Interested in a Metal Lathe Forum?

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Interested in a Metal Lathe Forum at IAP?

  • YES

    Votes: 147 87.0%

  • NO

    Votes: 22 13.0%
  • Total voters
    169
  • Poll closed .
jeff

jeff

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Do you now use or plan to someday use a metal lathe for penmaking?

We are looking into the possibility of adding a "Metal Lathes in Penmaking" forum where members can discuss like minded issues that go beyond "which lathe is the best to buy?".

Discussions might focus on such topics as; "which indexable cutters work well for acrylics and ebonite?"; Cutoff blades - which to avoid and which to use!"; "Handy tips and gadgets for penturning"; "How to setup for taper turning"; etc.

If such a forum were created here, do you see yourself being a participant either as one looking to learn or as one willing to share your expertise?"

Poll results will be revealed in a week.

Please feel free to add your comments below.
 
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"If such a forum were created here, do you see yourself being a participant either as one looking to learn or as one willing to share your expertise?"

Yes.
 
I would be interested in learning more about it. I am not sure how much participation I would contribute as I currently have zero knowledge about the subject but it is something I am interested in.
 
Jeff, I would love to see a forum like that but I'm not sure if you were aiming for a forum that was targeted at people with greater level of machining experience. I would be more of a student rather than a contributor. I'm not sure if I would qualify to be a participant. I currently don't use a metal lathe to make pens. I do have a MicroMark 7X14 Mini Metal Lathe and a multitude of accessories that I bought for that purpose of making pens. Thus far, I can do some rudimentary projects on it but that's about it. Currently, the lathe is the cleanest, least used piece of machinery and/or decorative item in my shop. A forum like that would definitely rekindle my interest in using my metal lathe. Doc
 
I'll share my expertise. I purchased one two years ago and just got it out of the crate and off the shop floor last week.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: My first tip.....
Those things are HEAVY. Be sure to get help when moving it. Thanks Seamus. So much to do and so little time.
Do a good turn daily!
Don
 
There are some members here that are definitely machinists, although most of us that have metal lathes are novices to serious hobbyist. We know just enough to be dangerous. It would be a great forum to help members in to that next plateau of pen making. Not only the discussion of which lathes but which tools and when, jigs, fixtures, tool profiles. materials, etc. I believe it is time for such a forum.


I would be more than happy to share my .00025 cents worth.:biggrin:
 
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absolutely Jeff would love to help with advise and hopefully to learn as well. having spent 30+ years in the field i'm hoping i could contribute greatly to the forum. go ahead and go for it in my book.
 
wizard said:
Jeff, I would love to see a forum like that but I'm not sure if you were aiming for a forum that was targeted at people with greater level of machining experience. I would be more of a student rather than a contributor. I'm not sure if I would qualify to be a participant. I currently don't use a metal lathe to make pens. I do have a MicroMark 7X14 Mini Metal Lathe and a multitude of accessories that I bought for that purpose of making pens. Thus far, I can do some rudimentary projects on it but that's about it. Currently, the lathe is the cleanest, least used piece of machinery and/or decorative item in my shop. A forum like that would definitely rekindle my interest in using my metal lathe. Doc
Click to expand...

Doc, you would fit right in. If I can read Jeff's mind I would think he is looking for either the person considering buying a lathe or the typical machine owner on the forum who went out and bought one, read the booklet that came with it, cleaned all the grease off of it and now is trying to use it to the best of his/her ability. It would be nice if we had some local pros handy to help us figure out which is the better choice cutter for acrylics... a TCMT 21.51 a 21.52 and what the differences really are?

Most of us are self taught and have learned by reading through tool catalogs and watching youtube vides such as tubal cain's series.

There is a small thread going on now that I think is a perfect example of what the forum could be all about, it's about sharing tips, ideas and neat things where we have rank beginners side by side with seasoned professionals figuring out how we can best use these machines by expanding our penmaking adventures. ... http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1284441#post1284441
 
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I voted yes. I bought a small metal lathe about a month or so ago. I have a machinist friend that has helped me some but would like to see a forum here.
 
+1 for me, even though i dont have a metal lathe yet, I'll go to Don's house and practice on his:biggrin: and then be able to determine which lathe to buy as I learn more! I definitely think a metal lathe is important in moving to the next level of penturning for me! GO FOR IT JEFF!!!
 
This thread and idea are right on time I think. Having recently acquired a metal lathe and, seeing others buying them, a forum can be benificial to us. I vote YES.
 
Sure why not, I've never played with a small 7 x 10-14 Chinese lathe, but I've spent 35 years on a machine shop floor, and actually have considered getting a Micro Mark.
 
I'd definitely be interest and metal lathe forum. I purchased a metal lathe about 6 months ago and use it just as much as the wood lathe. I'm comfortable using it but still on a learning curve.
 
I have always been interested in learning about metal lathes and would welcome the chance to learn from some of the experts here, even if I never get to add that money pit to my list! :biggrin:
 
Texatdurango said:
wizard said:
Jeff, I would love to see a forum like that but I'm not sure if you were aiming for a forum that was targeted at people with greater level of machining experience. I would be more of a student rather than a contributor. I'm not sure if I would qualify to be a participant. I currently don't use a metal lathe to make pens. I do have a MicroMark 7X14 Mini Metal Lathe and a multitude of accessories that I bought for that purpose of making pens. Thus far, I can do some rudimentary projects on it but that's about it. Currently, the lathe is the cleanest, least used piece of machinery and/or decorative item in my shop. A forum like that would definitely rekindle my interest in using my metal lathe. Doc
Click to expand...

Doc, you would fit right in. If I can read Jeff's mind I would think he is looking for either the person considering buying a lathe or the typical machine owner on the forum who went out and bought one, read the booklet that came with it, cleaned all the grease off of it and now is trying to use it to the best of his/her ability. It would be nice if we had some local pros handy to help us figure out which is the better choice cutter for acrylics... a TCMT 21.51 a 21.52 and what the differences really are?

Most of us are self taught and have learned by reading through tool catalogs and watching youtube vides such as tubal cain's series.

There is a small thread going on now that I think is a perfect example of what the forum could be all about, it's about sharing tips, ideas and neat things where we have rank beginners side by side with seasoned professionals figuring out how we can best use these machines by expanding our penmaking adventures. ... http://www.penturners.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1284441#post1284441
Click to expand...

George is correct. A YES vote means you would be interested in being a student, teacher, or just a casual observer. A NO vote means you wouldn't even bother to look in the forum.

(And thanks to George for suggesting that a metal lathe forum might be a good addition!)
 
I believe this would be the start of something good. We will be promoting yet another level of possibilities with a broader scope of materials.
 
Maybe not the place for this but if this thread inspires some to go buy a metal lathe DON'T buy a 7x10. By the time you put a drill chuck in the tail stock and a bit, it gets really tight to be drilling a blank.
 
I have a couple metal lathes. One is a basket case and it's on the rebuild someday list. :rolleyes: Also have a milling machine with another put aside for me from a terminally ill friend, so I hope anything pen related to mills will show up in the forum too. :smile:

Pete
 
Yes for sure. My new metal lathe sits in the corner waiting for me to learn how to use it.(properly)

Lin.
 
The metal lathe has been my go to tool for pen making for at least 4 years now. Not sure we need a dedicated forum, but I still voted yes just to see what happens. Hope in a year or so we will be ready for a CNC forum, a lost wax casting forum, a polymer clay cane making forum, a laser forum and many more. We've come a long way and there's plenty room to grow.
 
BRobbins629 said:
The metal lathe has been my go to tool for pen making for at least 4 years now. Not sure we need a dedicated forum, but I still voted yes just to see what happens. Hope in a year or so we will be ready for a CNC forum, a lost wax casting forum, a polymer clay cane making forum, a laser forum and many more. We've come a long way and there's plenty room to grow.
Click to expand...

We could certainly set up the metal lathe forum as a subforum of the advanced penmaking forum. Those other you mention, if and when the need arises for them, would fit right in there as well.
 
You betcha! One question, when does it start? I'm looking for it right now. Just kidding Jeff. That would fit right in with the way this forum works. The people that know showing what they can produce and then explaining to the rest of us just how they did it. Wonderful great idea, Jeff. Once again, thank you.
Charles
 
Jeff,

Metal Lathes used as part of penmaking for bushes, modifications has been my experience for many years. This idea has been in practice for a long time in the U Beaut Forum in Australia with great success.

Look forward to it being included as it typically raises awareness in use of Woodturning Lathes leading to better use of them.

Full support.

Kind regards Peter.
 
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