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The author's Oneway lathe is her pride and joy. It's a 2436, which means that it can turn a faceplate-mounted piece of wood that's 24" in diameter and can handle spindles 36" long. Whichever lathe you choose, the spindle should be elbow height for maximum comfort.
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I want to share some general information about lathes in order to answer questions you may not even know you have. For those of you who don't yet own a lathe, this will help guide you in a positive direction with your purchase. The main point to remember is to go ahead and buy a lathe. Don't be afraid to take the plunge: your first lathe will train you. Besides, most of us will have owned, at the very least, two lathes in our lifetimes. The first lathe is often a "starter" lathe; the second one is the one
we won't share with others.
Counting the Cost
My current lathe, a Oneway 2436, cost more than the car I owned at the time. Six years ago, following my own advice, I bought the best lathe I could afford. The $6,000 I paid has been worth every penny in enjoyment and satisfaction. It fits my needs, it has abundant capacity for me to increase the size of my turnings, and it's a top quality machine.
Twenty-two years before that, the $1,500 I paid for my first lathe (a Hegner spindle lathe) seemed expensive. I happily used it extensively. At the time it was a good lathe for me. I finally outgrew it one or two years before I acquired my Oneway.
Lathes are priced from a few hundred dollars to over seven thousand dollars and more. You get what you pay for. More expensive lathes are heavier, they run true, and they are machined so that the parts work and move easily. They are equipped with a larger spindle size, which means they can handle large chunks of wood with relative ease. Buy the best lathe you can afford. Within your price range, try out different brands. It's sort of like deciding whether you like to drive a Ford or a Chevy. My guess is whatever you get, you will be thrilled to have.
Needs, Abilities and Interests
Lathes are fairly straightforward machines. There's not much that can go wrong with them, and what does wear out or break is easily fixed or replaced. If you are handy with fixing and restoring machines, consider buying a used lathe. With the growing interest in woodturning, many turners have purchased new lathes, leaving their old ones for sale. When you unburden them of these relics, they are then guilt-free to purchase yet another shiny new model! You're doing them and the economy a huge favor.
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| The location of the controls is one consideration to keep in mind. Some lathes, like the author's, have a moveable control panel. |
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| The author's 21-year-old son, Sam, completes his first bowl. Family has its privileges: he got to start turning on a Cadillac rather than a Kia. |
If you are going to turn only small items, consider buying a miniature lathe. They are inexpensive and can be mounted on a workbench. These lathes are wonderful for people who travel and want to take their lathe with them. They are also nice for turners who need to sit down while turning. Years ago, when I traveled with a woodworking show, I would put a miniature Klein lathe, a few tools and some wood into a plastic tub. Upon arriving, I would unpack, plug in, and start turning. I even christened several hotel rooms with shavings that escaped the sheet I had placed on the floor. (I recommend leaving a large tip for housekeeping.)
Some turners prefer to make only bowls. If this is the case for you, buy a bowl-turning lathe. One large-capacity bowl-turning lathe has a 2" diameter spindle. That's heavy-duty for sure!
If spindles are what you will be making, you will want to make sure that the point of the live center in the tailstock lines up with the point that's in the drive center. If it doesn't, your turnings will be compromised. While you are in the woodworking supply store, check out the quality of different models of lathes by lining up the tailstock center with the drive center. That's often a sign of the quality of manufacturing.
Most of us want a lathe that will turn bowls and spindles. Fortunately, most lathes on the market are designed to do both quite nicely. Consider the size of work you want to make, then shop around accordingly. It may be that a midi-lathe - larger than a mini-lathe and smaller than a regular size - is right for you.
If you can afford it, buy a lathe with a variable-speed control. I had to change speeds on my first lathe by changing the belt on the pulley. The range of speeds was limited. As a result, I could turn only smaller-scale bowls; the slowest speed available was 800 RPM. If you are going to turn large bowls, you will definitely need infinite control on the speed, as you will sometimes need to start out at only a few RPM. For older lathes, variable-speed conversion kits are available.
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| Lathes come in all sizes, from the miniature Klein to the "maxi" Oneway, to meet various needs. If you're interested in woodturning, our author says it's time to "jump into the game!" |
For woodturners with bad backs, several lathes on the market have swivel heads. This allows a person to turn the inside of a bowl without leaning over the bed of the lathe. There are stability considerations with this setup, but for medium- and small-scale turning, it's fine. Another option for someone who has back problems is to buy a bowl lathe. The beds of these are short, which means that the turner can stand at the end of the bed of the lathe and turn from there.
The height of a lathe is important, especially if you do a lot of turning. In general, the height of the lathe should be so that your elbow is at the same height as the spindle. Mine is a bit high, but I prefer that to having a lathe that is too short. I can always stand on a platform when I am turning for days at a time.
Quality Considerations
If you need stability in a lathe, look for one that has at least a 1" diameter spindle. The spindle shaft is where most of the vibration gets transferred to other parts of the lathe. Stability there is important. A lathe with a 3/4" diameter spindle is fine for smaller work, but if you are making large bowls, you'll want at least a 1" diameter spindle.
The stand for the lathe is important. A lightweight stand will allow more vibration. Up to a point, weight can be added to these lighter weight models. The limiting factor is the weight of the material the stand is made from. Lightweight metal stands are intended for smaller-size turnings. They will twist with heavy, out-of-round turnings, even if weighted down.
Heavy-duty machines are designed with legs that are splayed on the headstock end for greater stability. For some turners, these splayed legs are an obstacle, especially when combined with a solid, thick stand. If this is a consideration for you, be sure to try out the lathe you are considering purchasing. You don't want to be tripping over the legs of your lathe.
Accessories
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| Most lathes are outfitted with the basic set of accessories you will need to get started. Acquire more as your skill increases. |
Most lathes come with a faceplate, a toolrest, a drive center, a tailstock center and whatever wrenches and implements you need for removing the drive center and faceplates. To begin with, that's all you will need, so stop there. After turning for a while, you will figure out what else you will need.
Some lathes come with a control panel that you can move. Those are handy. But a word of caution: those of us with short memories might have a problem reaching for the off switch in a hurry!
Setting Up Your Lathe
When you set up your new lathe, try to put it in an area of your shop where there is plenty of light. Add light fixtures if you are in a dark corner. It continues to amaze me to discover so many turners who are working in the dark! I believe it must have been a gradual event. Their younger eyes didn't need as much light, but as they aged and required more light, somehow they haven't added the wattage. I use full-spectrum fluorescent light bulbs. Sure, you might break a bulb when a bowl comes flying off the lathe, but perhaps the bowl would not have flown off the lathe if you had enough light!
If you need stability in your lathe, then bolt it to the floor, especially if your floor is uneven. Some lathes come with leveling bolts, helpful for setting up a lathe on uneven floors. Some turners have limited space, so the ability to move their lathe is important.
Shop around. Most woodworking stores have demonstration lathes. Try them out. When you buy a new car, I'll bet you test drive it before you buy it. You should do that with whatever lathe you purchase! Drive safely.