thoughts on this lathe

kola · Post by **kola** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 12:42 pm

I am shopping around for a good lathe to carve pipes. Any thoughts about this lathe would be appreciated.

http://cosprings.craigslist.org/tls/1047795008.html

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 1:45 pm

Having seen a lot of aspiring carvers come and go - and in the meantime buy thousands of dollars worth of tools that end up being sold for hundreds after being used a handful of times - I strongly suggest giving pipe making a try WITHOUT a huge tool investment right off the bat.

A pipe can be made using very simple tools, and most folks here got started with nothing more complicated than a cheap drill press. Give it a shot, if you still like doing it after a number of pipes, by all means, go for a complex mill/drill/lathe if it's going to fit into your work process.

And not knowing diddly about your skill level, I'm very uncomfortable telling whether I think you should take the leap and buy this tool or not. What I will say is that, depending on your workflow and skill level, this tool may prove useful. Past that, I have no experience with that particular brand, model, or type of tooling.

ToddJohnson · Post by **ToddJohnson** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 2:58 pm

KurtHuhn wrote:Having seen a lot of aspiring carvers come and go - and in the meantime buy thousands of dollars worth of tools that end up being sold for hundreds after being used a handful of times - I strongly suggest giving pipe making a try WITHOUT a huge tool investment right off the bat.

A pipe can be made using very simple tools, and most folks here got started with nothing more complicated than a cheap drill press. Give it a shot, if you still like doing it after a number of pipes, by all means, go for a complex mill/drill/lathe if it's going to fit into your work process.

And not knowing diddly about your skill level, I'm very uncomfortable telling whether I think you should take the leap and buy this tool or not. What I will say is that, depending on your workflow and skill level, this tool may prove useful. Past that, I have no experience with that particular brand, model, or type of tooling.

And in conjunction with all that, that particular lathe/mill combo is unsuited for most of the operations you'll need to perform as a pipemaker.

Todd

RadDavis · Post by **RadDavis** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:10 pm

It might be ok for stems, but it's too small for turning briar. You need at least a 9 inch swing. That one's 7 1/4.

Rad

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:12 pm

Good catch, Rad. I didn't notice that one.

Didn't Random use one of these things?

Jos · Post by **Jos** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:28 pm

Hi,

I agree with the pro's: it's too small. Look for a larger one, and leave away that drill press thingie - if you need one, buy one separately. Those all-in-one machines can do everything, but nothing right ...

regards, Jens

kola · Post by **kola** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 3:30 pm

Thanks guys!

I recently carved my first pipe with a coping saw and used a horse hoof file to rough it in. I then sanded it down to shape with 60 grit, by hand. I decided to change stems and redrilled for the new stem and then cracked the damn shank. But all in all I was quite happy with the pipe...except the shank is badly shaped. I left it for now as I might band it. Its only been sanded to 400 and I moistioned the briar for the two pics:

heres right after I cracked the sob:

and theres the horsehoof file I used. One side was pretty course and took off briar quickly and the other side was bit gentler. The rest of the shape was sanded down with 60 grit. I should have left it alone and went with that first stem.

kola · Post by **kola** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:50 pm

not too shabby huh?

Sasquatch · Post by **Sasquatch** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:42 pm

Given your tools, yeah. Looks like a Peterson 303 with a beer belly.

I have a jet mini lathe, and it's excellent for pipey activities, and it takes very standard component pieces (8tpi 1" threads, #2 Morse taper) It is a bit small between centers for a buffing setup (Beall's setup is 18" long) and too small to take large buffing wheels (I use the drill press for that). But for carving, it's nice.

Delta makes a very similar model, and I think so does grizzly.

If your budget is limited, and you want to get a do-it-all (but not all that well) machine, you might get by with that multi, but my guess is that it will frustrate you in terms of capacity before long. Certainly I don't keep my drill press and my lathe intermingled while I'm turning!

That thing looks built well though - at 400 pounds there's a lotta metal!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:09 am

I have a Smithy lathe/mill and I have only used the mill 4 or 5 times in the 2 years I have owned it.

http://www.smithy.com/product_image.php?f=MIDAS-1220 LR.jpg&w=500&h=531

I wish I had bought a different lathe in the beginning.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-JET-BD-920W-9-x ... .m20.l1116

Ryan

Frank · Post by **Frank** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 3:00 pm

Ryan, I have the 1220XL. Admittedly it's a nuisance having to remove the lathe chuck and switch out the tool holder for the vise when going from lathe to mill/drill, but I regularly use the mill/drill feature for both milling and drilling. This little gadget Safe-T-Planer used in the mill/drill is great for squaring up briar blocks.

Just an added note to those who think the mill/drill gets in the way when using the lathe, the mill/drill head swings through 360 deg, so I just rotate it 90 deg out of the way.

I would certainly love to have a seperate lathe and mill, British or American made, but sometimes we have to get what we can afford.

Kola, I agree with the other guys. Don't waste your money on that small model.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:35 pm

I did rotate it 180, and the fact that shape and then drill has helped. There is no need for me to square blocks anymore.

I really don't like this lathe.

I should have bought the Jet.

Ryan