(07-18-2021, 10:40 PM)Slav Jelesijevich Wrote: Hi everyone have a friend of mine that wants to get into turning. What is a good mini lathe? Space is a premiums and what is a good set of turning tools.
Thanks Slav
Hi Slav,
I have a couple of the Jet 1014 mini-lathes. I got the first one used locally off of Craigslist and got the bed extension and stand here in SnS. It was my first dedicated lathe. I liked it enough that I bought a new one for my niece. For a mini-lathe, I prefer the speed adjustment by moving the belt rather than the electronic speed control. There is so much less to go wrong.
The 1014 is a discontinued model but they come up fairly often used.
Recommending a good set of turning tools is sort of like answering the question: "I want to start woodworking. What sort of saw do I need?"
If you friend is just wanting to do spindles (and they have a way to sharpen them), then something like:
- 5/8" or 3/4" roughing gouge
- 3/8" or 1/2" fingernail spindle gouge
- 3/4" or 1" skew (traditional, not oval)
- parting tool
is a good starting set. If they buy used, stick to high-speed steel. (It is just too easy to draw the temper of high-carbon steel when sharpening on a grinder.)
If they do not want to deal with sharpening, then carbide tools are the alternative. The Easy Wood tools in the starter or mid size work well.
The Oneway Wolverine sharpening jig or equivalent is popular, but many turners swear by free-hand sharpening (including the 40* advocates).
The local AAW clubs are starting to go back to live meetings. If there is one near your friend, then they would do well to go to a meeting or 2 before buying tools. Some clubs even have loaner lathes and tools to help new turners decide if turning is for them.
more info about what your friend wants to make (to start) should get you better answers.
Ivan
