Lathe blanks and stuff

Morning All,
I've finally got my dads lathe set up, I dropped lucky when they were downsizing
I was tempted to build a full bench for it but as I'm only starting out I thought I'd do a temporary solution to get me up and running first.

I mounted the lathe to a board with a batten running the length of it (not trimmed to size yet) that I can slot into my workmate to give me a somewhat portable construction.


Been setting my dads lathe up this evening. Pretty cool! by iBrettnet, on Flickr

It looks like it (and actually) was, set up in a matter of minutes, I hadn't planned to do it but I'd brought the drill driver home from work so decided to have a play and it ended up with it all going and a handy branch being put into sacrificial service.


Been setting my dads lathe up this evening. Pretty cool! by iBrettnet, on Flickr

Greener than it should be, it's only been in there around a month. I wasn't expecting it to be great, just something I didn't mind ruining. The tools probably need a little TLC to get them back to their best but that should be half the fun.

Anyway, my question is, where do I get spindle blanks (not sure if that is the right term because they aren't full length spindles I wanna make, I just want something I can secure at both ends to practise on. My dad gave me quite a few bowl blanks but nothing with any length.

[Wideboy]

Find your local joiners shops and go ask them for offcuts. Tell them what you want them for with a rough size and you'll more than likely get them for free as this sort of timber always get thrown out or chucked in the burner.

The people that sell it do exactly that and then charge a fortune for it. I know because reclamation yards are constantly coming round here doing the same. Usually if you can get the point across that your a hobby'ist they'll hand it to you but if they suspect your in reclamation you'll get told no

[yorkie_chris]

I'd get it on something bigger than a workmate or at least sling a couple of sandbags on the feet of it... any chatter and it might chase you round the garden!

Cool, cracking tip there wideboy, thanks for that!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I'd get it on something bigger than a workmate or at least sling a couple of sandbags on the feet of it... any chatter and it might chase you round the garden!

whoa whoa whoa, since when have YOU worried about laws (specifically those of physics in this case!)

Valid tip though, I'm being gentle with it and only moving the speed up when its closer to balanced. I'll see if I can find something to help weight it down. Where the heck does one GET sand bags? (besides the local councils roadwork signs)

[yorkie_chris]

I dunno mate I suppose you could use any sort of bag and fill it with sand?

Well now you're just being sensible, I've come to expect better of you

thanks though

if you plan on greenwood work, like the branch you are using, you need to get a horse and a couple of tools to take the bark off before you turn it or the chisels will go blunt before you know it..!

enjoy, I love turning wood

As Chris says, you need that lathe rock solid really, especially for fine work as it will rock all over the place.

When I had mine set up in my garage I welded up 2 inch box section wall brackets, that thing was solider than a solid thing.

I used to buy bowl blanks online from axminster tools, some exotic woods are available.

[BoltonSte]

Originally Posted by Brettus

whoa whoa whoa, since when have YOU worried about laws (specifically those of physics in this case!)

Valid tip though, I'm being gentle with it and only moving the speed up when its closer to balanced. I'll see if I can find something to help weight it down. Where the heck does one GET sand bags? (besides the local councils roadwork signs)

Pillowcases?

Got any the other half bought that yo don't like?