Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 22, 2008 04:24am | #1

   Joe,

   Do you turn bowls or spindles?  I don't like turning anything other than green bowls.  The wood's easier to cut, produces long strands of shavings with little dust, and, best of all, is usually free.  Even better, if you get your bowl blank from the right part of the tree, it will elongate and turn into a truly unique work of art.

   Ever use 12-grit sandpaper?  We joke that you could turn a bowl with that stuff!

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.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. 
   ThreePuttJoe | Jul 24, 2008 03:10am | #4

   Hey Chris -

   I have been trying my hand at both, but bowls really seem to be grabbing me. I haven't tried any green bowls yet, but will soon. There is so much you can do with the design of a bowl, and unlike most other projects (mine especially) a mistake can just take your bowl in another direction.

   12 grit sandpaper...is that just a rock, glued to a piece of paper? : )

   Joe

1. 
   gofigure57 | Jul 24, 2008 03:47am | #5

     12 rocks.

2. 
   andyfew322 | Jul 23, 2008 06:24am | #2

   yeah I'm just getting into it, and hope to have a lathe this weekend

    

   The next level is here.... Turning.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 23, 2008 08:11am | #3

   Andy,

   What lathe are you looking at?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.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. 
   andyfew322 | Jul 24, 2008 04:38am | #6

   I'm looking at the Central Machinery 45276-3VGA 14"X40" from Harbor Frieght and the 8pc. HSS set by Windsor Design 47066-8VGA also from HF. Both are on sale and I have a coupon for a new store near me. 

   The next level is here.... Turning.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 24, 2008 05:26am | #7

   Andy,

   I started out with a lathe similar to that and quickly outgrew it.  The four speeds are relatively high for roughing out bowls and there isn't much mass, so you would have to bolt it to a sturdy and heavy stand/bench.  As a benchmark, my SC lathe has a slowest speed of 500 RPM (versus Central Machinery's 1125 RPM).  I would not want to be spinning an un-true 8" bowl blank much faster than 500 RPM.  I think that 1125 RPM would be downright scary.

   That said, I think that that lathe would be a good choice for spindle work.  It has #2 Morse tapers which are the most common.  Check the thread size on the headstock (motorized side).  1" x 8TPI is the most common, but you should be able to find accessories regardless.

   I use mine as a doorstop.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.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. 
   andyfew322 | Jul 24, 2008 06:01am | #8

   I'm mainly going to be doing spindles for now, but that is a good point. 

   The next level is here.... Turning.

2. 
   davidbrum | Jul 25, 2008 04:42am | #9

   I'll jump in here Andy. I also just got a lathe ( used Jet) which is very similar in appearance to the HF unit. There are a couple of websites which describe how to modify the speed control knob on the Jet to get a slower speed. It looks easy and I will do it sometime soon. I don't know if that's possible with the HF unit, but they do look similar. BTW, for bargain turning stuff, there is a lot offered at Penn State. They have a Wolverine knockoff which I recently bought. It works just fine. davidb

3. 
   johnlill | Aug 26, 2008 07:48pm | #21

   David or anyone,

   I just saw this thread. Does anyone have a link to the web site referred to in message #42658.10?

   "There are a couple of websites which describe how to modify the speed control knob on the Jet to get a slower speed. It looks easy and I will do it sometime soon. "

   Thanks!

   John L

4. 
   davidbrum | Aug 27, 2008 02:35am | #22

   Hi John

   Here's the one that I saw.

   http://home.comcast.net/~hypot/Projects/LatheSpeed.htm

   Best wishes,

   davidb

5. 
   johnlill | Aug 27, 2008 11:47pm | #23

   Thanks, David!

6. 
   twotowers | Aug 28, 2008 03:40am | #24

   John,
   Before you slow down the speed of your lathe understand that only certain motors can do that. Most motors can burn out if you slow down the speed under the pressure of turning. Look at the thread for further info.
   Best,
   Jim

7. 
   davidbrum | Aug 28, 2008 07:32am | #25

   Hi JimOn this particular Jet lathe, you are changing the pulley size rather than motor speed. They have a variable diameter pulley system. The extra low speed position just decreases (I think) the pulley diameter a little more. Best wishes,
   davidb

8. 
   johnlill | Aug 28, 2008 09:12pm | #26

   Jim,

   Thanks for the warning. The Jet 1236 already has the ability to go to a slower speed but there is no detent in that position. The link that David provided just makes it easy to stay at that speed. When I first got the lathe I emailed Jet about what the speeds are and there was one more speed at the lower end that there are detents so I'm sure it's OK.

   John

9. 
   BioHaz1906 | Aug 07, 2008 05:36am | #18

   Chris,

   Do you have a midi lathe?

   Bio

10. 
    flairwoodworks | Aug 07, 2008 08:52am | #19

    I've got Steel City's variable speed model - 60100.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.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. 
   Saltchuck | Jul 25, 2008 10:23pm | #10

   Andy, I think you will find that the Harbor Freight 34706 is a significantly better lathe than the 45276. It's very similar to the Jet 1236. I've seen the 34706 on sale for $199, which is about what I paid for mine.

1. 
   andyfew322 | Jul 26, 2008 05:24am | #11

   That is prety good, BUT It doesn't have a spur drive for turning spindles. and where is it on sale for that low I saw $269?

    

   The next level is here.... Turning.

   Edited 7/25/2008 10:28 pm ET by andyfew322

   Edited 7/25/2008 10:32 pm ET by andyfew322

2. 
   dgreen | Jul 26, 2008 11:51am | #12

   It does have a spur center, you can see it in the manual and parts list here. I believe you have to purchase it in one of their stores to get the lower price. 

    

   ................................................

   You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London

3. 
   andyfew322 | Jul 26, 2008 10:16pm | #13

   OK, I'll see it in the store today, thanks for your help 

   The next level is here.... Turning.

3. 
   Saltchuck | Aug 02, 2008 08:26pm | #14

   Andy,I was just in my local Harbor Freight store this morning. The 34706 lathe is on sale for $209.99, "Discount taken at the register".Chuck Taylor
   Everett, WA

1. 
   andyfew322 | Aug 02, 2008 09:41pm | #15

   yeah, I have decided to go with that lathe. I went to the store and immediately turned away from that other one. Once the other lathe is in stock, I will definitely get it. 

   The next level is here.... Turning.

4. 
   z123456789 | Aug 06, 2008 07:34pm | #17

   Be careful with cheap lathes.  Where I teach turning we generally recommend a Variable Speed Jet mini, if you are in the market for an inexpensive lathe.  The ways on the Harbor Freight lathes are not very ridgid, so when you tighten down on a bowl blank they flex, which is not a good thing.  Otherwise I have found the Harbor Freight lathe to be pretty good.  As my friend with a HF lathe puts it, "I paid more for my chuck than I did for my lathe, what was I thinking."

   You really can turn a 10 inch bowl on a jet mini.  And it is a really quiet lathe. 

   The 10 speed Nova is a good lathe for $1,000, particularly if you can catch it when they throw in a chuck for free. 

1. 
   andyfew322 | Aug 08, 2008 02:59am | #20

   I am going with a more expensive lathe, though it is from, HF. It is a lot better than the other one I was looking at. 

   The next level is here.... Turning.

3. 
   mufti | Aug 02, 2008 10:59pm | #16

               Just a thought. Turning hard wood - wood that is hard can help at first in many ways. You are not constantly schucking up the tail stock to take up play, the finish is easier, you can feel the bevel rubbing and so on.