Woodturning Lathe

[inthewids]

I really enjoy making spoons etc and would like to get into turning, i was thinking of asking Santa for the below lathe, does anyone know if it would be any good for doing small bowls, plates, chair legs etc?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=785504&name=lathe&user_search=1&sfile=1&jump=44

 

[Bri30]

It looks slightly small for chair legs and bowls to me.
I would be tempted to go with this instead http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cl-cwl1000-lathe/path/lathes-accessories

Depends how much room you have to put it in

Cheers
Brian

 

[sevencounties]

Keep your eyes open for secondhand kit- it seems lots of chaps take up woodturning as a retirement hobby then it sits in a shed.....and in due course ends up on the market. Most of my stuff has come this way and you tend to get lots of the tools etc thrown in. Hobby lathes tend to need to be very securely bolted down to stop vibration problems, have you thought about a pole lathe? much cheaper and green wood is really nice to turn-none of that nasty dust or noise!

 

[launditch1]

I dont see why you cant turn small bowls on it.It looks ok to me.I managed to pick up a record lathe for £60.An old boy had bought it brand new thought better of it and sold it to me for a song!I also have pole lathe which was fun to build and use....and cheaper...

 

[Kerne]

I'd agree with sevencounties about the bed length - 17" isn't much. Also, you need to see if you can get one with the capacity for attaching a left-hand threaded faceplate outboard - this usually gives you the capacity to turn larger diameter bowls.

We use these in my school workshop - they are standard issue in schools and many people who turn learned on them:
http://www.machines4wood.com/mall/productpage.cfm/scottandsargeant/11416/81348

Sadly (for the kids) a lot of schools are getting rid of them but luckily (for you) they often turn up at auction as school DT departments try to raise desperately needed cash. Cracking machines that can take a lot of abuse - although you might need to buy a three phase converter as well.

'Course, what's wrong with a pole lathe...

 

[launditch1]

'Course, what's wrong with a pole lathe...
No motor!!

 

[jojo]

Yes, you can turn bowls or plates up to 240mm/9 1/2" on it; a chair leg is about 440mm long, just measured mine! and thats what you can turn between point. Also you can turn objects up to 43" with the extension. It's not a particularly powerful motor but it's quite a good little machine for the price and what it can do. Changing the speed can be a bit of a pain, it's a belt and pulleys, like on a pillar drill.

Don't forget you will need tools, that'll bumps the price up a bit!

 

[inthewids]

Thanks everybody, the clarke one looks better, will see what Santa says, i have some chisels already, hopefully Santa says yes.

 

[burning]

I'd have to agree with previous posters about going for a used one (full size).
You grow into it not out of it

I ended up doing stuff for the council and churches after 2 yrs, it's a great skill to learn and I'd hate to have a 'dig in' on a little 375w job

 

[weaver]

You can turn tiny things on a big lathe, but you can't turn big things on a tiny lathe.

I burned up a small cheap lathe then waited until I could find a nice old big lathe. I am very happy with it.

 

[inthewids]

Unfortunately at the moment im a bit tight for space and santa wont stretch enough for a large one so i think i will go for the Clarke one, i only plan on turning smallish things anyway and if i manage to make anything worth while i can sell them and save for a larger one, need a bigger shed too!!