mini lathe

[animal]

Hi Everyone,
I am new to wood turning ,but own a Vicmarc vl300 short bed lathe which I have used for metal spinning. I have retired from metal spinning and wish to sell this lathe and buy a small one Like the jet ones that go on your bench. My question is "are they any good . I'll mainly be turning wands from Lignum Vitae and make magicians chop cups at about 3 1/2 inch diameter ,again from Lignum. My Vicmarc handles it but will the small lathes cope.

 

[animal]

Also are there better chucks than Nova 2's I have one of those but find it rather poor quality.

 

[bellringer]

this would probably fill your needs http://www.axminster.co.uk/jet-jet-jml- ... rod362338/

 

[animal]

Thanks , I might go for the next one up with a bigger motor

 

[nicguthrie]

"The next one up" is the Jet 1220. I can say for certain it's a gorgeous one - I'd set my heart on it myself and read a lot about it, all of it pretty glowing.

When I went to order though, the Axminster 1416vs (variable speed) was on sale for the same price, and I couldn't resist... I don't regret it - it's a great lathe too, and the variable speed thing has been a massive bonus. There used to be a Jet 1220 VS too, though I don't see it on the axminster site, might be worth looking into as the ability to change the speed with a dial is fantastic for putting finishes on while things are on the lathe.

Nic.

 

[animal]

i prefer variable speed so thanks for pointing that out. Also do any makers sell a thread chaser chisel with say 8tpi. I need to thread Lignum as it will not glue

 

[Noggsy]

I've never had a problem gluing lignum for mallet heads. I use Titebond and Titebond 3 and have made 5-6 mallets with a variety of woods for the handles without an issue.

Good luck in finding a smaller lather and I would definitely have on with VS.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

i prefer variable speed so thanks for pointing that out. Also do any makers sell a thread chaser chisel with say 8tpi. I need to thread Lignum as it will not glue

Degrease with meths before gluing. :idea:

 

[chipmunk]

Well for what it's worth my advice would be to keep your Vicmarc if you have the space. Any new lathe you buy on the proceeds will not come close in terms of quality and heft and you can turn small stuff on it just as well as big stuff IMHO.

As you know Lignum is hard and heavy and it'll turn much better and more easily on a hefty lathe.

Just swap your chuck for a new one. I'd go for an Axminster Evolution SK114 for a lathe of that quality and heft.

I think that Sorby make a 10 TPI chaser but chasing finer threads is easier if you've not tried it before. Lignum will hold just about any thread so 16 or 20 TPI will both work ok even if the glue-ups cause problems.

HTH
Jon

 

[graduate_owner]

I've bought the Axminster evolution chuck for my graduate. It looks like a really well made, solid chuck. I have a few metalworking chucks and the evolution looks like it has more in common with these than with some of the flimsier woodturning chucks - although I've only handled a few of these (and I don't own any) so I'm no expert on them.
The graduate and evolution is a nice solid combination. I suspect the Vickmark and evolution would be too.

K

 

[animal]

okay I'll keep the vicmarc, I used it for heavy duty metal spinning which it handled with ease. I will take a look at the Axminster Evolution SK114 chuck as I am so not happy with the superNova 2. Many thanks. Perhaps I'll make a gig to cut the threads rather than a chaser.

 

[animal]

jig i meant to say

 

[chipmunk]

Not sure if this thing would be of interest?...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOODTURNI...=100011&prg=8339&rk=2&rkt=10&sd=291000090329&

The chap sells them in all sorts of thread pitches and for various chuck threads...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/boffin53/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

HTH
Jon

 

[dickm]

Depending how often the OP is going to use a chaser, it's not too difficult to make them with some steel bar and files. Probably not worthwhile for regular use in lignum, but for other woods, especially where the thread is not going to be on show, it's one possible solution.

Otherwise, Ashley Iles.

 

[chipmunk]

Hmmm, I'm not a big fan of the Ashley Iles Unichaser but I know some people are. Chasers have been around for many years and if one tool would have sufficed for both jobs it's hard to believe that it wouldn't have been invented before IMHO.

I have made my own coarse thread chasers (about 10TPI) though from a couple of old spade bits - but it's tricky to keep the teeth uniform for finer threads.

If you're lucky enough to get to the Turners' Retreat stand at a show, like the Harrogate Show next month, Robert Sorby often sell pairs of their thread chasers unhandled in HSS for a significant saving (never known why turners don't insist on unhandled tools anyway) - They were less that £30 last year.

HTH
Jon

 

[animal]

thanks every one, 've seen the thread gigs on ebay and they look ok, it's quite easy to make one though.

 

[animal]

I think i'll have a go at making one , sounds like a lot of work though. still thinking i need a smaller lathe as my vicmarc is huge .

 

[animal]

i have just spotted engineers thread chaser bars on ebay from around 8 pounds , do you think a handle on one of these would suffice