newbie: pen making advice
 

Hello everyone. My name is Troy and I'm brand new to turning. I don't
even have a lathe yet. I'm thinking of making tops, pens, pencils,
pointers, parts for toy cars, etc.
I am disabled and so don't have a lot of money to throw around. Can
someone please guide me in the right direction? I don't mind starting
simple and then getting better tools later.

Troy
knoxville, iowa

newbie: pen making advice
 

bear wrote in :

I started about 2 years ago with the Delta midi lathe for +/-$250. Unless
you plan to stick to the real smal stuff, you might want to consider it. If
on the other hand you will stay withthe small stuff, then I would recommend
the Jet mini lathe for about the same $'s

Hello everyone. My name is Troy and I'm brand new to turning. I don't
even have a lathe yet. I'm thinking of making tops, pens, pencils,
pointers, parts for toy cars, etc.
I am disabled and so don't have a lot of money to throw around. Can
someone please guide me in the right direction? I don't mind starting
simple and then getting better tools later.

Troy
knoxville, iowa

newbie: pen making advice
 

On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:23:39 -0500, bear wrote:

Hello everyone. My name is Troy and I'm brand new to turning. I don't
even have a lathe yet. I'm thinking of making tops, pens, pencils,
pointers, parts for toy cars, etc.
I am disabled and so don't have a lot of money to throw around. Can
someone please guide me in the right direction? I don't mind starting
simple and then getting better tools later.

Troy
knoxville, iowa

I'd suggest the jet Mini, Troy...

Tons of them around and very few sell used, which indicates to me that folks
keep them when they move up to a larger lathe.. (I did)

As shipped, it can be on a stand or table top... Not sure if your disability
requires this, but it is a consideration.. Mine was on a workmate for a while,
then a sawhorse..

If you shop a little, a new mini should be less than $300 including shipping.. A
starter set of chisels is from $20 to $100 depending on brand, etc... my
preference is "mid-level"..

Hang out in the group and ask lots of questions, that's how I learned... great
group of folks here that can save you a lot of time and frustration on the
learning curve...
Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

newbie: pen making advice
 

Bear
You might like my web site. It has sections on sharpening, tool making,
projects and stuff you need to get started.
http://aroundthewoods.com


--

______
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS, Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com
"mac davis" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 18:23:39 -0500, bear wrote:

Hello everyone. My name is Troy and I'm brand new to turning. I don't
even have a lathe yet. I'm thinking of making tops, pens, pencils,
pointers, parts for toy cars, etc.
I am disabled and so don't have a lot of money to throw around. Can
someone please guide me in the right direction? I don't mind starting
simple and then getting better tools later.

Troy
knoxville, iowa

I'd suggest the jet Mini, Troy...

Tons of them around and very few sell used, which indicates to me that
folks
keep them when they move up to a larger lathe.. (I did)

As shipped, it can be on a stand or table top... Not sure if your
disability
requires this, but it is a consideration.. Mine was on a workmate for a
while,
then a sawhorse..

If you shop a little, a new mini should be less than $300 including
shipping.. A
starter set of chisels is from $20 to $100 depending on brand, etc... my
preference is "mid-level"..

Hang out in the group and ask lots of questions, that's how I learned...
great
group of folks here that can save you a lot of time and frustration on the
learning curve...
Mac

https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

newbie: pen making advice
 

"bear" wrote in message ...
Hello everyone. My name is Troy and I'm brand new to turning. I don't
even have a lathe yet. I'm thinking of making tops, pens, pencils,
pointers, parts for toy cars, etc.
I am disabled and so don't have a lot of money to throw around. Can
someone please guide me in the right direction? I don't mind starting
simple and then getting better tools later.

Troy
knoxville, iowa
============================

Bear,
You didn't say if your disability has you in a whel chair or not. IF you
are/will be turning from a chair, then the suggestions you will be getting
for Jet or Delta mini/midi lathes or their many clones, should be weighed
carefully. The position of the motor (under the ways at the headstock end)
on these lathes makes it difficult to turn from a wheel chair. This is due
to the relatively high position of the spindle centerline. Ideally, the
spindle should be at or near the height of your elbow when you're in your
turning position. In a chair, you will need to be able to slide under a
table holding the lathe. This will add at least 2-3 inches to your "lap
height". Then the spindle will be about 10 inches above the table top level,
or about 12-13 inches above your lap. This puts you in an awkward position
of trying to turn "side arm", with your elbow flapping in the breeze, and
not at your side as is preferred. Two ways around this:

1. Get a lathe with the motor mounted BEHIND the lathe. 2 examples of tiese
are the Jet 1236 (mounted on the head stock), and the Sears monotube, with
the motor mounted behind the head stock. Neither of these have a stelar
reputation, but are acceptable for small projects.

2. Have a custom bench/stand built for the lathe of your choice which mounts
the lathe at an angle leaning toward you, or mounted so that it is in a
horizontal plane with the spipndle nearest you. Either mode of mounting has
it's own installation/ operating problems (toolrest, switches, unbalanced
load distribution, etc.)

I've been a chair since November, 2000. When I got sick, I was using a Sears
monotube, later changed over to a Jet 1236 clone from HF, which has done
well for me. YMMV

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX.

newbie: pen making advice
 

Ken Moon wrote:
....snip...

2. Have a custom bench/stand built for the lathe of your choice which mounts
the lathe at an angle leaning toward you, or mounted so that it is in a
horizontal plane with the spipndle nearest you. Either mode of mounting has
it's own installation/ operating problems (toolrest, switches, unbalanced
load distribution, etc.)
....snip...
Ken Moon
Webberville, TX.

Before John Nichols business went under, he was showing a lathe he
designed for chair-bound turners. The ways were tilted toward the
turner, were low, and a chair could go under them easily. The locks on
the headstock and banjo were pneumatic, and, of course, he could also
supply a lift over the machine.

Bill

newbie: pen making advice
 

"Bill Rubenstein" wrote in message
...


Ken Moon wrote:
...snip...

2. Have a custom bench/stand built for the lathe of your choice which
mounts the lathe at an angle leaning toward you, or mounted so that it is
in a horizontal plane with the spipndle nearest you. Either mode of
mounting has it's own installation/ operating problems (toolrest,
switches, unbalanced load distribution, etc.)
...snip...
Ken Moon
Webberville, TX.

Before John Nichols business went under, he was showing a lathe he
designed for chair-bound turners. The ways were tilted toward the turner,
were low, and a chair could go under them easily. The locks on the
headstock and banjo were pneumatic, and, of course, he could also supply a
lift over the machine.

Bill
==================
Bill,
I'd heard about those, but by the time I found out about them, they were
gone. (My kinda luck, like the time I went to New Orleans the week AFTER
Mardis Gras!)

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX