Newbie - Lathe Buying Advice

[colinhart]

Hello All,

Firstly Sorry for the classic Newbie Question.

What Lathe should I purchase?

A little background first if I may....

A few years ago (worringly around 15 or so) I was at school, and was asked to do some "wood type thing" for parents evening... I glued a few bits of scrap oak together and turn a goblit from a rather poor sketch on the back of some homework paper that may never have been submitted. The result was embarresgly held up in front of ones school and described as a shining example of what came come from scrap wood... then they named me... dam....

Anyway, I enjoy woodwork and I use it as an escape from my rather stressful life in IT.... I would like to get into woodturning properly and really give some commitment to it...

I have been reading up on many lathes, and to be honest there are so many oppinions its hard to actually discard any...
My budget is not huge £250 -- £350 (at a push), I have a wife and two young children and can not be selfish, so I accept compromises will have to be made. I have concluded Axminster although may not be top of the market, they are a steady, reptratable company, I also have good experiance with them.

My challange is as follows.
A benchtop Lathe: Axminster Hobby Series AH-1218VS
- This has varible speed control 500 - 4000 rpm, swing of 300mm, cast iron and has many good reviews.

or

Axminster Hobby Series AWVSL900
- This has varible speed control 500 - 2000 rpm, swival head stock, LEGS,

clearly legs and swivaling headstock and big nice to haves, but is the speed and issue? Do I need 4000rpm?

I do know I would like to turn some goblets, pens, bowles.. I guess a bit of alround turning.. I do not want to exclude a specific type of turning because I chose the wrong type of Lathe, centainly not without knowing it anyway...

So I have waffled on, and this may start reading like war a piece....

If someone could consider what I am asking / understand my situation (wanting to everytihng ) I would be greatful for a reply...

Thank you for reading..

Regards

Colin

 

[moby]

hi colin, found my lathe and tools advertised on a card in the local tesco!

tools werent the best but have served me well whilst learning. my local wood turners club also have quite a few members who sell off bits and bats at each meet, so you get a decent tool at a fraction of the new cost.

I was in March Cambridgshire earlier this year and visited Ely, whilst there, I visited an exhibition by local wood turners.

http://www.elyguildofwoodturners.org.uk/

maybe you could contact them for more advice or see whats for sale?

 

[NickWelford]

Hi Colin. Whereabouts in cambs are you? It's always good to try some lathes, and there are members here who would be happy to let you have a go, and various clubs also. One at peterborough, although they inconveniently meet on Saturdays. Also worth popping over to MAC timbers open day 30/11. Near Oundle.
As to speed, for narrow spindle work like pens, the faster speed is worthwhile. For bowls etc not necessary. For me, variable speed is a must. My lathe has a combination of belt change and variable speed to give good torque at slow speed. Best to try a few then possibly buy second hand to get best value. If you want some green ash pop over.

 

[colinhart]

Just to say thank you for the replys.

I have considered wht has been said and after speaking / trying a lathe I ended up purchasing the Axminster.. I appreciate not the best, but certainly good alround. It appears to me very solid (it is after all 90KGs)

I thought I would post a picture of my first turn... and a photo f the turn with the lathe...

The bowl turn was a cust off the wood below, I do not have a chuck, so the work was attached to teh back plate. I was able to get Axminster to include a roughing out chissle, but I used a chisle my dad gave me which his father in law gave him the most.

I did a small burn with a scap of mohogeny around the rim of the bowl. PLease feedback, as i need to learn somehow...

THe second cylinder was a glue up of 6 bits, i have only turned this to a round for now, not sure what i will do with this.. but ready for when the idea drops...

Nick (this may seem a basic q. sorry) what is green ash, and I think yes?

Thank you all for your replys, I am seeing the Cambridge wood turners a few weeks, Moby I did look a Ely, ironically very close to my office, however Wednesdays are already booked in the diary.

 

[NickWelford]

Hi Colin, we had the crown taken out of a large ash tree in the garden. Green is unseasoned wood, very easy to turn, but a bit unstable and is likely to warp or spilt when turned. You're welcome to pop over and have some.

 

[woodpig]

Glad you're sorted Colin. I have a similar Lathe to yours I bought from Axminster, not the best in the world but good enough for most things. I think you really need to buy and run a Lathe before you really know what you want so you've taken the first step! I would actually say the Lathe itself is probably the least important part in turning, good sharp turning tools are critical.