I be a newbie!!

[johnny.t.]

Hello, as the title suggests I'm yet another newbie to woodturning, I've fancied having a go at it for a couple of years and two weeks ago decided to throw caution to the wind and buy a lathe . I started out looking at the Clarke ones in machine mart and went from thinking about getting the smallest cheapest one they do to thinking about getting the biggest one. I nearly went to get one when, whilst having a last look on the net stumbled across Axminster and their range (bigger,twice the power and cheaper!). So I ordered an AWVSL1000 and a set of their perform basic tools(cheaper if ordered individually!!), it arrived the next day as promised and I assembled it in me shed, alone :shock: , made a couple of "thingys" out of scrap pine and retired to bed a happy man.
Since then I've made a sharpening jig and a doughnut chuck and have been busy most evenings(much to my wifes discust) making bowls and stuff.
Its nice to find a corner of the internet where I'll be able to get advice/steal ideas from those with more experience .

cheers johnny

 

[Blister]

Hi Johnny :lol:

Woo , new lathe , hope is still looks new and is not covered in wood shavings :wink:

Now you will have to post some photos of what you have made for the wife :lol:

She will love them :roll: , if you get any agg , exsplain that if you are in the workshop , she can have use of the TV

But only till you come indoors :wink:

O and it helps if you remind her to bring you a Cup of tea every hour :lol:

Have fun and be careful

 

[cornucopia]

hello and welcome

 

[johnny.t.]

Thanks for the welcomes

Woo , new lathe , hope is still looks new and is not covered in wood shavings :wink:

Now you will have to post some photos of what you have made for the wife :lol:

Lol, not only is the lathe covered in shavings but my shed,pockets,shoes,carpets,world......
I will post photos of my efforts shortly when I get them resized and on photobucket.

 

[johnny.t.]

This was the first attempt at a bowl,natural edged and ,made from oak. I only had 80grit sandpaper at the time so the finish isn't too smooth.

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Then a chunky oak candlestick.

A beech bowl, about 7" wide and 5" tall, which has since the photo cracked quite badly

Then today(having a day off) I thought I'd have a go at a goblet and pushing my luck went for a captive ring. I am fairly happy with the result

Let me know what you think, remember that until a fortnight ago I'd never even touched a lathe

cheers johnny

 

[Alie Barnes]

i really like the bowl shape and the goblet, well done.

 

[Paul.J]

Hello Johnny.t. and welcome
If these are your first turnings then you must be pleased with them :shock:
I like the natural edge bowl,pity you can't finish it off with a smoother finish.
Keep em coming :wink:

 

[maltrout512]

Hi Johnny, and welcome, it's a slippy slope but we have all been there and are still sliding. Turning looks good and I'm sure wife will get over not arguing over channels. Could always get two way walkie talkies!!!!!!!!!!!! Very handy for orders like tea would be nice oh and a couple of biscuits. All the best

 

[CHJ]

Welcome to the forum johnny, great first efforts there, guess the Beech was a little too green. Next time rough turn to shape leaving about 15mm thick and put to one-side out of direct heat to dry out.
Wrap the outside with paper, leave centre exposed to add some control to the rate of moisture loss.

After about 3-4 weeks should be dry enough to finish turn, you will probably see it going out of round by 5-6mm or so in the process.

 

[PowerTool]

Hello and welcome to the forum
Same as Alie,really like the oak bowl and the beech goblet - very nice pieces in their own right,but made more impressive given that they are some of your first turnings!

Looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Andrew

 

[johnny.t.]

Thanks for the positive replies 8)

Paul, I am indeed very happy with my efforts, these are not the only things I've done,there are several failures in amongst the bags of shavings :lol:

Chas, the beech is really green ,I have a 4' long by 14" wide piece and I can hardly lift it! I know I shouldn't finish such green wood but having done so little of this I can't help myself and end up finishing it to see how it comes out(even if it only lasts for a short time ). I will try your method as I would like a bowl that stays the same shape as I turned it!!

cheers johnny

 

[CHJ]

If you can salvage the green wood with something worthwhile at the end of the exercise then great, but as a new starter non of the effort you put into making shavings will be wasted, it all leads to better tool control and confidence in how to tackle a particular shape.

The piece of Beech you describe sounds like it would be best turned green.
A slice across a log (I assume that is what you have) will be very prone to splitting on you as it dries.

Try to slow the drying in roughed state as much as possible, even to the point of putting it in a plastic bag to even the moisture gradient and turning the bag inside out each day to dump the moisture.

 

[greggy]

welcome johnny, wow those a great for a newbie. your either telling us porkys or you are a natural, well done :wink:

 

[boysie39]

Welcome Johnny
hope you get lots of enjoyment.
By the looks of your first efforts you will soon be giving us plenty.
REgards Boysie.

 

[Jenx]

Hi there Johnny.....
Looking good there ! -
Keep the photo's coming ! 8)

 

[Woodmagnet]

Welcome Johnny, looks like your well and
truly on the slope. :lol:

 

[johnny.t.]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome, and thanks Chas for the tips on drying, I've managed to fight the urge to finish everything and rough out an oak bowl to leave to one side to dry. Now what I really need is a chuck as the monsterous face plate that came with the lathe is starting to seem a real hassle and won't take small stuff.

Cheers johnny