• Beware of Counterfeit Woodturning Tools (click here for details)
  • Johnathan Silwones is starting a new AAW chapter, Southern Alleghenies Woodturners, in Johnstown, PA. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Paul May for "Checkerboard (ver 3.0)" being selected as Turning of the Week for March 25, 2024 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Starting machines

Joined
Jan 1, 2018
Messages
4
Likes
0
Location
Denmark
Hi there

I'm a beginner and about to start turning.

My question is, what is the most important tool / machine to by after the Lathe and wood turning tools?

Thinking about a band saw? but not sure.

Daughter is moving out soon, so finaly getting a room for my workshop :)

Kind regards
Per Andersen (newbie turner)
 

RichColvin

Super Moderator
Staff member
OTI Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
667
Likes
498
Location
Marysville, OH
Website
www.colvintools.com
I use my bandsaw quite a bit. It is a very good all-around tool.

Rich
 

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
8,321
Likes
3,576
Location
Cookeville, TN
Some way to sharpen is the most important machine. Sharp tools make a huge difference in your enjoyment. Now if you bought all carbide tools then forget the grinder. A bandsaw is easily the next best tool to own. Dust collection is high on the list also but I have a friend in his late 60's who has turned his whole life and part of it was as production turner and all he has ever used is a fan blowing across the lathe to blow the dust somewhere else in the shop.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2017
Messages
799
Likes
562
Location
Jasper, Alabama
Welcome to the forum. I agree with John and Rich that a bandsaw would be my next purchase, good dust collection and sharping system. I use the wolverine sharping system and very easy to use. Happy turning!
 

hockenbery

Forum MVP
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Apr 27, 2004
Messages
8,592
Likes
4,888
Location
Lakeland, Florida
Website
www.hockenberywoodturning.com
Depends on what you want to turn. The power tools I like want are

1. Grinder and sharpening set up like a woulverine
2. Chainsaw
3. Dust collection for sanding
4. Bandsaw with 12” resaw
5. Drill press

I do mostly green wood turning. My bowl and Hf blanks Are cut into rough blanks by chainsaw. Most are cut round on the bandsaw.

If I were an architectural turner or segmenter I would want a table saw and might not need the Bandsaw
 
Last edited:

Bill Boehme

Administrator
Staff member
Beta Tester
TOTW Team
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Messages
12,886
Likes
5,169
Location
Dalworthington Gardens, TX
Website
pbase.com
Welcome to the AAW forum, Per. As others have indicated, what you need to buy next isn't written in stone. It depends on what you plan to turn. My opinion is that I wouldn't buy a machine unless I know why I need it.

As John Lucas said, a grinder is essential for sharpening your tools (unless you are using tools that have replaceable carbide cutters). If you are harvesting downed trees then a chainsaw would be essential. A bandsaw would be very useful, but not absolutely necessary. Of course a shop vacuum cleaner and and dust collector are very important Most important of all would be personal protection equipment (face shield, dust mask).
 
Joined
Jul 5, 2016
Messages
469
Likes
244
Location
San Antonio, TX
I started with a lathe and carbide tools. I switched to gouges (do that if you haven’t), which required grinder and wolverine jig. I then got a chainsaw, which was a great investment and now I can get free wood or buy cheap logs. I then got a small bandsaw, I hardly use it since it is small and I can round pieces on the lathe anyway since I don’t do large pieces.
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
If you plan on turning segmented hollow forms a table saw or a compound miter saw is a must.
Having a way to sharpen your tools is must to make your turning easier.
There are a number of accessories that can be attached to your lathe for various applications
like sanding, grinding, buffing that could get you by for a while without investing in dedicated
machines for each of the operations. The chainsaw can cut and process a log into a bowl blank.
A 12" band-saw is handy for processing 1/2 logs into various types and sizes of wood blanks.
 

RichColvin

Super Moderator
Staff member
OTI Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2016
Messages
667
Likes
498
Location
Marysville, OH
Website
www.colvintools.com
As for sharpening, the other comments are spot on. I started with a bench grinder and a Wolverine type system. I switched later to a Tormek and love it. Bit of an investment, but is something you can add later.
 
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
935
Likes
241
Location
Newberg, OR: 20mi SW of Portland: AAW #21058
I then got a chainsaw, which was a great investment and now I can get free wood or buy cheap logs.

The wood may be free or cheap, but the doctor visits, drugs, chiropractor, massage therapist, etc. more than make up for that! :D

However, along the same lines as the chainsaw is a BHT to cart all those free or cheap logs home.

(big honkin’ truck)
 
Joined
Oct 23, 2015
Messages
210
Likes
288
Location
Springdale, Arkansas
I have a 20” Delta bandsaw. I'm not fond of using it to make a bowl blank unless its pretty small. A 14” bandsaw would be torture. Balancing a large heavy chunk of rough wood on the table is not my idea of fun. I would much rather cut the blank with a chainsaw and put it directly on the lathe. Seems to be faster and a lot more fun making shavings.

A grinder with sharpening jigs for bowl gouges would be my first purchase after the lathe. Dust collection for sanding would be high on the list but I don't always use my DC. I do put on the 3M respirator....works better and more comfortable than the little dust masks. Lighting is also important. I have a 4 light led fixture on my 10' ceiling located right above the lathe. Supplemental lighting is four reflector lights with 60W led bulbs.
 
Joined
Jan 1, 2018
Messages
4
Likes
0
Location
Denmark
Thank you all for the good advice.

Have bought carbide tools, so will wait with grinder.

Bandsaw and dust collector will be next on list.

Will start with rings and bracelets and later work my way up to bigger things.

Thanks all.

/Per
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
I will 2nd the drill press for rings and bracelets. A set of Forstner bits and hole saws will also speed up
the process of making rings and bracelets. You can also turn your own mandrels to hold the rings and
bracelets and make your own sanding mandrels for finishing the interiors of the rings and bracelets.
 

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
8,321
Likes
3,576
Location
Cookeville, TN
If you have carbide tools you don't need a grinder. Wait until you start using the non carbide tools to get the grinder. For now probably a chainsaw would be best. With a chainsaw and my Hunter carbide tools I could turn a whole lot of stuff and not need anything else. A bandaw would be reallly really handy if you want to turn smaller things like pens, Christmas ornaments, small boxes etc. Hard to cut out a pen blank with a chainsaw.
 
Joined
Jul 26, 2016
Messages
2,326
Likes
1,105
Location
Nebraska
Per,

If you laminate large enough pieces to make a bracelet with, you can use a hole saw to cut the
inner dimension, the piece that comes out can be used to make a napkin ring or small box. You
can use a smaller hole saw and drill another small round from the next piece and make rings. If you
plan the drilling process out you can get quite a few pieces from one wood blank with little waste.
Different sized Forstner bits is a quick and easy way to drill the inner dimension for your rings. The
Forstner bit will drill a clean hole and reduce the amount of sanding required for the inside of the ring.
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2010
Messages
108
Likes
40
Location
Waco, TX
Ok. Tanks again.

Have chainsaw but only corded so no wood hunting with it.

Will add a drill press to the list

/Per
Corded.....thats where the truck and a chiropractor come into play.... Hey good luck on the wood turning Journey it is addictive sometime expensive but very rewarding. Always remember to clean yourself off so your wife doesn't become the wood chip queen with a loud voice......................

Owen almost caused me to spit coffee all over my computer !
 
Back
Top