problem solved

[trsmth]

Ive been struggling with the CA finish for the past few months. I started using this finish shortly after I started turning in February. When I first started using it, my pens were turning out fantastic. then they started tuning out progressively worse. I tried everything. New mandrels. dead center, CA brands, BLO/no BLO, micromesh, wet/dry, I mean everything. 2 weeks ago I bought a new lathe due to the speed control going out on the old one. Guess what? I guess maybe the bearings might have been going also? There was a little vibration but not much. Didn't seem like much play but, maybe just enough. I just kept sanding through the finish on one side. Sorry this is so long but this might help some of you that are having some of the same issues. I was using a cheap shop fox lathe that was about $120 or so. Just my .02 worth.

 

[karlkuehn]

Tom, I have that same Shop Fox lathe, and have been noticing the same issues as you describe. I've been wondering about the bearings, as it seems no matter how hard I try with new bushings, mandrels, etc, I'm still really having to concentrate much more than I ever remember to turn a good pen, and I almost always see some out of roundness. Seems like it's almost impossible to turn a good pen lately. I wonder if it's time to shoot the horse.

What lathe did you upgrade to? I might have to do the same. *sigh*

Thanks for the info![]

 

[Randy_]

I'm not real familiar with that particular lathe; but would speculate that the chances are high that is uses standard and readily available bearings. Replacing bearings on these little lathes is a simple job and a set of bearings should cost less than $20 if you buy them from a bearing shop. Buying replacement bearings from the lathe manufacturer will be much more expensive.

 

[trsmth]

I'm not suggesting that replacing the bearings aren't an option. I probably will. I was just concerned that the speed control was going to die on me in the middle of the Christmas season and I would have to get one right away. Now I have a spare for my son or wife to play on. I ended up buying a Steel City. Seems very comparable to the Jet. I had been looking at several, but went to a woodworking show in Pittsburgh and decided I couldn't pass up on $60 savings. I just hadn't thought the lathe was the problem until I tried the new one.