Bought a lathe today...

oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
TOTAL NEWB to a lathe. Never used one. When I was prob 8-10, I just remember my dad cut the power cord on his one day - because he stuck a knife in the ceiling! But I have always wanted one, so... And I have access to large tree burls to make bowls and projects out of!

I got a very nice used Rockwell Delta 46-111 on a stand with knives, etc. bearings seem tight. In very good overall shape. $225 for lathe/stand/knives/etc and old school double flip out steel Craftsman tool box. I think it is prob worth the $ just for the knives and box. I found/printed out the original manual for it. Now I have to learn how to use it, AND get all the knives sharpened. Another project/sickness/$ hole prob, but who cares! I ain't payin' for 5 boys' sports equipment and fees anymore!!!!

So - How'd I do? What do I need to know? What do I avoid? What do I HAVE to do? A recommended book on how to use a lathe? And TIA!
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
has 12 knives - 4x Craftsman/6x Great Neck knives. Couple polishing wheels. 3 good knife rails, and a base. also a base and couple rails, plus cpl other pieces that have more brazing on them than I have seen my whole! And adjustment tools. Large arbor head on lathe and looks like a small on in box. No clue how to set it up.
 
Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Sharp tools are a must.
Have fun, be safe.

Please let us know what you turn out. Pun intended.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Brad said:
Sharp tools are a must.
Have fun, be safe.
Click to expand...

I am anal about sharp knives and tools! Dull ones hurt/kill you, and typically very painfully and slowly! And, recall, my dad cut the cord when his threw a (probably) dull tool into the ceiling!
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
Another vote for You Tube. The only wood turning I've done is 6" square oak in a 6" Atlas metal lathe using a beautiful old chisel for a lathe tool. It worked, I had to turn down the ends for a set of horse drawn bob sleds, but it was slow. I'd look at You Tube and find the guys that seems to know what they're doing.
 
Gary

Gary

SE Kansas
I started with a Craftsman lathe that worked quite well; moved up to a Nova and then (finally) to a Powermatic 3520B. All the Lathe anyone really needs, and much more than I now use. At present I am turning Duck Calls using Crotch Walnut; Burl Red Elm and Osage Orange. Going to give Persimmon a go later this spring/summer. You will LEARN to enjoy your new hobby.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
I have a Craftsman wood lathe that is missing the headstock center drive spur. On that model it's a threaded affair, not a Morse type insert. I bought not realizing this and with the specific intent of being able to replace the 2 1" tubes that served as the "frame" with 1" solid steel rods about 7 feet long so I could turn peavy handles more than the ubiquitous 3 1/2' long. I like them 5-6 feet for some stuff. I still haven't found a drive spur that will fit it, but then it's not like I'm up all night looking for one either.

There was recently a Rockwell variable speed wood lathe for sale on our local Craigs List. It looked like it was from the 60's to my eye, though I have no idea when they were made. Nice heavy unit, with tooling and rests, etc. I thought hard about trying to get it, kind of regret not moving on it.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
Bret4207 said:
I have a Craftsman wood lathe that is missing the headstock center drive spur. On that model it's a threaded affair, not a Morse type insert. I bought not realizing this and with the specific intent of being able to replace the 2 1" tubes that served as the "frame" with 1" solid steel rods about 7 feet long so I could turn peavy handles more than the ubiquitous 3 1/2' long. I like them 5-6 feet for some stuff. I still haven't found a drive spur that will fit it, but then it's not like I'm up all night looking for one either.

There was recently a Rockwell variable speed wood lathe for sale on our local Craigs List. It looked like it was from the 60's to my eye, though I have no idea when they were made. Nice heavy unit, with tooling and rests, etc. I thought hard about trying to get it, kind of regret not moving on it.
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Bret - the Rockwell models go back to late '50's. I suspected this one was mid '60's. But when I looked for manuals, it looks like it is early '70s. Regardless - it is heavy and solid and seems to be tight. I am REALLY looking fwd to playing with w lathe!
 
Gary

Gary

SE Kansas
Your friend must have had carbon steel cutters; HSS cutters make it seem like cutting butter. I routinely turn Osage Orange which is considerably harder than Mesquite and it almost doesn't need any sanding when it's shaped. Also have had the pleasure of turning Gaboon Ebony, what a treat. Persimmon is my next wood to turn and I have some that's been drying for a few years now (takes quite a while to dry in a passive solar Kiln). Remember, sharp well ground tools are a MUST.
 
P

popper

Well-Known Member
Yup, like Osage Orange, lots of hard sap there. Dulls a saw blade real fast. Not for beginners. HS wood shop class we got soft (cheap) wood to use, grain always raised. I preferred the metal lathe (prob. 6' long bed, gears to change speed) in auto shop class, made miniature ship cannon and other stuff. Mostly did flat head cyl. boring with stand alone boring machine, valve turning and stick gas and elec welding. Never could do aluminum right but learned a lot. Fun tearing down Hydro and dynaflush trans and trying to put back together. One kid's dad got some free used Desoto hemi engines from the McPherson fields. Natural gas fueled so we rebuilt them. Cheap hot rod motors. Thinking back, remember some large wrenches on the garage wall of a friend. 4-5' long open end with maybe 12" jaw. Steam paddle boat wrenches? FIL owned a lumber/coal yard in Madison, Ne - got his wood cutter tools when he passed. She said he used to have to 'corral' the saw horses the gals rode.
 
oscarflytyer

oscarflytyer

Well-Known Member
SO... as I mentioned, came with a dozen knives. But they have all been ground, and all rather roughly! I need them trued up/reset to correct angles. And being new to lathe knives, not sure I know what is correct. I would like to have them all redone to basic original/factory specs so I know I am starting off right. From there, I should be able to keep them sharp/correct. Recommendations?
 
Ian

Ian

Notorious member
To finish Osage Orange ("Bodark" in TX) on the lathe just just grab yourself a big wad of shavings and burnish the finished turning with that.
 
Bret4207

Bret4207

At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
oscarflytyer said:
SO... as I mentioned, came with a dozen knives. But they have all been ground, and all rather roughly! I need them trued up/reset to correct angles. And being new to lathe knives, not sure I know what is correct. I would like to have them all redone to basic original/factory specs so I know I am starting off right. From there, I should be able to keep them sharp/correct. Recommendations?
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If you have a local sharpening service you could talk to them. The skew and straight tools wouldn't be hard at home, the round gouges and stuff with a radius would be.
 
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