Early Access Video: Your First Project on the Lathe
Added 2022-04-16 11:01:01 +0000 UTCFriends:
I know a lot of people have a lathe....and a lot of those people still haven't turned anything. Let's fix that.
This week's video is an absolute beginner, quick-start guide to your first turning project. We've started from ground zero and made a video that anyone can use to get going now.
Oh, and the carbide tools in this video are garbage. I hate them and I'm not giving out the link. I'll buy some better ones for a future video.
One last thanks to everyone who supported the launch of the Handtool Hero and Compass Rose Toolworks. Thanks to you all, we are nearly sold out! I'll have to order more before I can even mention Compass Rose to the wider world.
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
I finally got a Midi lathe and am trying to rehome my mini (8x12) lathe. With just a little grinding and filing you can make your own carbide tools and turn the handles on your own lathe (I built the M2 gouge you put in an earlier lathe-working video and it is going great!)
ERIK OLSEN
2022-04-21 22:03:31 +0000 UTCNice job, Don't own a lathe and doubt that my wife will ever allow it. So it's just windowshopping for me. Also nice job on landing Marc Spagnolo for your workbench sessions. He was actually the first YouTube woodworker I ever followed and who got me hooked. That is, untill he hid the in dept videos behind a paywall. That's when I signed off. Luckily there are other woodworkers on YouTube. And I follow a few of them on and off. You are currently the only one that's on my permanent watchlist.
Frans van Ballegooijen
2022-04-21 19:57:29 +0000 UTCHey Rex, I really enjoyed this video, as I'm about to start diving into the lathe I just inherited from my father. He had a ShopSmith since the 70's and I used to love watching him turn things on it. One thing I'm curious about is, how does sharpening traditional lathe gouge chisels differe from more standard flat chisels? I would like to use his original set of chisels, but they could definitely use some clean-up work. Do you have any good advice on these differently-shaped chisels? Thanks!
Brandon Daggerhart
2022-04-21 00:18:03 +0000 UTCI am definitely making one of those foot massagers ASAP!
Nic Beurskens
2022-04-19 23:38:45 +0000 UTCGreat beginner tutorial Rex. Thank you. Got my Handtool Hero today and it is a beauty. Thank you for creating your new endeavor. Take care and carry on.
Matt Evans-Koch
2022-04-17 02:32:49 +0000 UTCIn high school the lathe was my favorite tool. I made cups, candlesticks, and other goodies with the lathe. My teacher would never allow us to make bowls. My first project on my own lathe was of course a bowl.
Skully Wood and Metal
2022-04-16 18:32:28 +0000 UTCFantastic, and timely! I have been working on building out my shop with the goal of spinning up the old 1970's lathe that a neighbor gave me about two years ago. Just this week, I finished wiring up the motor and gave it power for the first time, and it spins! I still haven't put chisel to wood, yet, as I need to do a few more adjustments, but this is inspiring, and shows me the next steps on the path. That bit about the parallel belts on the different pulleys was also very useful. My old lathe has three pulleys, but the motor that I bought just has one, and I was puzzling over the misfit of the belt if you tried to put it at an angle. It quickly derails just when spinning it by hand, so I dare not try it at speed, but I see now that I need to purchase a compound pulley for the motor shaft. Thanks again, Rex!
Patrick Salsbury
2022-04-16 17:09:40 +0000 UTCNice video for beginners. One thing that was not mentioned was to turn down the rpms when sanding/finishing after the high speed spindle turning.
Rick Prosser
2022-04-16 15:22:14 +0000 UTCI've turned a few things, not much, and I could sure use to know more about turning.
Michael Kahn
2022-04-16 15:17:25 +0000 UTCGlad to see you promoting yourself more.
Benjamin Fouty
2022-04-16 14:38:42 +0000 UTCWhat happened to making a spring pole lathe? I was really hoping to see how you'd make one.
Jennessa Lynam
2022-04-16 14:22:03 +0000 UTCJust bought a used lathe and this video couldn’t have come at a better time.
Thrifty Woodworker
2022-04-16 14:21:45 +0000 UTCRex, great video for beginners. I'm just getting comfortable with my midi lathe and this looks like a good project to practice with. Something you may have already considered is making your own carbide tools. I did that using some cutters I bought on Amazon, some 1/2" bar stock from the local hardware store, a set of drill bits and taps and a file and angle grinder to shape the ends. I turned a handle that I can pop the bar for each kind of cutter into to save space. The carbide set works great, though I'm also leaning to use high speed steel tools as well.
Hal Songer
2022-04-16 12:29:35 +0000 UTC
