Jet mini for Xmas

RT: The lathe is just one part of the set of items you'll need for turning. You should be checking out lathe tools (gouges, parting tool, scrapers, etc.) and sharpening items as well. Woodcraft has a whole bunch of sharpening things on sale until the end of October, and you should take advantage of that sale, even if you won't be able to play on your new toy until Christmas. A slow speed grinder and grinding jig (Wolverine is the primary one used by most turners) will make your turning even more efficient. Having all of the necessary tools in hand when you get the green light (or maybe green and red light?) will enable you to turn as soon as you can. Crown, Sorby, and Taylor are brands of lathe tools I'd recommend looking into, especially if you can get them at 15% off!. Also think about buying some finishes (e.g. Behlen's Woodturner's finish, Mylands products, Renaissance Wax, etc.) and finishing supplies (abrasives, steel wool, etc.) using the discount as well. There are LOTS of things that you could use besides the lathe itself that add much to the art and science of turning! You can also get your shop ready to receive the lathe - work on a stand or bench for it, put in some task lighting so the area is well lit, and consider some form of dust collection.

Enjoy your new toy.....only 8 weeks to wait.....

Rob Wallace, Ames, Iowa

RTH wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com:

Hi Rob and all,

I just received notice that my Jet Mini shipped yesterday (meep!, meep!) so your advice is very timely and I thank you for posting it. I'm taking a beginner's woodturning class on Nov. 1 and 2 at the San Diego Woodturning Center and was hoping to learn enough there to determine which tools to buy; but your post got me thinking that I'm going to want tools at hand as soon as I finish the class so perhaps I'd better start shopping now. The catalogs I've looked at have sets of turning tools for sale that seem to have the same basic tools but in different sizes (i.e. micro, mini, standard, etc.). I have no immediate plan for turning small items like pens but plan on starting out by making some handles for some socket chisels and then maybe some small bowls or other ornamental turning. I'd appreciate advice from any of you to steer me in the right direction. Namely, what size tools would you consider to make up a decent starter set? Also, I've read some of the shortcomings of buying turning tools as a set, so I'm not necessarily against buying a few tools that I'll definitely use and waiting to buy others as needed. TIA.

Cheers, Mike

Mike wrote: (clip) I'd appreciate advice from any of you to steer me in the right direction (clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^ The question of buying a starter set, vs buying high quality tools one at a time has been argued furiously and repeatedly in the past. My own opinion, shared by many others is that a GOOD QUALITY starter set will serve you well. Please don't waste your money on a $20 set from Harbor Freight. After you have learned more about turning, you will be in a good position to start adding really good tools to your rack, one at a time, as you come to understand them. Don't squander $60 to $90 on a bowl gouge now, only to learn later that a different one would have suited you better.

I guess that I'm going to have to disagree (in part) with Leo's post below. As stated, buying sets has been discussed many times. Leo said not to buy a $20 set from Harbor Freight. I don't know about a $20 set. They Have $5.95, $9.95, and $29.95 sets that I'm aware of. The under $10 sets are junk. The $29.95 set (ITEM 47066-0VGA) contains:

1'' & 3/4'' roughing gouges, 1/2'' & 1/8'' parting tools, 1/2'' & 1'' skew chisels, 1/2'' round nose scraper, 1/4'' spindle gouge

They are HHS and are pretty good. Not a Crown or Sorby or other major brand, but acceptable. They will get you started in spindle turning with a minimal expense and give you something cheap to learn sharpening on. If you use some less than others, they will always be "good enough" for limited use. The ones that you use a lot, can be replaced one at a time with good tools as they wear out, thus spreading out the expense of obtaining a set of good turning tools over time.

Add a $50 1/2" bowl gouge from one of the better manufacturers and you will be set for awhile.

Gene

........and the beat goes on. ;) Arch

Fortiter,

I have to agree with Gene. I bought a Jet mini a few months ago to begin turning (mostly green wood/logs) in my small workshop. I also bought the HSS 8 tool set from HF. So far the 1" roughing, 1/8" parting and 1/2" scraper have come in very handy for my first spindle (goblets) and some small bowls (up to 9" dia). I also bought a 1/2" Sorby bowl gouge at a local Woodworkers warehouse and a 3/8" Henry Taylor spindle gouge on-line.

The only down side to the HF set is that they seem to have a clear enamel coat on the HSS that gets messed up by my tool rest. I guess they dont want them to rust on the long boat ride from China. The HF set isn't pretty, but it cuts OK and I have no qualms about "honing" my sharpening skills with them.

I was thinking about grinding one of the HF skews down to make a scraper out of it.

Kevin

"One good turn deserves another"

Oops, I guess I didn't articulate my real question very well as I didn't mean to start another debate over buying a starter set of tools vs. buying tools as you need them. My main question is which *size* of tools to get. There seem to be tools labeled micro, mini, midi, regular size, etc. I don't plan to turn thimbles so micro is out and I don't plan to turn pillars so I was wondering which size is a good compromise for turning things like chisel handles and small bowls. Thanks everybody for your input.

Cheers, Mike

Mike, If I were buying one bowl gouge and one spindle gouge, the bowl gouge would be

3/8 English or 1/2 inch actual shaft diameter; the spindle gouge would be 3/8 inch. Joe Keeler

Those would be full-size.

Only reason for smaller is to make more detail, has nothing to do with the overall size of the work.

Hey Mike, You asked a question nice and clear. _My_ response wasn't. Don't let a smartass lessen your participation in the ng. Good luck and have fun with the new toys. Arch

Fortiter,

No problem Arch. The 'starter set' vs. 'buy as you need' dilemma is an old, yet unresolved issue in many areas (e.g. router bits); with reasonable proponents on either side of the fence. I guess I'll get the $30 HSS set from Harbor Freight to practice with. My sharpening skills are pretty pathetic so I won't feel too bad if/when I mangle them and they'll give me something to practice on before upgrading.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions.

Cheers, Mike, smelling the lingering smoke of San Diego County on fire