Getting Started
Tools You Will Need to Get Started:
Lathe: The lathe is the heart
of your turning center. Choose as high of a quality lathe as you can
afford. Be particularly aware of the bearings in the headstock. They
should spin smoothly and there should be no play. The size of the lathe
also determines the maximum size piece that you can turn.
Lathe tools: You will
need lathe tools to shape the stock. Buy a good quality set of tools
that will last a very long time. See the Tool Selection Guide to help
you determine which tools to buy as a beginning set.
Face Plate: Most lathes
will come with a face plate included. I find it helpful to have several
faceplates on hand, so that I can be working on more than one piece at
a time. I find that if you remove a piece from a faceplate and then try
to remount it, many times the piece does not center properly. Keep the
piece on the faceplate until it is complete.
Chuck: Some may disagree
with me when I say that a 4 jaw self centering chuck is not a
necessity, however I have turned many years without one. The chuck is
very handy to have. It is much easier to recenter a piece in the chuck
than a face plate. there are other advantages such as reverse chucking
and inside chucking. These chucks are not cheap, but after you have
your lathe and tools paid off, it is a worthwhile investment.
Stock: Now you are ready
for some turning blanks and lots of practice. start with small items.
They are easier to turn and if you make mistakes you lose less wood. A
man I know who has been turning for about 60 years likes to start
beginners on spinning tops. He says that you should turn about a
hundred of them to get the techniques down. Sources for stock are
numerous. Many craft stores sell turning blanks, but if you look around
you can find lots of places that want to give away scraps that are too
small for most other projects. Remember that you can glue pieces
together to make larger pieces for turning.
Have Fun Turning!!
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Last modified Nov.11, 2006
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