Replies

1. 
   Napie | Dec 02, 2008 06:30pm | #1

   Two things you need to know, spindle thread and the spindle Morris taper.  Those determine the attachment of chucks, centers, etc.  There are some “standard” sizes depending on the manufacturer like 1”-8 threads and #2 Morris taper. Most chuck makes use an insert so you can change it for different threads and use the same chuck on a different lathe.  A good scroll chuck and a quality live center will make the turning experience a lot more fun to learn.  And get a few good quality turning tools.  Avoid sets, just get a ¼”, ½” spindle gouge, a ¾” skew, and a 3/8” bowl gouge, parting tool and a heavy round nose scraper to start.  Good high speed steel. There are a number of quality ones out there.

   Also I highly recommend learning to grind your tools freehand.  You need to sharpen a lot as you turn and using jigs really slows you down.  Get any of Richard Raffens books and videos, they are great, the best on the subject IMHO. 

   And always, always “rub the bevel”, that is the most important key to successful turning.  So, get some firewood, chuck it up and make a lot of shavings.  Reducing scrap to a big pile of mulch is the very best way to get good at it and best of all its free.

1. 
   jako17 | Dec 02, 2008 08:31pm | #2

    Don't you mean  Morse taper? Napie

1. 
   Napie | Dec 02, 2008 08:59pm | #4

   Yes I do, thanks!  Not enough coffee when I was typing that, must have had chairs on the brain....

   Edited 12/2/2008 1:00 pm ET by Napie

2. 
   Jim65 | Dec 03, 2008 12:42am | #5

   Thank you, Napie
   I checked the tapers and the jet uses a mandrel 1”x 8 TPI (M33x3,5)and a few other names in the hobby lathe catagory and they use the same. Looking forward to giving this a go!
   Cheers
   Jim

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Dec 03, 2008 08:16am | #7

   Jim,

   That is the most common spindle thread and morse taper.  You should have no problem finding all the accessories you could dream of!Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   BG | Dec 02, 2008 08:35pm | #3

   Jim65,

   As Napie indicated there are some standards. The only problem I ran into was with the 'Rests'...I wanted a larger one for my Craftsman lathe and couldn't find one to fit.

3. 
   mike4244 | Dec 03, 2008 03:37am | #6

   I would look for a lathe with a 1x8 threads on the headstock spindle. Almost all accesories can fit this size spindle.If you want to turn bowls and spindles, you would need a full size lathe with at least 3/4 hp motor.1 1/2 hp would be better for bowls.Also a #2 morse taper is fairly standard. The majority of accesories fit this taper.Examples of accesories that may be used, drill chuck with #2 taper,live centers,dead center.

   If possible, aquire a lathe that can go 250 or less rpm's, best for larger bowl turning .The bowl blanks will vibrate the lathe until the blank is round.Slow speeds help with out of round bowls.

   Accesories for small lathes are often the same spindle size (1x8) as the medium size lathes (36" spindle capacity) so you can swich from small to larger lathes. Very large lathes use bigger spindles but adaptors are made for many accesories.

   I prefer a good live center, you could use a dead center if you are diligent about lubricating the point.I have never used a dead center in a wood turning lathe but many have. As far as chucks go, use a faceplate instead for bowls until you are sure what you need.Faceplate,centers and sometimes a drill chuck are usually included in the purchase of a lathe.

   You're first purchase should be a book on turning and lathe use,there are many too choose from.

   mike

1. 
   Jim65 | Dec 03, 2008 10:49am | #8

   Thank you Mike!The HP advice is good, I will look and see what is available here in the hobby catagory - We run on 220V here but unfortunately in Italy the appartment (or house) is limited to 3.0 kW, after this the breaker drops and we are in the dark so I need to find that 1800 watt machine and I can still have lighting... And I have ordered (even before buying a gouge) the rafffin video on turning - a good investment before spending big Euros.Cheers and thanks again!Jim

1. 
   Napie | Dec 03, 2008 08:32pm | #9

   Jim,

   If you get to the states I have a few hundred roughed out bowls in the loft of my shop.  You are welcome to some. That will get you started faster.  But I must tell you it is a lot of fun pealing large amounts of green wood from a chunk of a log to rough out a bowl blank, it is just the three month drying process that is a bore.

   Raffen is a great teacher, you’ll  enjoy the videos.

4. 
   Steinmetz | Dec 03, 2008 11:56pm | #10

   Jim, most lathe's tooling utilize Morse tapered spindles and Morse tapered attachments
   Example: # one Morse taper #two taper and the larger, number three, There are also Morse taper sleeves to convert A number one to fit a 2 and a #2 TO fit A #3.
   Live tail centers are great, as they don't need lubrication ( they rotate with the work). Their 60 degree centers don't burn up the center drilled hole in wood (or plastic) turnings.

   The Spindle in the lathe's headstock has a hollow tapered hole through it's length and is also threaded to accept chucks and face plates These attachments must all be of the same thread.
   They make threaded tapered shafts available to hold smaller chucks for drilling center holes and boring through the work from the tail end.
   Buy the tooling as you need them and Good luck with your hobby Steinmetz.

   Dead centers usually are used in the head end and just rotate with the work. Depending on the diameter of your stock, you'll need a few different sizes of drive centers (spurs) which bite into the work and rotate the work.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/3/2008 4:05 pm ET by Steinmetz

1. 
   Jim65 | Dec 04, 2008 10:54am | #11

   Thank you all very much!One last question if I may, I looked at the chucks and the oneway has a chuck - recomended in the posts. It is sold in different sizes - Stronghold Chuck, 1"x 8 TPI or 3/4 16 thread or 5/8 plain. I am going to guess from the inform you have all provided that you only need one of these and it must match the lathe.Looking around at the new&used sites here the brands from Holzman, Bernardo, Schlepach or JET all have the MK2 Morse and the 1" x 8" so it seems to me this is the standard for a mid sized lathe or at least you cannot go wrong.and I thought carving was expensive.... But At least it's not going towards golf clubs and a membership.Thanks again and happy turning!Jim

1. 
   Windwoodtrader | Dec 04, 2008 06:29pm | #12

   The Morse taper determines which chuck will be necessary. The chuck will hold drill bits primarily but many other uses are possible. The Morse#2 is indeed the most popular taper. The 1" 8TPI is also the most popular headstock threading size. You will to know this for buying faceplates and bowl/tenon fixtures. Penn State Industries (psi.com) has a reasonable cost line of turning supplies including lathes, tools, kits, chucks and all the other trappings. One lathe you may want to consider is a Rikon mini, sold by many suppliers. Is is similar to the Jet mini but has a slightly larger turning diameter- 12" (30cm) vs the Jet 10" (25cm), indexing stops on the headstock and tension release on the motor for changing speed. The motor is also shielded from turning shavings. It rated well in lathe tool comparisons.Good luck and have fun!(:-)

   Windy Wood

   In the Helderberg Mountains of NY

2. 
   oatman | Dec 05, 2008 02:18am | #13

   Jim:

   With most chucks, you also have to buy an adapter that screws onto the chuck and matches the threads on your headstock. At least this is the way my Oneway was sold. You can also purchase different sized jaws to accomodate smaller or larger stock. There is no end to the ways  to spend money in this hobby. The good news, after you get minimally skilled, some fools will want to buy the stuff you make, and voila, a hobby that pays for itself. At least that's what I tell myself. Good luck. Oh, and get a good respirator. Wood dust will eventually do you in.

   Dennis