My First LATHE!!

[negid]

I just got back from picking up my first lathe. A Jet Mini non-VS. Got it brand new for $150. Now I just need your guys help on getting all the other stuff to get started. I saw a thread where you all lined out everything that a guy needed to buy. But of course I forgot to bookmark it.

A short overview of my finances:

$50 to spend wherever I want
$70 of Lowe's gift cards
$40 of Home Depot gift cards

I know $50 won't get me much, but hopefully it can get me started.

 

[turned_for_good]

The Manrel, bushings and kits you will probably have to use your $50 on. As far as Lowes and home depot - Turning tools (If your store has them) sandpaper, wood, drill bits, glue for assembly, and a finish.

 

[negid]

Found the thread I was talking about.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=31825&SearchTerms=tools,needed

To quote a small piece of it:

Go to WoodnWhimsies http://www.woodnwhimsies.com

Get the following:
Universal Pen Barrel Trimming Kit
Maxi-Mandrel #1 OR #2 morse taper
Pen Kits:
Lee gives good advise on the cigar. But I would pick up both cigar and slim lines. Cigars are $3.39 and the Slims are $1.79. Get the bushings for both and they are only $3.00. You can get the 7mm and 10mm drill bits from them if you want.
Glue and Finish:
I would get a bottle of thick CA for gluing in the tubes in the blanks. This is a little more forgiving and allows you a tad more time than the thin does. Friction polish is an easy way to start, but if you stick with this you will soon learn that is not the best finish by any means. PM me with your address and I will send you a mostly full bottle that I no longer use. I also have extra 7mm and 10mm bits I can throw in.
Sanding:
Buy quality sand paper as there is a huge difference. Norton is one of the better brands and is made in Canada no China. Buy 220, 320, 400 and 600. Cut them in 1" wide strips and this will last you quite some time. Also pick up a pack of the Micro Mesh as suggested, also available at the web site I gave you. Cut the pieces in two and they will last a long time and can be cleaned with soap, water and a tooth brush. Remember to sand on slow speeds as heat will be your enemy.

 

[Woodlvr]

Go to Home Depot.com and look at their tool section, there is a lot of stuff there that is not carried in the store.

Mike

 

[Firefyter-emt]

I am looking at a VS Delta 8" grinder at Lowes, which has a white wheel and a gray wheel for $125.00; you will need a grinder to sharpen your tools. Given your "allowanceâ€, I would seriously look there because $70 at Lowes will be wasted otherwise. You can make your own sharpening jig and I can offer you some plans if you like. This will work until you think you need to buy a store bought jig. Home Depot will get you some sandpaper, Gorilla Glue, plastic storage boxes for pen kits and stuff. I would even grab some 8/4 stock maple to play on the lathe with.

Ok, so now your money's shot but I assume you can get some more "play-money" soon enough. If you thought to save enough Home Depot $$ to buy that maple stock, just start turning some, play with the lathe a little. Before you jump right into a pen, practice making something else, and a mallet maybe?

Do you have any lathe tools? I hear Harbor Freight has the boxed set of lathe chisels on sale again and are a great starter set ($36.00) I would personally add the transfer punch set to the order if you can; they are only $10 but will come in very handy.

Do you have any pen blanks or kits yet? I highly suggest that you try the dead center first; it is by far the cheapest way to get started. Watch e-bay you can find one for under $5.00. If you start with the cigar pen, you can use the standard bushings with the dead center. If you do not like turning this way, the dead center still has its uses and you are out very little. I do not think I know of anyone who has converted and decided they did not like it. (That is a good poll question!)

Look around, learn some, practice turning wood first and then buy the kits. Send me an e-mail and I will send you some PDF articles to look at.
Heck, I have some spare cigar bushings I can send you, might even toss in a couple cigars; I can touch base with that when you e-mail me.

I think you might like this kit for starting out better than the slimline. The hardware is shaped in a way that (IMHO) is much more forgiving than the slimline. In addition, the slimlines always seem to have loose center bands and if the wood is not perfect, you feel it more than the cigar kit.

 

[railrider1920]

Originally posted by negid
<br />I just got back from picking up my first lathe. A Jet Mini non-VS. Got it brand new for $150.

What I want to know is where you got the lathe for $150??? Heck, I might send you the money for one if you can get another. Good find.

 

[negid]

Originally posted by railrider1920
<br />

Originally posted by negid
<br />I just got back from picking up my first lathe. A Jet Mini non-VS. Got it brand new for $150.

What I want to know is where you got the lathe for $150??? Heck, I might send you the money for one if you can get another. Good find.

I got extremely lucky with Craigslist! He had another one, but the base was cracked in half, so it would need repair.

 

[drawknife]

Good buy Whayne, The nashville flea market is going to be here last full weekend in the month. I picked up a couple of good lathe tools last month for $4 ea. from a guy in one of the buildings. But if Lowe's or Home depot have lathe tools that is where I would put that money. Go to Woodcraft with the cash, for bushings and kits.