First lathe??

The lathe will be just a small part of the total cost to get set up and turn a call. If you by quality, and you should because cheap tools just don't last, it adds up in a hurry. Plan on $1000 just to get up and running. You can buy a lot of custom calls from the PM call makers for that kind of money.


ELJ
 
ELJ is right. Plan on spending a decent amount of money to get started. Buy cheap and get cheap. After the lathe you will need lathe chisels. Then wood, sandpaper, finishing supplies. The list will go from there. Plus you should think about safety. A face shield and at least a good dust mask. Woods can put out some toxic dusts. Especially exotics. It is not a cheap hobby. But it is a very enjoyable one.
Good luck
Dusty
 
I would suggest you find the closest chapter of the American Association of Woodturners, there are 5 chapters in Arkansas. http://www.woodturner.org/community/chapters/LocalChapters.asp

Attend a meeting, ask questions, and then decide if you want to part with a lot of money. You can make calls with a $50 junker lathe, but it won't be as much fun if you are trying to learn how to make calls and learn how to use a lathe.

As a start, you need safety equipment, an easy $100, chisels, another $50, sharpening equipment, another $100. Chucks cheap at a $100, better at about $300, best at $500, you will find you can always use another better and newer chuck. Wood, there is no limit on the money you can spend on wood, plan on a $100 to start, another $500 to get what you think you need. Sandpaper and finishes, this is the most important, a good finish starts with a great sanding job, buy the best and use it like someone else is paying for it, to start set aside $50 for sandpaper. Finishes, to start pick up a can of Teak oil, less than $20, but that is just the start, after a month you will "need" every finish known to mankind, along with some that are unknown. Plan on $20 or so every week until you have cans of spar, bottle of CA, poly in gloss, poly in satin and the list ends at the end of the paint aisle at Lowes. Drill bits, another $50 for a decent set, might as well pick up some mandrels since you have the holes to stick them in, add in another $100.

By now you have melted your plastic, emptied the checking account, secured a second mortgage on your house and are walking to work because you cannot afford gas to fill up your moped that you got when you traded in your pickup for the shop space you needed.

Is it that bad, no I have been a woodturner and woodworker for 50 years, it is enjoyable and relaxing after a witching day at work. But it can be expensive if you let it. As to the Harbor Freight lathe, I would only buy it of I had a boat and needed an anchor.
 
Wow......Thanks for all the great information so far. I guess a woodworking hobby is just like everything else I have tried.....Expensive!
I guess I need to call in a hotel before I jump in head first;-)
Maybe I can stumble across someone who does it and really get addicted
Thanks all!
 
There are a lot of callmakers in Arkansas, most are duck callmakers, but all predator calls started out as duck calls. Check out some of the callmaking forums, Custom Calls Online will be good place to start.

And you don't need a $1000 to start, but it does help. I have several lathes, one cost $25 at a gargae sale, and he had stuff to go with it. I could make calls on it with nothing else but that $25 worth of stuff. But I did upgrade chucks etc., but I did not have to.
 
I've been looking to start turning as well. Some more experienced turners I've spoken with have guided me torward a JET mini lathe and HSS (High Speed Steel) chisels.
 
FWIW I started 50 odd years ago by just carving wood and antler calls with a jack knife, then on home made mandrels chucked in a hand drill, later a drill press and all for decades before I bought my first lathe. A lathe increases production, doesn't necessarily make better calls.
 
Ladobe......thanks for those words.
I always get into way too many hobbies and didn't want to spend a fortune to decide if I have any talent or not. Just want to make a few for me and my hunting partner and to be able to say that I called in something with a call that I made.

I took up fly fishing a few years ago....decided that I needed to tie flys for the same reason as I stated before. Now instead of spending $2.00 for a store bought fly I probably have $85.00 a fly invested! Lol
But it sure does feel good to catch a beautiful trout on a fly I tied!
 
Likewise been contemplating trying my hand at this turning game, I've always had a love of woodwork, and now have a shop big enough to put lots of toys in. In fact I already have a few of the thing I need there. And, uhmmmm.... yeah I can see me doing that list up there dogcatcher!
lol.gif


Don't feel bad rick, while I never tied a fly out of the starter fly tying kit I bought, I did buy an airbrush and custom painted cranks, daredevils, spinner blades, etc. And, yeah it is rewarding when that hand painted tackle kicks butt and puts fish after fish in the boat. I poured my own sinkers, for years, bottom bouncers, a few jigs. Spent thousands on a racing lawn mower, only to watch the local club fold up, and haven't found time to deal with it since. At least tools are tax deductible being self employed.

Found this lathe on E-Bay. Inquired of one of our resident call gurus and he said it appears to have the 2MT taper on both ends which is cool as it would make parts and pieces easier to find. And, that it otherwise appeared fairly well constructed.

Jet -Mini-Lathe


Since I know absolutely nothing about these lathes, maybe one of you guys in the know could tell us wannabes what exactly are the differences in these two, aside from the obvious $$$.

And, the links are always greatly appreciated! Have several stored in a folder for supplies, tools, tutorials, etc.

Concerning the toxic dust... are any of you guys running vaccuum systems? I was thinking it wouldn't take much to build one with the squirrel cage fan out of an old furnace. Sheet metal work isn't an issue, I have more than one friend that makes a living in heating and air conditioning.
 
Originally Posted By: Rocky1Likewise been contemplating trying my hand at this turning game, I've always had a love of woodwork, and now have a shop big enough to put lots of toys in. In fact I already have a few of the thing I need there. And, uhmmmm.... yeah I can see me doing that list up there dogcatcher!
lol.gif


Don't feel bad rick, while I never tied a fly out of the starter fly tying kit I bought, I did buy an airbrush and custom painted cranks, daredevils, spinner blades, etc. And, yeah it is rewarding when that hand painted tackle kicks butt and puts fish after fish in the boat. I poured my own sinkers, for years, bottom bouncers, a few jigs. Spent thousands on a racing lawn mower, only to watch the local club fold up, and haven't found time to deal with it since. At least tools are tax deductible being self employed.

Found this lathe on E-Bay. Inquired of one of our resident call gurus and he said it appears to have the 2MT taper on both ends which is cool as it would make parts and pieces easier to find. And, that it otherwise appeared fairly well constructed.

Jet -Mini-Lathe


Since I know absolutely nothing about these lathes, maybe one of you guys in the know could tell us wannabes what exactly are the differences in these two, aside from the obvious $$$.

And, the links are always greatly appreciated! Have several stored in a folder for supplies, tools, tutorials, etc.

Concerning the toxic dust... are any of you guys running vaccuum systems? I was thinking it wouldn't take much to build one with the squirrel cage fan out of an old furnace. Sheet metal work isn't an issue, I have more than one friend that makes a living in heating and air conditioning.



I will start with a comment on the eBay lathe. This is straight out of the link you gave.
Quote:This powerful saw doesn't take up space on your workbench. Cuts tile up to 12'' wide and 1'' high. Table tilts up to 45¡ã for bevels. Table is chrome plated for rust resistance. Includes tub and bonded diamond blade for wet cutting.
Kind of hard to say anything about a company that lists a lathe and gives information about a wet saw. But here goes, I have seen one in operation, a local guy bought one, It was working when I saw it, he hasn't called for help in about 6 months, so it is still working or he has quit using it.

The second lathe you listed, the Jet Mini is a good lathe. They have a good warranty and most likely you will never need it. I used, and abused mine, and then gave it to our son. He and his wife have done the same and it is still running.

If money is not a problem, go for the Jet, it holds it's value and should give you years of good service. As the to the other, if you buy it give us a review, it looks good as the Jet, but will it hold up as well.
 
Ooops....... Wrong listing! Saw that one dogcatcher and was going to avoid it, as the company does a pretty good job of getting it right most of the time. Let's try this listing on the HEC Mini Lathe. Has all the specifications listed there, instead of the wetsaw specs.


What all would you guys recomend for arbors and chucks and mandrels and such??
 
Start with safety equipment, face shield and or safety goggles, a dust collection system. Harbor Freight has decent products that will cover this. Jet would be better. A separate air filtration system hanging from the ceiling and a blower with bag should be enough.

Chucks, start with 4 jaw chuck and collet chuck from Penn Sate Industries, The Barracuda2 is not the best chuck, but for the price it is a good deal. The collet chuck comes with the needed collets,and the price is good.

Mandrels, check with Flinthills Duckworks, might go ahead and pick up the above collet from him instead of Penn State, same collet set. Same price and you support the little manufacturer.

Drill bits, buy a good 9/32, 1/2 and 5/8 bits. These you will use the most, for the others buy sets from Harbor Freight, the 29 piece set and the Silver Deming set.

Chisels, to start get the Harbor Freight HSS set, I think around $50 for those.

Sharpening info, for beginners the Wolverine sharpening setup is best. Expensive but worth it, or go free hand using a grinder or belt sander.

Sandpaper, get the best, Klingspor or Norton. Use it like someone else is paying for it, using worn out sandpaper burnishes the wood and takes longer. The best finishes are always started with the best sanding job.

Finishes, start simple, use teak oil or spar varnish, might as well get both to start with. Before long you will have bought a can of every kind of finish known to mankind.

Find a good source of maple in 1.5x1.5 inch blanks, practice both turning and sharpening. Forget the high dollar woods until you have a good feel for the lathe, nothing worse than screwing up a $10 blank, when a dollar piece of maple would work.
 
Originally Posted By: Rocky1Likewise been contemplating trying my hand at this turning game, I've always had a love of woodwork, and now have a shop big enough to put lots of toys in. In fact I already have a few of the thing I need there. And, uhmmmm.... yeah I can see me doing that list up there dogcatcher!
lol.gif


Put me on the list for a call when you get a lathe, Rocky. Seeing your call display cabinet, gun stock & other projects, I would venture a guess that you have the eye for class in both material, style & finishes that would make some very cool calls. Just like golf, hunting, fly fishing, racing & the endless list of other things we have all jumped into with our wallets & hearts, it's an investment. If you can find a bit of peace, challange & fun behind a lathe, how could it a bad way to go. If you have a woodcraft store in the area, they offer classes on turning & most of them host meetings for wood turning clubs.

Doug
 
If you are interested in a lathe go to you tube and check out capneddie he has tools cheaper. He has vidios on buying a first lathe and will help you if you call him and he supports our troops. Ray
 
Originally Posted By: Oregon310Originally Posted By: Rocky1Likewise been contemplating trying my hand at this turning game, I've always had a love of woodwork, and now have a shop big enough to put lots of toys in. In fact I already have a few of the thing I need there. And, uhmmmm.... yeah I can see me doing that list up there dogcatcher!
lol.gif


Put me on the list for a call when you get a lathe, Rocky. Seeing your call display cabinet, gun stock & other projects, I would venture a guess that you have the eye for class in both material, style & finishes that would make some very cool calls. Just like golf, hunting, fly fishing, racing & the endless list of other things we have all jumped into with our wallets & hearts, it's an investment. If you can find a bit of peace, challange & fun behind a lathe, how could it a bad way to go. If you have a woodcraft store in the area, they offer classes on turning & most of them host meetings for wood turning clubs.

Doug


You're on Doug!

No... you can't put a price tag on a hobby. If we did, none of us would hunt a yote! Pretty sure if I sold off all the hobby goodies I got stacked up, I could vacation for a year or two.

And, yes... I have been known for having an eye for detail. And, being OCD!!
lol.gif


 
Can't speak for the lathe on Ebay, or others that may have come along the last ddecade or so... but I've had the earlier version of this Jet model for around a dozen plus years, it saw daily hard use, often 7 days a week. Bought this one for a reason, nothing else offered then was anywhere near close to it in quality,versatility and projection of a life time of trouble free use. Bought, had lots of custom accessories and mandrels, etc for making calls, even used it as a metal lathe. Never bothered to get the extension bed for it though. This one is nearly the same, only the funky switch looks different. They also came out with a dial variable speed later for a higher price, but the old change the belt location is so fast and simple I never cared. Made many hundreds of custom exhibition exotic wood, many antler/ivory/mastadon and solid surfacing calls and tone boards with mine before I stopped making them around 2005, and countless other projects. It never missed a beat and ran true no matter what I dreamed up to add to it in tooling. Still have it all, solid as a rock but my lathe days or long over. Anyway, you won't go wrong getting one for call building, with quality tools you can turn out top drawer work on it, and in short order no matter how hard or brittle the material is with sharp tools and using the right speeds. I even used custom madrels to sand and "burn" in my custom finishes on it. With the 3 jaw chuck and 3/4" Jacobs I added it became a horizonal drill press, with the saw blade jig I designed it was also more versatil. I also have two machine vises, V block sets, hold downs, etc I used on it.
HTH
 
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