Just How Hard is Turning??? - Woodworking Talk

Ack · 04-17-2009, 10:54 AM

I'm just wondering how hard woodturning really is? I've been lurking in the shadows reading posts in this thread and find myself to be overwhelmed at times!

For example???

What the heck is run out???

How hard is it to reshape and sharpen your tools??

Cutting Techniques???

Lathe Speed for different objects and pieces???

I am fascinated by woodturning!!!! I think I would enjoy it....but I am worried to invest a lot of money into equipment and supplies to learn that this is one big EPIC FAILURE

So if someone might point me in the right direction maybe name some good books or some good down home advice I would appreciate it.

Maybe I just need to

Cowboy Up

and DO IT!

slatron25 · 04-17-2009, 11:39 AM

Cowboy up and just do it. If you can find a club near you there is plenty of help to get you started. And there's plenty of help here.

phinds · 04-17-2009, 12:09 PM

turning is so much fun that it's pretty unlikely that you would want to give it up once you start. I agree that meeting w/ folks in a club can be helpful, but basically, turning is just like riding a bike. You can read about it and hear about it and study about it all you want but the only way to learn to ride a bike is by getting on the bike. Yeah, you'll fall down a couple of times, and scrape an elbow and a knee, but once you get steady and feel the wind in your hair, you'll never want to give it up.

PTownSubbie · 04-17-2009, 12:56 PM

I completely agree with the other previous posts

After doing normal woodworking as a hobby for about 6 years I decided to begin turning. It has not been the same since.

I find myself finishing my day at work only to come home and go straight to the shop. The day doesn't end until after 9pm each night out there and that's only because I have to get up for work the next morning.

Once you start you will understand. I don't know what it is but it has a tight grip on me right now. In fact, I think about all the neat things I can make when I get home at night while at work.... shhhhh, don't tell anyone that.....

Jump in!!

Fred

john lucas · 04-17-2009, 01:16 PM

Jump in. It's incredibly addicting. REsharpening tools is not hard (although my 83 year old dad has trouble). There are many ways of sharpening and even regrinding tools if necessary. We will help you and of course if you can find a club they will help you a lot.
Runout is loosely described as a shaft that doesn't spin dead on center. In a perfect world a shaft in a bearing would run absolutely true. In a real world they are all off a hair. How much it's off and what kind of work you are trying to do determines whether the real runout of the machine will actually hurt it's performance.
As far as lathe speeds go, just start out slow and increase the speeds according to how safe you feel. As your skills increase so will the speed of the lathe. There isn't really a speed we can recommend for any particular project. There are ranges that are safe but I can't really say I turn this candlestick at 1800 rpm and so should you. You might slower much more comfortable.
My best recommendation is to buy a quality lathe. Many of the lathes sold by the discount houses are junk and hurt your enjoyment of this hobby. Get back with us about which ones people think will fit your budget and we'll try to recommend good quality equipment.

b00kemdano · 04-17-2009, 05:16 PM

I also agree with all of the above. If you really want to see some turning techniques before you invest, go to youtube and search woodturning. You could spend a couple hours watching all the different videos of people turning all sorts of things. A lot of the videos are instructional and some are just demos for products; these demos are valuable for seeing techniques in action. When I was a lurker thinking about checking out turning, I wore google out. I read web sites, articles, watched videos. I learned about terms, tools, and techniques. By the time I was ready to buy a lathe, I knew what I was asking for and how to ask for it.

One of the biggest things that I've learned in the month and a half or so that I've been turning is that how your work piece is secured to the lathe is of paramount importance. Not only for safety, but for ease of turning. If it's not held securely, you are more likely to encounter all sorts of problems that can really become frustrating. Avoid the frustration and learn about chucks, mandrel, centers, etc.

Welcome and have fun!

The Mind Train · 04-17-2009, 06:31 PM

The golden rule: Before buying expensive tools and machinery (dont buy the cheap chinese pressed-steel lathes- you will only be disappointed and give up) - get in touch with a local turner or woodcraft club and learn from a real person. Then, if you like it invest in some one-to-one lessons with a pro, then buy the equipment that suits the type of turning you want to get into. Books and videos are OK but they dont shout STOP IT just before the log you started at too high a spindle speed flies off and does some damage.

As for keeping tools sharp, turning tools can have complex profiles so buy a good quality sharpening jig rather than attempt to do it by eye (that takes years of practice). They arent that expensive and are incredibly easy to use, makes you feel that much more confident when sharpening top quality expensive gouges. Many jigs on the market at varying prices.

I agree with all above posts in that once you have produced your first "thing" on a lathe you will be hooked. It really isnt that hard so long as you take safety seriously (check out my post on punk turning for a lesson in how not to do it) Treat the lathe and the madly whirring lump of timber with respect but show it who is boss.

Go on, have a go - you will love it once you start. And you will never stop learning how to do new things.

Hhaines · 04-18-2009, 09:42 AM

You'll need a lathe of some sort and a couple turning tools.....keep them sharp as possible.....start with smaller cylinders 2" in diameter or less......to get the hang of it......practice making smooth cylinders, then beads, coves and other shapes.....a chunk of 2x4 ripped to 1 1/2 square will get the fun started......there is a lot of instruction stuff in the internet to help get you going.....If you run into a snag ask some of these guys here for help....they are great to beginners as we all were once.......Jump in the water is fine......you'll get hooked like the rest of us.......

Ack · 04-18-2009, 05:14 PM

Hey Guys
Thanks for all the advice and encouragement!!! So I guess my next question will be what lathe and tools should I get?

I'm single and 27yrs old and have few expenses, other than the basic life expenses, so I would like to get a lathe that will last me about 30yrs

Along with the tools. Is this a reasonable expectation??? Are there any out there?

I'm very particular when caring for equipment, but I'm not great at repairing equipment. So I would like recommendations from you all about lathes and tools you would trust with your life.

Thanks and Good Day

CivilEngineer13 · 04-18-2009, 06:35 PM

PowerMatic, Nova, and Oneway are at the top of the class in my opinion for Lathes. Then Jet, then Rikon. I've heard lots of bad things about Laguna but have never used one.

As far as tools go, I have heard nothing but great things about Doug Thompson's tools. There are the latest and greatest, and I am looking forward to getting myself some soon! Hope that give you a starting point.

Here are just about all the lathe specs thats are available today (no reviews though-just the numbers):
http://www.nealaddy.org/pub/Lathe_List.html

Woodwacker Jeff · 04-18-2009, 06:50 PM

You can go to www.woodturner.org which is the website for the American Association of Woodturners and find a woodturning club near where you live. Contact them and make arrangements to go to a meeting. Buy the best lathe you can afford. Jet, Oneway, Powermatic all are good choices. The best class I ever took was a one day sharpening class - if you turn you will need to sharpen your tools. Take the class or spend time with someone who knows how to sharpen tools and learn. I like the tools that Doug Thompson sells. Get a good basic turning set and work from there.

HLW · 04-19-2009, 06:41 PM

Just how hard is woodturning,you ask? It's a piece of cake ! I can screw up with the "best of 'em". Just like the Nike ad. says "Just Do It". You'll have a fun time learning and doing.