Ambitions too great for pocket and bravery?

[inspiras]

About 6 months ago I purchased on of the £90 lathes from Aldi, purely with the intention of having a go at
something I've always fancied, I was aware that its only a cheap hobby machine but having done a bit of work
to my work bench this week to secure it down I though I would have a go at a chunk of wood...

Well I had an idea that the 3 chisels provided were far far from sturdy enough but I was was shocked about
the result and I'm fairly sure it was my choice of wood, work size and approach, I managed to bend one of
the chisels nearly in half at 800rpm

What I would like is should I persist or just understand that my expectation were too high? Or could it just
be the kind of wood?

Any assistance or advice would be appreciated of course

James

 

[Sheptonphil]

A picture of the tools would be good as well so we can see what type of chisel they are (were).

Phil

 

[NickWelford]

Treat yourself to a couple of decent chisels. There's something seriously wrong with one you can bend. If the lathe spins the wood then the problem is the chisel. It looks fairly ambitious for a first go, but nothing wrong with that.

 

[Dalboy]

Have you a picture of the three tools so that we can determine if you have been using the correct one for the job in hand

EDIT looks like we posted the same question at the same time

 

[inspiras]

I will take photos of the tools tomorrow, I am aware that they are very short and I'm pleased to hear that nobody instantly says, "thats the wrong wood", they are very small

 

[Soylent1]

I'd say it's your chisels. I am quite new to turning and when I very first started out I made some pretty terrible mistakes, catches that took chisels out of my hands etc.. and I'm sure if I'd have been using sub quality tools I'd have broken a few easily! As I say I'm no expert, but It's well worth spending money on good chisels to start out and then upgrade the lathe at a later date.
I'm sure other more experienced members on here will be more than happy to help you out in more detail if you require.
Tony

 

[inspiras]

I'd say it's your chisels. I am quite new to turning and when I very first started out I made some pretty terrible mistakes, catches that took chisels out of my hands etc.. and I'm sure if I'd have been using sub quality tools I'd have broken a few easily! As I say I'm no expert, but It's well worth spending money on good chisels to start out and then upgrade the lathe at a later date.
I'm sure other more experienced members on here will be more than happy to help you out in more detail if you require.
Tony

Thanks Tony, that was on my mind as a 90 quid lathe that had three very short (18" max tools inc, the handles) did make me wonder,
I have seen youtube videos of people using tools that are long enough for them to control them with their hips etc, I'm OK with giving
that a go, not sure what I should be paying for a basic 3 chisel set, do you have a view?

 

[Soylent1]

I wouldn't like to comment or suggest that one make is better than another with fear of opening a huge can of worms :wink: Some turners swear by one make and some by another. I would say just try a web search and you will soon discover the main names in chisels etc.. the majority of mine are sorby chisels but I do have one or two from other names. All I will say is that HSS as opposed to carbon steel are a good choice.
As I said previously there may be some other members who could advise you with a bit more insight.
Tony

 

[procell]

I am not an expert but the advice I have been given is:_ Go for a well know name like Sorby or Ashley isles chisels, plenty going on Ebay. Get the best you can afford and go for the basics like a skew, spindle gouge, bowl gouge, and a scraper. Once you have them get some smaller bits of wood and practice spindle turning between centres until you are more comfortable with the tools. There is an Endless supply of videos on youtube that will show you the basics and even some very advanced turning methods. Also visit your library and see what books they have on turning. As for the right type of wood? Is there a wrong type?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLBHAfSvBFQ This is a good starting point

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

Step away from the tools! I bought a cheap set of tools when I first started and in my opinion they are dangerous in the wrong hands. I too bent the spindle gouge, and snapped the roughing gouge. Yes, snapped it.
The lathe itself is worth the money they sell for. When I first started out I looked at the budget range of lathes, but everyone I spoke to said steer clear. If I hadn't managed to get hold of the Myford lathe I would have bought one for sure.
I would be willing to bet there are scores of these machines up and down the country sitting in sheds where the owners have been put off by the poor quality tools.
I would say buy a few better tools, get them sharpened properly, and try the lathe again. Once you get the hang of it I'll bet you decide to upgrade. If not, it's not been a hugely expensive experiment.

 

[gregmcateer]

ditto all above. and DEFINITELY go to a local club, or stick a request on here for someone local who you can go to and watch and learn - makes a huge difference to see it done properly.

 

[Grahamshed]

Firstly, welcome to the forum. As you gave seen they are a helpful bunch of guys

Everyone else is talking about the chisels, and they are probably right, but lets also talk about the lathe and wood. pictures can be deceptive. The lathe ( banjo) looks pretty frail and how big is that bit of wood ?

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

I've seen the lathes up close and they are not as sturdy as one you would pay a couple of hundred quid more for. You get what you pay for. The bed bars are mild steel angle iron and the banjo is quite thin. All that said though, it is probably sturdy enough for the size limitations, and for someone to get a taste of the hobby.
When we start out, I think we all probably make the same mistakes. Try to run before we can walk, and batter in gung-ho. Ooh-la-la as Ronnie Lane would've said.
Richard made a good point in his series in Woodturning magazine, that in the workplace you don't get anywhere near machines until you have had even the most basic of instruction. Yet anyone can buy a machine (not just lathes) off the shelf and go for it without any knowledge or training.
These machines are a good thing in as much they are very affordable for the beginner dipping a toe in the water. They are also a bad thing as parents may buy one for children thinking, "if they sell them in a supermarket they must be safe."
I still say start with better tools, get the tailstock up to support that log and take very light cuts to get it into the round. Better still cut up an old broom shaft or curtain pole that is already round, mount between centres and practice finding that elusive bevel.

 

[KimG]

The looks like a lump too far to me, the lathe will not likely have the weight or power to deal with it safely. As for the chisels bending, that's an indicator of entirely unsuitable tools. If you wish to pursue the hobby then start smaller, get some decent tools from axminster, their own brand of High Speed steel chisels will be fine, get a roughing gouge, (I find a 1" most useful) a couple of spindle gouges (1/2 and 3/8") a parting tool, and maybe a round nosed scraper. This is a basic set that you could turn quite a bit of stuff with.

Get Keith Rowley's book, "Woodturning, a foundation course" read it before you approach the machine, at least you will have some idea what to do.

Leave the large lumps until you have become proficient with smaller things and you will likely progress and enjoy the hobby, otherwise you may end up having an unfortunate event that has an alternate effect.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Agreed. If I were you I'd get that veritable "log" off. Start with a piece no wider than 2 inch square, as Taz says, if pre-rounded like a broom handle even better as then you don't need to knock the corners off. Though a brom handle is a tad thin. 2x2 stock about a foot long is a good place to start. Carefully mark the centres on either end and mount it between centres. You MUST have sharp tools or its going to fail horribly. Practice beads and coves with a 3/8" spindle gouge to get the feel of everything. Don't try the skew to begin with it will just put you off. Join a local club and/or get some one to one.

 

[Grahamshed]

I am also puzzled about how you 'bend' a chisel. Bear in mind that I have zero experience but wouldn't that suggest that the tool rest is way to far away from the wood ?

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

I am also puzzled about how you 'bend' a chisel. Bear in mind that I have zero experience but wouldn't that suggest that the tool rest is way to far away from the wood ?

I can tell you exactly how I did it. Start by sticking a ridiculously uneven piece of wood in the lathe. Adjust the rest far enough away from the rough stock to avoid it hitting. Lean the tool at the wrong angle, too far over the rest to be able to keep proper control. Have the lathe turning so fast it is bouncing all over the shed. Stick that chisel in like a butcher boning a horse.
It's really quite easy.

All due to inexperience and an eagerness to remove more wood than was appropriate in my case. This was why I started using the broom handle. Practice finding and using the bevel to burnish the wood before even trying to cut anything. This may sound very tedious, and it was. I feel though, that my technique improved a huge amount by doing it.

 

[Soylent1]

?[/quote]I can tell you exactly how I did it. Start by sticking a ridiculously uneven piece of wood in the lathe. Adjust the rest far enough away from the rough stock to avoid it hitting. Lean the tool at the wrong angle, too far over the rest to be able to keep proper control. Have the lathe turning so fast it is bouncing all over the shed. Stick that chisel in like a butcher boning a horse.
It's really quite easy. [/quote]


And I thought I was the only one daft enough to try such a thing! =D>

 

[Woodchips2]

I started off spindle turning on 2"x2" pine to get to know how to cut properly and avoid dig-ins. Then try some hardwood to learn how to get a reasonable finish. I then went on to bowls but bought small blanks that were reasonably balanced. Then move onto the sort of timber you started off with. Getting it wrong with great lumps of out-of-balance timber can do you serious injury.

You would probably find the cheap tools that came with the lathe would be adequate to learn the basics and turn out things like dibbers, rolling pins etc.. Then if your interest increases buy some decent tools.

Somebody has already mentioned Keith Rowley's book or try a DVD. I found Gary Rance's DVD on techniques http://www.garyrance.co.uk/ taught me the basics very well but there are others available.

Regards Keith

 

[CHJ]

Kim's suggestion regarding the Keith Rowley book is definitely a first port of call in knowing the hows and whys of using the tools and selecting suitable wood.

On the latter front the large lump pictured is not the normal orientation for turning a bowl, maybe after a few months experience an attempt at a hollow form using such a log presenting its end-grain may be in order.
To see how grain direction influences preferences for grain orientation in relation to bowls and vessels have a look at this PDF