Thread: Got my Lathe

Got my lathe home and on the bench today. I cleaned it up, hooked it up and went to playing. A half hour later I came inside with a 3 inch dowel. Look Hun, as I proudly showed the wife a nice symmetrical 3 inch by 4 inch dowel. Uuu, ya, its round? To which I reply thanks, use to be a lopsided square. I just spent some time turning coves, lines, wedges, tapers, then take the big gouge and straighten it out and practice more. Take the big gouge and straighten it again, did that about 3 times until I ended up with something resembling a candle stick with rolling curves, coves, ledges etc. So much for cutting the grass.

Better get some ice boots! It's a long, slippery slope yer startin' down.
------got the t-shirts..............Mike

Well, I can see some nice brush handles or shaving bowls in your future - any pics of the lathe? What kind? How's you chose that one over any other? Do tell!

Mark

What kind of lathe? Wood or machinist? What brand?

I love turning and have won many awards with my Nova DVR:

NOVA DVR XP Lathe - Woodcraft.com

Whatever you got, have fun and good luck with it.

Wow, Icedog! You're SERIOUS into turning! I don't know that I've ever seen a wood lathe at that price point before!

Mark

Nothing as heavy as the Nova. The right tool for the right job, I plan on turning handles for brushes, protafilters for espresso machines, maybe a small bowl or two in it. I was looking at miniature lathes but they are just too small and limited but I did not need a large full size lathe. Dad use to work for ShopSmith so he has a 3 car garage turned wood shop with everything I could ever have use of, but I did not want to go over there and use his big Mark 5, it will turn 16 inch over swing so you can do some big wood on it, although the variable speed adjustment is very nice. No need to change belt positions, just turn up the dial.

I ended up picking up a mid sized Delta LA200 bench top. It gives me 10 inch swing over bed so it will handle what I will be turning on a regular basis with no issue. The lathe is short so it fits in a small work space nicely and will take 14 inch between centers. I do have the bed extension so if I need I can go out 37 inches. It will turn from 500 to 3700 with belt adjustments. I also got the 4 jaw mandrel, a full set of tools (10), a set of mini tools for pens and a pen mandrel along with some other odds and ends. I picked it all up for $400 from a guy that used is for about a year. He was hard up for cash. Down side, he had no clue how to sharpen tools. It looks like he was using a bench grinder on the tools. Dad has a sharpening rig for his strip sander to do the turning tools, as well as drawer full of tools, so we will be grinding out the damage and putting a proper edge on them. It is just right for what I will be doing. If I find myself needing to turn a 3 foot diameter bowl, I will go over to dads and use his. He is in the western Ohio wood workers association and has a wall full of ribbons from shows.

I have been doing wood work for several years off and on but this is my first foray into the turning world. It really is not that difficult, you just have to learn the technique but I have a good teacher. No photos but I will take one when I get home.

I played with that handle I started yesterday. I smoothed out a couple of spots, did a little sanding and put a Dutch oil finish on it. I will cut it off that block in another day then put a little deft wax on it. Nothing special, but I will center drill the brush cup and put a large synthetic brush knot in it and give it to mother to use as a hair cut brush.

The guy I got the lath from had the pen mandrel and box of pen blanks and pen guts. He had one blank glued up and on the mandrel so I figured what the heck. Lets see if I can control the tools and turn an even and thin barrel. So I turned my first pen. I turned in a hand swell and then sanded it down to 1500 grit, buffed it off and put Dutch oil on it as well. Once it dries I will put a coat of deft wax on it and put the hardware on. I think it turned out pretty good considering it is only the second thing I have ever turned on a lathe.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

I think it turned out pretty good considering it is only the second thing I have ever turned on a lathe.

The words of a man with a monkey on his back. The pen thing is a very tough habit to kick.

Finished turning a portafilter handle and matching controls for my espresso machine yesterday, the hard part was tapping the wood for the threads. Bacote is dense enough to work without a metal threaded liner. They work pretty good, I am happy with them.

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Finished turning a portafilter handle and matching controls for my espresso machine yesterday, the hard part was tapping the wood for the threads. Bacote is dense enough to work without a metal threaded liner. They work pretty good, I am happy with them.

The Coffeegeeks are going to go wild over being able to buy custom handles for their Brewtuses and the like! You've got a new way to fund your razor hobby my friend. Very nice work.

I on the other hand sold my PID'd Silvia and my Macap MC4 long ago to fund my razor hobby!

Chris L