Brand New to Turning - Need Advice

Re: Brand New to Turning - Need Advice

Frederick Nelson

>I was reading through your request, mentally composing what I would suggest to you. Then I got to the last line. You're already taking the best advice any of us could give you - you won't be needing any more adivce from us!

For the hardware aspect, prowl though the threads below for advice on small lathes. The current consensus appears to be the Jet Variable Speed Mini Lathe, but there are plenty of thoughts on the Delta Midi and the Mercury lathes to fill in your knowledge. The same applies to tools. There is also much to learn from your instructor.

Actually, my first advice would be to go into a darkened room, play some soft music, and think calm thoughts until the urge to turn goes away, but I know that's not going to work! Welcome to woodturning.

FNelson

Re: Brand New to Turning - Need Advice

Scott Greaves in Blackfoot ID

>Hi Bart,

And welcome to turning! If you're going to be turning table legs, be sure to get the bed extension for that mini lathe right off the bat! Buy yourself a nice big skew and Alan Lacer's skew video, and go for it!

Once you visit Mr. Grumbine you will be a lost cause. It might help if you can find an older Jet Mini that is blue instead of white, because after turning on "Big Blue" you won't be able to get blue off your mind! ;-)

Good Luck, and have fun!

Scott.

Re: Brand New to Turning - Need Advice

Diane Maluso in Ithaca, NY

>Hey Bart! Welcome to the party. Be sure to get a grinder if you don't already have one and get Bill to show you his sharpening jigs... I think he uses the wolverine system. Sharp HSS tools is much more fun than the way I started: soft steel tools with really really bad sharpening technique that I applied as little as possible. I might as well have been whittling!

Good luck!

Diane

Best Buy - Harbor Freight HSS Set

Joe Pack, New London, OH

>Not nearly an expert here, but, for the $$$, I don't think you can beat the HSS set of tools from Harbor Freight. The best? Probably not. Take a good edge? Yep. Affordable? $40 or less for a set of 6-8. Includes a roughing gouge, spindle gouges, scrapers, parting tool and skew(s). A klutz like me can't tell the difference between the HF gouges and the Sorby gouges, except that one Sorby is the cost of the entire HF set.

Re: Best Buy - Harbor Freight HSS Set

Fred L. - North Carolina

>Agreed. Excellent value. Of course I have added some tools that don't come with the set.

HF carries a set of "carving tools" that has mostly turning tools in it. It is $10. for 12 tools. Excellent steel although not HSS. At that price you can affort to regrind some of the tools for special needs.

ITEM 31607-0VGA

I also have a set of medium sized tools from HF that has a gouge, skew, and 1/16" parting tool. I cannot find it in the site, but the store carries it for $12. and this one is HSS.

Re: Best Buy - Harbor Freight HSS Set

Russell Seaton

>http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47066

$29.99 for the 8 piece high speed steel set.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47100

The 3 piece HSS midi sized set is $5.99 on the website. Down from $9.99. I might have to go get this set.

Go over to Harbor freight and type in "lathe" or "chisel" in the search box and you will be able to find the various turning or carving sets mentioned.

Oh Yeah!

Noah Alkinburgh

>Thanks for posting that one. I am going to go get some tomorrow I think. I need the parting tool. and think i will probably grind the skew to a scraper.

Noah

Re: Harbor Freight HSS Set

Fred L. - North Carolina

>As much as we plug the HF HSS turning tools, they should give us a free "DEMO" set....

For $2. a piece, I can afford to have extras so I have a couple sharpened tools available.

I have seen the set. Looks a lot like Christmas ... er.. huh... Sorby.

Re: Best Buy - Harbor Freight HSS Set

Bart Goldberg

>Thanks Guys, I just ordered the HF Tools. I think you all saved me a small bundle.

Bart

Re: Best Buy - Harbor Freight HSS Set

Russell Seaton

>You will need a few more tools than what comes with the Harbor Freight 8 piece set. Such as a bowl gouge and a heavy French style scraper.