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jeffadams

Apprentice Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Posts
2
Location
Bexleyheath
First Name
Jeff
Good morning, I have just registered to this forum to pick up tips and ideas. I have finally managed to get a shed big enough with space to have a lathe. I have never used one before but like the thought of being able to.
Everyone on YouTube makes it look so easy but i'm sure it isn't!
Advice on a good lathe to start out on would be welcome. I am currently scouring the second hand market sites and hoping Christmas is kind to me.
 
Phil Dart

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,491
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
Hi Jeff - welcome to the fold.

I hope you enjoy your new prospective hobby. It can be a pretty deep rabbit hole though, so you need to make sure you're buying the right things for the right reasons. The best lathe is going to be dependent on what you see yourself needing from it, therefore what suits one person may not necessarily suit another. To help decide on a lathe, I would say though that you ought to set yourself a brief of things that it simply must have, which for me would have to include electronic variable speed control, and hollow quills in the tail and head stock. The best advice I can give you though would be to see if there is a local woodturning club that you can pop along to. The members there will be able to help you make sense of all the different aspects of a lathe, so you can more easily work out what features you'd like it to have.

(Oh, and set yourself a budget. No, wait - you said Christmas is a factor. OK forget the budget - just be very helpful with the housework):whistling:

Good to have you with us Jeff.- Everyone here had to start somewhere once upon a time, so don't be afraid to ask about anything you'd like to know - there will normally be someone around who knows the answer.
 
Dalboy

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,708
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Welcome to the forum ask as may questions as you like try doing a search on the forum to see if a question has been asked before(mind you if like me i am teribble at finding things with any search).

I think that you need to look at how much you are prepared to spend on the lathe plus cost of accessories Chucks tools and other bits and pieces.

Another thing is the size what do you want to or like to turn.

Whatever you do, do not buy cheap a lathe from the likes of Clarkes and some of the cheap shops like Aldi many of them are odd-sized threads and even don't have a morse taper in the head stock or tailstock which will limit what can be done as well as being very frustrating.

If you can give an idea to the first two points it will make it easier to advise you.

Phil posted at the same time and I have to agree, find a local turning club have a look on the AWGB site as they give a list of many clubs, they are well worth joining for hands on as well as advice.
 
fortress

fortress

Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Posts
5,178
Location
Astley
First Name
John
Hello and welcome Jeff, very sound advise has been given already. We will be here for you and your questions.
 
Terry Q

Terry Q

Fellow
Joined
Oct 8, 2014
Posts
3,849
Location
Roanoke, Illinois USA
First Name
Terry
Welcome Jeff. Phil's advice to find a club to visit is type notch. Any experienced turner will help you wade through all the hype. If you can find a mentor, even better. My advise is have fun.
 
Penpal

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,342
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
I made my first lathe,man that taught me heaps.Had a number of different ones since. I am a club man from day one more fun in sharing with mates.I am a life member of my Wood Guild.

Enjoy the journey Jeff.Welcome from drought and fire country over here.

Peter.
 
J

jeffadams

Apprentice Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Posts
2
Location
Bexleyheath
First Name
Jeff
Thanks for your welcomes and advice. I am initially aiming to be able to turn a half decent pen but would eventually like to progress to small bowls and boxes. The Axminster Craft AC305WL Woodturning Lathe appeals to me as it has the variable speed and what seems to me like the ability to facilitate my ambitions as my skill level progresses (hopefully), but they are extremely rare second hand and the budget doesn't quite stretch that far as well as the accessories needed. Reasonably close to me Ed Oliver runs a 3 hour course in pen turning which is the christmas hint to the wife. Kent woodturners club seems to be the closest to my location.
Jeff
 
Dalboy

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,708
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
jeffadams said:
Thanks for your welcomes and advice. I am initially aiming to be able to turn a half decent pen but would eventually like to progress to small bowls and boxes. The Axminster Craft AC305WL Woodturning Lathe appeals to me as it has the variable speed and what seems to me like the ability to facilitate my ambitions as my skill level progresses (hopefully), but they are extremely rare second hand and the budget doesn't quite stretch that far as well as the accessories needed. Reasonably close to me Ed Oliver runs a 3 hour course in pen turning which is the christmas hint to the wife. Kent woodturners club seems to be the closest to my location.
Jeff
Click to expand...

There maybe other woodturning clubs that are not on the AWGB site so some form of search on the web may show them up.

You won't go too far wrong with Ed he is a good teacher. Don't tell him I said so. We both belong to the same club.
 
flexi

flexi

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Posts
6,454
Location
Maidstone
First Name
mark
Welcome to the club mate, some real good advice given already.....take it easy...don't rush and all will be good:thumbs::thumbs:
 
M

mallard

Full Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2018
Posts
63
Location
Bristol, UK
First Name
Ian
Hi Jeff,
Welcome...…..I am new(ish) to the group as well.
I joined back last year and stayed in the back ground for a while reading other peoples comments and posts but now I am just getting confident to post some comments of my own !!!
I find this forum full of interesting things and some knowledgeable people. ( I wont say who as it might go to their head !!)
 
alpha1

alpha1

Fellow
Joined
Mar 29, 2018
Posts
1,217
Location
middlesbrough
First Name
Dave
Welcome to the forum lots of good advice on here just ask away. If you can find a local Club that will help a lot. Do your research before buying a lathe. I actually make all my pens on a metal worker's lathe. I have had to modify bits to do it successfully. It's no good for anything else like bowls and stuff. I may buy a wood lathe later on if the need arises. I'm fairly new to woodturning and pen making. This site helped me a lot getting started. They are a friendly bunch.
 
F

Frederick

Registered
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Posts
871
Location
Chatham
First Name
Frederick
It's all been said. Always take safely as seriously as you can and PPE is a must, I have said this before, if the answer ain't on here then there ain't one. I have only been turning for a couple of years and this forum and members have helped me all the way. Still a fair way to go yet though.Enjoy,

Cheers
Frederick
 
A

AllenN

Fellow
Joined
May 20, 2013
Posts
2,245
Location
Lancaster, UK
First Name
Allen
Welcome Ian. You have already had the good advice to try and find a Wood turning Club. There is also a great deal of good advice on here. A course such as Ed Olivers would be a good way to start. It is worth getting advice and taking some time before taking the plunge on the lathe as hopefully you are going to spend a lot of time with it so it is worth getting it right. I second the caution against the really cheapy lathes, they will frustrate you in no time. There are good second hand lathes to be had but try to check them out before parting with cash! Enjoy the challenge.
 
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