Suggestions for my first lathe...

[magee93]

Apologies if this topic has been covered a number of times before.

I'm looking to start doing a bit of woodturning as a hobby and am looking at buying my first lathe, however I don't want to rush into buying one and it turn out to be rubbish.
If anyone could suggest a 'beginner' lathe, that would be great! I understand that lathes can be quite pricey for the good quality ones, unfortunately I'm in a position where I can only spend up to about £200-250 on one. Any ideas would be massively appreciated!

 

[SVB]

Hi,

The first question I have is to ask whether your budget is for the lathe alone or whether this needs to cover 5 or 6 core tools and a grinder with a 'white' aluminium oxide wheel as you'll need this as well together with a starter kit of abrasives and a dust mask of some sort.

I notice your in Bristol, have you looked up the Avon & Bristol woodturning club?

http://www.avon-and-bristol-woodturners.org.uk/

They meet monthly in a church hall in the Filton area and also the former chairman has set up a charitable trust with a workshop in Portishead with about 20 lathes from basic record units to a VB36 so the full spectrum.

http://www.maxcareywoodturningtrust.org.uk/

They do training there for new turners (was mid-week only but this may have changed) so will give you access to all sorts of kit to look at before you buy and loads of inpartial advice - worth a day's holiday if your working or get your self signed up asap if your retired and have the time!

BRgds

Simon

 

[gregmcateer]

Totally agree with Simon - get to a club and learn from them before you shell out - there may even be a lathe to borrow or for sale from a member.

 

[Castanea]

And look out on ebay for what's on sale locally. It may take a while but things like Record DMLs come up fairly frequently, are often fairly cheap and are decent basic lathes.

 

[magee93]

Hi,

The first question I have is to ask whether your budget is for the lathe alone or whether this needs to cover 5 or 6 core tools and a grinder with a 'white' aluminium oxide wheel as you'll need this as well together with a starter kit of abrasives and a dust mask of some sort.

Simon

Thanks for your advice! I can stretch a bit further for tools as well.

Unfortunately I'm not exactly in Bristol, it wouldn't let me put my actual location (on the East side of Bath), so both those places are quite far away, but I'll look into it!

Are there any lathes within my price range do you think?

 

[SVB]

You should be able to get something, probably best go for used good quality than new bottom end stuff.

I had a Axminster m900 that I started and would be within your budget used. Axmister also make many similar other models that are all fine. Many swear by Record Power lathes, I must admit I'm not a fan but worth looking at (if you do end up with the RP m/c, go for the CL range with solid bed bars and cam locking levers, cheap / early ones had hollow tubes that were a bit light weight IMHO and the tool rest was moved and re-secured by loosening & tightening a nut / bolt - real PITA after a while!) . I would suggest avoiding the single tube lathes made by Clarke and others - they are really built quite poorly and will create quite a few frustrations.

If you could spare a day then I would still recommend a trip to the mill at Portishead, even as a one off would be a day well spent and I sure they'd welcome you for a trial day (need to phone/ email though as I think they get very busy to check space etc).

Also, have a look on the sticky posts above in this forum, one of they contains a list of the lathes owned by poeple on here, there may be someone with something you've seen to ask direct questions of.

If you're set of buying independently on ebay etc then look for the 'bundles' as they can be better value than buying individually.

A perfect package would include

Lathe
Woodturning chuck (and spare jaw set or two!) - key operated are easier than the two level system and I'd avoid the 'multistar' type of chuck with loose inserts and elestic bands unless you've got at least 4 arms.
Driver centre
Live centre
Tailstock drill chuck
Face plate
Tools (HSS) - good starter sets are prob roughing gouge, spindle gouge, skew, bowl gouge, round nose scraper, parting tool. Rest can come later. Gold star for makes like Henry Taylor, Sorby, Ashley Isles, Crown, Axmister.

Finally Keith Rowley's book on intro to turning is generally regarded as the definative beginners' guide and is well worth buying. Other 'book' to own is the Axminster catalogue, FoC and very useful to give you the idea of what is out there even if your looking for used.

Hope that helps, all my opinion of course but such are internet forums!

Simon