Choosing A Wood Lathe: Make Sure The Tool Fits The Shop

Wood lathes are generally substantial tools that are going to be part of a general woodworking shop. As such, some consideration needs to be given to ensure that they fit the shop well. At least three areas need to be looked at, namely the type of the shop, the size of the workshop and the woodturner concerned.

Woodworking shops come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and characters. Either form the beginning or over time they develop a personality depending on the work that is done in them. As woodturning either develops in them or is introduced, they ten to fit three large groups. One is the furniture shop, another an all purpose wood shop, and finally the dedicated woodturning centre.

For the furniture shop, a wood lathe will likely be used to turn both small items such as speciality door knobs and larger items such as table legs. A typical lathe for this shop would be one that can turn a twelve inch diameter spindle up to thirty eight inches long. It needs to be remembered that small items such as those door knobs can be turned on a large lathe but a large item can not be turned on a small lathe. The capacity to make a sturdy bench for the lathe is inherent in a furniture shop and it can be produced to hold a lot of the tools and accessories needed for turning wood.

The all purpose wood shop will likely want a similar lathe to the furniture shop but may want it to be able to turn larger pieces. Many of today's lathes allow for the headstock to swing and handle large pieces for outboard faceplate work. If this is desired, it is a good idea to get a lathe that will have a minimum speed of four hundred revolutions per minute or even lower to reduce vibration.

The dedicated woodturning centre will need at least the second type of lathe and may be better served with a family of lathes that allow for various work to be going on at various times. One lathe may be dedicated to spindle work while another without ways is designed for faceplate work alone. Still another mini lathe may be available for small work at high speeds.

With these considerations comes the need for the lathe or lathes to fit the shop. Not only does a larger lathe require more floorspace for its footprint, it also needs a fair amount of room around it for the woodturner to move in safety while turning. It will also need to fit itself around the other tools to give a good feel to the shop work flow.

Finally, every woodturner will develop his or her own style and desire of woodturning. While the first lathe will seldom truly reflect this except by chance, the second and subsequent lathes can be chosen to make the preferred choices in wood turning more enjoyable and perhaps safer as well.

Wood lathes are tools that tend to be a part of the woodworking shop for a long time and due consideration should be given to their purchase. It is an opportunity for reflection on our craft and in itself can be an enjoyable part of the process.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: Remember The Budget

Buying a wood lathe sounds like a simple proposition. Check the budget, look at the lathes in the budget category, choose the one that seems good and away we go. However, like most things in life, it is not that simple. One of the more difficult things for the beginner or first time buyer, is knowing how to gauge the budget in the first place.

Wood lathes are more individual than many other woodworking tools. While there are certainly many models of tools such as table saws, for example, there are certain features expected in particular price ranges and the saws will be fairly uniform in that range. It is expected that one may purchase one, put it in the work shop, and go to work. The wood lathe is a different proposition.

While most wood lathes in a given price range will generally be similar in quality this is not always so. A mini lathe will usually be better quality than a full size lathe in the same cost bracket, for instance. Two lathes of the same price may have different mechanisms for controlling speeds and overall quality of the lathe with the more expensive speed controller will likely be less than that of the other machine. It is necessary in the budget to question what is wanted in the lathe for weight, quality of construction, type of speed control and size among other things.

All other things being equal among lathes, there is the extra strain on the budget to consider. That table saw will be ready to work right out of the box, but not so for most lathes. The typical wood lathe comes with the basic machine ready to run and with centers and a faceplate to hold the wood, but without tools to cut the wood nor any means to keep them sharp. Again in contrast to the table saw that came with a blade that rarely needs sharpening and then by a professional shop, the lathe comes with no tools and no means to sharpen them even though they will need frequent sharpening. It often comes as a surprise to a beginning wood turner that in some circumstances tools need to be sharpened every couple of minutes.

So the budget will need to stretch to a set of woodturning tools, a grinder and a set of aluminium oxide wheels at the very least, not to mention sundries like sandpaper and finishes. All of these should be allowed for in the budget before shopping for the wood lathe. It should be noted that a decent set of woodturning tools or a four jaw chuck may each be more expensive than a beginner's wood lathe.

It is possible to get started turning wood on a modest budget. Some reasonable planning is necessary but many woodturners have begun on light lathes and used them for many years.

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Choosing Woodworking Tools That Are Right For You

If you've developed the itch to work with wood, then you're going to need some tools.

But what kind of woodworking tools and how many?

The answer to this will depend largely on things such as your budget, your style of woodworking, and the type of wood you'll be working with.

The style of woodworking that you do can be affected by such things as the space in which you have to work or where you live. For example you may simply not have enough available space to have all the latest or biggest power tools, or you may live in an environment where the noise from power woodworking tools may be prohibited. If this is the case, your style may be one of strictly working with hand woodworking tools.

In the end however, if you're like most woodworkers, throughout the years you'll end up with a combination of woodworking tools from the large and powerful to those original hand tools that you grew up on when you started working with wood back in your apartment.

Another influencing factor when it comes to choosing the right woodworking tools for yourself is the style of furniture that you intend on building. One style of furniture will more than likely require few different types of tools over another style. This is why it's always a good idea to get yourself a good set of plans for the type of project you're considering.

Today the amount of woodworking tools that you can buy is limited only by your ability to be able to afford to buy them.

But before you run off and bust the bank buying woodworking tools, consider that woodworking isn't always about having the best tools. There is something to be said for developing your skills, your imagination, and problem solving without always having the best power tool to overcome every issue.

Remember there are just about as many ways to accomplish something in woodworking as there are tools on the market. In fact, most of the time when you think you're up against a limitation caused by your lack of tools... it's your imagination and self skills that will come up with a workable solution if you just re-think the situation.

But, when the time comes and you begin thinking seriously about acquiring some additional woodworking tools, don't be so quick as to rush out and get the latest shiny new object. Take the time to look over some reviews from one of the professional woodworking magazines that are available and see how the various models have been graded out by the people who have actually used the tools.

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Choosing the Right Woodworking Tools and Supplies For Your Shop

Take a walk through the aisles of your local hardware store and what will you see? Hundreds upon hundreds of different woodworking tools and supplies for you to choose from! Variety is a great thing to have, but in order to make the right decision when it comes to selecting the tools and supplies for your woodworking shop, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind.

If you have a long list of tools and supplies that you are looking to purchase, one thing you might want to consider is purchasing some of these things used. Woodworking tools can get quite pricey, and if you need a long list of items, getting a few second-hand deals might be a good idea.

But, whether you purchase your items new or used, you will definitely want to look for the tools that are perfectly suited to you. This includes how comfortable and easy to use they are for you. It's all about personal preference. What one woodworker might find is their favorite may not necessarily be another's favorite. Personal preference is important, because if you purchase a tool that is not comfortable for you to use, chances are you will not use it.

How durable are the tools and supplies you're purchasing? Will the blades you've selected last a long time or will you need to replace them often? How much use will you get out of your router bits before they become dull? Replacing even small pieces like these can become costly if you're doing it often, so if you're using these tools often, you may want to purchase higher quality supplies that are more durable and will save you money in the long run.

Of course, if you're a casual hobbyist, and you don't plan on using a tool very often, a less expensive option may be for you. You will want your tools and supplies to be durable enough to last when you need them, but if you're not using them with much frequency, you may be able to get away something more inexpensive.

If you're looking for another way to save some money when you're purchasing woodworking tools and supplies, try looking for multipurpose items. Why buy 10 different items that only perform one function each, when you could purchase two items that perform all of these functions? Not only will it save you lots of money, but you'll also save valuable space in your workshop.

Look through the list of tools and supplies you want to purchase. How often do you see yourself using each of these items? Realistically, there are probably several items on your list that you may only use a handful of times. These would be great things to add to your list of used tools and supplies to search for.

Woodworking is a wonderful hobby, and you will want to make sure that you've got the right tools and supplies to accomplish all of the projects you set out to complete. Just make sure you do the proper research beforehand, so you find the tools and supplies that will serve your purpose.

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Choosing and Purchasing CNC Machines

Are you in the market for a CNC (Computer Numerated Control) machine? CNCs are very useful for industrial work and woodworking shops. They really aren't beneficial for the weekend do-it-yourselfer but if you would like increased speed and accuracy on large jobs with repetitive tasks then you should consider purchasing a CNC machine. Here are some tips to determine the right one for you and your budget.

First off, it's important to know what a CNC machine does and how it operates. It is a machine that performs tasks using woodworking tools. It must be programmed properly before operation and once the initial set up is done, it will do exactly what you've programmed. Therefore, if you have a repetitive task then the CNC machine will ensure accuracy and uniformity. For example, a CNC router can be programmed to drill holes in a designated fashion. The results will be more uniform and accurate than drilling manually and you won't become tired of operating a manual drill.

There are different types of CNC machines depending on the job that needs to be accomplished. The better CNC machines can operate in multiple modes from fully manual to completely CNC so you can tailor the machine to the project and task.

There is the CNC lathe which is for cutting wood. They range from 15-40 horsepower and the amount you need depends on the amount and type of wood you'll be cutting. There is also the CNC mill which is a special piece of equipment that uses programming along with robotics to ensure accurate results. Once it's programmed, the CNC machine decides which tools for the job and will automatically change the tools when needed. The Bridgeport mill is the best brand and is used in both small and large industries. They are used in airplane construction for their reliability and accuracy. These efficient and reliable pieces of equipment are very expensive but they're built to last a lifetime.

There is also CNC engraving equipment which is used for engraving a variety of materials and are more accurate that any manual engraving could be. They are widely used for signage lettering for both large and small projects.

CNC equipment is out of most people price ranges and is therefore something that really requires an industrial need to see a return on investment. If a new machine is too much then consider buying a used machine. If it is a reputable brand and the owner can show you that it's been properly maintained then it could still last a lifetime. Make sure you see the machine in operation before spending the money.

Not as inexpensive, but still a savings and more reliable is a refurbished CNC machine. The machine is reconstructed by the manufacturer and worn parts are replaced. They often come with a warranty so it offers some consumer safety.

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Choosing a Wood Lathe For Your Wood Shop

If you are a beginning woodworker, you probably are not yet ready for a wood lathe. However, if you have are at the point in your wood working where you are serious about outfitting your shop with the right tools then this tool is certainly one you should consider.

The basic operation of this tool is pretty simple; you place your work piece it the lathe and it spins around. You then use tools, such as gouges and chisels to shape the wood. Of course, there is more to the tool that this. Wood lathes vary in features such as horsepower, bed length, swing, and fixed or variable revolutions per minute (RPM). An important, but often overlooked, feature is the chuck. This is the piece that holds the wood in place as it turns. You will want to have the option of holding the wood between the jaws of the chuck or screwing the work piece directly onto the chuck. This is handy for pieced you are holding from just one end, such as a wood bowl. Your particular needs will dictate which of these features are most important for you.

As with many power tools, there are many brands to choose from. Many of these names will be familiar to you: Delta, Craftsman, Ohio Forge, Grizzly, Jet, Oliver, Glaser, Rikon, Stabilax, Powermatic, Supernova, and Tranpower. You probably have your favorite brand, but be sure to check out reviews so that you make sure you get the features you really need. A wood lathe is not a small investment, so make sure you do your homework before buying.

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Choose a wood lathe: there is a lot of advice available, some of which is good

There has been an increase in the popularity of the lathe in recent decades, and with it the manufacturers of woodworking tool are placed on the new market with a wide selection of wood lathes in all price ranges. For the beginner woodturner so there is a confusing array of choices when buying a lathe. While there is a lot of advice provided in the choosing a wood lathe to a beginner, the Council must be sifted with reason.

One of the things that makes it so pleasant lathe is the camaraderie of the population. Turners like to share information about the tools they use, the manner in which they sharpen, as special projects and of course turn on their return. Beginners can learn a lot about simply asking other lathes wood Turners and standing back to listen. Not a lot of confirmation will be required.

The difficulty here, of course, is most people consulted will be practicing some Turners years experience. You have formed opinions, both good and bad, not only in general but especially lathes that or those on which they run. Their personal lathe that may not be ideal for the beginner.

First of all, many Turners gradually tend to specialise in certain forms or types of lathe, often without realizing it. The lathe which is perfect for a Turner pen may not even be close to meet the needs of a bowl turner, while beginners will probably want to try both. Some of the things that can now wish in a wood lathe can also be so esoteric to the needs of a beginner that are intangible in beginner's desires for a working tool.

Secondly, most of the Turners will want to introduce a friend to the joys of transforming wood, but will forget about the early days of his place and tries to convince the newcomer to the craft that they need the lathe itself as the Turner with experience. The budget for the beginner and the woodturner rarely reaches its second, third or higher lathe.

Still, Turners in their stores and on the web have a lot to offer good advice from what is required for reliability, availability, and enjoyment are concerned wood lathes. An introduction to local clubs lathe is often filled with invitations to try out other people's lathes, a precious help to someone trying to buy their own. There is also the possibility of someone in the club having a lathe for sale as they update. In addition, Turners know what else you need to start and get advice on where it is easier and more purchased locally.

As with all free information, you get what you pay for. However, information is valuable and having a lot of it will make you a more informed buyer and then one more chance to enjoy the future use of your purchase.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: Accessories Can Make All The Difference

Buying a wood lathe is different than purchasing almost any other stationary power tool. Most come ready to use right out of the box or with only a bit of assembly such as mounting the enclosed blade. Wood lathes generally come without cutting tools of any kind. All that come with the lathe are a faceplate and a couple of centers for mounting wood. However, tools and accessories are readily available and are either needed for turning or will add tremendously to the enjoyment. Still, it is necessary to make sure the desired accessories fit your lathe as it is definitely not a one size fits all proposition.

A good beginner's set of tools will meet most of the needs of beginning and intermediate spindle turners. Generally a bowl gouge or an Oland tool must be purchased or made for spindle turning. Ensure that the tools are high speed steel and have comfortable handles. While a small set of tools makes it hard to turn large objects and a big set makes it hard to turn small ones, a medium sized set with shafts about seven inches long are commonly used for all sorts of sizes of turnings.

The typical shop grinder is easily turned into a sharpening station with a couple of aluminium oxide wheels and a sharpening jig. While some experienced turners disdain the sharpening jigs, others love them and they make life much nicer for beginners.

Accessories will include more centers and faceplates as well as various chucks and gadgets. Manufacturers have long ago noticed the buying power of wood turners and the near addiction to acquiring tools expressed by many. It is necessary to know some things about your lathe before buying.

Generally accessories will attach to the headstock or tailstock. Headstocks come in a variety of sizes expressed in terms of their diameter and screw size expressed as teeth per inch or tpi. Common sizes for beginner length are one inch diameter by eight teeth per inch and three quarter inch diameter by sixteen teeth per inch. Accessories are easily available for both but may not be for some other sizes. In the UK metric sizes may be more prevalent.

Tailstocks and headstocks will generally be bored through and then tapered, usually to a standard called the Morse taper. This will generally be a number one or number two Morse taper expressed as #1 or #2. The two are not interchangable but most accessories will be available in either size. These have been the industry standard for some time. Number three Morse tapers have been used on metal lathes for a long time and are being found more often on some of the larger wood lathes for sale.

It should be noted that having a set of accessories that meet the accepted industry standards allow them to be moved on to new lathes. A good place to start is a beginner lathe with a one inch by eight tooth per inch headstock and number two Morse tapers in the headstock and tailstock. Such standards can have a woodturner looking at the after market accessories for a long time to come.

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Choosing a wood lathe when it counts: what to look for robust

While it is obvious that the wood lathes, spin around, wood is not always apparent to the buyer of time before spinning, if out of balance, vibra tremendously. In addition, wood lathes could pick up runs very heavy wood sections and should be able to withstand considerable strength. There are a few simple things to try to ensure that a lathe is robust enough for the job at hand.

If you have a small shop and the intention of turning small objects, it may seem as if robustness will not be a factor, but this is simply not so. Most small lathes to turn at high speeds and have an high minimum speed. Just as on a car, an unbalanced wheel doesn't seem a problem at low speeds but vibrates at those tall, the same thing happens on a wood lathe or unbalanced parts with lathe unbalanced. While a small piece on a small lathe can not try to walk through the floor, vibration encourages poor cuts and a good finish.

Lathes larger tend to have lower minimum speed, and then allow for less vibration pieces out of balance. However they are usually bought with the purpose of handling the largest pieces of wood and then more weight. An empty bowl of forty pounds is not unusual on a lathe with a swing of twelve to sixteen inches and can literally walk a lathe light through the floor of the store.

The solution to the problem is to have a robust enough to handle the lathe work. It starts with a good base as a stand that is well done and heavy enough not to move forces turning. The sand is a good vibration absorber and many Turners design their booth lathe to hold hundreds of pounds of sand.

The lathe itself should have a lot of pig iron and steel in its construction. Stamped metal parts tend to give little support. Good welds should be sought. Check with your friends by lathe and discover what lathes used for turning you intend to do and then find out if they are satisfied. Good bearings are a must and even more important are the bays. The bearings are easily replaced, but not where they live in the lathe.

One of the best test of robustness is good sense when looking at the lathe. If it seems solid is probably. This would not only be one aspect of the catalogue, but rather a chance to stare at it and see if the steel is substantial and iron castings are solid and well finished. Mechanisms to hold the rest, Headstock and tailstock tool should be strong and firmly lock. Speed controls should move easily and readily accessible.

The final test of the lathe will happen as you turn on it. Many Turners will push the envelope of size and speed and safety is the responsibility of every individual, but much of it can be ensured by good planning and foresight of a bit.

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Choosing a wood lathe: remember the budget

Buying a wood lathe sounds like a simple proposition. Control the budget, look at the back in the category, choose the one that looks good and go away. However, like most things in life, it is not so simple. One of the hardest things for the beginner or first-time buyer, you know how to evaluate the budget in the first place.

Wooden Lathes are more individual than many other woodworking tools. While there are certainly many tools templates as table saws, for example, there are some features in particular expected price ranges and saws will be fairly uniform in that range. It is expected that one can buy one, put it in the shop and go to work. The wood lathe is a different proposal.

While most wooden lathes in a price range determined to be generally similar in quality is not always so. A mini lathe is usually better quality than a full-size lathe in the same cost range, for example. Two lathes of same price may have different mechanisms for the control of speed and overall quality of the lathe with speed regulator more expensive will probably be lower than other machine. It is necessary in the budget to the question what is wanted in lathe for weight, build quality control type, size and speed, among other things.

All other things, equality between lathes, there is the extra effort on the budget to take into consideration. This table saw will be ready to work right out of the box, but this is not the case for most lathes. Typical wood lathe arrives with the base machine ready to be executed and with centres and a front to hold the wood, but without tools to cut the wood, nor any way to keep them sharp. Again in contrast to the saw table that came with a knife that rarely needs sharpening and then by a professional shop, lathe tools comes without any means to sharpen them though will need frequent sharpening. Often comes as a surprise to a wood Turner start that in some circumstances, instruments must be sharpened every couple of minutes.

So the budget you will need to stretch to a set of tools, lathe, a grinder and a set of wheels of aluminium oxide at the very least, not to mention accessories like sandpaper and finishes. All these should be allowed for the budget before shopping for the wood lathe. It should be noted that a decent set of lathe tools or a four-jaw Chuck each are more expensive than wooden lathe beginner.

You can start to turn the wood with a modest budget. Reasonable planning is required, but many turners have started on light lathes and used them for many years.

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Choosing a wood lathe tool: make sure you enter the shop

Wooden Lathes are generally substantial tools that are going to be part of a general store. As such, some consideration should be given to ensure that it adapts well to the store. At least three areas need to be looked at, namely the type of shop, the size of the workshop and the woodturner concerned.

Wood shops come in a variety of shapes, sizes and characters. Form the beginning and over time develop a personality depending on the work that is done in them. As was introduced, lathe or develops in them have ten to fit into three major groups. One is the furniture store, the other an all-purpose wooden shop and, finally, the Centre of tornio.

For the furniture shop, a wood lathe will probably shoot small objects like doorknobs specialty items bigger as the legs of the table. A typical lathe for this store would be one that can turn a spindle of twelve inches in diameter up to thirty-eight centimeters in length. Needs to be remembered that small objects such as doorknobs can be turned on a lathe for large, but a great item cannot be on a small lathe. The ability to make a strong bench lathe is inherent in a furniture store and can be manufactured to hold a lot of tools and accessories necessary to transform the wood.

All purpose wood shop will take probably a lathe similar to the furniture store, but may want to be able to make larger pieces. Many of today's lathes can swing blade and handle large pieces for different types of outboard. If this is desired, it is a good idea to get a lathe that will have a minimum speed of 400 revolutions per minute or even less to reduce vibration.

The Centre of tornio dedicated you will need at least the second type of lathe and can be better served with a family of lathes that allow for various work be happening at different times. A lathe can be dedicated to Chuck's work, while another without modes are designed for the work of various types. Yet another mini lathe may be available for the small jobs at high speed.

With these considerations is the need for the lathe or CNC lathes to adapt to the store. Not only a larger lathe requires more space for its footprint, also needs a fair amount of room around it for the woodturner to move safely while turning. Also must adapt itself around other tools to give you a good feel for the workflow.

Finally, each woodturner will develop their own style and desire of lathe. While the first lathe rarely really reflect this except for the case, the second and subsequent lathes can be chosen to make the choices you prefer wood, turning so maybe safer and more enjoyable.

Wooden Lathes are tools that tend to be a part of the store wood for a long time and due consideration should be given for their purchase. It is an opportunity to reflect on our craft and in itself can be a fun part of the process.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: There Is A Lot Of Advice Available, Some Of It Is Good

There has been an upsurge in the popularity of woodturning in recent decades and along with it the woodworking tool manufacturers have accommodated the new market with a wide selection of wood lathes in all price ranges. For the beginner woodturner there is thus a confusing array of choices in purchasing a lathe. While there is a lot of advice available in the choice of a beginner's wood lathe, the advice has to be sifted with reason.

One of the things that makes woodturning so enjoyable is the camaraderie of the turning population. Woodturners like to share information about the tools they use, the way they sharpen, how they turn special projects and of course about their lathes. Beginners can learn a lot about wood lathes simply by asking other woodturners and standing back to listen. Not a lot of prompting will be required.

The difficulty here of course, is most of the people consulted will be practising turners of some years experience. They will have formed opinions, both good and bad, of not only lathes in general but especially the one or ones upon which they turn wood. Their personal lathe may not be the ideal one for the beginner.

First of all, many woodturners gradually tend to specialize in certain forms or types of woodturning, often without realizing it. The lathe that is perfect for a pen turner may not even be close to meeting the needs of a bowl turner while beginners will likely want to try both. Some of the things they may now desire in a wood lathe may also be so esoteric to the needs of a beginner that they are immaterial in the beginner's desires for a working tool.

Secondly, most woodturners will want to introduce a friend to the joys of turning wood, but will forget the first days of their own turning and try to convince the newcomer to the craft that they need the same lathe as the experienced turner. The budget of the beginner seldom reaches that of the woodturner on his or her second, third or higher lathe.

Still, woodturners in their shops and on the web have a lot to offer for good advice as to what is needed as far as reliability, enjoyment and availability are concerned in wood lathes. An introduction to the local woodturning club is often filled with invitations to try other people's lathes, an invaluable aid to someone looking to purchase their own. There is also the possibility of someone in the club having a lathe for sale as they upgrade. Plus, woodturners know what else is needed to get started and have advice on where it is easiest and best purchased locally.

As with all free information, you get what you pay for. However, information is valuable and having a lot of it will make you a more informed buyer and therefore one more likely to enjoy the future use of your purchase.

Darrell Feltmate is a juried wood turner whose web site, Around the Woods, contains detailed information about wood turning for the novice or experienced turner as well as a collection of turnings for your viewing pleasure. You too can learn to turn wood, here is the place to start. Wondering what it looks like? There are many free videos on the site dealing with everything from sharpening to making a bowl.

There are several wood turning projects fully explained on the web site. In particular, a selection of beginner's projects may be found on the Beginner's Projects page complete with explanation and step by step photos.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: Remember The Budget

Buying a wood lathe sounds like a simple proposition. Check the budget, look at the lathes in the budget category, choose the one that seems good and away we go. However, like most things in life, it is not that simple. One of the more difficult things for the beginner or first time buyer, is knowing how to gauge the budget in the first place.

Wood lathes are more individual than many other woodworking tools. While there are certainly many models of tools such as table saws, for example, there are certain features expected in particular price ranges and the saws will be fairly uniform in that range. It is expected that one may purchase one, put it in the work shop, and go to work. The wood lathe is a different proposition.

While most wood lathes in a given price range will generally be similar in quality this is not always so. A mini lathe will usually be better quality than a full size lathe in the same cost bracket, for instance. Two lathes of the same price may have different mechanisms for controlling speeds and overall quality of the lathe with the more expensive speed controller will likely be less than that of the other machine. It is necessary in the budget to question what is wanted in the lathe for weight, quality of construction, type of speed control and size among other things.

All other things being equal among lathes, there is the extra strain on the budget to consider. That table saw will be ready to work right out of the box, but not so for most lathes. The typical wood lathe comes with the basic machine ready to run and with centers and a faceplate to hold the wood, but without tools to cut the wood nor any means to keep them sharp. Again in contrast to the table saw that came with a blade that rarely needs sharpening and then by a professional shop, the lathe comes with no tools and no means to sharpen them even though they will need frequent sharpening. It often comes as a surprise to a beginning wood turner that in some circumstances tools need to be sharpened every couple of minutes.

So the budget will need to stretch to a set of woodturning tools, a grinder and a set of aluminium oxide wheels at the very least, not to mention sundries like sandpaper and finishes. All of these should be allowed for in the budget before shopping for the wood lathe. It should be noted that a decent set of woodturning tools or a four jaw chuck may each be more expensive than a beginner's wood lathe.

It is possible to get started turning wood on a modest budget. Some reasonable planning is necessary but many woodturners have begun on light lathes and used them for many years.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: Make Sure The Tool Fits The Shop

Wood lathes are generally substantial tools that are going to be part of a general woodworking shop. As such, some consideration needs to be given to ensure that they fit the shop well. At least three areas need to be looked at, namely the type of the shop, the size of the workshop and the woodturner concerned.

Woodworking shops come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and characters. Either form the beginning or over time they develop a personality depending on the work that is done in them. As woodturning either develops in them or is introduced, they ten to fit three large groups. One is the furniture shop, another an all purpose wood shop, and finally the dedicated woodturning centre.

For the furniture shop, a wood lathe will likely be used to turn both small items such as speciality door knobs and larger items such as table legs. A typical lathe for this shop would be one that can turn a twelve inch diameter spindle up to thirty eight inches long. It needs to be remembered that small items such as those door knobs can be turned on a large lathe but a large item can not be turned on a small lathe. The capacity to make a sturdy bench for the lathe is inherent in a furniture shop and it can be produced to hold a lot of the tools and accessories needed for turning wood.

The all purpose wood shop will likely want a similar lathe to the furniture shop but may want it to be able to turn larger pieces. Many of today's lathes allow for the headstock to swing and handle large pieces for outboard faceplate work. If this is desired, it is a good idea to get a lathe that will have a minimum speed of four hundred revolutions per minute or even lower to reduce vibration.

The dedicated woodturning centre will need at least the second type of lathe and may be better served with a family of lathes that allow for various work to be going on at various times. One lathe may be dedicated to spindle work while another without ways is designed for faceplate work alone. Still another mini lathe may be available for small work at high speeds.

With these considerations comes the need for the lathe or lathes to fit the shop. Not only does a larger lathe require more floorspace for its footprint, it also needs a fair amount of room around it for the woodturner to move in safety while turning. It will also need to fit itself around the other tools to give a good feel to the shop work flow.

Finally, every woodturner will develop his or her own style and desire of woodturning. While the first lathe will seldom truly reflect this except by chance, the second and subsequent lathes can be chosen to make the preferred choices in wood turning more enjoyable and perhaps safer as well.

Wood lathes are tools that tend to be a part of the woodworking shop for a long time and due consideration should be given to their purchase. It is an opportunity for reflection on our craft and in itself can be an enjoyable part of the process.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: There Is A Lot Of Advice Available, Some Of It Is Good

There has been an upsurge in the popularity of woodturning in recent decades and along with it the woodworking tool manufacturers have accommodated the new market with a wide selection of wood lathes in all price ranges. For the beginner woodturner there is thus a confusing array of choices in purchasing a lathe. While there is a lot of advice available in the choice of a beginner's wood lathe, the advice has to be sifted with reason.

One of the things that makes woodturning so enjoyable is the camaraderie of the turning population. Woodturners like to share information about the tools they use, the way they sharpen, how they turn special projects and of course about their lathes. Beginners can learn a lot about wood lathes simply by asking other woodturners and standing back to listen. Not a lot of prompting will be required.

The difficulty here of course, is most of the people consulted will be practising turners of some years experience. They will have formed opinions, both good and bad, of not only lathes in general but especially the one or ones upon which they turn wood. Their personal lathe may not be the ideal one for the beginner.

First of all, many woodturners gradually tend to specialize in certain forms or types of woodturning, often without realizing it. The lathe that is perfect for a pen turner may not even be close to meeting the needs of a bowl turner while beginners will likely want to try both. Some of the things they may now desire in a wood lathe may also be so esoteric to the needs of a beginner that they are immaterial in the beginner's desires for a working tool.

Secondly, most woodturners will want to introduce a friend to the joys of turning wood, but will forget the first days of their own turning and try to convince the newcomer to the craft that they need the same lathe as the experienced turner. The budget of the beginner seldom reaches that of the woodturner on his or her second, third or higher lathe.

Still, woodturners in their shops and on the web have a lot to offer for good advice as to what is needed as far as reliability, enjoyment and availability are concerned in wood lathes. An introduction to the local woodturning club is often filled with invitations to try other people's lathes, an invaluable aid to someone looking to purchase their own. There is also the possibility of someone in the club having a lathe for sale as they upgrade. Plus, woodturners know what else is needed to get started and have advice on where it is easiest and best purchased locally.

As with all free information, you get what you pay for. However, information is valuable and having a lot of it will make you a more informed buyer and therefore one more likely to enjoy the future use of your purchase.

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Choosing a Wood Lathe For Your Wood Shop

If you are a beginning woodworker, you probably are not yet ready for a wood lathe. However, if you have are at the point in your wood working where you are serious about outfitting your shop with the right tools then this tool is certainly one you should consider.

The basic operation of this tool is pretty simple; you place your work piece it the lathe and it spins around. You then use tools, such as gouges and chisels to shape the wood. Of course, there is more to the tool that this. Wood lathes vary in features such as horsepower, bed length, swing, and fixed or variable revolutions per minute (RPM). An important, but often overlooked, feature is the chuck. This is the piece that holds the wood in place as it turns. You will want to have the option of holding the wood between the jaws of the chuck or screwing the work piece directly onto the chuck. This is handy for pieced you are holding from just one end, such as a wood bowl. Your particular needs will dictate which of these features are most important for you.

As with many power tools, there are many brands to choose from. Many of these names will be familiar to you: Delta, Craftsman, Ohio Forge, Grizzly, Jet, Oliver, Glaser, Rikon, Stabilax, Powermatic, Supernova, and Tranpower. You probably have your favorite brand, but be sure to check out reviews so that you make sure you get the features you really need. A wood lathe is not a small investment, so make sure you do your homework before buying.

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Choosing A Wood Lathe: What To Look For When Sturdy Counts

While it is obvious that wood lathes spin wood around, it is not always obvious to the first time buyer that spinning wood, if out of balance, vibrates tremendously. In addition, wood lathes may be asked to spin very heavy sections of wood and need to be able to withstand considerable force. There are a couple of simple things to look for to ensure that a lathe is sturdy enough for the work at hand.

If you have a small shop and intend to turn small objects, it may seem as if sturdiness will not be a factor, but this is simply not so. Most small lathes turn at high speeds and have a very high minimum speed. Just as on a car, an unbalanced wheel does not seem a problem at low speeds but vibrates at high ones, the same thing happens on a lathe with unbalanced wood or with unbalanced lathe parts. While a small piece on a small lathe may not try to walk across the floor, vibration encourages poor cuts and difficulty in a good finish.

Larger lathes tend to have lower minimum speeds and thus allow for less vibration in unbalanced pieces. However they also are generally bought with the purpose of handling larger pieces of wood and thus more weight. A bowl blank of forty pounds is not unusual on a lathe with a twelve to sixteen inch swing and can literally walk a light lathe across the floor of the shop.

The solution to the problem is to have a lathe sturdy enough to handle the work. It starts with a good foundation such as a stand that is well made and heavy enough to not move under the forces of turning. Sand is a good vibration absorber and many turners design their lathe stands to hold hundred of pounds of sand.

The lathe itself should have lots of cast iron and steel in its construction. Stamped metal parts tend to give little support. Good welds should be looked for. Check with your woodturning friends and find out what lathes they use for the type of turning you intend to do and then find out if they are satisfied. Good bearings are a must and even more important are the bearing housings. Bearings are easily replaced but not where they live in the lathe.

One of the best tests of sturdiness is common sense when looking at the lathe. If it looks solid it likely is. This would not be just a catalogue look but rather a chance to stand at it and see if the steel is substantial and the iron castings are solid and well finished. The mechanisms to hold the headstock, tailstock and tool rest should be strong and lock firmly. Speed controls should move easily and switches readily accessible.

The final test of the lathe will happen as you turn on it. Many turners will push the envelope of size and speed and safety is each individual's responsibility but much of it can be ensured with good planning and a little foresight.

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