blah, blah. IOW, help us help you. Arch

Fortiter,

It does, thanks. Slip

You're correct. My apologies. I wanted to be brief, not flippant or lazy. I'm trying to start a hobby involving wood but can't afford to buy the really good stuff (yet) for turning or for furniture making, etc. I am interested in your opinion and meant no offense to anyone here. Slip

The usual blah blah about used lathes (especially used lathes whose owners have passed on and left them in a house which the surviors want to sell) are cheaper for more lathe, but you might have to wait for one, and it would help if you can evaulate the state of the bearings, etc...

There are a couple of questions that need answers. How much do you weant to spend and what do you want to turn. Remember that tools are expensive unless you make your own. Good tools go for $40-80 a peice and you'll need several. Beinners sets start at $30 and while they'll teach you to turn and to sharpen, they won't be good tools. You'll still need to be able to sharpen your tools and even sandpaper costs money. Think about this and answer the first two questions, then, maybe, you'll be able to get a usable response.

Dave in Fairfax

I don't think you can go wrong with the Jet Mini Lathe. Good built lathe, do a lot with it even though it's a little small. Down the road a lot of people who want to do "bigger things" tend to buy another larger lathe, but even then, so many of them like the Jet mini lathe they keep it too. I just can't see that you can go wrong buying one. Price is like $200.00 shipped to you in USA, so it's not a "major" investment either. Good way to get into the hobby.

It's also got good resale value in the event that you decide the lathe or woodturning is not for you. hth - Check them out!

Remove the nospam from my address to email me!!

Enough of the blah, blah, blah answers :-)

Plan to spend about $1,000 to get going.

Tooling up:

Mini lathe: $300 Basic tool set - High Speed Steel: $200-$250 1/8" parting tool 3/4" or 1" skew (not oval) 3/4" or 1-1/4" roughing gouge 3/8" spindle gouge 1/2" bowl gouge (1/2" thick bar) 3/4" round nose scraper Grinder: 6" or 8" aluminum oxide wheels $40-$100 per set of two; recommend approx 60 girt and 80 grit Small, quality chuck (Vicmarc VM90 or Oneway Talon): $220

-------------------------------------------------------- Education:

Keith Rowley's book: Woodturning - A Foundation Course Del Stubbs video: Bowl Turning (this video is excellent, but quite old) Mahoney/Batty Bowl video: Two Ways to Make a Bowl (excellent discussions of principles and "rules")) AAW Sharpening video local AAW chapter membership

-------------------------------------------------------- Consumables:

Assortment of sanding paper/cloth from 80 grit to 400 grit and all in between. Oil finish (tung oil finish) Wax

With this set of stuff, you can turn most basic items: spindles, boxes, bowls, small platters/plates, tops, goblets, etc. With the addition of more accessories and/or more tools, you can get into small hollow forms, hollow Christmas ornaments, pens/pencils, etc.

Of course, the feeling you get when you complete your first bowl is.................... priceless!!

Joe Fleming - San Diego ============================================================================ =========

And don't do what I did and buy a cheap lathe. I wish I had spent the money on the lathe I spent on my saws. I didn't realize how addictive the damn thing would be. Now I am saving up for a new one and running the heck out of the HF rig. I did buy good tools and seems like I can't walk out of Woodcraft without a new tool of some sort. My next lathe will cost at least

1500.00 so i can get something of real quality. I am hoping that the experience of learning to do good work on a cheap lathe will make doing good work on a quality lathe easier.

Slip, I think the usual blah blah about used machines (i.e. better quality at a lower price than new) does not really apply to todays wood lathes. The features available in a new lathe today usually make them far superior than any old machine (before 1990 or so). And the prices of new lathes are often so low that you can get more lathe for the money, with features like variable speed and reverse that aren't even available on the old machines. Take a look at some of the modern Jet, Delta, Nova, Powermatic, General, etc, etc machines before settling for an old one.

Take a look at Amazon.com/Tool Crib of the North if you don't have a local machine dealer, or look through the many woodturner's supply catalogues. The AAW Symposium usually has a lot of lathes to look at in the trade show. As has already been suggested, a look through the archives of RCW will give more specific advice about which lathes are good for what jobs.

(All this is being said by someone with a decided preference for old machines in general, and with almost every machine in the shop dating from before 1970 except for the lathes - which were all bought new)

CD boulder, co

Dennis is right. One nice thing to the approach that I list is that all of the tools, accessories, books, etc. are all quality items. Even if you start with a mini lathe, 100% of these items will move forward with you to your next lathe. Even the chucks listed have an adapter insert that allows you to switch to a different spindle thread for a nominal cost.

If you decide to sell, all of the items are desirable by turners. Cheap tools and accessories will be much more difficult to unload.

Joe

discussions

============================================================================