Beginning turner

[CLETUS]

I've been letting my boy get some experience on a little Taig lathe I picked up a few years back. My background is as machinist, I'm fine with teaching him how to operate it as a machinist. I don't know much about wood turning. It looks like there is enough room to make some pens?

What tools?
What kits?
What tips?
Anyone have a starter set they'd like to part with?

[Arlin Eastman]

I've been letting my boy get some experience on a little Taig lathe I picked up a few years back. My background is as machinist, I'm fine with teaching him how to operate it as a machinist. I don't know much about wood turning. It looks like there is enough room to make some pens?

What tools?
What kits?
What tips?
Anyone have a starter set they'd like to part with?

PM sent

[Rodneywt1180b]

Way to start him young!  Figure on clearing a spot in your shop for a bigger lathe and more tools.

[Wildwood]

Lot of good information found here: http://www.penturners.org/forum/

Not sure your Taig lathe best one for turning pens but certainly doable with cutters for that lathe.

How you would fashion a tool rest base & tool rest for that lathe not so sure about.

Maybe if look over some pen kits and read instructions for kits that interest you guys night be able to figure out what you need.

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/pen-kits.html

https://www.bereahardwoods.com/Merchant5...creen=SRCH

https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/

If decide might want an entry level wood lathe this might fit the bill. All of the other links also sell lathes & tools too!

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-speed-be...65345.html

These inexpensive tools not bad for learning to turn and sharpen tools.

https://www.harborfreight.com/profession...69723.html

[CLETUS]

Lot of good information found here:  http://www.penturners.org/forum/

Not sure your Taig lathe best one for turning pens but certainly doable with cutters for that lathe.

How you would fashion a tool rest base & tool rest for that lathe not so sure about.  

Maybe if look over some pen kits and read instructions for kits that interest you guys night be able to figure out what you need.

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/pen-kits.html

https://www.bereahardwoods.com/Merchant5...creen=SRCH

https://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/

If decide might want an entry level wood lathe this might fit the bill.  All of the other links also sell lathes & tools too!

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-speed-be...65345.html

These inexpensive tools not bad for learning to turn and sharpen tools.

https://www.harborfreight.com/profession...69723.html

Thanks for the info. You guys have given me plenty to read up on! They do sell a tool rest for this lathe for $25. I figured that and some chisels and he can start making chips. If he enjoys it, we can definitely upgrade.

[MichaelMouse]

Thanks for the info. You guys have given me plenty to read up on! They do sell a tool rest for this lathe for $25. I figured that and some chisels and he can start making chips. If he enjoys it, we can definitely upgrade.

No problem making pens like a machinist on that lathe designed for machining.  Just need the bits and mandrels.  

Not enough there to really work with a rest and hand-held tools.  Check the area for someone with a lathe and a spare couple hours to learn why.

[Stwood_]

Fashion some kind of safety guard that sits next to that flying chuck. It will keep the palm of your hand out of it.

[Timberwolf]

I've been letting my boy get some experience on a little Taig lathe I picked up a few years back. My background is as machinist, I'm fine with teaching him how to operate it as a machinist. I don't know much about wood turning. It looks like there is enough room to make some pens?

What tools?
What kits?
What tips?
Anyone have a starter set they'd like to part with?

,,,,,,,,,,
That Taig is a great little machine..especially for the boys to learn on...I have a new one in my spare closet used one time for five minutes.
..Also a Sherline and two Unimats, one with power feed...too many lathes and not enough time.......

[Rod Torgeson]

Thanks for the info. You guys have given me plenty to read up on! They do sell a tool rest for this lathe for $25. I figured that and some chisels and he can start making chips. If he enjoys it, we can definitely upgrade.

Cletus, if you think about upgrading, I would recommend a lathe with variable speed. I have a Carba-Tech lathe from Penn State that I got around the mid-nineties and it still is in use today. They don't make the Carba-Tech anymore. I thought I had problem with the tool rest awhile back and bought a Nova mini. It is still in the box after I fixed the problem with the Carba-Tech. I have made well over 3,000 pens with the Carba-Tech. The variable speed comes in handy when you go from turning(high speed) to applying the finish(low speed) then back to polishing. At least it is handy for me. As was mentioned before Penn State has some starter kits.

[crokett™]

If he gets any kind of serious, PM me an address, I will send some blanks. In additon to the tools hes going to need

bushings (unless he wants to stop and check size often)
mandrel, more convenient than turning between centers
various drill bits to drill the blanks to glue in the tubes
barrel trimmer, or some way to square the ends of the blanks to the tubes
I have a vise that sits on my drill press that holds blanks vertically. it makes things easier, but is not required
a press to assemble the pen when its done. I have a HF 1 ton special.