My First Lathe

[butzla]

New to woodturning.....I took a class a few years back at our local center for crafts...loved it, always wanted to get a lathe but never got around to it.  When my wife asked me what I wanted for my 50th, it didn't take me too long to think.  And when I heard about Powermatic's  great Black Friday discount, we pulled the trigger on a 3520b.  Is it overkill for a first lathe?  For sure.  But I know my fellow Festooligans here can appreciate overkill, right?  So when I got home from work today,  I was surprised with this rather large crate in my garage.   Almost 700 lbs.  it'll be a most interesting weekend while figuring out how to uncrate it and get it into my shop.
Side note"  I bought it at Nevins Machinery Concepts in MA and got a great price but not only that even better service.  Todd Nevin's returned all my calls and emails within literally 5 minutes,  and received the lathe at lightning speed.  Free liftgate service no less.  Can't say enough about Nevins  Nevins Machinery Concepts

 

[copcarcollector]

Right on! You will have a blast with that beast--- hope you have some help to set it up, I used a forklift setting up my large Grizzly lathe.

Do you have any turning tools yet? What brand? I am a super-newbie at the lathe, I bought the Easy Wood Tools as I did not want to have to sharpen!

Have fun---- 

 

[davee]

Nice - you didn't overkill, just right.

 

[leer]

Nice choice for your first lathe.  You should be able to use that for quite awhile before you need to upgrade ...  [wink]

 

[butzla]

Right on! You will have a blast with that beast--- hope you have some help to set it up, I used a forklift setting up my large Grizzly lathe.

Have fun---- 

My brother was kind enough to treat me for my 50th three EWT's,  rougher, finisher and detailer.  He is a turner and loves them.  I took a woodturning course a while back and the instructor helped me get some good starter tools.  I have a nice Baldor grinder, would like to get a good chuck for bowl turning.  Advice is welcome

 

[SittingElf]

I also ordered the "Mustard Monster" during the Black Friday sale. $600 off!!

I had been planning to buy Laguna's new larger Revo lathe which was coming with a 3HP DC motor. I was pretty much settled on it. Then my Laguna rep sent me an email that they had gone back to a VAC motor due to issues with the DC.  The DC motor had been one of the primary reasons for my initial decision.

I told my rep I wanted to think on it for a few days, and low and behold, Powermatic announced the Black Friday sale at just the right time!! It had been the second choice for me behind the Laguna...all in line with my "Lifelong Tools" plan for my shop. So....for $3399, free shipping, and 20% off accessories from which I also bought the 18" extension, I ordered from Sean at ToolNut, and my new (and first) lathe is being delivered on Monday! [big grin]

I decided to use the $500 deposit I had on account with Laguna for the big Revo, and spent it on the new Laguna 10-16 Mini-Revo that I plan to use for very small projects. Mostly for fun!

I plan on purchasing the EasyWay Tools as well as their EasyWay Chuck system when I get back in March from Nigeria. In the meantime, I purchased some starter sets of gouges from Peachtree via Amazon to get me started. I also purchased a 60 and 100 grit white Norton wheels for my grinder, and a new sharpening system recently released to compete with Oneway's at a much lower price from Hartville Tools....SharpFast System

Two big machines this week!  My Hammer A3-41 is being delivered between 10AM and 2 PM today as well! [thumbs up]

 

[butzla]

Congrats to you too, SittingElf!  I was trying to work with Sean on the sale but ultimately, he couldn't touch the price I got from Nevin's.

 

[Kev]

I bet those trees in the third picture start slowly disappearing now ... [wink]

 

[SittingElf]

Congrats to you too, SittingElf!  I was trying to work with Sean on the sale but ultimately, he couldn't touch the price I got from Nevin's.

Which was what, if I may ask?  Just curious. I have no issues with the price I paid which ended up significantly lower than what I was going to pay for the Laguna.

 

[butzla]

Price to low to advertise.  PM sent. 

 

[davee]

I use the Supernova as my primary chuck.  It is an excellent product.  I recommend the Wolverine sharpening jig for bowl gouges in particular.  I found that having a vacuum chuck for finishing the bottoms makes life much easier.  I have, and occasionally use, a manual chuck that holds the outside edge of the almost finished bowl to finish the bottom, but it is nowhere as convenient or solidly mounted as the vacuum chuck (unless one loses power).

 

[butzla]

I used my other green friend to help me lift it off the pallet and install the legs.  I lifted it just enough so I could slide each leg under it and install the bolts.  The bed weighs 210 # and the legs are 89 # a piece.  Was able to do it all by myself.  Only on a Deere!