lathe to buy

10/26/04, 5:10 PM #1

Dave B
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Registered: 10/26/04

lathe to buy

Dave B

>I would like to buy a lathe, but would like to avoid having to buy more than one. If I bought a jet or delta midi lathe would I be able to do something as small as pens and as large as table legs for a dining room table? Say for example a leg that starts out 6x6x35.

Re: lathe to buy

10/26/04, 5:45 PM #2

Mike Schwing from Md.
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Check out these 2 threads

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Survey - how many own only one lathe?

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/turning.pl?frames;read=42525

How many own more than one lathe?

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/turning.pl?frames;read=42391

The responses to the latter are overwhelming. I have only one lathe but lately really wish I had a smaller one for collars, or even a 2nd big one for a dedicated hollowing setup.

Not too many table legs exceed 30", but be careful with whatever you buy because sometimes the advertised bed length doesn't take into account the tailstock requirements.

In the reviews section I have a write up on my first lathe - a Delta 1440. Please check it out before buying a lathe, it might help you realize some important things to keep in mind when purchasing a lathe.

Re: lathe to buy

10/26/04, 6:03 PM #3

Fred in NC
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Re: lathe to buy

Fred in NC

>One point comes to mind: bed extensions.

A bed extension does not make a lathe more powerful. A 6" diameter x 35" table leg would be too much both for the motor and the mechanical strength of the bed.

Re: lathe to buy

10/26/04, 8:41 PM #4

Richard Allen
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Registered: 1/2/04

Re: lathe to buy

Richard Allen

>Hi Dave

The mini lathe has a 10" swing over the bed but closer to a 6" swing over the banjo (the thing that holds the tool rest). A 6x6 has a large diameter of more than 8". You would not be able to turn a 6x6 between centers on a mini lathe.

1/2 HP would be enough power to turn a table leg but you would have to take light cuts. The bed extensions work fine and the mini lathes you mention would easily be strong enough to turn the table leg you describe.

If you knock the corners off the 6x6 you might be able to get it over the banjo.

Chance are that you will become infected with the turning bug, as so many of us have, and the capacity you desire now are going to seam meager in a year (actually 3 months but we like to tell new people that their investment will satisfy longer than 3 months).

Good Luck

Richard

- - -

I have been turning wood for about 12 years now. I consume about 20 hours a week in front of the lathe making primarly bowls and platters. I keep thinking about making other "stuff" on the lathe, and ocasionaly I even get beyond the thinking part. But I take the most pleasure in bowls and platters. I have most every tool availble for the lathe but I am always looking for a new tool. More than looking for a new tool I am looking for a new hunk of wood. While a corner woodworker (sometimes called flat woodworker) can never have enough clamps, I find most woodturners can never have enough turning stock. The woodturning club I belong to has a Christmas party each year and part of that party is a "grab bag". We bring in a turning, that is judged by the people who come to the party. The people who make the top three turnings get prizes (like sandpaper or a tool). The real prize though is the exchange of turnings that comes from this colection of turnings. Some of my most cherished turned objects are the ones I have recieved from these grab bags.

Re: lathe to buy

10/27/04, 1:30 AM #5

Shawn - in ID
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Re: lathe to buy

Shawn - in ID

>Speaking as one in the "I have a mini but want a big boy lathe" boat, my advice is to buy big if you have the cash to do so. You'll get tons more advice if you re-post with an idea of how much you're willing to spend. My advice is to go with a "full-size" lathe if you have the dough and space. Otherwise, a mini/midi with bed extension should just satisfy your posted requirements.

lathe to buy

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