Thread: Help a noob out?

I've always wanted to get into wood turning. I recently aquired a C.M.T. variable speed metal lathe. It's a fairly spendy one. When I got it I was under the impression that it was a wood lathe... Anyways, I'm trying to figure out what I should do with it now. It only has a 3.5 inch clearance so my turning options are fairly limited. Should I just use it as an intro lathe and just make pens and brushes? Or should I try and sell it and get a wood lathe?
Thanks in advance.
-Matt

Congrats on your new lathe!

It would be great for turning brush handles from aluminum and delrin.

Would people use a metal brush handle!?

Originally Posted by guthriemt

Would people use a metal brush handle!?

Yup. Mine are Aluminium.

If it's wood you want to turn then your options are limited as far as dia./length goes but you can spin wood on it. Play with it awhile at least, you may want to keep it and still get a wood lathe :<0)

The only thing I haven't heard turned into a shave brush is a chrome dog turd. But now that I have said it :<0)

Well not only could you make brushes and pens but you could also make reproduction vintage collars and pin washers. Charly lewis has a video on how he makes his washers. He makes a lot of things look rather simple though so it may be a little more tricky than it looks.

should work fine
I believe Pixelfix uses a metal lathe to get the perfect joints on his brushes
3.5" swing is a 7" diameter depending on your intensions it should be big enough for most jobs unless you wan to do bowls etc
you would need to add a tool rest for the chisels for hand lathe work that's all

PENS! I cannot believe I didn't think about turning metal pens. I'm an avid shooter and used to always break pens while shooting until I switched to a full stainless steel pen. Anyways.... Is there anyone in Southern Utah that'd be willing to show me the ropes on turning and how to use this thing?