PhoenixForger Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I know it's not metal, but i need a wood working lathe to make handles and decorative additions to my iron work. At most I think I'll be turning about two feet of wood. I'd like to know some brand names, features to look for, and a decent price range for a first lathe. Thanks in advance for all replies and critiques. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted September 5, 2011 Share Posted September 5, 2011 I rebuilt an older Rockwell/Delta 10 inch wood lathe, as the parts were still available from (now called) Delta/PortaCable. Grizzly seems like a good brand. I would not recommend Sears because I purchased a set of powertools from Sears when we purchased our first house and the Sears powertools were in my humble opinion garbage as they were poorly made and quickly fell apart. Yes, I know that the tablesaw was made by Delta, but they make/made different grades of tools, some better some not. I then replaced the table saw with a Powermatic table saw. Powermatic is a very durable brand. I have not had any problems with my Powermatic stationary tools in the over 20+ years that I have had them. If you are just making wood handles, you could also consider using a metal lathe at a slower speed. A metal lathe can turn both wood and metal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacques Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Over at www.sawmillcreek.org they have a complete section devoted to lathes. But if I were you,the metal lathe idea is a good one, even if the speed will be a bit slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brasilikilt Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I would check Ebay and your local Craigslist ads. There are lots of machines out there aimed at the hobbyist that have been produced for decades, being sold for cheap today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I picked up a craftsman lathe for a few bucks at a yard sale and it works great. Jet makes a good one but if you are not going to turn a lot I would look at. this one http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-x-33-3-8-eighth-inch-wood-lathe-with-reversible-head-34706.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Actually IIRC my high school wood shop experiences, wood is turned at a much higher speed than metal so a metal lathe can do both. There is at least one member here that does exactly that with beautiful results! On the other hand, a typical wood lathe doesn't have the power or structural strength to double as a metal lathe. Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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