Oh which lathe!

[Sambalm]

Hello all,

I have recently acquired an old lathe. It's a naerok lathe, belt driven. It came with a record power chuck set, a few extra chucks and an okayish set of chisels. I completely new to turning but know I'm going to live it forever! Now, the lathe is okay, it spins fine, it's a bit annoying changing the belt for different speeds but I'm getting my head around all the bits etc. I have so far only practiced on little things but tried a blank I made from a log today. On 800rpk it was fine but if I went up a speed the whole.lathe crashed about my worktop. I then bolted it down which was okay for the next setting but going up a speed causes it to really rattle!
In the mean time I've seen an Axminster ac370 craft down the road for £250 without any chucks etc just a faceplate.
So... Do I keep on with my old machine and stick to it or sell it and acquire the Axminster but be without the chucks etc?

 

[Lazurus]

Stick to your old one to start with, keep within its limits and practise, put the £250 you have saved towards a much better lathe after you have out grown this one. With bowl blanks and logs have a look at you Tube Lyle JAMIESON starting between centres and finding the balance point of a blank, saves a lot of rock and roll with out of balance blanks on a small lathe.

 

[Sambalm]

Good advice, I think your right. I'm looking to blame my tools before my technique. I'll stick to my old lathe and soldier on!

Thanks

 

[Lazurus]

When you do upgrade go for a good quality second hand lathe, much better value can be had and you often get all the extras that cost a fortune if you have to buy on top of a new lathe. Spend some of the spare cash on a good quality shapening system, a slow grinder and a jig so you can acheive fast repeatable grinds on all you chisels. Spend time turning not sharpening. Good luck.

 

[Sambalm]

I will thanks. I always go second hand, it in my nature!

 

[leisurefix]

Hi, welcome to the wood turning, it is indeed a lifelong love. I would highly recommend that you get yourself a book on woodturning techniques, as it sounds rather like you are trying to use a too high rpm. Yes, it is best to bolt a lathe down. Also agree that you should keep this lathe until you have really got a feel for what you enjoy turning, then get a lathe properly suited to what you want to do on it.
Cheers, Andy