First Lathe Question

[PeteG]

I'd like to buy a small lathe for small bowls and other small items and I've been looking at the Jet JWL 1015 for £379.94 at Axminster. I'm also looking at the Beall or Chustnut buffing system.
I should have around £500.00 to spend £600.00 maximum after I've sold off some other items, but I'll also need to buy a few chisels and any other items. Would this be a good buy?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I remember many years ago reading that in a survey 87% of first time lathe purchasers wished they'd bought something bigger. It's worth a thought - there will always be mission creep in your intended usage.

 

[PeteG]

Thanks for replying Phil I'm pretty certain I won't need anything bigger, I don't have the space and my interest is only in small craft items!

 

[marcros]

i have the jet 1014 (previous model), and as a lathe it is very well built compared to cheap lathes I have seen before. size is an important consideration. I am just beginning turning, and (at the moment) I have no desire to turn bowls. Phil is correct though, there will always be mission creep. I would be lost without the bed extension that I have purchased, however. Not to turn long items, as such, but to get the tail stock out of the way when not in use. It would slide off as an alternative but that sounds like more effort. Also, when drilling something, there is not much room between a chuck, in the headstock (2" plus), a drill chuck in the tail stock (must be 3" plus), and a decent sized drill (i bought one for drilling pen blanks that was 150mm long (6")) for the item to be drilled (3" remaining!).

The small jets are highly reviewed though and hold their value well. Lons was thinking of selling his, and may be worth a look. If you bought secondhand at the right money, you wouldnt lose anything much when you want to upgrade. It has a common sized spindle and thread, so any extras that you bought could probably be transferred to the next lathe.

 

[marcros]

the bed extension is probably still available at axminster for the 1014. it was reduced to £43 a couple of weeks ago.

 

[PeteG]

Hello Marcros I think I understand what you're saying! So the largest or longest length piece that can be turned is 9 inches?

Might this one be a slightly better choice then, but keeping to a small lathe?

http://johndaviswoodturning.com/shop/jet-jwl-1200-woodturning-lathe/

 

[marcros]

Hello Marcros I think I understand what you're saying! So the largest or longest length piece that can be turned is 9 inches?

Might this one be a slightly better choice then, but keeping to a small lathe?

http://johndaviswoodturning.com/shop/jet-jwl-1200-woodturning-lathe/

9" less the drill bit itself. the extension resolves the problem though, but it was an example of how the maximum capacity may not be as generous as you think.

It all depends what you want to turn and how big. the fact that you have already mentioned wanting to make small bowls suggests to me that the jet mini is not ideal, because you are restricted to something like 7" over the tool rest, or 10" over bed. small bowls turn into big bowls! I want to make pens, and even big pens shouldnt be bigger than the lathe can take!

There was an axminster vs1416 for sale on here at £400 a little while ago. That may be ideal for you, if you are considering the jwl1200 new at £420. It seems to be one of the few that I have seen that gives a decent bowl capacity without being a large floorstanding model. i dont know if it is still for sale but may be worth enquiring.

Like I say, I am new to it all. I can only advise based on my research. I like the little jet, it does perfectly for my plans, at the moment.

 

[chipmunk]

Hi Marcros,
If you're on the lookout for a new Jet lathe or indeed any Brimarc product then go to your nearest Brimarc dealer & ask them for their best price. These folks must be near you...
http://www.brimarc.com/stockists/D-B-Keighley-Machinery-Ltd-118.htm

Don't assume it'll be the same price as Axminster even though Axminster own Brimarc.

I can thoroughly recommend this strategy and can also recommend John Davis (you already found this link) and Biven Machinery Sales http://www.brimarc.com/stockists/David-Biven-Machinery-and-Tooling-145.htm.

HTH
Jon

 

[marcros]

Jon,

I am not looking but a useful reminder all the same. DB Keighley are about my nearest stockist of woodworking items, although I have to admit it is often quicker to have things delivered than to find time when they are open to get there.

Mark

 

[Dalboy]

That lathe does leave a lot to be desired in its capacity especially in the length that can be turned. As for the bowl size yes you can make a reasonable sized bowl but as previously stated it is quite surprising how qick we all seem to out grow a small lathe. I have a small Axminster lathe which I use for small items but then I also own a larger lathe even though my shed is quite small. I can completley understand that you may have less room than me so it is a pain when trying to buy one for an allocated space.

 

[KimG]

I agree on going for the most you can get from the start, the swing over the bed or a rotating headstock will be a key factor quicker than you think, especially if someone gives you a piece of timber that is too big for a small lathe, you will be loathe to cut it down to size to make a small bowl when you really would rather make a good sized one.

 

[PeteG]

I really appreciate all the advice So in reality I'm realy looking at something like the Record CL3-CAM around £500.00 with stand from D&M.
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/section/6043/sn/RPWCL3#.VQxWYuFhmPU

£120.00 for a set of Sorby 67HS chisels, apparently ideal for a beginner!

Would I then need a chuck?

 

[marcros]

There are ways without a chuck, but it does make life easier. You will need something to sharpen the tools on- that part is essential whereas the chuck is a nice to have.

Once you are set up, it need not cost a lot. You can find wood, use fire wood or buy blanks as you choose. Unfortunately, starting from scratch it gets expensive quite quickly because you need it all at the beginning- tools, lathe, something to sharpen with etc etc.

 

[Dalboy]

If you go for the CL3 then for an extra £20 buy a faceplate until you can affort a chuck, that way you can at least turn bowls and as Marcros pointed out don't forget a grinder to sharpen the tools unless you already have one. My larger lathe is the CL3 but I also brought the Bowl turning attachment which I find great for doing hollow forms rather than leaning over the bed. Don't forget to buy oil as it does not come with any as the headstock bearing will need oiling daily this only takes a few seconds to do I use an ear dropper bottle that I cleaned out and filled with oil. I like my CL3 and at a future date if you have the wants to turn it into VS then that is not a problem

 

[PeteG]

Appreciate Marcros and Dalboy

Dalboy, can I ask how much room it takes up, length wise, and if the CL3 is against a wall, how far would you be stood from the wall.
Trying to judge how much room I'd need if I went with the larger lathe. I've only recently finished re-organising my shed and sold
my table saw to I would have room to work incomfort, my mine love being the scroll saw!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Told you.

 

[Dalboy]

Appreciate Marcros and Dalboy

Dalboy, can I ask how much room it takes up, length wise, and if the CL3 is against a wall, how far would you be stood from the wall.
Trying to judge how much room I'd need if I went with the larger lathe. I've only recently finished re-organising my shed and sold
my table saw to I would have room to work incomfort, my mine love being the scroll saw!

Just so happens I have my instruction manual handy

Length 1625mm
Depth 381
Height 368

With the depth that is how it is when set for spindle work when you need to swivel the head I will need check tomorrow morning to see if it goes outside that depth measurment. Also remember that if in the future you get the bowl attachment that once it is fitted it will petrude out from the stand again that is something that I would need to measure.
I can't tell you if it is mounted on the stand how much that stickes out front and back maybe someone who has a CL3 or CL4 with a stand can tell you that part.

Can you say how much space you have from the wall to any other wall or cabinet directly behind where you would stand

 

[PeteG]

Told you.

You certainly did Phil :lol:


Hello Dalboy.

Back to the problem of space, everything bar the bench is on wheels or castors and at the moment everything is organised and at hand. I was looking at one of the smaller lathes
as I could store it on top of the freezer and pop it on my wheeled bench when required. I'd have to measure but a larger lathe might fit where the wheeled bench is, and I'd have to move
that around.

 

[NickWelford]

There's something wrong. There's no sawdust and shavings...... It's altogether much too tidy!

 

[Dalboy]

A very nice and well organised workshop. The table between the router table and your scrollsaw bench I presume that is the one on wheels. Will the lathe go there under the wood storage. Do you have anything under the scrollsaw bench if not can you make the small table just a little shorter so it can be stored under that bench when you are not scrolling.

The other measurments I said abot are when the head is being swung the front of the machine will need to be at least 500mm away from the wall. If you are thinking about the bowl turning attachment that will protrude out from the front of the machine by an extra 270mm. Even with these measurments it looks like you have plenty of room to stand and turn at the lathe.