Replies

1. 
   BG | Feb 18, 2004 02:50pm | #1

   Biscardi,

   I have a craftsman lathe with a cast iron bed and it works fairly well (cost $450 new).  I'm not sure how much turning I'll ever do. I enjoy learning and attempting all woodworking activities so my current lathe is fine for now.  I did make and mount it on a heavy base...doug fir 4x4, 6/4 poplar top, nested draws under top....which provides great stability...and if I swap out the lathe for something larger, I still have a great work table with storage...
2. 
   Manchild | Feb 18, 2004 05:36pm | #2

   I have a small Craftsman and have turned alot of stuff with it. I relate to the limitations you mentioned.

   It helps if you think small. Alot of the stuff I turne is small. You just have to put on your glasses to see it.

   
3. 
   mike4244 | Feb 18, 2004 06:12pm | #3

   Frank, your last paragraph answered the question. If you are not sure how much turning you will do in the future, you'd be nuts to buy an exspensive lathe. Build the top and fill the base with sand as you described, in the future when you are sure what you want to do, then spend the big bucks .

   mike

4. 
   10fingers | Feb 18, 2004 09:19pm | #4

   Penn State Industries has a made in China clone of a NOVA Chuck for about $50.00.  They also have another chuck that is less than $100.00.   You get more bang for your buck.  I bought a standard NOVA chuck that was on sale for about $125.   My lathe is a Harbor Freight made in China model that is similiar to the Sears lathe.   A heavy table and possibly filling the tube on the lathe with lead shot will help vibration greatly.   You can get some different styles of chisels from various suppliers or ebay.   I found a 3/4 hp Dayton variable speed DC motor for $5.00 at an estate sale.  It will be a long time before I outgrow my lathe.   Have fun.

5. 
   SawdustSteve | Feb 18, 2004 10:03pm | #5

   Hi Frank... Here's two easy and cheap things you can do to improve your lathe. First... Change the existing  'v-belt' for a link belt.   Second... place a shelf under your lathe.  Now get 3 or 4  50 Lb. bags of sand (or a couple of cinder blocks) and place them on the shelf.  Both of these easy cures should take care of most of the vibration.  I do, or did a lot of spindle turning on a VERY cheap lathe.    (OK, so you won't be able to turn a 48 in diameter table top, but that is for MUCH later.)  Use the lathe to learn if you really want to spend $$$ on a lathe, or is turning just a passing fancy.

   SawdustSteve    

1. 
   Biscardi | Feb 19, 2004 01:46am | #6

   I am encouraged to press on and do the best I can with what I have. It should be interesting to see how well I can get this to work.

   Frank

1. 
   jako17 | Feb 19, 2004 02:02am | #7

   Good decision Frank, Consider a ply box type base with toe kick and just fill it with sand.For a rigid top 3or 4 layers of 3/4 ply laminated together.When you go for a bigger lathe the ply wood becomes shelves etc.

6. 
   Telemike | Feb 19, 2004 08:41am | #8

   By all means, buy the most expensive lathe you can't afford. Even if you don't use it much, you can post here about how much better it is than a bunch of other lathes that cost less (that you've never tried).

   Sorry for the cynical post, that's the kind of day I had!

7. 
   ravenwind | Feb 20, 2004 02:21pm | #9

      I had a lathe years ago that was used at the time , it vibrated a lot too but still turned about twenty bowls on it and enjoyed it very much,  I have an old lathe in my garage that I never use as it is way too crappy, some day that used lathe will come my way thats in good shape. and then ill turn bowls again. I still have my knives that ive picked up over the years, glad I didnt get rid of them.

      I think making a heavy table is a good idea too, maybe if I had thought of that with mine it would worked better.

                                                                                                  dogboy