Hi guys I have been building things for 30 some odd years, but never worked with a lathe. This Christmas I will buy a new one and start doing some turning. I would like to keep it under $1000. Do any of you have a good suggestion as to which brand and model to get?? It mostly be used to turn bowls, not spindles.
Thanks Lee
Hi Lee,
Mosey on over to rec.crafts.woodturning and ask the folks there. My Delta cost around $700 but you can spend $700 more on turning tools, chucks, faceplates and supplies. Easily.
The Meca of turners
Fri, Jul 6, 2007, 6:17pm (EDT-1) snipped-for-privacy@cox.net (Lee=A0Tollett) doth claimeth: Hi guys =A0 =A0 =A0 I have been building things for 30 some odd years, but never worked with a lathe. This Christmas I will buy a new one and start doing some turning. I would like to keep it under $1000. =A0 Do any of you have a good suggestion as to which brand and model to get?? It mostly be used to turn bowls, not spindles.
That's a lot of money to spend on a tool you've never used before. If you buy one, then don't like it, can I have it?
Why not make your own? Couple of car transmissions, electrc motor, screp metal, welder, paint to make it purty, no prob. I figure bowl lathes are a lot more sinple then regular lathes.
JOAT I do things I don't know how to do, so that I might learn how to do them. - Picasso
Nova 1624-44. Best buy out there on a very nice piece of equipment. Doesn't have the bragging bells, nor does it whistle. It's got just what lathes should have, like power, rigidity and good bearings.
I have a Jet 12x36 ($500 on amazon). Keep an eye on the lower RPM's. I like it a lot, but I wish I could go slower than 550 RPM's for bigger bowls. But a lot of the lathes in this price range (Jet, Delta) can't go much slower. As a novice, alarge chunk of wood spinning at 500RPM is scary. Some beef up the Jet 1236 with plywood and sand to prevent vibration. The bigger Delta/Jet lathes are better at reducing vibration, but the lowest speeds are about the same. I think the $900 Jet goes to 450rpm.
The Nova 1624-44 ($1000) goes down to 218RPM, and I am envious of that low speed.
Also - expect to pay a lot for tools and sharpening equip eventually. For starters, look for a sale on the Woodcraft slow-speed 8" grinder. ($95 today, about $80 on sale) Also get the Harbor Freight HSS lathe chisels ($37 today). I don't remember if they go on sale often.
That set doesn't include a decent bowl chisel. So that might be about $50 more. The HF set will let you practice your sharpening techniques on cheap steel.
It's easy to spend as much on tools for the lathe as on the lathe itself. I think I'm around 3x-4x now.
If you are serious about bowls, the Nova would be a good choice over a Jet or Delta (says a Jet owner). However, if your total price is $1000, you won't have much for tools.
For bowl turning on a budget, I suggest the General Maxi-lathe VS. It has a swivel head as well as electronic speed control. Sells for around $500-$550. And you can get an extension bed if you want to do long spindles.
Don't get it confused with their other Maxi-lathe without those features.
Now spend the rest of that $1000 on tools and sharpening :-).
Hi Lee,
Lucky you--get to drool over a new lathe!!!
One nasty secret about buying a lathe is that the lathe cost is just a starter. You really need-- a grinder (not necessarily a slow speed one), with a white, blue or pink wheel. Some chisels--some people swear by the Harbor Freight ones, I've never used them. A scroll chuck. A better live center The above will set you back around $400 to $500 if you get anything of decent quality.
One way is to buy a mini-lathe which uses the same size accessories as does a regular size. I like the JET, but there others. Then when you get more serious you can upgrade the lathe and keep using the same accessories.
I have a JET 1442 and love it dearly. It has limitations, but it has kept me amused for 2 1/2 years, and I'm still happy with it.
Enjoy!!!
Old Guy
Thanks guys for all the info. I will post about what equipment finally hits the shop.
Lee
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