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My first lathe, my first post here

I actually had a small toy sears lathe in the '80's, but I gave it away because it wasn't very good and I wasn't really interested in turning. I have a modest amount of woodworking experience, but not with a lathe. I am about as green as you can get, a total newbie.

I went to this guy's shop to look at something else and saw this PM 90 3ph and he sold it to me for $350. It had been one of those in a school auction that he just wanted to get rid of, since he had closed his shop. The base cabinet needs to be redone (sandblasted and painted) but it is not too rusty. The lathe has little rust and looks pretty clean, though I will surely paint it the original "pea green" and polish it up.

So I am not going to turn many pens with it, but it will make some spindles and be a good toy. I don't know whether I can find a duplicator for it, but that would be nice later. I don't have any tools and only one tool rest, but I am sure that they will come in time. Right now it is sitting on the floor inside my shop door disassembled and sometimes I hear a small voice comming from that direction saying "fix me!"....

I plan to buy a book on turning and learn to do some basic stuff at first. It may take a while but I hope to "get there" in time. I may never be as good as those of you who have a great passion to work your lathes daily and I honestly don't aspire to do alot of what I have seen posted. To me it is a tool to help me with cabinet work and maybe to help me relieve some stress.

But I am looking forward to reading posts here and maybe someday contributing.

Enough musing for now.

Hope you all have a great Christmas!!!!!!

woodstuff

Reply to
woodstuff
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Hi woodstuff, Yes Darrell's site is a good place to start. In addition buy "Woodturning A Foundation course" by Keith Rowley or the lathe book by Ernie Conover. I prefer the latter but most would probably prefer Keith's book. By the time you finish reading one of them you will be itching to get started. Bob

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Reply to
turnerbob

Another thing you could do is check with your local woodworker's store. Many of them, like Woodcraft or Rockler, have demonstrations and classes. If you can catch a woodturning demo I'm sure it will set the "turning hook" and reel you in.

Reply to
strikerspam

The best book is Keith Rowley's "Wood Turning a Foundation Course"

Reply to
Ralph E Lindberg

I saved the web sites in my favorites and will study them after the Holidays.

Reply to
woodstuff

Hi woodstuff, Yes Darrell's site is a good place to start. In addition buy "Woodturning A Foundation course" by Keith Rowley or the lathe book by Ernie Conover. I prefer the latter but most would probably prefer Keith's book. By the time you finish reading one of them you will be itching to get started. Bob

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Web site saved and I will look at the book for sure! Thanks woodstuff

Reply to
woodstuff

I will try to go to a demo or class, but I can probably get most of it from a book(s) and learn alot by just playing with it. I don't have much free time to go to classes, but rather have to steal time occasionally. I never went to school to learn my trade, but gleaned some from others over the years and learned by doing.

I have a small cabinet shop and the lathe will be right there if I want to go on a "rabbit trail". It is always a boom or bust thing for me and right now business is good. I will somehow find some time.

Turning will be a perfect hobby for me. Thanks for the suggestion!

woodstuff

Reply to
woodstuff

| The best book is Keith Rowley's "Wood Turning a Foundation Course"

I will definitely look for this book! Thanks!

Reply to
woodstuff

Reply to
strikerspam

Hi Woodstuuf,

The turning books by Ernie Conover are real nice. I did take his bowl turning class and learned a great deal. There are a great number of books out there, check the book store shelves and find the ones that interst you and start there. Good luck and keep it fun!

Dan

Hi woodstuff, Yes Darrell's site is a good place to start. In addition buy "Woodturning A Foundation course" by Keith Rowley or the lathe book by Ernie Conover. I prefer the latter but most would probably prefer Keith's book. By the time you finish reading one of them you will be itching to get started. Bob

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Reply to
dan cordes

one more recommendation: if the class is not practical, get a DVD. Might even help more than the book. I like the one by Jimmy Clewes. He has 4 but the first is called Turnaround. You see basic work, stances, sharpening and tips. Seeing is believing. Enjoy, Max

Reply to
Max63

if no one else has mentioned it, vist

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the aaw site, look around and see if there is a local chapter

I am webmaster for a local chapter

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with a similar url so you can look there and see what these chapters are like - but they are all different - if there is one near you, it will almost for sure be something you want to connect with.

Reply to
William Noble

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