Looking to buy a mini lathe for rings....

[abrent]

Hi, i am super new to woodworking, i just started making some bentwood rings. I am having trouble shaping, sanding, polishing and making inlays by hand so was thinking of buying a mini lathe or something to hold the ring from the inside and outside. would a lathe be the best thing for this, would i need any attatchments etc...? if not what else do you think would be suitable?

Thanks, Alex

 

[NazNomad]

I know Proxxon make a tiny lathe - http://www.axminster.co.uk/proxxon-db-2 ... the-702054 - but wonder if it's just for making rings you might be able to use something like this - http://www.bangleguy.com/catalog/item/8 ... 727779.htm - and drive it with a drill?

 

[abrent]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. I have been using a drill. the difficulty is in how to attach the ring and have it able to work on easily and the other problem is that there is no variable speed. I am happy to spend a bit of money, just want to know the best thing for what i'm looking to do =D. I wouldn't mind getting a lathe either as would definitely use it for different projects. I have seen cheap, low weight ones from china, i can't post a link right now but if you search you can see them. They run about £60 - £150 and i figure because the ring is so light, this might be an option?

thanks

 

[g7g7g7g7]

Try and go secondhand and find something solid that has a ton of tools, chucks and faceplates, it doesn't need to be big an old coronet(record) elf or something like that will do just fine. Lathes are an expensive rabbit hole to jump down, even if by luck your £80 chinese magic box doesn't just throw splinters in your face and shred wood, it'll soon break down. If this is something you are dead keen on, then save a little and try to get a secondhand but reliable lathe with some halfway decent useable tools and accessories.

 

[marcros]

with respect, could your issue be inexperience? I have never made one of these rings, but the various youtube videos don't seem to use a lathe.

it could be an expensive way to not achieve what you want to. a cheap lathe still needs a chuck, some tools, something to sharpen the tools on etc.

for holding the rings whilst you work, an anchor bolt would hold it from the inside.

 

[nev]

How do you shape your rings? Do you use tooling or are you working from an already round item and shaping etc done only with abrasives etc?
Just trying to work out whether you could just use a small variable speed motor or Dremel type tool with an arbor/ mandrel for work holding?