Newbie questions again

[srs64]

We this is it. it is used but it is mine.
After I read most on the best thread I have found so far
( If I had known this earlier . .) thread.I am trying to spend in the right places. And the right things 2 items I have concerns with is.
Middle of the road chisels
I know get what you paid for. I was also told don't buy a set just the the one's for pen turning ( getting started).
Ideas? not sure of name brands to look at!

Second
(One thing I missed was the need for a 60° live center) this being said in that thread alot and I mean alot so I am taking it I need it. if its not what I have on lathe.
Going to post a picture of whats on the lathe

I hate to post stupid questions so forgive me!

 

[PaulDoug]

I bought a set set from Harbor Freight many years ago when I started turning. They were around $40, not their cheapest set. I am still using them today. They work fine and I can turn bowls and other things when I want. Maybe I have to sharpen them a little more than some other more expensive ones, but no big deal. Of course I have add others as the years went by, but that original set is still very useable.

 

[Dan Masshardt]

I would recommend going one of two ways

1, Harbor freights must expensive set (reddish handles.). Use a 20% off coupon. I have these and they're actually good tools

2. Set of Benjamin's Best from PSI. Good tools for the money as well.

Personally, I wouldn't run out and buy a several hundred dollar set of Sorby's right out if the gate.

No matter what, you're going to need a sharpening system as well.

 

[OOPS]

Welcome, Newbie! Don't worry about the Jet being used, a used Jet is almost like a new Jet....just broken in! They make good stuff, so all that really goes out over time is the bearings and the on/off switch, both of which are replaceable.

There are many people on this site who loudly support 60 degree live centers as being the "only" way to turn pens, but I would say that more than half of the turners on this site still use a mandrel. I am pleased with turning on a mandrel and have no intention of turning between centers. Its one of those things you can try as you progress, but if money is tight, this would not be where I would park some.

Chisels is another area where you can spend a boatload of money and still not have exactly what you want. Plus, you can get all sorts of recommendations here that tell you "the only way to go is with a ..." (fill in their favorite tool). But we all are different and there are a number of various tools made in an effort to provide excellent results for all of us. I have two suggestions here.

1. is what Paul said above. The more expensive Harbor Freight set will give you decent tools that will allow you to practice and determine for yourself which you prefer. You will probably have to sharpen them more often, but for money you save, it will be worth it in the additional experience you get by trying more tools.

2. If you have a Woodcraft store nearby, see if they have a class on penturning. Talk to the instructor and see if they have a few tools you can "test drive" to see what you like. If they have a pen turning club, get involved. You can get all kinds of opinions from penturners in your area, as well as deals on used chisels that someone bought and never used!

There are so many ways to spend money in this hobby that you'll never run out of things you'll need. So you have to be smart, and get the most productivity out of each investment.

I hope this helps.

 

[stonepecker]

No, That isn't the live center you need. Get the right one. PSI has a decent one at a good price.
Harbor freight has an 8 tool turning set for $45.00 With the 20% off coupon, $36.00 plus tax. A very good starter set and one that you will find is a good learning set.
With what you have found ( That looks like a GREAT find ) and the above. You got the beginnings of what you need.
PLEASE remember to protect your face. Get a shield. Eyes can't be replaced.

 

[nava1uni]

When I started turning pens I used a roughing gouge for a year or so and it worked great. I have gotten some nice tools at the flea market and garage sales. You might check it out before spending a lot of money. The drive on the tail stock of your lathe will fit into the end of a mandrel and work just fine.
Less expensive tools can be used for turning and it only means that they may have to sharpen them more frequently. Go slow and form your own opinions. There will always be new, different, expensive tools to come along, but what matters most is not the tool, but the technique, tool sharpness and practice, practice, practice. Welcome to the world of pen making and turning.

 

[srs64]

Darn now I have a excuse to have to save fuel and ride my hog 60 miles to the HF in dothan, rats its a rough life this pen turning. well thanks for all the info.

Oh I cannot wait to post my first pen! been segmenting that weatherby stock all evening stepping in the deeper end first, good thing I will be wearing floaties:biggrin:

 

[ctubbs]

You have a good start and some good advice. However, you will need the 60 degree live center for the tail stock to correctly stabilize the mandrel or a 'mandrel saver'. Either will work. with the money saved with the HF tool set, get agood grinder with good wheels. You will fine need when sharpening the tools. Besides, wearing out some cheap tools learning how to put a good edge will hurt much less than blowing your new Scorby.

Charles

 

[plano_harry]

I recommend your save the money on the tools and all the sharpening gizmos and just get a carbide tool. If you want to go cheap, check out Captain Eddy on youtube and he will show you how to make one. I bought my first one from Woodchuck Pen Pro. CSUSA also has the EZ Woodtools. Get rid of that tail center that doesn't fit anything we do with pens, and get the correct 60 degree live center for mandrel turning or turning between centers.

 

[edstreet]

I will bite

Carbide tools is not the fix all. Nor are they the best tool for every job out there. They are just another avenue for you to avoid learning the one key critical task that everyone should know already; how to sharpen and how to maintain your tools and how to care for your tools properly.

A tool is a device that is used to get you to a desired goal. Tools need to be maintained over time. This includes cleaning, sharpening, replacing items as needed.

I suppose one could say that in todays society where many things are use and thrown away' that you just go out and buy another one but if you apply the copier approach of 'cost per page' to carbide inserts over time you will quickly see you are spending a much larger amount of money on carbide tools.

The final approach to this is need. What materials are we turning that carbide inserts are greatly needed? The answer is none. It is more of a tool fetish than anything.

We this is it. it is used but it is mine.
After I read most on the best thread I have found so far
( If I had known this earlier . .) thread.I am trying to spend in the right places. And the right things 2 items I have concerns with is.
Middle of the road chisels
I know get what you paid for. I was also told don't buy a set just the the one's for pen turning ( getting started).
Ideas? not sure of name brands to look at!

Look at it this way. What is a chisel. It is a heat treated section of metal that has a pattern on the end to cut with. So the only 'bad' chisels is poor heat treated and low quality 'junk steel'. No chisel will come at the peak of it's effectiveness from the factory, there will be things you need to adjust to make it work perfectly. Truth be known you can straighten a bent chisels, you can reshape every part on a chisel.

One aspect of sharpening (with many forms rather) is you learn some very detailed things about that specific tool. Things like hard spots, soft spots, weaknesses in the metal and so forth. By knowing these you can max out the effectiveness of that cutting tool, this is impossible to do with disposable inserts. In short you can make a so-so tool into a great tool.

From this you could even take an old screwdriver to a grinder and shape it into a chisel and do some serious work with it that would/could rival (or surpass) anyone who uses the carbide inserts.

As for sets goes in reality the one tool style that anyone could pick up and easily learn to use and get good results is a round nose scraper.

Sorry for doing this but I have to turn the tables and answer your question by asking "How much dedication are you willing to put into the tool"

 

[sbwertz]

When I was first learning to turn I COULD NOT master the skew. What I wound up getting was a Crown skewchigouge

Amazon.com: CROWN Skewchigouge: Home Improvement

It turned out to be one of my best investments. I could use it like a skew without getting those &*@y!&* spiral catches. I still use it for turning larger pieces, but not so much for pens since I started using carbide tools because of the turquoise inlays. It is one of the less expensive tools, as well.