Hello, and a couple of questions

[Nige52]

Hello, I'm Nige and a newbie to your forum
I'm about to embark on a new to me hobby, wood turning on a mini lathe. All my life I've meddled and dabbled with woodworking machinery in my shed, usually the scroll saw and my Proxon mini table saw and Fox bandsaw for my model boats hobby and others, but now I find I'd like to expand a little and make small stuff on a mini lathe.

To give you an idea of what I'm contemplating, I'd like to have a go at pen making, dulcimer noter making and any other small item that take my fancy. I don't want to make bowls (Yet), all my future turnings will be from 19-25mm hardwood dowel.....until I get the hang of it 8)
If you're wondering what a Dulcimer noter is, it's basically a 5" long dowel that's had some fancy grooves cut into it to make it look more appealing...I play the Dulcimer and although a lot of people can't be bothered with fancy noters, I'd like to make my own individual ones
I'll upload a photo of a typical noter.
I have 2 questions if I may?
Can someone recommend me a mini lathe to buy?
Can someone recommend which turning chisels to buy to make simple Noters?
I'm not looking to spend a fortune, just things that will do the job...
Many thanks
Nige

 

[DIY Stew]

Welcome Nige,

I think these questions would be best asked in the wood turning-lathes section.

Stew

 

[Noggsy]

Nigel, welcome to the forum. I started with this lathe

for-sale-awvsl-lathe-and-chuck-240-t61902.html

and it is a cracker. The best thing to do is to go along to a local Woodturning club and try a few out and have a chat with people who have been turning for a while. This forum is a wealth of information as well and it is well worth canvassing opinion prior to buying anything. Also, the for sale/wanted section is great value for picking up things you need along the way.

I still have the above lathe sat under my bench if you are interested in a second hand one and I will throw in a couple of gouges and some wood as well if you wanted for the same price as in the listing (£130) to get you started. If you get up to the North West, you would be more than welcome to come over and have a play on it and see if it suited you and I could spend some time going through the basics with you and showing you my set up. No worries either way, but I would definitely suggest having a look round someone's workshop or turning club so you get an idea of what you will need (some which you might have I guess, as you already work with wood).

Anyway, to answer your questions, I would say either this model or one of the similar price and spec lathes from Record Power would suit what you want. Variable speed is a must in my opinion and i would never now have a lathe without it as it makes things so much easier, which is what you need when beginning. Axi have the benefit of superb customer service and the new catalogue has a similar lathe at around £200, if you dont want a second hand one and the concensus is that their small lathes tend to be a bit better than other companies who buy from the same source as their QA is better.

To make the items you describe, you will need a minimum of a spindle gouge and I would suggest preferably a roughing out gouge as well (a roughing gouge is a larger gauge chisel for removing lots of wood quickly). A skew chisel will also do what you want to do, but is a bit harder to master. I would advise you to avoid buying sets of tools and instead buy the best quality tools you can individually. I really like Henry Taylor and Hamlet (made in the same factory, but Hamlet are a lot cheaper), and you can't go wrong with Ashley Isles, Crown or Robert Sorby either. When budgeting, don't forget that you need some form of face protection (dust masks and/or shield) and extraction for sanding. Also, a grinder with a white wheel (at least) to sharpen your chisels is an absolute must, as nothing makes turning harder than blunt tools and i think a grinding jig makes things much easier, but some people do it freehand. Oh, and decent sandpaper and some kind of finish. To make pens, you need a pen mandrel and a couple of other specific bits, but I have no idea on cost, as I don't make them.

It is an incredibly satisfying hobby, which can be started relatively cheaply if you follow some basic advice on what to buy, but getting a lathe is only the start really. There are loads of threads on the forum about sharpening techniques and dust extraction if you search, but nothing is more helpful than having someone to show you where you are going wrong and this makes it a lot safer as well, particularly when you start. Good luck and keep coming back on here with questions - people are always very happy to help.

 

[rxh]

As you are a woodworker and a dulcimer player have you considered making one? It is one of the easiest stringed instruments to make and involves no tricky joints and the sides are bent to very gentle curves. I made this one from offcuts.

 

[Nige52]

Wow, that just is beautiful!
I have taken to stick dulcimers of late as it's more natural for me to play a guitar, as I have all my life. I have a McNally but am designing a 6 string....I just have to sort my workshop out first

 

[Racers]

Welcome aboard Nige

Have you seen this lathe in the for sale/wanted for-sale-awvsl-lathe-and-chuck-240-t61902.html

Pete

 

[Phil Pascoe]

A little late, Pete.

 

[Racers]

d'oh

Pete

 

[andersonec]

Have a look on the auction sites for a second hand small Axminster with variable speed, have a bit of patience and one will turn up,'scuse the pun.

Andy

 

[whiskywill]

As you are a woodworker and a dulcimer player have you considered making one? It is one of the easiest stringed instruments to make and involves no tricky joints and the sides are bent to very gentle curves. I made this one from offcuts.

Very nice. I have just finished one in Cherry and Western Red Cedar. Waiting for its second coat of Liberon to dry.