Questions for the lathe people

[thecopperfish]

I'm thinking about getting a lathe. I know a name brand like a Jet would be the best purchase but I've never touched a lathe and I don't know for sure how much I'll use it so I don't want to spend very much. I also need one that doesn't weigh much so I can put it on the floor when not using it because my shop is extremely small. Only 8 by 12 and I have a LOT of stuff in it. So, my question is, would this one from HF work as a starter lathe to get my feet wet so to speak?
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
How big an item could I make on this besides pens?

Also, another question, what else would I need? I know I'll need some tools, how expensive do they need to be to get me started? Is there anything else I'll need (besides a good book to learn from)?

I appreciate your help!
Chris

[Doc249HMCS]

Chris,
I felt exactly like you do before I started turning. I didn't want to pay a great big price for something I didn't know weather I would like or not. I bought a Grizzly for less than $100 (on sale) on the advice of another turner. I bought some inexpensive skews from Sears and started making pens. It was a great learning tool (no pun intended). Turning captivated me the first time I did it. It wasn't long before I made the investment in a Jet VS. So, I think starting off with a Grizzly or a relatively inexpensive lathe is the way to go.
Another way to go is, see in the local high school has a wood shop with a lathe. If they do, enroll in an evening class and give it a try.
Several people in our scroll saw club wanted to try there hand at turning, but not interested in paying for a Jet or other high end lathe. I have loan them my old Grizzly and they have all bought lathes.
Just remember, If you buy a lathe of lesser quality it will not perform as well as a high end lathe.
That is my 2 cents. I hope it helps,

[PuzzledMoose]

Chris, that lathe looks very similar to the one I started on which was a Canadian Tire model that I picked up for $69 when they had them on sale at half price. It was fine for pens and small items, but the variable speed decided to do it's own thing after about 6 months .. it still varies but not necessarily when you want it to always .. I probably made a couple of hundred pens and other items on it so it doesn't owe me anything in that respect - the first two pens I sold paid for it!

Having said that it depends what you want to do - in theory you could turn a bowl just under 8" diameter on it as it has an 8" swing. In practice a) the motor might struggle a little if it was a heavy piece and b) I'd want the piece of wood to be very well balanced before I started it turning at a speed as high as 750 ..

Another downside to that lathe - if it's the same as the one I had is that the "wheel" on the tailstock doesn't actually turn .. so you can't adjust the grip when turning between centres other than by pushing the tailstock tight by hand .. that isn't a problem for pens though when they're turned on a mandrel.

If I were to start off again I must admit I'd probably go for a higher quality lathe to begin with - and I would probaby have got a Jet if they had been available here ..

[Rolf]

It seems that most accesories for the standard lathe use a #2 taper and a 1" spindle thread, although most chucks come with adaptors for the thread.
Our club just bought a Rikoh as a club lathe it is a very solid lathe and reasonably priced.
I have yet to meet anyone that has tried turning and NOT liked it.

[Trout]

Excelsior 5 speed mimi lathe for $199...

Trout

[bearfretworks]

Rolf gave good advice.

My rec is, if you want a min lathe, to go with a Jet or Rikon. The newest Jet mini with a 12" swing even lets you turn a fair sized bowl. The chucks and accessories will cost you more than a lathe, hence the need to heed Rolf's good advice. Nothing more frustrating that gearing up and than upgrading your lathe.....and all your accessories don't work because they are oddball sized.

Finally, remember how much you paid for our advice, and treat it accordingly!!

GOOD Luck!

[William Young]

Good advice you are receiving and the 12" swing on the Jet 1220 that I am now using along with a 3/4 HP motor is a great combination.
You may think you are going to just turn a few pens and small things but you will find turning so addictive that you will soon be upgrading. Get a good lathe right off the bat and the resale value will hold good compared to an underpowered one with few features.
The reason I got the 1220 Jet instead of the 1220VS that is coming out in the next month or so is that I have learned from experience that VS on a tool whether it be a lathe or a scroll saw robs it of power and the VS circuitry can and will fail in a certain percentage. That is why both my scroll saw and my lathe are both six speed direct drive pulley change models .
VS is is a nice feature in very expensive commercial lathes but as far as I am concerned they are a selling feature and a way for manufacturers to sell more parts in the lower priced ones.
You would not believe how fast I can change belt speeds on my Jet 1220 lathe . I never even look at the bottom pulleys. It is like top feeding with my P-20 scroll saw. You develop little eyes in your fingertips that you never knew you had. .
I would certainly shy away from the $99.00 category. It is no different than ones that got the cheapest possible scroll saw and lived to regret it or gave up altogether . You deserve more than that.
You can pay for a real good lathe with income from very few turnings.
Lathes are easy to operate .
If I can do it , anyone can . I still consider myself a rookie but I am having a ball trying to get as good as some of my piers.
W.Y.

[thecopperfish]

Thanks for the advise everyone, I really appreciate it! It sounds like maybe I should wait for awhile and get a better quality machine. We may be able to build me a real shop in the fall, then I'd have more room too.
Thanks again,
Chris