Total beginner to wood turning

Noel Kinsella · 23-10-2012 8:11pm #1

I bough an old lathe to start a hobby of wood turning but now I am starting to see my lathe does not look like other ones ? Infact after hours of searching I can not even find one that resembles it ! It has a Newman of bristol motor but I can find any names on other parts, I have no idea what the clamp does and what the threaded bar is ? Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks all

woodturner · 23-10-2012 8:28pm

I think the threaded bar feeds a cutter holder along the length of the ways for duplicate turning or for turning something into a perfect cylinder the length of the bed ways. Not a great looking lathe for a beginner. You might have trouble finding appropriate drive centres, chucks and such.

Noel Kinsella · 23-10-2012 9:00pm

What is the clamp thing ? Do I just clamp the wood with that ?
Thanks

woodturner wrote: »

I think the threaded bar feeds a cutter holder along the length of the ways for duplicate turning or for turning something into a perfect cylinder the length of the bed ways. Not a great looking lathe for a beginner. You might have trouble finding appropriate drive centres, chucks and such.

woodturner · 23-10-2012 11:04pm

Looking back over the photos I think maybe this is used for hurl making. I'm not sure this would be suitable for bowls and other turning. Just hope you didn't pay too much for it. If you look up here http://www.irishwoodturnersguild.com/drupal/ you will find your local Chapter. Contact the Secretary from the Chapter and see when their next meeting is on. Someone there may be able to give you further advice.

Noel Kinsella · 24-10-2012 7:44am

Thank you

woodturner wrote: »

Looking back over the photos I think maybe this is used for hurl making. I'm not sure this would be suitable for bowls and other turning. Just hope you didn't pay too much for it. If you look up here http://www.irishwoodturnersguild.com/drupal/ you will find your local Chapter. Contact the Secretary from the Chapter and see when their next meeting is on. Someone there may be able to give you further advice.

woodturner · 24-10-2012 1:17pm

Haha if you contact the Secretary you will get me. I just got your text. I think the jaws are for holding the flat end of a hurl.

Noel Kinsella · 24-10-2012 1:34pm

Small world my friend LOL talk soon.

woodturner wrote: »

Haha if you contact the Secretary you will get me. I just got your text. I think the jaws are for holding the flat end of a hurl.

recipio · 25-10-2012 4:18pm

Thats pre WW2 if not pre WW1 !
I'd say it is a crude duplicator type of lathe, possibly for stair bannister spindles. Most modern lathes have a threaded , hollow headstock to use morse 1 or 2 insert tooling and screw on chucks. Unless you know a good machinist to adapt the headstock for you I'd put it aside as a restoration project.
The 'swing' ( distance from the bed to the centre of the headstock ) looks a measly 4" or so so you would be limited by that.
Save up for Xmas ?!

leinsterdude · 14-01-2013 7:38am

How u getting on Noel, might buy one next week myself ?

Noel Kinsella · 16-01-2013 1:16pm

leinsterdude wrote: »

How u getting on Noel, might buy one next week myself ?

Are you interested in buying the lathe ???????

leinsterdude · 17-01-2013 7:26am

too big for my wee shed in an estate house....have u tried turning though ?

woodturner · 17-01-2013 7:21pm

leinsterdude wrote: »

too big for my wee shed in an estate house....have u tried turning though ?

What kind of items would you like to turn? You can turn small items on a large lathe but not the other way around. If your looking to turn largish bowls, vases and platters you may want to buy a lathe that won't need upgrading in a year or so.

leinsterdude · 18-01-2013 8:15am

Honestly I dont know, all I do know is I have thought about getting one for years on and off, I see on done deal lathes for under 200, if I didnt think it was for me then I havent spent too much, and if I love it I can upgrade, any suggestions for me ?
Cheers.

Noel Kinsella · 18-01-2013 11:58am

leinsterdude wrote: »

too big for my wee shed in an estate house....have u tried turning though ?

No. I went to few shows and decided it was not for me, although it is very interesting.

woodturner · 18-01-2013 8:45pm

leinsterdude wrote: »

Honestly I dont know, all I do know is I have thought about getting one for years on and off, I see on done deal lathes for under 200, if I didnt think it was for me then I havent spent too much, and if I love it I can upgrade, any suggestions for me ?
Cheers.

Steer clear of the new Record lathes. Their quality has slipped over the last few years since manufacturing began in China. If you could pick up an old one that was made in the U.K it would be a good lathe. Jet lathes are great lathes. You could start off with a mini lathe which will allow you to turn small bowls, lamps, candlesticks and such. I couldn't tell you how much they are but Axminster have a mini lathe similar to them that would be cheaper. The thing with these though is, I have heard the motor will burn out in them over time. A friend of mine replaced his 3 times and then gave up and got a Jet. There are of course other makes but at the end of the day you do get what you pay for.
As for chisels, you can buy starter sets from many different manufacturers. A friend of mine bought an inexpensive set of Benjamin's Best and was very impressed with them. They may need more frequent sharpening than some of the better brands but with our climate, all of our hardwoods when dry are very hard on any cutting tool.
It's an addictive hobby and can become expensive when you see all the holding methods needed. Chucks, various drive centres, special drives for pens and bottle stoppers, to name but a few. It's good fun though, especially when turning wet wood and you have ribbons of wet shavings going all over the place.

woodturner · 18-01-2013 9:00pm

Just came across this one on Donedeal. http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/tools/4370383 I think it's a Union Jubilee. Doesn't appear to come with a chuck though. Price isn't too bad.

leinsterdude · 19-01-2013 8:17am

Thanks for that, I was looking on the new ones on done deal, the mini ones, think from Galway, any thoughts on them, also where can I get suitable wood from, cheers.

woodturner · 19-01-2013 10:45am

leinsterdude wrote: »

Thanks for that, I was looking on the new ones on done deal, the mini ones, think from Galway, any thoughts on them, also where can I get suitable wood from, cheers.

They would be ok. They have some nice features like electronic variable speed where you just turn a dial to increase the speed. Need to fiddle with belts much. Get in touch with your local tree surgeon. If you could get a few pieces of wet/green wood from him or from any tree that has fallen (ask for permission first from the land owner) they are perfect for learning. Even ask gardeners who may be cutting back or pruning trees. If you need dry wood for anything let me know and I'll send you my friends number. He has sycamore, spalted beech, yew and elm.

Noel Kinsella · 19-01-2013 10:58am

woodturner wrote: »

They would be ok. They have some nice features like electronic variable speed where you just turn a dial to increase the speed. Need to fiddle with belts much. Get in touch with your local tree surgeon. If you could get a few pieces of wet/green wood from him or from any tree that has fallen (ask for permission first from the land owner) they are perfect for learning. Even ask gardeners who may be cutting back or pruning trees. If you need dry wood for anything let me know and I'll send you my friends number. He has sycamore, spalted beech, yew and elm.

Will you send me his number. I need some yew for a project I am doing.
Thanks

Total beginner to wood turning

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