Wood Lathes? - A Couple of Things to Think About When Buying a Used One

Wood lathes come on the used market in a fairly regular fashion and can be a great way to get a good wood lathe for the money. On the other hand some of the used lathes are lemons. Here are a few suggestions for the shopping trip.

First of all have some idea of what you want to do with a wood lathe in your shop. If you are upgrading from your present machine then you have some opinions as to what things are needed. The novice buyer has a harder road to follow.

There are two main ways to turn wood, spindle and faceplate. Spindle turning includes such things and chair and table legs and is normal way to general woodworkers to enter the woodturning world. Making turned legs for a table eventually leads to making a table as an excuse for turning legs. Faceplate work includes pieces such as round table tops, bowls and vases. Most people who take up faceplate work desire to turn bowls and go from there.

Most beginner lathes will be suitable for spindles and bowls. Older wood lathes used a system of working over the bed of the lathe for spindles and at the other end of the headstock worked "offside" for bowls and such. This required faceplates and other materials to have "left handed" threads. In effect, the bother of setting up for outboard turning meant that most woodturners could not be bothered and settled for making the largest bowl that would fit over the lathe bed. Today's manufacturers often compromise with a headstock that rotates and allows for bigger pieces using the same holding equipment as over the bed.

The problem that arises with this setup comes from lathe speeds. Generally spindles are turned much faster than faceplate work. Large bowl blanks, if unbalanced as most are, can at high speeds shake a lathe apart; cause the lathe to walk across the floor; or turn the wood into a projectile. At slow speeds none of these occur. Six hundred rpm is just slow enough for a twelve inch bowl, but slower is better.

So when looking for a lathe, get one that fits your preferred style of turning. For spindles a solid set of ways making up the lathe bed are important. Faceplate lathes should be very sturdy at the headstock, handle a large piece of wood, and have a low speed. Remember that a wood lathe is a basic power tool and look for the finish and quality you would normally desire in a good tool.

Wood lathes are a lot of fun in the woodworking shop. There are some great bargains on the used market and with a bit of insight, a used lathe is a wonderful way to get started in the woodturning craft.

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Wood Lathe Safety: Getting the Woodturner Ready To Turn

Woodworking is a reasonably dangerous hobby or occupation. By that, I mean that a bit of reason does a lot to remove many dangers. Wood lathes are among the safest of woodworking stationary tools because, unlike table and band saws, instead of wood heading into a moving blade, a hand held blade is directed into the moving wood. However, it is still necessary to do some basic preparation in order to ensure safety at the wood lathe.

While woodturners are good to ready the lathe by making wood and machinery secure and the tools sharpened, they also need to prepare themselves for a safe experience. Amateurs in particular turn wood when opportunity presents itself, often after a hard day at work. This can mean a drowsy period and it should not be spent near power tools. Such time is better spent first having a nap or even cleaning the shop. Sometimes all that is needed to clear the cobwebs is a bit of simple movement in a pleasant atmosphere.

It should not need to be said, but the woodturning shop with its chain saws, wood lathes, and band saws is not the place for alcohol or drugs, including prescription drugs or over the counter medications. Check with your doctor for side effects including drowsiness before turning while using medications.

It is necessary to dress for woodturning. Loose clothing can easily catch on spinning wood, especially rough or burled pieces. A turner can easily be caught and hauled into the lathe. Considering that even small lathes often have half horsepower motors, this can be extremely dangerous. Neckties and jewellery are particularly to be avoided. Even rings can be caught on the spinning wood resulting in an accident called degloving wherein the bone is left on the finger and the skin and muscles are removed. A small turned box near the lathe for rings and other jewellery is a good reminder of safety first.

Clothing that is tight at the cuffs and neck prevents annoying and distracting shavings from becoming an irritant against the skin. Face masks and goggles prevent flying wood from doing damage to the face and eyes while dust masks can prevent damage to the lungs.

Many turners forget the dangers of chemicals in finishes. Latex or vinyl gloves help prevent contact problems and a good chemical mask can prevent lung damage. Even better is the use of finishes that are safe for breathing and contact.

Safety is an issue that faces all of us at the wood lathe. It is possible to use common sense and be safe in this very enjoyable craft for a lifetime of shavings.

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Cheap Wood Lathes

There are a lot of reasons why investing in an expensive, high quality wood lathe is a good idea.

There are a number of benefits to moving up in price and quality range. You will get a larger lathe, which allows much more freedom and variety in the projects you can do and the pieces you can make and large lathes are heavier which reduces vibration. You will get better finish and machining, parts will be better aligned and the overall product will be much nicer.

Lathes are one area where you can still buy a tool that will last for years, or even decades. They are fairly simple devices, and solidly built, in general from cast iron.

So why would anyone ever invest in a cheap lathe?

Well there are several reasons you might consider a cheaper model of wood lathe. Some of them are good, others not so much, but it's a valid idea in any case.

The number one situation I think someone should invest in an inexpensive lathe is if they are a beginner. If you don't have a lot of experience buying a large expensive wood lathe could end up being a costly mistake.

I know a lot of people who go into things all gung-ho only to lose interest shortly afterward. In my opinion if you don't have a lot of experience you should consider investing in a a small inexpensive wood lathe initially, and consider it a starter that you will upgrade in a few years.

Another good reason to buy a cheap lathe is as a complement to a larger tool. If you already have a large wood lathe it could be useful, to have a smaller one for detail work, or small projects such as pen turning or lure making. Not all small lathes are created equal however, and some of them can be just as expensive as larger models.

A third reason for a smaller cheaper lathe is simply to save space, some people don't have a lot of room in their shops, or even a dedicated shop at all, and it wouldn't make very much to put a full sized lathe in your living room.

There are some decent lathes out there in the 300-400 dollar range, and even a few passable ones around 150 dollars, but I personally wouldn't go lower than that, or you risk getting a complete dud.

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Wood Lathe Tools

High quality wood lathe tools equate to higher quality projects if the operator is efficient and well trained. Wood turning is an art and craft that many use to soothe their nerves or to create beautiful wooden objects. An integral part of the lathe is the wood lathe tool rest that can be repositioned as the project becomes smaller.

Wood turning tools can be purchased easily, but the quality of the cutting tool will make a huge difference in the outcome of any lathe project. A lathe cutting tool that is made of high quality steel will create wonderful results. But if the lathe operator does not know how to properly sharpen them, they will not cut properly; costing the operator much more time to bring the wood to final shape.

Lathe tools come in various sizes and many shapes and gives the operator the perfect angle to turn wood while working in many different angles. There are so many different shapes to the cutting tool that it can be overly confusing to a novice. It is advisable to learn the lathe and tool sharpening techniques by a trained professional. they can teach you so many different methods and tricks by using their own experiences.

Wood turning professionals and instructors can teach you how to sharpen wood turning tools, which is an element that some novice turners never consider important. But if you have ever tried cutting a piece of wood with a butter knife, you will understand how critical the art of sharpening wood lathe tools can be.

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CNC Wood Lathe

CNC wood lathes can come in handy for many different wood working projects. You can create one-of-a-kind projects, beautiful spindles and stair rails, among other things. There is no more hand turning or cranking. This computer operated machine does all of the work for you.

The CNC wood lathe can be a great addition to any woodworking shop or hobby shop. If you are into furniture making or remodeling homes, this can also be the perfect machine for you. You can use this machine to not only sculpt and mold the perfect spindles or stair railings; you can use it for many other things such as putting designs into other projects.

The CNC wood lathe can also be used with other materials. Aluminum and brass works great with the wood lathe. The materials can stand up to the numerous and continuous turning process and this gives you even more possibilities for creativity and design. This machine could be the one addition to your shop that induces more creativity and customers, as well as income.

The CNC wood lathes are available in various sizes, and the one that you want will depend upon the type of work that you normally do. Smaller models can be mounted onto benches and are semi-portable. Portability offers new avenues for your business.

Remember that lathes operate on a spinning process; therefore, you must always practice safety precautions when working with a lathe. The CNC wood lathe means that it is controlled through the computer and once the machine begins to start it will continue to make the number of turns that the program specifies until it is done. This could cause major safety issues if one is not careful when working around it.

Make sure you do not wear loose sleeves that could potentially get caught in the machine. Do not wear any watches or rings. These too can get caught in a machine like this. Always make sure that you wear safety goggles to help protect your eyes, even if there is no flying debris. It's just a good habit to get into. Another good idea is to wear earplugs around any type of machinery.

Other safety precaution could be simple things like making sure that the machine has completely stopped before attempting to make adjustments or changing the speed of the spindles on the machine.

When it comes to the CNC wood lathes, make sure that you always have the correct cutting tool for the material. This is a major factor in determining how precise and finished the product will turn out once the machine has finished its process. The wrong tool can lead to disastrous effects.

To learn more about the CNC wood lathe and the process that it entails, ask your dealer. They will be able to answer any other questions that you may have. They will also be able to instruct you on the type and size of the machine that you will need for the jobs that you want to do.

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Wood Lathes - What to Look For When You Buy Your First One

Most people involved in woodworking for a while are in good shape when they are going to buy their first wood lathe. Many of the things to look for in a wood lathe are the same things one looks for in other woodworking machinery such as quality of finish and heavy material. However, there are some things specially to look for as a wood lathe is different from the other power tools in the typical woodworking shop.

First of all, look for a lathe that is built to absorb vibration. Many of today's tools are manufactured of steel or aluminum. Either can be made to have great strength compared to lightness, but either material requires extensive and expensive engineering to absorb vibration. This is an issue because of the way in which wood is treated on the lathe compared to something like a band saw or table saw. In the latter cases wood, generally in the form of uniform boards, is placed on a stable table and fed through a blade. There is little vibration involved assuming the blade is balanced.

Wood lathes, on the other hand, hold the wood and turn it at fairly high speeds. Often the wood is rough and unbalanced. This is something like driving an unbalanced tire at highway speeds. Just like the car will rattle and sway, so will the lathe. In the case of the wood lathe, cast iron is the answer and even the lower priced beginner's lathes will have some models with cast iron head and tail stocks. At a little higher price even the ways will be cast iron and it is generally worth it. Many woodturners have begun, however, on a model of lathe that has a single way made of a steel tube and yet with cast iron head and tail stocks. These have worked quite well for many turners.

The finish needs to be adequate on the head and tail stock and great on the ways. If the ways are finished properly the tail stock and tool rest will move well and freely. This makes turning a pleasure. On the other hand, a poor finish on the ways make it a pain to move either one and a frustration to a turner.

Make sure the head and tail stocks line up. Put a center in each one and bring them together. They should line up both vertically and horizontally. Some lathes will have measures to line up the centers but this is seldom seen in beginner's models.

All that is needed now is a good stand. Most beginner's level wood lathes have no stand or a poorly made pressed steel one. Making a solid one out of wood or metal is the best bet in either case.

These tips should help in choosing a first wood lathe. Just remember that, like most tools, it is easy to grow out of the first lathe so getting one with a good resale value helps too.

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Care of Wood Lathe Tools

In order to get the most out of your lathe you will need sharp, well maintained tools. Wood lathe tools take a lot of abuse, much more so that most of the other equipment in your toolbox. This is simply as a result of the amount of wood they can go through in a short amount of time. Carving a large piece of wood that is turning at high velocity is enough to dull even the best chisel.

So what can you do to keep your tools sharp? The first and one of the most important things you should be doing is cleaning your chisels after each use. This small step will go a along way towards prolonging the lifetime of your tools and keeping them sharp. Taking good care of your chisel set with regular cleaning will result having to sharpen them less often and better results from your carving.

You want to keep your tools as sharp as possible, but you don't want to sharpen them too much. Each time you sharpen your wood lathe tools you are grinding a little bit of them away, and over the lifetime of your tools this will wear them down until they are little more than wood handles with little metal stubs on them. You might not have seen this happen, but believe me it does!

That said, all the cleaning in the world won't stop your tools from dulling if you use them frequently, at some point they will need to be sharpened. The process of sharpening a chisel is a fairly precise art, and the best thing to do is have an experienced wood turner show you how to do it. Failing that I would recommend watching a video of wood lathe tools being sharpened, as there's really no substitute for seeing it done.

With all that said I will give a quick overview of the steps needed to sharpen a chisel. First off you will need a tool grinder, preferably one that runs over three thousand RPM and for your wheel you will want aluminum oxide with something like sixty grit.

You should always wet your wheel with a little bit of water before sharpening, to prevent sparks and keep your tools from catching. Depending on the specific chisel or gouge you want to sharpen you will need to use different angles of attack and pressures to achieve the desired result. Tools should be applied to the wheel, with a light pressure, taking care not to force them as this can result in nicks and scratches, and it can be very dangerous if your tool catches at 3000 RPM.

With regular cleaning and sharpening you will keep your wood lathe tools at their best and your wood turning projects will never suffer because of inferior tools. There's nothing worse than working on a project for weeks only to have a gouge with a nick in it catch your spindle and snap it in two.

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Setting Up The Wood Lathe: Getting The Height Right

While many wood lathes these days are sold as portable models, most are considered to be stationary machines. As such they are mounted on benches and stands and left for in the same spot for long periods of time. In order for work to be performed well, comfortably, and without injury, the lathe needs to be at a proper height for long term usage.

As a general rule of thumb, start to determine the height of the lathe by standing comfortably with your hands by your sides and feet about shoulder width apart. Measure from the bend of your elbow to the floor. This is the height to make the center line of the lathe.

Now measure from the tip of the spur center to the bottom of the lathe itself, not the stand if it is on one. Subtract this from your elbow height and you have the desired height of the stand.

This is of course, a compromise. Every turner is a bit different with different heights and body types. However, over the years this has been a good starting point for wood lathe setup. It can easily be upset by manufacturers who supply stands with their lathes. A good idea is to stand at a lathe on its stand in the store and actually hold a tool over the tool rest to find out if that is comfortable and then ask yourself if it would still feel good an hour later after wrestling with a piece of wood.

It may be that the best avenue is not to get a supplied stand but rather to make your own. However this is not always possible or reasonable. Sometimes the lathe you want is only available with the stand, the manufacturer's stand may be far superior to one you can build, the lathe and stand were a gift, the lathe and stand are integral or something else get sin the way.

There are two simple solutions depending on circumstance and these solutions are also usable if more than one person is going to use the lathe. The first is to raise the lathe by using pads under the feet of the stand or by adding support pads to the stand under the lathe so as to add height. While the height may be lowered by cutting down the stand this may be seen as a drastic measure and it is often easier and better to raise the floor area around the lathe with a low, wide and very stable box on which to stand. Above all, make sure the footing for both lathe and person is safe and secure.

Following these simple guidelines will give a goos start to lathe height. With experience do not fail to remember that persons and preferences differ and your preferred height of your preferred lathe may be different than someone else's. The idea is to find what works for maximum health, safety and enjoyment.

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Woodworking And The Wood Lathe: Woodworkers Use The Tools They Have

When moving from flat style woodworking like cabinet work and jewelry boxes to round work like bowls and pens, it appears that all that is needed will be a wood lathe and a few cutting tools. While there are many wood turning tools that could be gotten over the years, there are many other tools that are needed in order to explore the world of wood turning. Thankfully, many of these tools are already owned by the typical woodworker as are the skills to use them.

Wood needs to be prepared for the wood lathe. This begins for many projects with a log. One of the things that the typical woodworker needs to do when changing to work with the wood lathe is alter the way he or she thinks of getting wood. Instead of beginning with a nice, flat board from the local lumber dealer, a wood turner often starts with a felled log from the local tree surgeon or firewood supplier. The principle tool for beginning this procedure is a chain saw. Many woodworkers will have one of these for rough work and if not, an electric one will suffice for most needs.

Following the roughing of wood with the chain saw, there is the need to get it into reasonable shape for the lathe. This often means cutting it round or into long squares. One of the best tools for this is the band saw, owned by many woodworkers. It is also regarded as one of the safest saws in the shop and some would consider it one of the safest tools generally. It excels at long, circular cuts and with a bit of practice will do an admirable job at straight cuts as well. The fourteen inch band saw which will generally cut to a depth of six inches through hardwood, is a common feature in many woodworking shops. It is seldom that a wood turner will need a greater depth of cut but risers can be obtained for most fourteen inch saws on the market and they can be retrofitted to cut to depth of up to twelve inches.

Lathe tools need to be frequently sharpened. Some of the wood that turners like to work with will have lots of knots, included bark or grit from the felling of the tree. These conditions combined with the high speeds of the moving wood tend to quickly dull a tool. Most woodworking shops have a grinder used to remove nicks from plane blades and chisels and to reshape an edge before using whet stones to fine tune the cutting edge. Replacing one of the wheels with a fine grit aluminum oxide wheel and adding a sharpening jig quickly and simply turns the the grinder into a lathe tool sharpener and also allows its original use at the other wheel. The sharpening jig is not necessary but very nice and can be easily made in the home woodworking shop.

So the need for wood lathe tools for the home woodworker quickly becomes reduced to the lathe itself and the various cutting tools that may be needed. Many if not all of the other tools will be found already in the home woodworking shop. Of course, this is all followed by the enjoyment of learning new woodworking skills at the wood lathe and the continued pleasure of making new works in wood.

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Wood Lathe Safety: Five Things To Consider For Woodturning Workshops

Of all the power tools in the work shop, the wood lathe is one of the safest. This is still a powerful tool used with sharp tools and care is needed. Ultimately, safety is in the hands of the user. Here are a few safety tips to consider when turning wood.

One of the first things to look for is the general condition of the lathe itself. Many woodturners are amateurs who have only a few hours a week to spend in the workshop and wish to spend most of it at the lathe so that maintenance takes a back seat. Some time needs to be spent on such maintenance as sharpening spur centers, replacing bearings, making sure mounting nuts are secure, dressing the tool rest and so on. Before the lathe is turned on it should be checked to be sure that everything is tightened down and the wood will clear the tool rest as it rotates. Not only does it make the turning more enjoyable, it makes it safer.

While the condition of the lathe is important for safety, so is the condition of the wood turner. Fatigue causes accidents. A wood turner should be well rested and free of alcohol or drugs. All rings and other jewellery should be removed. It is all too easy for rotating wood to catch neck ties or other loose clothing and draw a turner into the lathe or for a caught piece of jewellery to rip off pieces of skin.

The height of the lathe should generally be set so that the center line of the turning will be at elbow height of the turner. This may vary a little with individuals because of varying ratios of arm to leg length, but it is a good working estimate. A height too great or too little easily causes back pain through undue hunching or stretching. Rubber mats on concrete floors also can be a big help in relieving back pain.

With the increase in artistic turning over the past few decades, more and more wood turners are mounting burls, spalted wood and wood with splits and voids in it, particularly in faceplate work. These pieces of wood tend to be fairly large and unbalanced. This sets up a lot of vibration in the lathe and can be inherently dangerous, especially as chunks of wood may fly off the lathe at high speeds if the lathe is turning too fast. Experience and slow speeds are essential in this type of turning.

There are various charts that are used to determine the speeds at which woods of various diameters are turned. These should be approached with caution as not all woods are of the same density and many have knots, hidden splits or other imperfections that will be aggravated by high speeds. It is best to start turning at a slow speed and increase as circumstances dictate.

There is no way to make working with power tools completely safe but a few simple precautions and common sense can make the woodturning workshop a safe place for a long time to come.

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