Originally posted by Aderhammer
I believe this machine destroys the whole essence of penturning.
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/pmla.html
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The first pens I saw turned back in the early 90s were turned on a lathe very similar to the Taig lathe in the add, it was a Sherline micro lathe, I still don't own a wood lathe, and so far I've done just over 100 pens and key rings and 3 duck calls, I manage to turn allot of pens other than B2B, I can do beads, I can do strange profiles (woop dee doos), and pregnant pens. [
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My own lathe is a Jet 920BN metal lathe, and if I'm goofing off at work I use either a Clausing 15x60 metal lathe, or a Huge 40 year old Monster lathe, I have a CNC lathe at work, but I'm not about to fill up the coolant pump with wood dust, besides that would remove all of the spontaneity from the design but I could make several hundred exactly alike in very short order. [|)]
Using a metal lathe you do have to have some degree of coordination, like patting your head and rubbing your stomach with the other hand, you are controlling 2 hand wheels at once, this lathe is not a duplicator, I really don't see where this machine destroys any thing, if needed I can create center bands, nibs or finials out of what ever metal I choose then do the barrels on the same machine, Try that on a wood lathe
you can add a wood type tool rest to most any metal lathe, If you must be a Purist, but really it's just a tool, as you grow older you'll find the art of any work comes from the soul and skill of the creator of the piece of work, not some stupid conglomeration of metal and electricity [8D]