I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?

Probably most any of the lathes that fall into the "midsized" range will
handle this. Generally speaking these are 12" to 14" lathes with three to
four feet of bed length and around 3/4 HP. Lots of machines to choose
from - Delta, Jet, Powermatic, Grizzly, etc.

Price range for new machines is in the $400 to $1,000 range. I also see a
lot of these in the "Tools for Sale" classified in our local paper.

If you are a new turner, don't under estimate the difficulty in turning out
a dozen spindles that look the same. I guess that is why God created the
duplicator.

RonB

PS - You might also post your question in rec.crafts.woodturning. Lots of
woodturning and machine expertise over there.

RonB

Hello Tom,
A JET 1236 would do the job for about $500.00. The Jet Mini will only go
out to 14" without an extension.

"TomWoodman" wrote in message
...
I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 12:45:40 -0800, "TomWoodman"
wrote:

[cross posted to rec.crafts.woodturning for your convenience]

I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?

I don't think there's anything special about a 2" spindle that is
cause for concern as regards power. Except for the length, a mini
lathe would do it just fine. And considering that both Jet and Delta
(I think) now have bed extensions, adding one would solve even that
problem (NB: there are other minis-Vicmarc, for one--probably even
Harbor Fright--gag).

However, nice as the minis are, by the time you add a bed extension,
you might be getting near the range of the low end full size lathes.
With those you get some more power and no fussing with extensions
(admittedly a one-time task), but if you aren't planning on doing a
lot of turning, then the mini is probably your best bet.

Unless, of course, you're within 100 miles or so of Daytona Beach, in
which case I can set you up with a Craftsman tube bed lathe, several
extra centers, tool rests, face plates, AND a set of turning tools for
just $150. It's a fine beginner lathe and all you need for the task at
hand. Email me if you're interested.

Now, about duplication. The human eye is a wondrous thing. It'll pick
up minor fractions of deviations in some things yet at the same time
gloss over minor differences in others. Turned furniture legs fall
into the latter category, and to a lesser degree, so do stair
balusters. So long as you get the general shape (use a template to
check) and the principal diameters close, they'll be "good enough."
Maybe not what a perfectionist, anal retentive wrecker wants to hear,
but how much time do you want to spend getting REALLY good at this?

Good luck.

--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

"TomWoodman" wrote in message
...
I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?


Buy 'em. Commercial product will keep the kids from falling off the stairs
while looking good.

200 for the lathe, another hundred for the tools will do it for spindles
(HF). Of course, it's more than they'd cost from a restoration place, so
you must be more interested in process than product. That probably means
you'd like a lathe that could do more. Then the sky becomes the limit.

TomWoodman wrote:
I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?




In Canada, you can get the King or the General (Approx. the same) for
about $259 - $300 plus the extension for about $90 to $100 which will
turn a spindle as long as 43". They were throwing in a set of carbon
steel tools. All I have done so far is spindles and I am quite satisfied
with the kit and the extension.

There is a link to their web site from my shop pages or the link pages. fwiw


--
Will R.
Jewel Boxes and Wood Art
http://woodwork.pmccl.com
The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those
who have not got it.” George Bernard Shaw

If you are a new turner, don't under estimate the difficulty in turning
out
a dozen spindles that look the same. I guess that is why God created the
duplicator.

That is so untrue. With a story stick and a little practice (by that I mean
after the 4th in a set, they are acceptably similar).

One of my first lathe projects involved 18 maple spindles about 22" long.
The design was simple, but I had no trouble duplicating the old fasioned
way.

As far as power is concerned, (relatively narrow) splindle turning does not
require much power at all. Basically any lathe will have enough power for
that. It's large diameter work that requires horse power.

I'm not saying that you should run out and buy a cheapo lathe, just that
your current project specs are pretty modest.

-Steve

That is so untrue. With a story stick and a little practice (by that I
mean
after the 4th in a set, they are acceptably similar).

I think you hit my problem right on the head - practice. I use my machine
to produce a lot of one or two-off small components for other projects and
much of this is face or chuck turning. My attempts to duplicate spindles
have been pretty bad. My daughter suggested I could turn a hundred or so
spindles for a victorian home they are building. I said fine. By the time
they close on the house they will be in a new income bracket (probably would
have been darned good practice though).


RonB

Tom:

I turn all the time. But I am also a remodel/repair contractor.
Unless you are trying to actually match a current installation, I agree
with the guys here.

Buy 'em, don't look back. Unless you are taking up turning for a
hobby, the price of the ancillary stuff (tools, quality grinder,
calipers to match diameters and on an on) will kill you, not the lathe.
Ask anyone that turns a lot... the lathe is the cheapest part of the
deal.

Robert

said:

Buy 'em, don't look back. Unless you are taking up turning for a
hobby, the price of the ancillary stuff (tools, quality grinder,
calipers to match diameters and on an on) will kill you, not the lathe.
Ask anyone that turns a lot... the lathe is the cheapest part of the
deal.

Robert

AMEN!
And that doesn't even address the addiction aspects...


Greg G.

And that doesn't even address the addiction aspects...

Greg G.


Whew... no kiddin'.

Robert

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 15:04:08 -0600, "RonB" wrote:

PS - You might also post your question in rec.crafts.woodturning. Lots of
woodturning and machine expertise over there.

RonB

he did, Ron..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 16:32:31 -0500, "George" George@least wrote:

Buy 'em. Commercial product will keep the kids from falling off the stairs
while looking good.

I'd agree with buying them, but I'd probably have them turned to order.
The cost is about the same (from the guy who makes my chair spindles).

The problem with taking up turning just to make these is the high
failure rate when you're learning, particularly for duplication work.
Long flowing curves on spindles means a skew, and lots of skew work for
a newbie means catches. Now a catch is no big deal on a one-off, you
just turn it down a bit further. But if you're trying to do duplicates,
you don't have the spare diameter to loose. You not only have to turn
out an attractive spindle, you have to do it with just one attempt on
the correct diameter.

Andy Dingley wrote:
On Wed, 2 Nov 2005 16:32:31 -0500, "George" George@least wrote:


Buy 'em. Commercial product will keep the kids from falling off the stairs
while looking good.


I'd agree with buying them, but I'd probably have them turned to order.
The cost is about the same (from the guy who makes my chair spindles).

The problem with taking up turning just to make these is the high
failure rate when you're learning, particularly for duplication work.
Long flowing curves on spindles means a skew, and lots of skew work for
a newbie means catches. Now a catch is no big deal on a one-off, you
just turn it down a bit further. But if you're trying to do duplicates,
you don't have the spare diameter to loose. You not only have to turn
out an attractive spindle, you have to do it with just one attempt on
the correct diameter.

Depending on spacing, the eye won't pick up small differences in diameter
between spindles. You will notice very slight vertical differences, though.

-John in NH

Wed, Nov 2, 2005, 12:45pm (EST-3) (TomWoodman)
did burble:
I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?

I read questions like this, and they never cease to amaze me.
Phrased like this, I have no idea what the Hell you are trying to ask.
How big a lathe you'd need? How much would a lathe cost? What? Are
you really serious? Or just trolling?



JOAT
If it ain't broke, don't lend it.
- Red Green

(J T) writes:

Wed, Nov 2, 2005, 12:45pm (EST-3) (TomWoodman)
did burble:
I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?

I read questions like this, and they never cease to amaze me.
Phrased like this, I have no idea what the Hell you are trying to ask.

The question is rather clear: He wants a lathe but the prybar to get
the money out of his wallet is not yet in his hands, so he considers
cheapo lathes and wants the wreckers to urge him on to buy a decent
one.

Just the same position that I am in. Are Delta lathes comparable in
quality with similar sized JET models?

--
Dr. Juergen Hannappel http://lisa2.physik.uni-bonn.de/~hannappe
Phone: +49 228 73 2447 FAX ... 7869
Physikalisches Institut der Uni Bonn Nussallee 12, D-53115 Bonn, Germany
CERN: Phone: +412276 76461 Fax: ..77930 Bat. 892-R-A13 CH-1211 Geneve 23

On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 20:48:12 +0100, Juergen Hannappel
wrote:

(J T) writes:

Wed, Nov 2, 2005, 12:45pm (EST-3) (TomWoodman)
did burble:
I need about a dozen 2" x 18" solid maple spindles. How much lathe power
(in terms of dollars) do I need to spend to turn this size stock?

I read questions like this, and they never cease to amaze me.
Phrased like this, I have no idea what the Hell you are trying to ask.

The question is rather clear: He wants a lathe but the prybar to get
the money out of his wallet is not yet in his hands, so he considers
cheapo lathes and wants the wreckers to urge him on to buy a decent
one.

about how I read it too. either that or he was asking for a pointer to
a workable cheapie.



Just the same position that I am in. Are Delta lathes comparable in
quality with similar sized JET models?

probably so. at this point I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see
jet's quality beating delta's.

consider old iron, if you can find it.

s said:

On Sat, 05 Nov 2005 20:48:12 +0100, Juergen Hannappel
wrote:

Just the same position that I am in. Are Delta lathes comparable in
quality with similar sized JET models?

probably so. at this point I wouldn't be terribly surprised to see
jet's quality beating delta's.

consider old iron, if you can find it.

FWIW, I inspected both pretty thoroughly before purchasing a Jet.
Fit / finish were better than the Delta, IMHO - at least on the midi.
It has performed flawlessly so far, and I've turned some fairly large
items - no pens or Christmas ornaments. It has an extended bed.

The motor, however, worries me a little - it emits a curious 'burnt
insulation' smell - it's also Chinese... As was the entirety of the
Delta.


Greg G.