I recently got a 1954 SS. It is in great shape (after a little cleanup and paint) Anyway I've never used a Lathe yet. I'm collecting peices to use the lathe. Right now I have the SS of course. I picked up a tailstock with a dead center. I also have a drive center I need to pick up today. I still have to get a rest and tools.
Any suggestions on tools. I don't want to spend alot as I am just learning. Also any precautions for me before I start.
Thanks,
Jason
New to the Lathe What should I watch out for?
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jasonlester
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paulmcohen
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If you want to save a few bucks and spend them on chisels and gouges. Don't throw away the dead center yet! When you use it, follow the directions in your SS manual - Then put some beeswax on the dead center and turn slow for a little while to let the wax work into the piece. Then go to town, turning. (maybe candle wax will work also - don't know for sure) A live center makes turning somewhat easier and leaves no residue on the tail end of the workpiece, but you remove that part anyway. First spend your money on tools!jasonlester wrote:"... I still have to get a rest and tools.
Any suggestions on tools. I don't want to spend alot as I am just learning. Also any precautions for me before I start."
Jason
As far as tools go- I've been happy with my Shopsmith set that came with the Mark V. My turning experiance is limited to about a dozen spindles, a couple of candle holders a bunch of drawer pulls and two salt grinders.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
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james.miller
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Tools
The woodturning tool sets that Shopsmith sells are pretty good. The new set of 5 tools is HSS which made a big improvement. Depending on what you are going to turn determines which tools to buy.
Also the Benjimins Best for individual tools and Harbor Freights top of the line set for $45 can be good.
Jim in Tucson
Also the Benjimins Best for individual tools and Harbor Freights top of the line set for $45 can be good.
Jim in Tucson
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jasonlester
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I plan on getting a live center eventualy. I already had the dead center So I'll use it for the time being.
I still need to get a tool rest and tools.
For turning the pen blanks can you do that with the normal centers or do you need that screw center that SS offers?
I'm just wanting to learn how so nothing fancy yet. I may try to make something fancier later though if I like it.
I still need to get a tool rest and tools.
For turning the pen blanks can you do that with the normal centers or do you need that screw center that SS offers?
I'm just wanting to learn how so nothing fancy yet. I may try to make something fancier later though if I like it.
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paulmcohen
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To turn Pens you need a Pen Mandrel and a way to attach it to the Shopsmith and usually a live center to prevent heat buildup. There are excellent instructions on several websites, including Penn State and Woodcrafter. You can attach the mandrel to the headstock with a drill chuck, 1/4" router chuck or other method.
I would start with predrilled blanks or a kit, that will give you everything you need including mandrel, bushings, pen parts and wood. Some of the wood stores offer 2-4 hour classes what includes everything and lessons for <$40. Rockler has one for Wine Stoppers on May 26th and it is free, (but you don't keep anything) they have a Pen one usually in June.
I would start with predrilled blanks or a kit, that will give you everything you need including mandrel, bushings, pen parts and wood. Some of the wood stores offer 2-4 hour classes what includes everything and lessons for <$40. Rockler has one for Wine Stoppers on May 26th and it is free, (but you don't keep anything) they have a Pen one usually in June.
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james.miller
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For turning pens on the Shopsmith I use the pen mandrel that is held in the drill chuck and the live center. Just make sure you have the proper size bushings for the pen kit you are turning.
Mandrels and pen kits can be purchased through Penn State Industries http://pennstateind.com/ or the Woodcraft store or most woodworking stores carry them.
See if there is a Wood Turning club in your area, they can be very helpful for all types of turning.
Also the Shopsmith Traveling Academy has a turning day but when I went they didn't do pens.
Jim in Tucson
Mandrels and pen kits can be purchased through Penn State Industries http://pennstateind.com/ or the Woodcraft store or most woodworking stores carry them.
See if there is a Wood Turning club in your area, they can be very helpful for all types of turning.
Also the Shopsmith Traveling Academy has a turning day but when I went they didn't do pens.
Jim in Tucson
Jason,
I'm fairly new to turning myself, around 9 months since I first held a tool during a class at the local vo-tech.
The first thing I'd recommend investing in is any type of beginners' class. You should look for something that will teach you how to safely use a lathe for spindle work (maybe bowls) and probably to sharpen your chisels. If you can go to the SS Traveling Academy class, even better so you can see some of the sharpening options on the SS, you should also get some small bowl experience. The SSTA classes are a great value IMHO.
Second, get whatever you need to sharpen your chisels. I bought and really like the gadget that allows you to use the SS's sanding disc.
Third, buy a live center. SS has one, but you can also use other brands with a #2 Morse taper. I bought a set that has interchangeable centers from my local Woodcraft store. Keep the dead center to use as a punch. As one of the other posters said, you really don't want to fuss with it plus you need a live center to turn pens.
Fourth, use some cheap wood (pine 2X2s or even 2X4s worked well for me) to turn some simple spindles. Don't worry about the quality, just get used to your tools and developing your technique.
Then start having fun. I only got started at home around the first of the year and have enjoyed turning several pens/pencils and a pair of segmented lamps. Pens are nice in that they are inexpensive and can be completed in a relatively short time; I generally do at least a two pen and pencil sets at a time which takes me maybe 2 hours from start to finish.
Roy
I'm fairly new to turning myself, around 9 months since I first held a tool during a class at the local vo-tech.
The first thing I'd recommend investing in is any type of beginners' class. You should look for something that will teach you how to safely use a lathe for spindle work (maybe bowls) and probably to sharpen your chisels. If you can go to the SS Traveling Academy class, even better so you can see some of the sharpening options on the SS, you should also get some small bowl experience. The SSTA classes are a great value IMHO.
Second, get whatever you need to sharpen your chisels. I bought and really like the gadget that allows you to use the SS's sanding disc.
Third, buy a live center. SS has one, but you can also use other brands with a #2 Morse taper. I bought a set that has interchangeable centers from my local Woodcraft store. Keep the dead center to use as a punch. As one of the other posters said, you really don't want to fuss with it plus you need a live center to turn pens.
Fourth, use some cheap wood (pine 2X2s or even 2X4s worked well for me) to turn some simple spindles. Don't worry about the quality, just get used to your tools and developing your technique.
Then start having fun. I only got started at home around the first of the year and have enjoyed turning several pens/pencils and a pair of segmented lamps. Pens are nice in that they are inexpensive and can be completed in a relatively short time; I generally do at least a two pen and pencil sets at a time which takes me maybe 2 hours from start to finish.
Roy
Jason
After reading the threads I agree with everyone as to what to buy and do and would like to add a few more suggestions. I have been turning on my SS for about 3 years. I took several classes at a local Woodcraft on turning pens, bowls, lidded boxes, Christmas ornaments, pepper mills and anything else they offered and learned a bunch. Also took the class offered with the SS travelling academy, which benefited me not only by more knowledge, but great discount on the universal tool rest, which I highly recommend and a speed reducer if you plan on getting into bigger bowls. Also recommend getting a one way chuck (I like the talon myself) and a set of jumbo jaws which are real useful when doing bowls. There are all kind of chisels out there, but I prefer the known brands like Sorby. Learn all you can about sharpening, as that will make a big difference in being successful in turning anything as you will learn. The SS academy also teaches you how to sharpen, so if you get an opportunity to attend a travelling academy, definitely do it. Enjoy and make some sawdust. It's also a great way to relax when turning.
After reading the threads I agree with everyone as to what to buy and do and would like to add a few more suggestions. I have been turning on my SS for about 3 years. I took several classes at a local Woodcraft on turning pens, bowls, lidded boxes, Christmas ornaments, pepper mills and anything else they offered and learned a bunch. Also took the class offered with the SS travelling academy, which benefited me not only by more knowledge, but great discount on the universal tool rest, which I highly recommend and a speed reducer if you plan on getting into bigger bowls. Also recommend getting a one way chuck (I like the talon myself) and a set of jumbo jaws which are real useful when doing bowls. There are all kind of chisels out there, but I prefer the known brands like Sorby. Learn all you can about sharpening, as that will make a big difference in being successful in turning anything as you will learn. The SS academy also teaches you how to sharpen, so if you get an opportunity to attend a travelling academy, definitely do it. Enjoy and make some sawdust. It's also a great way to relax when turning.
Ron from Lewisburg, TN
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Greenvilleguy
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My first suggestion is to decide what you would like to turn. Spindle turning or turning with the wood grain running parallel to the bed is the easiest place to start. Projects would include pens, wine stoppers, candle sticks, toy tops, weed pots and when you are ready -- boxes. If you want to have fun and not spend a lot of money, wine stoppers are really easy and don't require any special mandrels or chucks.
Faceplate turning is the other type where the wood is mounted with the grain perpendicular to the bed. This includes bowls, plates, etc. I found this to be more difficult to learn that spindle work, but it is also more satisfing.
Spindle turning is done primarily with spindle gouges and skews whereas bowl gouges and scrapers are needed for faceplate work. SS has sets for each type. I have the SS bowl turning set and have been very pleased.
Your local library will have DVDs and books available to help you get started. A good and readily available book is "Woodturning" by Richard Raffan.
One word of caution -- turning is additive!
Faceplate turning is the other type where the wood is mounted with the grain perpendicular to the bed. This includes bowls, plates, etc. I found this to be more difficult to learn that spindle work, but it is also more satisfing.
Spindle turning is done primarily with spindle gouges and skews whereas bowl gouges and scrapers are needed for faceplate work. SS has sets for each type. I have the SS bowl turning set and have been very pleased.
Your local library will have DVDs and books available to help you get started. A good and readily available book is "Woodturning" by Richard Raffan.
One word of caution -- turning is additive!