Another HOOKED First time turner

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Alzey

Alzey

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2011
Messages
369
Location
Erwin, Tennessee
I have been doing woodworking and automotive work as hobby to get away from real job of working on computer networks. Over the last 15 years i have been collecting tools to improve my wood working abilities. I recently started looking into wood turning and loved the possibilities and the "shortness" of the projects (I just recently finished a Linen Cabinet for my wife with 50+ hours).

So I took the plunge and purchased a Delta 46-460 Lathe with a Pen starter kit from Amazon. I have had the lathe for 3 days now and I am HOOKED!!!! I have yet to make a pen. Just been turning 2x4s into sawdust. So far i have played with oval handles, small 14" baseball bat, and turned some pieces on the pen mandrel. I have also played with various finishes. CA, CA with Boiled Linseed Oil, Minwax Finishing polish, and Sellawax. Like I said, just playing and having fun.

I recently got my Grandfathers Delta DP220 Drill Press (early 30s model) and went though his old cabinet shop on a wood treasure hunt. I now have plenty of wood to work with from old growth pine to red oak to mystery wood that is just 1 inch tree slabs straight off the sawmill 30+ years ago.

I also wanted to say thanks for all the great info on this site. I have learned a ton of info from this site before I even purchased my lathe and I so many ideas running through my head I don't even know where to start.
 
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Welcome from upstate NY. When I started a few years ago I did the same thing. I mounted scrap wood and 2x4 between centers and just practiced making it round and using different tools. I did the same thing to learn a ca finish but when doing this I turned the wood down to the size of a pen to get a good feel for how much ca or finish to use.
 
Welcome from suburban Chicago, Alzey. It is a blast doing turning, isn't it?

Check out some of the suppliers of "kits" (don't know if I can mention names). You can look under penturning supplies on Google. Anyway, they have a nearly endless supply of different things to make-many practical and almost all fun in my opinion (key chains, pizza cutters, ice cream scoops, game calls, perfume atomizers, shaving kits, etc. etc).

Pens are awesome because they can be useable art. The neat thing is that you can make perfectly useable and even saleable ones very quickly. Then, like me, stay tuned to this site, where the "vets" can teach you and me a ton about improving our skills to make art quality stuff.

I think you did a super smart thing by starting on 2 x 4"s and other scrap wood. Hope you got good chisels, and a way to sharpen them. If not, life can get frustrating, especially when you are dealing with acrylics, almalgums and tricky varieties of hard woods.

Good luck and have fun.

Roger
 
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