Wood Turning lathe

[Bluepete]

I've been toying with the idea of buying myself a wood turning lathe for years. A few months ago, we went to Tabley Game Fair in Cheshire where I met a guy making pens on a lathe. we got chatting, and I suppose the idea was re-ignited.

I looked at several manufacturers, but ended up going for an Axminster Tools Centre model. They're made by Jet, and are very good value and sturdy, cast iron construction.

The choice of tools was more difficult! There are as many wood turning tools as there are raindrops in the sky over my house at the moment. Robert Sorby from Sheffield was the pick, so a razz across the peaks to their shop became an expensive trip! However, they are top quality and will last forever.

I've had no lessons, only watched YouTube videos from a guy in America who is really easy-going and explains everything.

I've got the kit to make bowls and pens, which are really special! You buy a pen kit and either a wood or acrylic blank. The blank is turned to the required shape - the only bit that HAS to be a certain size is the ends, the middles can be as wide or slim as you want.

When finished in beeswax, the bowls really shine. These are my first two attempts.

1; American Walnut.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/AmericanWalnutbowl.jpg


2; African Blackwood.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/AfricanBlackwoodbowl.jpg


The pens are very satisfying to make and use. The kits are very high quality and look superb!

3; First Pen.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/TwistPen.jpg

4; Same kit as above with Malachite acrylic.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/TwistPenmalachite.jpg

5; Same kit again, this time with a blue glitter acrylic.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/TwistPenblueacrylic.jpg

6; Ballpoint twist top in Oak. This is finished with six layers of superglue polished up to a 12000 grit finish.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/RoundTopPenAmericanOak.jpg

And my favourite so far, a Gold and Rhodium fountain pen in American Burl. Finished with Beeswax, it has a silk finish and the smell of the wood comes out as you warm it in use.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk24/conker51/FlatTopFountainpenAmericanBurl.jpg

Overall, I'm quite pleased with the results. If anyone wants a pen making, PM me and we'll sort something out!

Pete ;)

[Wideboy]

i like that fountain pen, nice work pete!

[Paul the 6th]

Bloody hell pete. A*. Absolutely outstanding work buddy - would be interested in this sort of thing for gifts..

Actually a mate of mine turns 51 this Saturday, how much for a fountain pen?

[dizzyblonde]

OOOOO Pete, thems super special.:cool:

I like the bowls, really artsy crafty, I'd have some of them off you. Or the pens.....


The fella who just built my shed has a turning laithe and other such wood p0rn, apparently a wood hobby is addictive, before you know it you'll be making bunkbeds and sheds :-s

[Bluepete]

Cheers Paul. That fountain pen would be about £30 with that wood. I can get Glenfiddich cast wood that smells of whiskey but it would be a bit more. The acrylics are about the same cost as the burl wood shown.

Pete ;)

[Paul the 6th]

brilliant cheers pete I'll check my finances and get back to you :)

[yorkie_chris]

Those look great!

I really like woodwork but always done more metal. Got some chunks of lignum vitae about that will make some cracking knife grips... when I get round to it...


Metal lathe next :)

[Specialone]

I used to do a fair bit myself, mainly baseball bats for 'friends' :)
I still have my ash one I made at college in the late 80's :)

I'm actually selling my Clarke 36" lathe really cheap if anyone is interested, I haven't got room or the time these days, so it's being sold.

Nice work that pete, I will get back in to one day with some top kit (it makes a big difference).

Axminster sell exotic wood blanks for bowls quite cheap, this is what I used to use.

[Bibio]

aahhhh i now know where to go to get real seats done.. Pete did i ever tell you that your wonderful :-)

[missyburd]

Woweee, fantastic work Pete! Those bowls are stunning and those pens, well, you don't have to worry about presents for folk for a good couple of years now do you? Superb, very impressed indeed, you dark horse :D

Roughly how long does it take you to produce a bowl/pen?

[Sir Trev]

I have deliberately not bought a lathe as I just know I'd end up remortgaging the house to buy nice wood blanks to make things like that. Look great Pete.

[Bluepete]

Cheers guys!

The bowls take me about two hours, a simple acrylic pen about two hours and a superglue finished and polished wood pen can take up to four hours.

Time flies when you're having fun!

Pete ;)

[dizzyblonde]

They look to be worth every minute, and every penny.
Peg was saying they reminded him of the Mont blanc pens.........quality costs ;)

[tactcom7]

Amazing stuff Pete, looked at the pics before i read the post and i thought they were all professionally done. The photos are pretty great too. Could you photo the pen on a slab of wood it is made from or would it all blend in too much?

God i want to try this so badly now.

[tactcom7]

I've got wood
*chortles*

[missyburd]

Time flies when you're having fun!

Pete ;)
It certainly does! Not sure how fun it will be when now you'll be in demand though :cool::p

[Wideboy]

I wouldn't like to use wenge if your planning on using the bowl for edible things, the natural oils in it are an irritant

I like wenge, its on of my fav timbers. I turned a nightstick a while ago out of wenge weighs a ton. Made a guitar (ornamental) and my all living room furniture out of it aswell, just annoying that it blunts your tools so quick.

[tactcom7]

Have you any pics Gav?

[Wideboy]

Not on me, the guitar is on my profile and I used wenge for the black squares on some chessboards I made a while ago (also on there) but sold them now.

I had the same lathe as specialone but i sold mine about 3 weeks ago as I didnt use it and it was just taking up space. Will probably regret it

I think you should make a fountain pen out of wenge Pete, that would look awesome

[hindle8907]

impressive !

[Sid Squid]

Lovely work, I like wooden bowls and I have a couple made by my friend Rob, (also now an SV owner).

He has a different way of working using a springy tree or branch and no electricity, watch a video here: Click me. (http://www.robin-wood.co.uk/makingbowls2.htm)

[Bluepete]

Sid, that guy is brilliant! I've had a go at that sort of turning and it's feckin' hard work!

There's a guy near where we're on holiday in a few weeks in Dorset who does similar work. Guess who's going for a look-see?

Pete ;)

[sv_rory]

My dad is a cabinet maker by trade and builds antique furniture. some stuff that I've seen turned on a lathe is incredible!

[SoulKiss]

My dad is a cabinet maker by trade and builds antique furniture. some stuff that I've seen turned on a lathe is incredible!

Shouldn't that be "Antique-style" Furniture.

Unless he has a time machine - in which case can you ask him if I can borrow it :P

[sv_rory]

i should of said he does antique furniture restoration and makes new cabinets etc lol

my bad, that's what happens when you go on forums straight after the pub lol

[Quiff Wichard]

Pete
Very good
Give it a week and itll be under the kitchen sink next to the breville andthe soda stream