if ya gotta recommend.......

[dkulze]

I've been seeing alot of comments around that refer to all the recommendations to purchase such-and-such a lathe or this particular tool. Figured it was time to start a thread to see what folks would recommend as their tool/accessory to spend the money on at the start.

Let's all assume that the person has a face shield and dust filter and can buy really cheap equipment sufficient to get started. If you had a bit extra to chunk in, where would you put it?

For me, I'd put it in a grinding jig like the Wolverine with a Varigrind attachment (bout $120 all told). I turned for several years before purchasing this piece of equipment and have found it to make the single largest difference in my turning.

As much as I love my Jet Mini, a cheaper lathe would still spin the wood.
As much as I love my Nova chuck, a faceplate can be made to work with just about anything.
As much as I love my nice Sorby tools, really inexpensive ones would cut just fine with frequent sharpenings.

But keeping a clean, consistant bevel is tough to do freehand, and being able to grind fingernails and rollovers consistantly makes everything work better and bumps me up several notches in what I can accomplish.

Next?

Dietrich

 

[DennisM]

I'd put the money under my feet -

Next place I would spend money is a decent floor mat. It's hard to enjoy turning when you feet, legs, knees, and back all hurt from standing on concrete for 10 hours. Isn't a lot of money, but in my case the payback was substanial.

Second many areas of turning require specialized tools - ie if you haven't tackled pen making yet, you don't need to spend money on a pen mandrel etc. Thought process on where to spend the money really is building a list of what specific things one wants to attempt. The spend list flows for the project priorities. That being said, I would put my money on good lighting right behind my aching feet. It I can't see it, I can't turn it.

 

[-e-]

Good Lighting!!!!

i have yet to discovered a good source of light that doesn't heat-up so much as to ignite shavings, but i'm still looking and determined.

perhaps a used surgery or dental light might meet my specs, but so far, i've not discovered anything that will work in my environment.

good lighting can really improve your turning abilities. it is amazing how much i miss when the overhead door isn't up and the sun isn't out.

 

[Steve Worcester]

A face shield. With a bendable metal edge so it can be shaped to the users liking.

 

[kwgeorge]

Well, since were assuming we already have the basic lathe and tools I will also have to go with the lighting. My fluorescents in the ceiling were fine for my normal flat wood work but were terrible for turning. The shadows cast made it very difficult to see what I was doing. I ended up buying two adjustable lights that I have hung on the wall behind the lathe and move and needed. The normal bulb lights are much easier to see with and with two 100 watt bulbs I can see even though they produce quite a bit of heat. Now this is not much of an investment though since I got the lights at $9 each so I would also have to suggest a chuck. A faceplate is livable if what you want to make is bowls and such but a nice chuck opens up a new world quickly.

 

[pfduffy]

Home made tools

Would like to suggest that members try making more of their own tools. I am amazed what can be done with my drop-nosed 1/4in scraper (thank you Myron Curtis), and a couple other tools that cost about $5 total! A good allen key (hard as a rock) stuck in a handle with some epoxy will work wonders, if you grind it to your own specs. Try it! Philip

 

[Bill Grumbine]

I would agree on the lighting thing too. My Poolewood has excellent light, and my Vicmarc has terrible light. Since I am writing about lighting, I will say that the excellent lights I have came from Steve's site, www.turningwood.com. I bought two of the Moffatt lights there a while ago, and they do a great job when I have to have my big door closed or when the sun is not out.

A floor mat is a real good investment too, although I got by standing on shavings for a long time - still do, with the floor mat underneath them! 😱

I could probably name everything I own besides the lathe, but I am going to express some of those thoughts in another thread.

Bill

 

[Jake Debski]

Gotta go with the two cheap shower curtains I hang when roughing green blanks. Keep the spray off my other tools and the shavings somewhat contained. 😀

 

[GeeSeaWhy]

I started with the Harbor Freight cast iron lathe, which served me well for a couple of years and gave me the experience to decide what I really wanted in a lathe. First tools came from HF too, and I still use them. I did realise the importance of consistency in grinding but chose to build my own jigs around the Chinese Cheapo grinder I already had. The one thing I did spend money on was the Supernova - a package from KMS Tools including several jaw sets, most of which I use regularly (only the Cole jaws gather dust). I would be reluctant to give up the chuck but I might be persuaded if it was the only way to get the one thing I wish I had bought earlier - a bandsaw. Cutting up blanks with a combination of portable circular saw and Sawzall was not fast, accurate or fun. My first bowl was turned end grain because that was the easiest way to hack up the blank (and because I didn't know any better).

Graeme

 

[Mark Mandell]

Two things (maybe 1-1/2)

A good 1/2" bowl gouge and a jig to sharpen it. A good gouge can be used for so many different things and cuts, it's the first tool I reach for in almost any situation, and it has expanded my abilities more than any other tool I have (other than the lathe, of course). Doesn't have to be High Alloy, powderd, etc. steel, regular M-2 is fine. The sharpening jig, assuming a grinder is already in the shop, goes hand-in-hand with working the bowl gouge to its potential.

Only other starter recommendation would be a day's lessons with a good turner, several classes at a local school or tool store like Woodcraft, or even a mentoring situation through a local club. The benefit of learning the basics and avoiding bad "habits" continues long after.

M

 

[Jeff Jilg]

music and tunes - a requirement for a harmonious turning environment

Have you ever spent a whole day in the shop and wish the experience was just a little better?

A good cost/benefit ratio product is a decent sound system. The solution that works for me is CD player + FM transmitter + headphones.

Specifically I have a CD player with a bunch of MP3s on a CD. That CD player is hooked into a small FM transmitter. The FM transmitter unit I use is from iROCK pictured here
The FM transmitter can beam your music 30-50 feet. There is a toggle switch so that you can select from 1 of 4 frequencies (i.e. 88.1).

I use headphones almost constantly in the shop, even while turning. I figure longterm exposure to the noisy environment will cause some hearing loss unless i use the ear protection. My headphones are Peltor WorkTunes pictured here
The headphones provide 22 dB for Noise Reduction Rating, and are comfortable. The headphones pick up the FM transmitted music from the CD/transmitter units.

Now my shop time is spent listening to my favorite music. I used to listen to the radio but couldn't stand the 20 year old adenoidal disc jockeys talking over the first minute of each song. (not like I have an opinion or anything).

If you go with a solution like this I would recommend power supplies for both the CD player and the FM transmitter. The FM transmitter is setup for 12v primarily to hook into your automobile cigarette lighter. I hooked mine up to an inline switch to the 120v power cord. The switch turns on the CD and the transmitter. There are other brands of transmitters; but I've had good experience with the iRock brand. The 12v powersupply for the iRock is an old "wall-wart" power supply from an old modem (from the good ole days).

Both the CD player and the FM transmitter have a clear plastic bag over them to keep out ambient dust.

This system has really improved the harmony of the shop. Plus I have an old FM stereo in the garage which is tuned to the same frequency - so the whole shop has the tunes!!! I can't imagine woodturning without this system because it has spoiled me rotten!

 

[-e-]

gee -- music, good lighting and turning wood --- now THAT's heaven!

 

[Ron Sardo]

I use headphones almost constantly in the shop, even while turning. I figure longterm exposure to the noisy environment will cause some hearing loss unless i use the ear protection.

I have an iPod loaded with different types of music, everthing from the Beatles to Bach.

The problem I found is when I turn, I need to listen to the wood to tell if there is a problem, so headphones really don't work for me. I do have a radio/cd player that I keep low while working. It's more for background then for listening.

I picked up a cheap chuck on ebay for $30 which I tend to use more than my Supernova.

 

[Bob Hadley]

I agree with Mark Mandell on taking a class, watching demonstrations or (my add-on) watching videos. I had all the gear but seeing various pros in action (and one no-so-pro!) helped my turning more than anything.

BH