Beginners wood lathe - need a chuck?

[technium]

Someone is selling a Wood lathe near me but im not sure if it has all the pieces, I cant see the spindle thing on the left hand side but then again I dont know what im really looking for. I see some are saying they come with chuck or power chuck but whats that for and do I need it?

Sorry for asking all these questions, it seems that Im making more threads each day.

thanks

Colin

 

[technium]

Theres also another lathe ive seen that at one end has a point (i suppose to hold the wood) and at the motor end is a round flat piece of wood, how does that one hold the wood?

 

[Glynne]

I think you need to find out a lot more about lathes and accessories before you even consider buying one.
Rather than a lot of posts with specific questions on this forum, it might be a lot easier if you visited a local woodturning club, went to some demonstrations (wood, art & craft shows etc) or spent a bit of time on YouTube looking at some basic turning videos and explanations of lathes and accessories.
In answer your question about a "point", that could either be a centre in the tailstock (lump on the right hand side) or a drive centre / prong in the headstock (lump on the left hand side, usually incorporating the motor). These would be for spindle turning i.e various shapes of cylinders such as stair spindles.
For things like bowls, you need other methods of holding your stock (wood) such as chucks, faceplates etc.
Hope this helps but find a turner, do a Columbo impression and ask a load of daft questions (no question is really daft if you not know the answer) and then think about a lathe, turning tools, chucks, faceplates, grinders, jigs, face masks, finishes etc. A lather is only the start!
Good luck.

 

[technium]

Thanks Glynne ok I guess im not ready then

unfortunately here in Portland there are no local woodworking or woodturning clubs, I think we only got electric here about 10 years ago LOL

 

[Glynne]

Go with YouTube or some books then.
The lathe is a pretty simple piece of kit so getting your head around the various bits isn't hard - headstock, tail stock, bed, banjo (often called the tool rest). Just look for the really basic videos to start with and look at the kit they are using rather than the techniques to start with. That way you can see what they use to turn spindles and bowls.
You will need to sharpen your tools once you get some. Often newcomers don't appreciate this and learning to sharpen is an art in itself so even if you have everything you need to turn wood, you will soon have to stop turning and learn sharpening. That was a bit of a shock to me when I got my first lathe.
In terms of books, probably ask the question on the forum and get some recommendations from the more experienced turners. A little money spent on a book or two will probably save a lot in the long term.
The concept and theory of turning is pretty straightforward - it's the practical application that's the hard bit.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Keith Rowleys. Woodturning for beginners (or similar) would be my recommended reading but if you buy his dvd you'd better get some strong coffee! For more lively presentation style I recommend Richard Raffan

 

[TFrench]

The keith rowley book is very good. Worth reading it before you even switch a lathe on, so you have a basic understanding of how its all going to work!

 

[woodpig]

Colin, if you could provide pictures of any prospective purchase we could probably answer some of your queries.

 

[technium]

Thanks all, I just thought while it was cheapish then I could pick it up before doing research. Anyway heres the links to the couple I was talking about. The Record one just seems to have points at either end but notice some are being sold with the "power chuck" so didnt know if this would work out of the box or wether I would need to purchase other kit.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381676253849? ... EBIDX%3AIT

then second is this one which I was refering to with the flat round wood at the end and wondered how you attached wood to it to turn, this ones not local but would do delivery.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/262493987840? ... EBIDX%3AIT

thanks all, I know im new, Im not trying to disrespect anyone but thinking I can just pick up and lathe and suddenly turn bowls and beautiful legs etc but I was just thinking of storing until I learn the basics.

thanks

Colin

 

[Distinterior]

Keith Rowleys book (Woodturning - A Foundation Course) if i remember correctly, was what got me started......It gets my recommendation too..!!!!

 

[technium]

ok Just purchased the foundation book for a bargain of 2.40 including delivery from a well known auction site

 

[BearTricks]

The piece of wood on the motor end of that eBay listing could either just be a blank mounted for turning, a homemade wooden faceplace or even a block for hot glueing a bowl to.

I'd probably guess that it's a blank that hasn't been turned yet, if it was one of the others I'd imagine that the turner would have turned it down to round before using it.

 

[technium]

thanks BearTricks so are either worth buying with a view to using later, is there a preference to either one?

thanks

Colin

 

[Distinterior]

I'd have thought the Record lathe would be a good lathe to learn on. I dont spend as much time on my lathe as I would like, so am no expert but i taught myself on a Record Swivel Head 36" lathe very similar to the one you posted the link to.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The little Record looks clean, but I wouldn't place too much value on the tools - they're cheap ones. I would avoid the NuTool.

 

[woodpig]

The Record lathe is a popular model that has been around for many years. Parts are freely available but it looks to be in good condition.

The second one just has a piece of wood screwed to a faceplate.

Neither Lathe appears to have a chuck but you can buy one later if required and in the meantime you could use a faceplate or turn between centres.

 

[graduate_owner]

All gkod advice, as ushal, but if you intend buying one of these two then the choice is a no brainer. As has been already mentioned, get the Record. Forget the nutool. Definitely forget the nutool.

K

 

[technium]

ok thanks guys, I think I will maybe bid for the Record but no sweat if I dont get it as theres no rush to acquire one just yet.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes, don't go daft on the bidding - wait a while, and you may well be pick one up with a chuck and tools for £40 - £50 more than that. Price what's with the lathe very carefully, sometimes what's with the lathe is worth way more than the lathe - as a beginner you'll probably be able to use it all.

 

[technium]

thanks, I will see closer to the time but at the moment I am thinking maybe of leaving it for now. Guess im getting over excited about finally getting workshop built.

slightly off topic, where do you all pick up your wood from, I mean the blanks for pens or bowls etc. I know timber merchants but wondered if you guys had another source?

cheers

Colin