G'day everyone

[DamianH]

Hi everyone,
I inherited a lathe that I have been teaching myself to use (with some mixed results!). I am hoping to improve with all the help and tips I can get.
Cheers
Damian

[crowie]

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum "Damian".
There are a heap of members in & around Melbourne as well as across the rest of Victoria..
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [work in progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork.
Cheers, crowie

PS - The Melbourne Woodshow next week at Caulfield - check out the forum stand
Also watch out for the monthly Get Togethers......

[DamianH]

Cheers for that Cowie.
I am planning on stopping in and checking out the show. I am not working on anything just yet but shall post up a few of my early attempts.

[Allan at Wallan]

Hi everyone,
I inherited a lathe that I have been teaching myself to use (with some mixed results!). I am hoping to improve with all the help and tips I can get.
Cheers
Damian


Hi Damian,
Welcome to the Forum - what part of Melbourne are you from?
I always recommend getting advice from within a woodturning club
before you develop too many bad habits.
Our club is "Northern Woodturners Club", located in Kingsbury
between Reservoir and Bundoora. Beginners always welcome.

Allan

[old1955]

Welcome to the forum Damian.

[DamianH]

Hi Allan,
I live in Mordialloc so a little bit of a hike out but definitely manageable. Cheers for the welcome

[Allan at Wallan]

Hi Allan,
I live in Mordialloc so a little bit of a hike out but definitely manageable. Cheers for the welcome

A little bit far to walk home if your car breaks down but feel free to drop in
and have a look some time if you wish.
Tuesday nights 7.00pm to 10.00pm. Wednesday mornings 8.00am to noon.
Thursday nights 7.00pm to 10.00pm.
Location: Kingsbury Scout Hall, Browning St Kingsbury (about 70 metres
from Plenty Road). Look for the hall in the paddock on the left.

Allan

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Welcome to the forums damien,

You will find that we are a friendly lot, with very few of the argumentative types often found on forums. Here we like to help and play nice!

Although I have some experience in general woodwork and antiques restoration I am also just starting out with woodturning - so have no expertise to offer you. However, I fully support what Allan has said - it is really important to join a club or, if you can't do that, then I suggest that you to take lessons as it is very easy to get into bad, and dangerous habits.

There are some good videos on woodturning safety linked as a sticky on the woodturning forum.

Happy turning.

David

[DamianH]

Cheers David,
Antiques restoration sounds pretty interesting. I definitely will try and get down at some stage to catch up, it's handy that you are open on Wednesday mornings as I work shift work so I should be able to get in.
Cheers

[Christos]

Welcome to the forum.

I have one question and that is did you get any instructions on using a lathe and the related tools before acquiring the lathe?

Personally I rate the following steps as a way of better understanding the lathe.

1. Some instructions on using a lathe weather that is via a club or one on one.
2. Instructional videos and books, these are normally created by wood turners. Might be able to borrow these from local library.
3. Non-instructional videos like youtube.

The third item can be a little bit of a hit and miss as some of these do not give formal instructions, they just give you what can be make.

[DamianH]

When I picked up the lathe it came with all different chocks, chisels and a few other various pieces of equipment. I have gotten majority of my information from YouTube. I have made a few candlesticks, a bowl and a large stein mug.

Each time I have learnt heaps, (generally from the mistake I make) I was more so just testing out whether or not it was something I was going to enjoy. Now that I know that I plan on using this forum and hopefully joining a few clubs.

[JJF]

Welcome to a forum