where can i cut costs?!

[ryanjohn_5]

im setting up my word turning workshop in my girl friends shed - this is the list of items i think i need to get, where can i cut costs to have least impact on my work?

from http://www.recordpower-thetoolshop.com/

CL3-CAM, 5 Speed Lathe with Cam Lock Toolrest and Tailstock £340.42

RPLB24-48_BST £85.10 (stand for lathe)

CL3/B_BST £42.54 (out bound bowl turning extension of lathe)

CWA140/160 1/2" Drill Chuck With No1 MT Arbor £21.27

RPBG8 8" Bench Grinder £51.05

23055 SUPERNOVA2 Chuck £110.63

Shipping (Carriage) £26.09
VAT £118.48

total = £795.58

and from http://www.axminster.co.uk/

Axminster Safety Visor £7.16

Crown 'Axminster' Turning Tool Set (5 Pce) £99.50

Axminster Sawtooth Extension - £19.95

Axminster TiN Coated Forstner Bit Set - Metric (15 Pce) £19.95

total = £146.56

942.14 pounds

i would ideally like to spend 800 pounds or less - where would you cut costs?

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Ryan,

There are 2 ways that immediately spring to mind:

1) Go for a 6" grinder rather than the 8". This should save you about £25 straight off.

2) Look into buying the tools seperatly, sometimes sets aren't the best way to buy.

The other thing that you could do is build your own bench which will save you a few quid but take longer to set up, so it's up to you.

I'm sure others will have ideas.

HTH

Richard

 

[big soft moose]

i'd say drop the bench - they are okay but you could build yourself one out of 2x4 for about half that

also buy your tools individually ( possibly off ebay) rather than as a set

and thirdly why do you need the forstner bits ? (if you want to deep hole borring with them you only need one or two sizes not a whole set - and its better to buy better quality ones in the few sizes you actually need)

likewise do you need the lathe mounted arbour - ive not got one and i dont miss it (you do need one if you are planning on doing a pepper grinders, lamps etc , but beyond that their utility is limited

If you still need to save money the other thing you could do is change your choice of lathe (The CL3 is a good lathe no question, but you can do a lot with a cheaper one ) Also if you bough everything from axminster you would save the delivery charge as they deliver free over £50 value (so long as you dont choose something so heavy that it needs their heavy goods delivery)

one last point - I dont see anything on that list for dust control or resporitary protection, which is a must - particularly if you are turning in a confined space. The ideal is something like the airsheild or power cap but these are expensive and you can get by with a decent dust mask like this.

also you might find ear defenders useful - these are good and are compatible with wearing a face sheild

 

[paulm]

I would be tempted to skip the bowl turning attachment too. I had one for years on my old cl3 and actually never got round to using it on account of there being a decent throw over the bed anyway, and the attachment being a bit fiddly and unconvincing in use anyway with any larger items.

Second the idea on size of grinder and individual tools and stand, and also perhaps skip the set of forstners and instead get one sawtooth one of an appropriate size assuming you are planning on usng it to take the core out of bowl blanks or similar ? Actually, if that's the case then don't bother with those or the extension piece as it's easy enough with a bowl gouge anyway.

Hope that helps, don't forget you will need some timber and finishes and abrasives too !

Cheers, Paul

 

[Bodrighy]

Buy a few tools separately, not a set, make your own bench, why do you need the saw tooth extension and the Forstner bits? As Moose said you need some kind of mask, more important than the visor, a pair of goggles would suffice. Drill chuck you can live without to start with as well. Basic set up would be your lathe, homemade bench, 4 or 5 tools (bowl spindle gouge, roughing gouge and parting tool possibly a skew.) Smaller grinder as said. Just make sure you have at least a white wheel. Personally I don't like Record lathes so I'd look for something else as I find them clunky and clumsy but that's me.

Pete

 

[big soft moose]

ryan, you have a pm re a couple of things i spotted on the 'bay

 

[Lons]

Buy good used stuff instead of new and you're likely to get a chuck and maybe tools thrown in.

 

[Steve Jones]

Ryan,

As others have said buy second hand, that's what I've been doing over the last 12 months or so. A good proportion of my gouges have come from ebay and I must admit to having a bit of a soft spot for sorby in particular

Steve

 

[dannykaye]

get a lathe and some tools from ebay.

GET A GOOD NEW FULL FACE VISOR AND DUSTMASK if you are new you will have accidents and dust is a menace

There are several good lathes on ebay at the moment, save the change for wood

 

[johnny.t.]

...more important than the visor, a pair of goggles would suffice.

I'll have to disagree with Pete there, goggles are not good enough. I used to use goggles until this happend I now have a big(but cool looking) scar forever!

JT

 

[big soft moose]

...more important than the visor, a pair of goggles would suffice.

I'll have to disagree with Pete there, goggles are not good enough. I used to use goggles until this happend I now have a big(but cool looking) scar forever!

JT

I tend to agree that full face protection is a must - but at the same time pete is right that dust protection is more important - wear only goggles and you could wind up with a scar or two - dont wear dust pro and you could wind up with lung cancer (among other things)

 

[Davyboy]

Hi Ryan,

See how much of the kit you get from eBay. I have recently retired & needed to set up a small workshop in my shed, which is now complete. I would say that about 20% of the equipment was purchased from eBay, including two lathes. Give it try, you never know. The other thing I did if it's of any interest, was to sell the tools etc that I really didn't need on eBay in order to finance the kit I DID need. Look around the dealers & decide which equipment you want, then search eBay. It worked for me, I saved hundreds!!