Replies

1. 
   jako17 | Feb 27, 2009 01:28am | #1

   I have hand wheels on 2 of the lathes I use and one lathe without.Though I could use an outboard face plate as a wheel on that.The only time I use the handwheel is for rotating the stock when cutting barley twists by hand.I certainly could live without it most of the time.What type of turning do you intend to do? 

1. 
   Eliezer | Feb 27, 2009 05:44am | #4

   Thanks for the reply.   I have not done turning since high school, which was over 50 years ago.  Watching the New Yankee Workshop has led me to reconsider turning.  [If not now, when?]

   At first, I was planning on turning to make legs for the NYW projects.  I just watched the Richard Raffan DVD on "Turning Wood" which made turning bowls and such look like fun.

   I have yet to see a demonstration for making "barley twists".

   Tools and machines have always been a fascination.  With a new band saw with 12" vertical clearance, I am even saving wood from downed trees in our woods.

   Thanks again.

   Russ [Eliezer]

1. 
   jako17 | Feb 28, 2009 03:13am | #12

   Turning legs is fun .Just remember the first one is easy, making the rest to match more chalenging.I would offer this advice; try to find a local woodturning group and get one of them to gve you some tuition .That is the easiest way to learn to turn and sharpen befre you invest in too much other equipment

1. 
   Eliezer | Mar 01, 2009 04:57pm | #16

   Thanks.  Sounds like good advice.

   I just found out about the Woodcraft classes in Allentown, PA.

   -- Russ [Eliezer]

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Feb 27, 2009 01:32am | #2

   "The only time I use the handwheel is for rotating the stock when cutting barley twists by hand."

   And for spinning the stock when you're setting up the tool rest to make sure you're not gonna clip it.

   You can live without it, but develop safe hand habits when turning the stock by hand.

   BTW, Happy Birthday!

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Eliezer | Feb 27, 2009 05:26am | #3

   Mike,

   Thanks.

   It seems logical that the handwheel would be safer than trying to grab the stock or chuck to manually rotate the work to check for clearance.

   Any recommendations on sharpening equipment?

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Feb 27, 2009 03:13pm | #7

   "Any recommendations on sharpening equipment?"

   Yes. Always sharpen your equipment. ;-)

   I just use my grinder with a fine white wheel and do it by hand. I don't do a lot of turning tho'. If you do a lot, you may want to consider a jig to help sharpen the gouges.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Eliezer | Feb 27, 2009 05:43pm | #10

   Very sharp!

   The white wheel for my 6" grinder sounds good for starters.  It is hard to imagine getting the right angle[s] without a jig of some sort.

   Thanks.

   Russ [Eliezer]

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Feb 27, 2009 05:50pm | #11

   Well, there is no such thing as "the right angle." You might wanna pick up a video or two on beginning lathe work. The ones I've seen all have pretty good info on sharpening, what tools to use for what, etc.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

2. 
   Eliezer | Mar 01, 2009 04:56pm | #15

   Thanks.

   Hope there are not too many BAD angles...

   -- Russ [Eliezer]

3. 
   bill5335 | Feb 28, 2009 06:52am | #13

   I bought a jig from Lee Valley for grinding.

    http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=45938&cat=1,43072 

    

   When I need to sharpen a tool, I just adjust the angle of the rest to match what is already there and grind the edge.

   Good Luck, have fun, be safe,

    

   Bill

4. 
   Eliezer | Mar 01, 2009 05:00pm | #17

   Thanks.  I just saved that link in my "tools" folder.

   It seems like a reasonable alternative to getting an expensive wet wheel outfit.

   -- Russ [Eliezer]

3. 
   flairwoodworks | Feb 27, 2009 07:53am | #5

   The hand wheel is useful for threading accessories onto the head stock. However, some lathes have an indexing pin which locks the spindle, so in effect does the same thing. If you are turning bowls, a hand wheel is useful to stop the work after turning the lathe off. Otherwise, you have to wait for the work to coast to a stop, which I find annoying. So I'm impatient.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be 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

1. 
   Eliezer | Feb 27, 2009 05:32pm | #8

   Thanks for the reply.  That was helpful.

   I am now considering the Grizzly G0632 which is 16" x 42", variable speed, and a hand wheel.  Though it is more expensive, it is still much less than the competitors.

   Thanks again.

   Russ [Eliezer]

4. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 27, 2009 11:35am | #6

   I decided to get a wood lathe for my 70th birthday.

   Sir! I would cash-in on some of your Life Insurance Policy and get THAT REAL LATHE YOU REALLY WANT!. I am sure the children will not mind at all! OK, check with the wife first!

1. 
   Eliezer | Feb 27, 2009 05:41pm | #9

   Thanks for the reply.  I must have gotten the message by mental telepathy.  I did talk to the wife [a must for tools over $300] and got her blessing to upgrade.

   The Grizzly G0632 runs just under $1,500 [w/o taxes, etc.]  It has a variable speed control which will allow starting from zero speed.  Seems like a safety issue [or so I told my wife.]  It also has a hand wheel!  I just need the entire landscaping crew to help me get it into the basement.

   I like the Jet models and the Laguna brand but I have had good luck so far with Grizzly; and it is much cheaper.

   Thanks again.

   Russ [Eliezer]

1. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 01, 2009 11:03am | #14

   Thanks and I'd think you wife really wants one of the modern Sewing machines!

   Or a compurter controled Knitting machine!

1. 
   Eliezer | Mar 01, 2009 05:01pm | #18

   Too late ...

    

   Thanks.

   Russ [Eliezer]

1. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 01, 2009 09:43pm | #19

   Too late ... For what?  I surelly hope she is with you now and if not, I feel your pain and the some...

2. 
   Eliezer | Mar 03, 2009 04:29am | #20

   Actually, the marriage is great [6 years].  What I meant is that I already sent in an order for the new lathe.

   It was a little tough learning that the lathe is back-ordered until May 20.  Thinking about getting it up the driveway with 7" of new snow made that seem okay.

   -- Russ [Eliezer]

3. 
   WillGeorge | Mar 03, 2009 02:44pm | #24

   Thinking about getting it up the driveway with 7" of new snow made that seem okay.

   I am sure when it comes, snow or not, you will find a way. Maybe use it outdoors untill the snow goes away?

4. 
   Eliezer | Mar 05, 2009 06:19am | #25

   At least, working outdoors should be better light than in my basement [even with all the lights].  Guess it comes with age.

   My real answer, I brought home a [Steel City] mini-lathe with variable [electronic] speed control.  Should help with the wait and maybe I will learn something.  It also give me a chance to sharpen the turning tools.  The tools were more expensive than the lathe ...

   Russ [Eliezer]

5. 
   KeithNewton | Mar 03, 2009 05:57am | #21

   None of my lathes have the motor built onto the headstock like that, but I think you could have a face plate screwed onto the spindle as well as the spur for spindle turning. It may be in the way a little, when you were turning close to that end, unless you had added extra length before hand. But you could use the faceplate as a hand-wheel.

6. 
   Eliezer | Mar 03, 2009 06:51am | #22

   Thanks for the note.  I ordered a new lathe with a "handwheel" although it looks more like a "handcyclinder".  It was the same with the Grizzly and the Jet 16 x 42 with electronic variable speed.  At my age, I thought I needed all the help I can get.

   I really like the knee bar for hands-free shut-off.  Guess I will have to come up with my own and wire it into the new unit.

   -- Russ [Eliezer]

7. 
   KeithNewton | Mar 03, 2009 12:41pm | #23

   I have two of mine set up with foot switches. One is momentary contact, which means that I have to hold it down with my foot at all times to keep it running. That has the advantage of automatically stopping if you feel the need to step back. The down side, is that I have to move it around while I change positions. Also, even with a shroud, I get on it by accident sometimes. The other one, has a foot toggle. I can get set into position with the tool sticking way back into a hollow, and almost in contact with where I want it to start cutting, then just tap it with my toe, and it will start. Tap it again, and it stops.