Just curious, who owns a lathe....

[Wood Borer]

I'm CraigB, I don't own a lathe yet.

I did some turning at school and it was fun, you seem to get reasonable results in a short space of time with little experience and not a very high outlay in purchasing the machinery.

I think for under $5000 you could purchase a reasonable lathe and a handy set of chisels and have a completed bowl or box in a matter of hours with very little tuition or experience.

That amount of money for cabinet tools would not go very far and for a beginner the initial results would be quite ordinary.

The good turners do spectacular work, the rest just have fun I think.

When I get a lathe it will be for fun and to turn legs and decorative parts for cabinets etc.

When rejuvenating an old wooden chisel or screwdriver handle, it is spectacular how quickly you can get an acceptable finish when you sand and wax it in bench drill. To get a similar finish on a flat piece would take hours whereas on the drill it takes minutes. The turners seem to get it a bit easier when it comes to finishing.

It annoys me when people find out you are into woodwork and assume you are a turner. When you tell them you don't own a lathe, they knowingly nod their heads and assume you wish you could afford a lathe so you can be a real woodworker.

[Wongo]

I must say the first thing people ask me is usually “do you own a lathe?”

Can't they say “Do you own a 10” JET supersaw” or “Do you have a 2ph powermatic jointer” or something like that?

[silentC]

People ask me that too. And I say "yes"

See, I am a real woodworker!

[Wood Borer]

See, I am a real woodworker!

[Ruddigar]

I'm CraigB.....

You are?

Who's this bloke then:

I don't own a lathe.....

Is this one of those Spartacus moments?

[munruben]

I'm CraigB, I don't own a lathe yet..

I think for under $5000 you could purchase a reasonable lathe and a handy set of chisels

Thats a bit pricey for a hobby. My ex son in law bought a lathe for $200 and he turned out some. real nice bowls and stuff
I don't have one but have thought about it, thats as far as I got, thinking about it.

[ss_11000]

Also I have never turned a pen.

but you will ...

i have a lathe but i want a bigger better one

[Wood Borer]

You are?

Who's this bloke then:



Is this one of those Spartacus moments?

Yep - if I had hair it would be blonde.

[Iain]

I have a little record and thought about something bigger, but, I use it occassionaly to make handles, knobs or whatever, I am afraid it just doesn't excite me that much.
I have also been asked first up many time 'do you own a lathe?', I really wonder why.
I saw a GMC lathe for sale at a car boot sale, the poor bugger was dreaming in more ways that one, he had a price tag of $300 on it, and it came with a full set of turning tools, 4 Marples chisels, he reckoned that they were really good turning chisels
The chisels were your everyday chisel, not turning tools.

[Ashore]

I have a lathe and its great it has this big sanding disk on it , I do take it off if I need to , like Iain turn knobs handles etc but otherwise its a great faceplate sander

[wheelinround]

I have a little record and thought about something bigger, .

Record thought they'd gone out of fashion must be a 45 if its only little.......after an album or old 70 as the bigger one

I have one new Jet mini variable speed
new to turning did it at school many moons ago always wanted to take it up my trade was partly woodork but nothing to do with turning
I bought it for hobby and fun

[Andy Mac]

I had a small homemade lathe, years ago, but a mate has it now. I use one at work, but in my home workshop I have a metal lathe (& mill-drill), but there wasn't a polling option for it. It does get covered in wood shavings ocassionally! And I'm competent on neither...

Cheers,

[Stuart]

And I thought the old records ran at 78....

I have a (non electronic-variable) Jet Mini - running very nicely if I knew how to use it. Pens are fine, but I can't figure out bowls - just roughing down results in so many dig-ins that my nerves are shot after a few short minutes.

[wheelinround]

And I thought the old records ran at 78....

I have a (non electronic-variable) Jet Mini - running very nicely if I knew how to use it. Pens are fine, but I can't figure out bowls - just roughing down results in so many dig-ins that my nerves are shot after a few short minutes.

Oh um yeh 78 thats what I get for typing in the dark

A non eletcronic -variable Jet-mini????
Pedal power & belt change good way of staying fit I guess hooking exercise bike up to drive but hard to move aroud thought

[Stuart]

Well, yeah - both can run at different speeds - one uses the traditional belt and pulley system, the other has electronic control.

Doesn't mean they don't have motors!