Hello,

I recently took a voc. school course on woodworking and got a little
time in on the small Delta/Rockwell lathes they had. As a result, I
decided that it's time to add a lathe to my woodworking tools...
Obviously, some of you would suggest lathes that are way out of my
price range, with full complement of the best tools made by men- so
I'm not going to ask! Next Friday, I'm going out to pick up a Delta
Midi Lathe (an early Christmas present from the wife) and I've got
the coupon from the Delta Owner's group for a free bed extension or
set of turning tools. Here's the dilemma I'm facing, in a nutshell-
The lathe is going to be used for chessmen (and Christmas ornaments-
part of the devil's bargin I made to get my present early!) but I'd
like to eventually make spindle legs for chess tables as well. (I've
been making boards for a while now, and am thinking of selling full
sets once my quality is up to snuff) The lathe extension would
obviously be a great help in making legs, and adding stability. I'm
not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays, and I'm going
to want to play with my new toy, not just let it sit idle for a couple
of months.

So, I'm left debating whether I should go with the tools or the
extension- There's a big difference in the cost of the two items, so
the tools looked like the way to go at first, especially since they're
what I need the most right away, but I don't want to waste the
opportunity to get the extension free if I'm just going to have to get
a better set of tools in a few months. Has anyone used Delta's set of
eight turning tools, and if so, are they worth having for a novice
turner? I don't mind doing a little extra finishing work, but I don't
want complete junk cluttering up my shop either... For a little
perspective on the issue, the tools I learned to turn with were "Buck
Bros." (I'm not sure if those are good or bad, it's just info) and
they were just sufficient for my purpose- if the Deltas are better
than that, that's what I'd like to get! If they're inferior to that,
I'll just suck it up and wait until I can get a good set.

Any thoughts?
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Prometheus wrote:

Hello, snip/

Any thoughts?
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Get the tools, if you don't like the lathe in a little while you don't
have an extension to get rid off also,
and by the time you have the turning under control, and if you still
want to do furniture, you always can buy that extension yet, but
whatever you do, you will need those turning tools to get there.

Any thoughts?
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

I have read in these NGs (somewhere, sometime recently) that the Delta tools
are "for crap" (for lack of the original quote). I would get the bed extension
and buy the highly praised HSS Harbor Freight tool set of 8 for $35.99 (Or
another mini set, easily seen for $30). If you ever return the lathe they might
demand the bed extention, and if they do not then it won't hurt to have it and
sell it on eBay, you'll still have the good tools for use with another lathe. Not
intended as "my plan for your future", but it is what I would do. Many others
here would happily suggest the Jet mini lathe as a worthy and high quality starter.

Alex

I'm not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays

(snip)

Let me get this straight, you are not made of money, yet you are going
to make your lathe stand of $8-$10/BF MESQUITE? I have the lathe you
are getting (not a bad lathe for a beginner, I've been happy with it
for about a year). I made a stand out of construction lumber, 2x6 legs
and 2x12 top, the legs splay at about a 7 degree angle to the sides
and 5 degrees to the front and back. Tied together with drywall screws
and 3/4 plywood sides, 2 2x4 stringers at the bottom. Made a melemine
drawer unit to fit inside the base, tapered front to back but not side
to side. Filled with tools, sandpaper, blanks, etc., it weights the
lathe just fine. Send me the mesquite and I'll build you one in
exchange!
Ö¿Ö¬

On 3 Dec 2004 05:59:57 -0800, (Gary DeWitt) wrote:

I'm not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays

(snip)

Let me get this straight, you are not made of money, yet you are going
to make your lathe stand of $8-$10/BF MESQUITE? I have the lathe you
are getting (not a bad lathe for a beginner, I've been happy with it
for about a year). I made a stand out of construction lumber, 2x6 legs
and 2x12 top, the legs splay at about a 7 degree angle to the sides
and 5 degrees to the front and back. Tied together with drywall screws
and 3/4 plywood sides, 2 2x4 stringers at the bottom. Made a melemine
drawer unit to fit inside the base, tapered front to back but not side
to side. Filled with tools, sandpaper, blanks, etc., it weights the
lathe just fine. Send me the mesquite and I'll build you one in
exchange!

Here's the deal with that- The steel is cheap because I am a steel
sawyer by trade, and get it at cost. The Mesquite was free because my
father found it quite some time ago when he was working as a long-haul
truck driver. I don't have a use for 8/4 mesquite right this minute,
so I'm going to use it as a really nice looking lathe mount, and then
if I discover a good use for it later, I won't have chopped it up into
something I didn't want or need!

Ö¿Ö¬

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Prometheus wrote in message ...
On 3 Dec 2004 05:59:57 -0800, (Gary DeWitt) wrote:

I'm not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays

(snip)

Let me get this straight, you are not made of money, yet you are going
to make your lathe stand of $8-$10/BF MESQUITE? I have the lathe you
are getting (not a bad lathe for a beginner, I've been happy with it
for about a year). I made a stand out of construction lumber, 2x6 legs
and 2x12 top, the legs splay at about a 7 degree angle to the sides
and 5 degrees to the front and back. Tied together with drywall screws
and 3/4 plywood sides, 2 2x4 stringers at the bottom. Made a melemine
drawer unit to fit inside the base, tapered front to back but not side
to side. Filled with tools, sandpaper, blanks, etc., it weights the
lathe just fine. Send me the mesquite and I'll build you one in
exchange!

Here's the deal with that- The steel is cheap because I am a steel
sawyer by trade, and get it at cost. The Mesquite was free because my
father found it quite some time ago when he was working as a long-haul
truck driver. I don't have a use for 8/4 mesquite right this minute,
so I'm going to use it as a really nice looking lathe mount, and then
if I discover a good use for it later, I won't have chopped it up into
something I didn't want or need!

sell the Mesquite on eBay and use the money to buy a Nova

Dale

Ö¿Ö¬

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

On Fri, 03 Dec 2004 19:27:24 GMT, "dalecue"
wrote:


Prometheus wrote in message ...
On 3 Dec 2004 05:59:57 -0800, (Gary DeWitt) wrote:

I'm not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays

(snip)

Let me get this straight, you are not made of money, yet you are going
to make your lathe stand of $8-$10/BF MESQUITE? I have the lathe you
are getting (not a bad lathe for a beginner, I've been happy with it
for about a year). I made a stand out of construction lumber, 2x6 legs
and 2x12 top, the legs splay at about a 7 degree angle to the sides
and 5 degrees to the front and back. Tied together with drywall screws
and 3/4 plywood sides, 2 2x4 stringers at the bottom. Made a melemine
drawer unit to fit inside the base, tapered front to back but not side
to side. Filled with tools, sandpaper, blanks, etc., it weights the
lathe just fine. Send me the mesquite and I'll build you one in
exchange!

Here's the deal with that- The steel is cheap because I am a steel
sawyer by trade, and get it at cost. The Mesquite was free because my
father found it quite some time ago when he was working as a long-haul
truck driver. I don't have a use for 8/4 mesquite right this minute,
so I'm going to use it as a really nice looking lathe mount, and then
if I discover a good use for it later, I won't have chopped it up into
something I didn't want or need!

sell the Mesquite on eBay and use the money to buy a Nova

That's quite a bit more Mesquite than I've got, I'm afraid. I'd have
to sell my van to get one of those! Anyhow, I can't really sell the
wood or give it away- if I decide I don't want it (which isn't going
to happen, I just don't want to use it foolishly), he'd want it back.
It'll make a real fine lathe stand in the meantime- heavy and
dimentionally stable, as well as nice looking. Just long enough to
give turning a bit off the end a go, too. It's not going to be the
lathe stand forever, just until I find something else to use for it,
and I have a good use for the mesquite- probably some shallow bowls or
chessmen.


Dale

À“¿Ã€“¬

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam


Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Say what? You're gonna need wood for turning aren't you?

Barry


"Prometheus" wrote in message
...
On 3 Dec 2004 05:59:57 -0800, (Gary DeWitt) wrote:

I'm not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays

(snip)

Let me get this straight, you are not made of money, yet you are going
to make your lathe stand of $8-$10/BF MESQUITE? I have the lathe you
are getting (not a bad lathe for a beginner, I've been happy with it
for about a year). I made a stand out of construction lumber, 2x6 legs
and 2x12 top, the legs splay at about a 7 degree angle to the sides
and 5 degrees to the front and back. Tied together with drywall screws
and 3/4 plywood sides, 2 2x4 stringers at the bottom. Made a melemine
drawer unit to fit inside the base, tapered front to back but not side
to side. Filled with tools, sandpaper, blanks, etc., it weights the
lathe just fine. Send me the mesquite and I'll build you one in
exchange!

Here's the deal with that- The steel is cheap because I am a steel
sawyer by trade, and get it at cost. The Mesquite was free because my
father found it quite some time ago when he was working as a long-haul
truck driver. I don't have a use for 8/4 mesquite right this minute,
so I'm going to use it as a really nice looking lathe mount, and then
if I discover a good use for it later, I won't have chopped it up into
something I didn't want or need!

Ö¿Ö¬

Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

G'day. You may be interested in contacting Mike Darlow about his new
book on turned chessmen:
http://www.hinet.net.au/~mdarlow/
It has just been released and isn't detailed on the site yet. he is in
Australia, as am I.
Just thought it may be of interest.
Good luck,
Alan

On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 19:41:46 -0600, Prometheus
wrote:

Hello,

I recently took a voc. school course on woodworking and got a little
time in on the small Delta/Rockwell lathes they had. As a result, I
decided that it's time to add a lathe to my woodworking tools...
Obviously, some of you would suggest lathes that are way out of my
price range, with full complement of the best tools made by men- so
I'm not going to ask! Next Friday, I'm going out to pick up a Delta
Midi Lathe (an early Christmas present from the wife) and I've got
the coupon from the Delta Owner's group for a free bed extension or
set of turning tools. Here's the dilemma I'm facing, in a nutshell-
The lathe is going to be used for chessmen (and Christmas ornaments-
part of the devil's bargin I made to get my present early!) but I'd
like to eventually make spindle legs for chess tables as well. (I've
been making boards for a while now, and am thinking of selling full
sets once my quality is up to snuff) The lathe extension would
obviously be a great help in making legs, and adding stability. I'm
not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays, and I'm going
to want to play with my new toy, not just let it sit idle for a couple
of months.

So, I'm left debating whether I should go with the tools or the
extension- There's a big difference in the cost of the two items, so
the tools looked like the way to go at first, especially since they're
what I need the most right away, but I don't want to waste the
opportunity to get the extension free if I'm just going to have to get
a better set of tools in a few months. Has anyone used Delta's set of
eight turning tools, and if so, are they worth having for a novice
turner? I don't mind doing a little extra finishing work, but I don't
want complete junk cluttering up my shop either... For a little
perspective on the issue, the tools I learned to turn with were "Buck
Bros." (I'm not sure if those are good or bad, it's just info) and
they were just sufficient for my purpose- if the Deltas are better
than that, that's what I'd like to get! If they're inferior to that,
I'll just suck it up and wait until I can get a good set.

Any thoughts?
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

Prometheus wrote:

That's quite a bit more Mesquite than I've got, I'm afraid. I'd have
to sell my van to get one of those! Anyhow, I can't really sell the
wood or give it away- if I decide I don't want it (which isn't going
to happen, I just don't want to use it foolishly), he'd want it back.
It'll make a real fine lathe stand in the meantime- heavy and
dimentionally stable, as well as nice looking. Just long enough to
give turning a bit off the end a go, too. It's not going to be the
lathe stand forever, just until I find something else to use for it,
and I have a good use for the mesquite- probably some shallow bowls or
chessmen.

Haven't tried the Delta tools, but I think I'd get the extension. With
sets you usually get a few tools you use a lot, and several that never
see the light of day.

the mesquite, make a chess table with it and sell it and buy the tools.

It's nice having a classy shop, but most of the time you won't be able
to even see it for all the shavings!

Just my .02 worth...

....Kevin

Alan wrote in message . ..
G'day. You may be interested in contacting Mike Darlow about his new
book on turned chessmen:
http://www.hinet.net.au/~mdarlow/
It has just been released and isn't detailed on the site yet. he is in
Australia, as am I.
Just thought it may be of interest.
Good luck,
Alan

Thanks for the lead- and sorry to be so tardy in replying, my ISP just
switched News servers, and they still aren't running the thing
correctly.


On Thu, 02 Dec 2004 19:41:46 -0600, Prometheus
wrote:

Hello,

I recently took a voc. school course on woodworking and got a little
time in on the small Delta/Rockwell lathes they had. As a result, I
decided that it's time to add a lathe to my woodworking tools...
Obviously, some of you would suggest lathes that are way out of my
price range, with full complement of the best tools made by men- so
I'm not going to ask! Next Friday, I'm going out to pick up a Delta
Midi Lathe (an early Christmas present from the wife) and I've got
the coupon from the Delta Owner's group for a free bed extension or
set of turning tools. Here's the dilemma I'm facing, in a nutshell-
The lathe is going to be used for chessmen (and Christmas ornaments-
part of the devil's bargin I made to get my present early!) but I'd
like to eventually make spindle legs for chess tables as well. (I've
been making boards for a while now, and am thinking of selling full
sets once my quality is up to snuff) The lathe extension would
obviously be a great help in making legs, and adding stability. I'm
not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays, and I'm going
to want to play with my new toy, not just let it sit idle for a couple
of months.

So, I'm left debating whether I should go with the tools or the
extension- There's a big difference in the cost of the two items, so
the tools looked like the way to go at first, especially since they're
what I need the most right away, but I don't want to waste the
opportunity to get the extension free if I'm just going to have to get
a better set of tools in a few months. Has anyone used Delta's set of
eight turning tools, and if so, are they worth having for a novice
turner? I don't mind doing a little extra finishing work, but I don't
want complete junk cluttering up my shop either... For a little
perspective on the issue, the tools I learned to turn with were "Buck
Bros." (I'm not sure if those are good or bad, it's just info) and
they were just sufficient for my purpose- if the Deltas are better
than that, that's what I'd like to get! If they're inferior to that,
I'll just suck it up and wait until I can get a good set.

Any thoughts?
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

"Barry N. Turner" wrote in message ...
Say what? You're gonna need wood for turning aren't you?

I've got some 9/4 Basswood earmarked for learning to turn. Seems like
a foolish idea to use the rarest and most expensive wood I've got the
first time I turn my lathe on! I've got a bunch of other wood to work
through first, that mesquite is being saved until I've either got a
better bandsaw for resawing it into veneer, or have refined my turning
skill enough to be sure it's not going to be a total waste.

Barry


"Prometheus" wrote in message
...
On 3 Dec 2004 05:59:57 -0800, (Gary DeWitt) wrote:

I'm not sure if I'll need the stability or not, since I've got 120# of
steel tubing (to be filled with concrete for even greater wieght) and
about 70# of Mesquite earmarked for making the lathe stand, but I'm
sure it can't hurt anything, either! But I also can't afford to get
a good set of turning tools until after the hollidays

Prometheus wrote:

So, I'm left debating whether I should go with the tools or the
extension- There's a big difference in the cost of the two items, so
the tools looked like the way to go at first, especially since they're
what I need the most right away, but I don't want to waste the
opportunity to get the extension free if I'm just going to have to get
a better set of tools in a few months.

FWIW

Go for the extension. You can get a perfectly serviceable set of 8 HSS lathe
tools from HF for about $40. I've been using mine since August and liking
them. To that initial set I have added a couple "grind as I go" scrapers
made from HSS flat stock, an oval skew and a Sorby hollowing tool. The HF
set has good steel and longish handles that are plenty comfortable to work
with and hold their edges decently.

Bill

In article ,
Prometheus wrote:

....

Any thoughts?
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

I went for the extension

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