Just wondering how many of you experienced turners out there started out or are using a small metal lathe rather than a min wood lathe to make small turnings like pens, peppermills, etc.?
I'm thinking of playing around with turning stuff like this, and have used metal lathes over the years, and wondered if there was a drawback other than the dust :)? For instance, a little Unimat or Atlas metal lathes should be able to turn pens... right?
Pros and Cons?
If you plan to make small items of wood and metal parts then a metal lathe is the way to go. The trick is going to be making a tool rest for hand held wood turning tools that is satisfactory. I can imagine an attachement you could have welded up that you clamp to the cross slide.
I would not get one of the original Unimats unless it is their Maximat. Any of the Sherline or little countertop lathes should work for you.
Dan
My opinion , and it's just that, altho I own both types, is if you already have a small metal lathe use it for small wood turnings, but don't buy one for pens & peppermills. You will probably want to turn bowls etc. soon. Someone will mention that many successful woodturners use metal lathes, but IMO a small metal lathe compromises the easy moving about of the banjo and tailstock with camlocks, so desirable in the freehand techniques of woodturning. Usable wood lathes and turning tools are available at much less cost than tooling up for even a small engine lathe.
IOW, It's true that you can turn wood better on a metal lathe than metal on a wood lathe... but if the majority of your intended work is on wood, buy a wood lathe. You wont be sorry.
Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter
Other's are pointing out the pros and cons.
If you really want to do both, you should take a look at the Taig, as it was designed for both and has both wood and metal turning accessories available. I don't own one, but I've heard good things.
I agree with Arch - I have one of each, and I would be very reluctant to use the metal lathe for woodworking - maybe some specific operation (threading comes to mind), but not general work. For one thing, a metal lathe has cutting oil all over the place, and cutting oil plus wood dust makes a really gloppy mess that clogs up the lathe - I know this because the metal lathe I bought came from a guy who used it to make pool cues.
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