TomP Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 OK guys. I just purchased a lathe from Rockler. I am new to turning so I have a few questions. Is there a cd that will teach me how to start turning? What starter tools are needed? This lathe didn't even come with instructions. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdgewaterWW Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Welcome to turning! If You give us some more info We can help. What lathe (brand or size, and I can help Get any manual)? What are You hoping to turn/make (different turning sometimes need different tools, sandpaper,Glue,power tools,etc) ? What other tools do You have (like Drill Press, Band Saw)? Etc So it sounds like You have a Rockler close to You, Rockler has all you need. On Rockler Web site search "Turning DVD" You will find 45 DVDs, I have looked at dozen (benefit of a wood Turning club). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 The name of the lathe is the Excelsior 5-speed mini lathe. I was planning on turning bowls and pens. I have a drill press, table saw, router, and other woodworking tools. I do not have a band saw. I got this lathe because it was 15% off Thanks for the help Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hey Tom - check out http://www.njwoodturners.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdgewaterWW Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Here is the manual for Your Lathe http://www.rockler.com/tech/26042013103043-Excelsior_MC-1018.pdf Pen turning DVDs "Turning Pens with Kip & Rex, DVD, Vol. 1 & 2", Barry Gross and Richard Raffan pen and bowl videos also great for learning. PSI (Penn State Industries) has a very very basic video You can order for free (but here it is online) I asked about other power tools because Pen turning You need not only a Lathe but drill press, bench grinder with new wheels for sharpening turning tools or wet grinder/sharpener or sharpening stones (I use wet grinder/sharpener) and something to cut the wood to make pens (pen blanks) sized 5/8x5/8x5" or 3/4x3/4x5" into 1 or 2 parts before drilling, easiest way is a band saw. Many many other things/tools are needed for turning like Sanding rolls, CA glue,pen blank vice, pen mill,Etc. Bowl turning You will need You Lathe and a way to sharpen tools. Max bowl size on Your Lathe is about 9" around, If you get into making bowl blanks a Band Saw is needed to turn logs into blanks. That will get You started don't want to give You information over load. You can search Google or YouTube for info and more videos. Remember that not all info is good info, 100 ways to skin a cat, You find unsafe methods and advice to buy a $500 wet sharpener or $100 pen vice, that can be done on the cheap to start off. Good Luck, and +1 on a turning Club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 tom give me a day or so and ill give you every link I have on turning its basicly what I spent a year reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted June 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 Thanks guys. I knew my questions would be answered. Thanks John, I will look at the site tonight. Doug, I will take one step at a time. I was thinking of starting with a small bowl and work my way up. I know I will have to add to my collection of woodworking tools. Thanks for the manual. That makes it easier. Duckkisser, as always, I look forward to any info you come up with. I will keep you informed of my progress. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 13, 2013 Report Share Posted June 13, 2013 before you spend money on tools know that you can make most yourself you might think about making them all yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jHop Posted June 14, 2013 Report Share Posted June 14, 2013 I think I have that same lathe. Love it. It doesn't love moisture. (rust) Watch the motor, as they tend to get very warm. I haven't had to put a fan under the motor just yet, but I'm leaning that way very soon. (Particularly since I want to use a cheap shower curtain as my dust shroud... the last one was usurped into a table cloth.) I got lucky with my turning set I purchased from Harbor Freight. The quality has since dropped. There are, in my opinion, five tools you will need to use your lathe. That would be your roughing gouge (regardless of which project you want to work on), a 3/4" bowl gouge, a 1" spindle gouge (they look similar, but are not the same thing), a 1" skew, and a 3/8" bowl gouge. You probably will add to those as you go, but I'd recommend starting there. The biggest difference between a bowl gouge and a spindle gouge is that the hollow on the bowl goes all the way through the metal, even into the handle. The hollow on the spindle gouge ends usually above the ferrule on the handle. The extra "meat" on the bowl gouge allows it to absorb more vibration when turning, which is very good for bowl work. Spindle gouges do not work so well on bowls, but bowl gouges work great on either. You can use your skew as a scraper, with a little practice. You can also use it to create captured rings (again, with enough practice) so you don't have to purchase a "captive ring" tool, but they do speed up the learning curve. I'd start reading material from Highland Woodworking, as well. They have a lot of guys who are turners, so there's always a good tip or six from them. You can buy the Turner's Sandpaper rolls from Rockler or Woodcraft. (I don't regret them.) Or you can make your own. The turning sandpaper is on a thicker paper stock, so sometimes I've had difficulties cutting it into the length of strips I need. If you have time, there's an old podcast I routinely recommend for sharpening your chisels. They cover the difference between fingernail grind and just ground, and show how to get a hollow grind on your skews. I will add the caveat that it is not necessary to purchase the Wolverine jig: you can make your own if you are creative enough. It took a little searching, but here is the direct link. (They've changed the format of how to get to them, running you through the gauntlet of purchasing things. Feel free to drop by their storefront if you wish.) http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2008/09/23/podcast-37-turning-tools-sharpen-your-skills-with-sharp-tools/ It is necessary to at least get a grinder. Even a hand cranked grinder will help. (I don't have either right now, so I had to take a turning break. That and taking summer classes put a kibosh on most of my free time this year.) Beyond that, I haven't needed anything but a sharp saw (hand), a center finder, an awl, and time. (Oh, and safety glasses. I opted for the full face shield, and I'm glad I did, but you don't have to. There are options from Harbor Freights up to the bionic mask Marc previewed recently - induction link, GPS module, skill chip set, and HUD system extra.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted June 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2013 Thanks jHop for all the info, this will really help me get started. I will keep an eye on the motor and rust part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 here is the bulk of my links that tought me everything I have learned Tools(long handles allow extra stability and strength because you can brace it on you hips) you can make your own tools I found these site’s to be useful your own tools http://www.bigtreetools.com/articles/siegel%2018-4.pdfmaking making a texturing tool http://www.woodturnersresource.com/extras/projects/SpiralingTexturingTool/index.html making a minie cove cutting tool http://www.davidreedsmith.com/Articles/MiniCoveTool/MiniCoveTool.htm texturing tool http://aroundthewoods.com/detail.shtml 3 point tool http://aroundthewoods.com/three.shtml arm brace for hollow turning http://aroundthewoods.com/brace.shtml chatter tool http://www.detroitareawoodturners.org/Making%20a%20Chatter%20Tool.pdf cheap e-z tool blades http://globaltooling.bizhosting.com/products/carbide-insert-knives.html home made e_z lathe tool http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f6/first-homemade-lathe-gouge-19990/ wood line burner use Formica scraps and the friction will burn lines on the wood buying tools buying e-Z tools http://easywoodtools.com/ buying blades to make handles for http://www.thompsonlathetools.com/default.asp Robert sorby tools are very good steel that hold a edge longer http://www.robert-sorby.co.uk/ sandpaper cheap http://www.woodworkingshop.com/category.aspx?id=25&f1=BARGAIN+BOXES sharpening wolverine sharpen jig http://www.amazon.com/Oneway-Wolverine-Vari-Grind-Attachment/dp/B003L0M69O/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1371213971&sr=8-4&keywords=wolverine+sharpening+jig paper sharpening hone for grinder http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2000219/2254/complete-razor-sharp-system.aspx home made paper hone http://www.davidreedsmith.com/Articles/HoningDisk/HoningDisk.htm grinder tool rest great for sharpening http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/6/-/21/94/-/699/Apprentice-Universal-Tool-Support sharpening with two grinders one normal with regular stone, second white stone, second grinder reversed with mdf wheel and felt wheel rotating up for honeing. sharpening arm and base http://aroundthewoods.com/sharpening03.html you can also just buy the base http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/p/5/-/21/93/-/817/Oneway-Wolverine-Sharpening-System how to sharpen your tools stores woodcraft http://www.woodcraft.com/category/1001030/woodturning-tools-lathes-and-kits.aspx craft supplies http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/ Packard tools http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=packard&Category_Code=tools pen state industries http://www.pennstateind.com/store/woodturning-tools.html 30 cheap pen kits http://www.pennstateind.com/store/PKSLFUN99.html Videos Carl Jacobson has a lot of videos to study http://www.youtube.com/user/haydenHD?feature=watch eddie castelin teaches hoe to make lots of tools and jigs cheaply http://www.youtube.com/user/capneddie?feature=results_main making a wood pens turning corian countertops books finishes for turning favorite finish is : shelack, boild linseed oil, denatured alch one part of each mixed together. it makes a decent finish that blends and smooths well, dries fast and is shinny. BEESWAX WOOD FINISH (for bare wood) 1 pound beeswax 1 pint turpentine (odorless, if you can find it) 1 pint boiled linseed oil Melt wax. Remove wax from heat source, then stir in turpentine and oil. Before applying to bare wood, warm the mixture to achieve better penetration. Apply with a soft cloth, let dry, then buff with a wool cloth. Old coats can be removed with an organic solvent such as turpentine. This can also be used on leather. (Another wood finish can be made with 1 pound beeswax and 1 pint turpentine, omitting the linseed oil.) use full sites tips and techniques http://aroundthewoods.com/contents.html#con08 Christmas ornaments http://www.woodcentral.com/newforum/ornaments/ project ideas http://www.woodturningonline.com/index.php tools,jigs,chucks http://www.turningblanks.net/servlet/the-template/shopmadelatheturningtoolprojects/Page lots of good info http://www.woodturnersresource.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 16, 2013 Report Share Posted June 16, 2013 I really like inlay so here is the basics and some materials that I found that looks nice with different degrees of hardnes inlay favorite inlay artist and how he does inlay http://stephenhatcher.com/index.php?n=10 videos on inlay supplies http://www.firemountaingems.com/ brass chips from key cutting machine black steel from grinder(black with a silver light reflections) decorative sands unity sands for wedings chrysocolla- blue green aragonite- light creamy yellow Lapis-dark blue tan jasper-tan malachitedark green sponge coral-red turquoise-light blue golden flurite-translucent yellow black sheen obsidean-dark black howlight-white rhoddonite-pink garnet-blackish dark red breccalaited jasper-red and black african jade-green blue peridot-translucent green yellow marble-carmel collored red jasper-brick red black jade-grey green jade-green olive jade-light green sodalight-blue and white mix black slate-dark grey almost black green slate-forest gree tan slate-earth brown saw dust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomP Posted June 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 Thanks duckkisser. It will take me a couple of days to go over everything. Great info, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 couple days if your having any troubles send me a pm right now my hand is damaged so cant turn so im basically all yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
man of wood Posted June 17, 2013 Report Share Posted June 17, 2013 Buying the lathe was the easy part. I just started and tried to self teach but you will need help. join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, join a club, I was looking a classes for $170 to $300 for a one day class and I could not some to dish out that money when I found a turning club. $25 a year, full library, assigned mentor, everyone wants to help, turning play dates,,,,,,, I just can't tell you how much it helps. One guy told me there that you should not take classes until you know how to turn first or you will wasting your money. I have been in woodworking for about 30 years, mill my own wood, make furniture so on so on, and the lathe is one of the hardest tool to learn, but wow it sure is cool. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles11we Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 IV been meaning to join a club but I am just too anti social lol I do consider myself an autodidact and just like just about everything else I learned o turn by myself and besides a couple articles and YouTube vids here and there I learned everything from just messing around on the lathe. This works for some people and some people work better and learn faster with instruction so whatever works for you. I would suggest finding and using wood you cut yourself, idk if that works for you, I live in pretty rural area so I always have fresh wood and tons of material but green wood is for another day. Remember to stay safe and have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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