Good Wifey

[dragnut]

What with the tax refund coming soon, LOML is looking into lathes for me/us. I have a few q's. Is the delta midi a good starter? Its small which is needed (no idea where im gonna keep it, no room) I read the reviews in whatever mag had the reviews recently. All I figger we would turn is small bowls, candle holders, pens,chrissy ornaments etc. Small stuff. Maybe a few table legs with the extension bed.
What tools would I need? Its been a long time since high school wood shop, a very long time. I saw about the starter set from HF. Is there any other gouges etc for what I said we would be making?

And last but not least...Can a 6 year old boy turn something? He's allowed to use the scrollsaw by himself. Just wondering if it might be too much force against him without help.

Shawn

[dicklaxt]

I don't know what time they start the youngsters but I think it might be a little to early for him. Has your wife ever turned anything?Its good to get her involved that way the tool necessesities will be easier to sell

dick

[Sawduster]

I agree with Dick (for once) about the youngster probably being a bit too young for the lathe. A major jump in risk and potential pain between the scroll saw and the lathe. The difference in the mass of the moving things between the two is a big consideration.

As to tools needed, like has been said here many times, the lathe is just the beginning. First off you will need some lathe chisels. High Speed Steel is the way to go. More expensive to start, but less frustrating to work with as they maintain an edge longer and better. A means of sharpening the chisels is a must. A grinder or belt sander are the lesser evils as far as the pocketbook is concerned. If you have a grinder or belt sander already, it'll do fine. Otherwise a slow speed 8" wheel grinder is the way to go if you go the grinder route.

For pens, you'll need a few specialized pen things like a mandrel and proper bushings along with a "pen mill" to start. I, and most everyone heree, has had real good luck and service with [link:www.bereahardwoods.com|Berea Hardwoods]. Call them and tell em you're just starting out. They got good folks who know the products and will do you right.

For bowls and other stuff you'll need some method of fixing the wood to the lathe. Faceplates, scroll or other centering chucks. The list could go on forever, but this will get you started off.

[Sonny Edmonds]

The Delta Midi and the Jet Mini are almost identical in spec's.
I started off with the Midi. Then eventually modified it with a DC motor so I would have variable speeds.
No matter how you go about it, the lathe is the tip of the iceberg in costs. :(

I don't think I would want to try and teach a six year old to turn. In turning, everything goes out the window and the wood has all the advantage.
But every kid is an individual, and your's might well be an exception to the rule. So the best judge of abilities is you. Once you have your rusty past sharpened. }>

If you could swing a variable speed lathe, I think you would find it much more enjoyable.
And to quote my wife when she saw the Midi I brought home, "I'd have thought you'd have gotten a bigger one." }> (Argh! She's always right!) }>
Well now I have a larger one. And the Midi still, too.
Ohh, this vortex is sooo deep! :7

:D

[link:www.sonnyedmonds.com | Sonny Edmonds]
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"I was raised around lead based paint.
It ain't an excuse, just a fact."

[Sawduster]

Of course Sonny doesn't mention that he spent about 3 or 4 times as much as the Midi cost to make it a variable speed. Well, if he didn't have that $500 DC motor just layin around the house he would have had to spend that much. LOL.

Then he went and dropped a huge pile of green backs to get the monster DVR lathe.

[dragnut]

Think I agree about the kid doing anything. I rememeber a few chunks of wood flying across the school shop. Guess I will measure the area I have to store anything I buy and go from there.

Shawn