Wood or Metal Turning Lathe?

[Buzz J]

OK, I've got the turning bug bad & I'm doing the research.

 

I'd like to be able to turn metal parts as well, but I wonder about the draw backs (if any) of a metal turning lathe.

 

I've a small workshop and small budget as well, so I only get one shot.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

 

John

 

 

[richardandtracy]

...I'd like to be able to turn metal parts as well, but I wonder about the draw backs (if any) of a metal turning lathe.I've a small workshop and small budget as well, so I only get one shot...

If you want to turn metal on a wood lathe you won't live to regret it. Well, not for long anyway...

 

That's overstating the position a little for a cheap joke. The forces involved in metal turning are very large in comparison to woodworking. A woodworking lathe will bend and deform as a result and you'll be hard pressed to get any reasonable level of accuracy from it even when using small cuts. The amateur metalworking lathes from the 1890's were really what we would call 'woodworking' lathes these days. There was no real tool holding toolpost and all cuts were made with hand held tools. This is requires a great level of skill to do properly, and in the hands of someone who is learning, the chance of injury is quite high. I know I cannot turn metal with hand held tools.

 

Now, for turning wood on a metal lathe, there are also problems. Firstly the spindle doesn't usually go fast enough. The lathe is much more expensive than a wood lathe, so you end up with a much smaller lathe for your money. If you have a lathe, will you only turn pens? I suspect not - turning is a skill you'll want to expand.

Second problem - you need a different set of tools to turn wood compared to metal. The toolpost will have to be removed and another support put in place. And hand tools used. I've tried to turn wood with carbide insert metalworking tools. It was a dead loss!

 

So, what do I recommend?

Tricky one. If you have a metalworking lathe you can make a woodworking lathe with the help of books from http://www.lindsaybks.com/ and http://www.camdenmin.co.uk/ (no relation, just a happy customer).

Are you going to regret not being able to turn metal? If so, get a metalworking lathe and use it to make a big woodwork dedicated lathe. Else, buy as big a woodworking lathe as you can afford.

 

I have a metal lathe and no plans to build a woodworking lathe. Yet. I am going to make a fancy router box though, so fancy it'll almost be a lathe - but one where I can do fluting and twists on the timber as well as doing router based turning.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

Edited October 4, 2007 by richardandtracy

[bgray]

//Now, for turning wood on a metal lathe, there are also problems. Firstly the spindle doesn't usually go fast enough.//

 

I'm not sure that I agree with that. Most metal lathes will go up to 2000 rpm, and that's plenty for turning wood. Now of course, those HUGE floorstanding engine lathes are limited to lower rpms, but I think that you are looking into a benchtop lathe, right? Most benchtop lathes will exceed 2000 rpms. Just my respectful 2 cents.

 

I'm not sure that I can recommend either one alone. I need both. Most penturners use wood lathes, but they can run into limitations when you try to get beyond kits and wish to cut threads or machine something harder than soft metal, etc.

 

If you do turn wood on a metal lathe, you really need to be diligent with dust and shavings. Always clean them up. They can get into the change gears and foul things up, also soaking up the lubrication that is necessary for a metal lathe.

 

If you plan on only doing wood, and you're positive that you won't desire anything more, then a wood lathe will be fine, and will start around $300 and then accessories.

 

It's really tough to say...I have four lathes...two metal and two wood, and I need each one of them!

 

There's a reason that they make wood lathes and metal lathes. It's a pain to turn wood on a metal lathe, and it's a pain and many times impossible to turn metal on a wood lathe!

Edited October 4, 2007 by bgray

[richardandtracy]

//Now, for turning wood on a metal lathe, there are also problems. Firstly the spindle doesn't usually go fast enough.//

I'm too much of a coward to do it, but recommended turning speeds for timber in the 10-15mm diameter range is between 5 & 6000 rpm. It will work at much slower speeds though, I agree.

I have a 12 x 20 combi lathe/mill. The 5" chuck will go up to 1600 rpm, but it frightens me at that speed (if nothing else, I hate the way the lights dim as I turn the motor on), so I usually use 1000 rpm as my max. Unfortunately the mill is also limited to that speed, which isn't high enough for the 6mm diameter disposable HSS cutters.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Buzz J]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a bit more deliberations are due, but sounds like I'll start with the wood lathe and add a metal as life allows.

 

John

[Ruaidhri]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a bit more deliberations are due, but sounds like I'll start with the wood lathe and add a metal as life allows.

 

John

 

John,

 

Just dropped in for a minute - I'll pop in some more info this evening that may be of use.

 

Cheers,

Ruaidhrí

 

[Ruaidhri]

John,

 

Here are a few licks that may help -

 

Metal Lathes Lathes.co.uk - check out 'Lathe Buying Advice' near top of page. Huge site, loads of info. Here

Wood Lathes Irish Woodturners Guild (you'll find links under resources - happy hunting) Here

The weird stuff - Society of Ornamental Turners Here

 

I started with a smallish (36", 4.5" centre) wood lathe, back when the Earth was still flat. Lasted me for years. Cheap & cheerful little Record machine (solid cast headstock, steady as a rock). Did for bowls up to 9" (fraction under) and fine for pens.

Moved to a Record No 3 (with Variable speed unit and many, many add-ons/mods). Fine machine - swivel the headstock & I can swing up to around 32" diameters. Can still do pens (and much smaller) without any trouble at all.

Picked up a Carbatec sometime ago, sweet little thing and nicely made. Well priced.

 

For metal I use a Myford Super 7, without the gearbox (for OT stuff it's nicer to be able to choose one's own gear changes). Very solid machine, but not cheap (by my standards). Lovely thing to work on.

 

For most wood purposes I use the big Record. You would be surprised what you can do on an ordinary wood lathe with a bit of ingenuity

Threading can be done by hand with chasers (mine range from 8TPI to 36 TPI) but takes a lot of practice. Multi-starts are not practical by hand (but not impossible). In small sizes I regularly turn metals (mainly brass, aluminium, BMS) by hand - just very carefully and using the head!!

 

For serious metal working the Myford is my sweetheart

 

 

Whatever way you go - READ STUFF FIRST

Lots of stuff.

Then talk to turners.

 

Best of luck,

Ruaidhrí

 

Note - While most turners will have varying opinions, they will all agree (I believe) that turning is one of the most relaxing, satisfying things you can do.

[Buzz J]

Ruaidhri,

Thanks for the links & info.

Looks like tons of good stuff there.

John

[richardandtracy]

Note - While most turners will have varying opinions, they will all agree (I believe) that turning is one of the most relaxing, satisfying things you can do.

Absolutely. If I'm stressed etc I nip off to the workshop & make something. There is nothing like the concentration required for a lathe to clear your mind of all other little niggles.

 

Regards

 

Richard.

 

[Penturner]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a bit more deliberations are due, but sounds like I'll start with the wood lathe and add a metal as life allows.

 

John

 

John,

I own two wood lathes and a machine lathe. The small wood lathe is for small turrnings, the large is for large turnings (obviously). I use the small machine lathe Machine Lathe that I use mostly for pen turning support. Its the newest of my toys, so I'm still learning to use it. It has a maximum speed of 3000 rpm. More than enough for wood turning. However, anything other than a perfectly straight barrel becomes difficult on an inexpensive lathe. For more information regarding benchtop machine lathes go to Little Machine Shop If you are going to replace the machine toolpost with a wood lathe style tool rest, why bother? Second, I have a small JET that I use for all my pen work. Another good lathe for small work is the RIKON

 

Each of these cost about $300.00. Add accessories and cutting tools $100.00.

Now you're ready to turn

 

With a wood lathe, you can more easily control the finished shape of the pen body, from a relatively straight barrel to gentle curves, to elaborate bead & cove shaping.

 

Whichever way you decide to go, allow for a significant learning curve. Take lessons if you can find them, it will shorten the initial learning curve significantly.

 

Finally to another consuming hobby. Think you have enough pens yet? Wait until you start collecting kits, wood tools, etc :roflmho:

 

 

And finally,

 

[tackyrama]

Definitely go with the metal lathe. You can do both wood or metal. I am a machinist/toolmaker by trade. Turning wood on a metal lathe will eventually gum up the works if you don't keep it clean but you do have the potential for both. I have a imported bench top lathe from China that can do nearly all the work a big lathe can do but on a much smaller scale. I have all the rpms and power I need for working on my pens. I got mine for just over $400.00. I can do threads, turning, boring - change to a four jaw chuck it needed. I can't think offhand of an operation I can't do that a big lathe would. I use it for pen repair all the time. If you are going into production definitely go with the metal lathe. You will want precision not doable with a wood lathe. If you end up really getting serious you will eventually want a cnc lathe ($6000.00) to produce and duplicate the fancy curves on your thousand dollar pens. Stan