Saturday, June 5, 2010

Powermatic 3520B Wood Lathe

Powermatic 3520B Wood Lathe
A review of the Powermatic 3520B wood lathe from Wood Lathes Online. The Powermatic is a very powerful and heavy lathe, with lots of nice feature such as outboard turning, electronic variable speed control and a digital RPM readout. Perfect for experienced wood turners looking to work on large projects.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Friday, June 4, 2010

PSI Woodworking CSC3000C Barracuda Wood Lathe Key Chuck System Free Shipping


Over All Rating Reviews :

The chuck seems to work fine, but the hex wrench that came as part of the kit does not fit the screws that holds the various parts of the lathe chuck adaptors at all. An sae 1/8th inch hex key will remove and replace the flat head screws but they are a very poor fit and over time will probably round out screws. Quality control is very poor in this area.
Thank you John W. Stevens
Get more detail about PSI Woodworking CSC3000C Barracuda Wood Lathe Key Chuck System.


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For new and interesting woodworking lathe updates try this page.

Where To Buy Powermatic 1352001 Model 3520B 20x35-Inch Wood Lathe with RPM Digital Readout


Over All Rating Reviews :

There isn't much I can say, that others haven't already said. I have owned mine for a little over 2 years. This is a great lathe, and for most users, will probably be the last lathe you will ever need or want. It's rock solid and runs very quiet. Powermatic and Jet are both owned by WMH Tool Group, and everything I have heard or read indicates they provide outstanding customer service.

Some oddities, that might be a bit confusing...such as the "spindle length" claims, are easily resolved by downloading the users manual. The manual makes it clear. "Working distance between centers" is 31-1/2" without the bed extension. You can safely slide the tailstock over the end of the ways a little bit, and gain a couple more inches.

The 220V circuit should be a dedicated one, with it's own circuit breaker. Amperage draw will be less than 7 amps at 220V.

I didn't use the leveling feet. Instead, I set the legs directly on my shop floor, which is very flat concrete. The height is just right for me. Most guidelines recommend adjusting the height (or standing on a platform) so your tool arm is at approximately 90 degrees. It's worth experimenting to find the most comfortable height for you.

Also, do a Google search for "The Mustard Monster Site". That site includes lots of shared experience and knowledge about the lathe, and how to take advantage of all the 3520b's features.

Get more detail about Powermatic 1352001 Model 3520B 20x35-Inch Wood Lathe with RPM Digital Readout.


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Check out this great guide to buying and selling wood lathes.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Dual purpose lathe

I've just finished making a new tool rest for my bowl lathe which I made almost exactly a year ago.

It clamps to the bed with a threaded wooden rod and a big wooden washer.  It was a chance to use the ¾" tap & die I bought a while ago - I've never found that many sensible applications for it.

Now I can use it for spindle turning...

as well as for bowls...

It also means that I can leave it in the van and not have to keep schlepping my other lathe in and out of the garden workshop.

Check out this great review of the Jet JWL 1220 wood lathe.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Caring for Wood Lathe Tools

Caring for Wood Lathe Tools
A guide to caring for your wood lathe tools. Sharp, well maintained tools will go a long way towards insuring that you produce good work as quickly and easily as possible. A lot of people neglect proper tool care, but it's a very important of quality wood turning.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Monday, May 31, 2010

Power Tools For A Hand Tool Shop

Josh, a hand-tool guy, wants to know what power tools he should be including in his shop.

You can save a lot of money by checking out this woodturning lathe sale.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

GWA Field Trip to Hardwoods Inc

On May 1st, 2010, my woodworking club, the Gwinnett Woodworkers Association (GWA for short), visited Hardwoods Inc. in Mableton Ga. Hardwoods, Incorporated is a wholesaler and retailer offering one of the largest inventories in the Southeast of specialty hardwoods and related products. GWA members were exposed to a guided tour of the kiln facilities and lumber yard that lasted a few hours and afterwards were able to purchase lumber at discounted pricing - I managed to score three sticks of Honduran Rosewood for an upcoming project at about 50% off. These are the photos I took as we were shown around the gigantic facility - if you ever get a chance to go to s similar kiln/lumber yard facility you should go - for a woodworker it's like going to the Holy Land...

I'm not sure if you can get the actual scale of the building from this shot - at the beginning of the tour we were in the retail space - the racks behind the speaker are all full of retail sales items


The warehouse buildings are quite massive - most of those stacks are 8/4 sticks about 12 feet long.

These conveyor type contraptions help to move sticks as they're graded - quite a job


These stacks were all of 8/4 poplar getting ready for the kiln (so what you see is all wet) - quite a site seeing so much hardwood.

These shots are of the kiln - the control stations in the back let you set the temperature and humidity.


These massive doors slide apart so the pallets of wood can be moved in or out - the smaller door allows the kiln operator access to check the moisture content of the wood - something that's done multiple times as the wood is dried (usually over a period of many days).


The plan re-uses saw-dust as fuel for the kiln - this shows some of the furnace with valves to control the mix.

That's about it - thanks for looking in.

-- John

You can read more about woodturning lathe tools right here.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

AN EAGLE

The idea for carving An Eagle who is carrying off a golfer began in 1978 as a future carving project.  Over the years the idea would come to the top of mental search  engine called “imagination” but was not ready to become reality.  An “Eagle” is a golfing term meaning “two under par” so to [...]

Check out this guide to buying a wood lathe if you're in the market for one.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Jet JWL 1220 Wood Lathe Review

Jet JWL 1220 Wood Lathe Review
Take a look at this review of the Jet JWL 1220. The 1220 is one of the most popular wood lathes on the market, and for good reason. It's powerful and heavy enough to provide smooth turning, even on large pieces, but not so big that it's unwieldy for smaller projects. This wood lathe is great for a variety of tasks and has a very nice feature set.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Cheap Lathes | Home of the Wood Lathe

Cheap Lathes | Home of the Wood Lathe
If you're looking for a cheap wood lathe this is the place to start. This post discusses some of the options when it comes to some of the less expensive lathes on the market. Whether your looking for a hobby lathe or a more fully featured instrument you can find it here.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Turncrafter Plus - PSI Wood Lathe

Take a look at Wood Lathes Online for a review of the PSI Turncrafter Plus (TCLPlus) wood lathe. The turncrafter is a capable and effective mini lathe at a very affordable price. Great for beginners or anyone looking for a small wood lathe. This is not the best lathe on the market, but it's one of the best values. featuring a 1/4 HP motor with variable speed controls, this lathe comes with everything you need to get started in wood turning.

PSI has made a big mark on the industry by producing some great lathes and turning tools at very low prices, that still manage to stand up to the competition. Their stuff is a really great value, and there's not much else to say. It gets the job done, and at a fraction of the cost of most other models.

Posted via email from Wood Lathe Updates

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Jet Mini Lathe Video Review - 1014i/1014vsi

Jet Mini Lathe Video Review - 1014i/1014vsi
A great video review of the 1014i and 1014vsi from Jet tools. These are very nice mini wood lathes, and this video explains many of their features in depth. I definitely recommend checking it out.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Monday, March 29, 2010

Wood Lathe Chucks

Wood Lathe Chucks
A list of some great wood lathe chucks, with reviews, specs and pricing information. A Wood lathe chuck is a device designed to grip a piece of wood in order for it to be turned on a lathe. There are many different designs and types of chucks, suitable for different pieces. Three and four jaw chucks are the most commonly used in wood turning. This is a great place to start looking for a good lathe chuck.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Buying a Wood Lathe

This blog has a lot of good information about wood lathe shopping, and how to find a good deal online. There's a lot of different places to buy a lathe, and some of them have much better prices and service than others, so it's best to do your research before you make a purchase.

A good lathe will have all the features you're looking for, the right size etc, as well as quality workmanship and materials, and you shouldn't settle for anything less. There are a lot of good tips on the page linked above, and you should definitely consider checking it out.

Lots of people just buy the first, tool they come across and end up regretting it later, but if you do your research properly you can avoid that. Wood turning can be a very satisfying hobby, especially if you have the right tools for the job

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

About Wood Lathes

Wood lathes have been around in one form or anther for thousands of years. Which is really an astonishing fact if you think about it. It is really one of the first examples of what we might call a machine tool, and the same basic ideas are still present in modern day lathes.

So what is the idea, and why is it so powerful? Well the idea is in a word: symmetry. It's very useful for many reason to have objects that have a circular symmetry. Think of the wheel and what an important discovery that was and you'll have some idea of the power of a circle. On top of being useful, circularly symmetric objects have a certain beauty and elegance which cannot be denied.

Throughout history we see evidence of round pillars etc. in architecture and art, and the lathe was one of the first instruments to allow for easily reproducible circular objects. Can you imagine the difficulty in trying to carve something into a perfect cylinder manually, it would require constant measuring an readjustment, however a wood lathe, will do this simply by the nature of how a piece is carved.

As long as your spindle is well centered at both ends, you can't help but produce a piece that is perfectly round. This is the power of the wood lathe. It allows for automatic rounding. The definition of a circle is a shape where every point is exactly the same distance from the center, and this is exactly what a lathe does. By keeping your lathe cutting tool a fixed distance from the center of your turning spindle, you carve the piece of wood such that every point on it's surface is an equal distance from the center.

A lathe by nature is not a complicated tool, although some modern lathes certainly appear to be, with computer controls and variable speeds. At it's simplest, and in it's earliest forms a lathe was little more than one person turning a piece of wood, maybe using some string, and another person carving it with a sharp tool. This simple design manages to get the job done however, and subsequent designs may have improved the speed and reliability of the turning process but have kept the same fundamental idea.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Lathe Cutting Tools | PSI Chisel Set

Lathe Cutting Tools | PSI Chisel Set
A review of the LCHSS8 lathe cutting tools from PSI. This is a good set of wood lathe tools, comes with 8 chisels in the box and overall is of good quality. The set includes a parting tool, spear scraper, two skew chisels, round nose scraper, bowl gouge, spindle gouge and roughing gouge. It's available on Amazon with free shipping, and is comparable to other quality sets at a much better price.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Jet Lathes on Sale | 1014I-1014VSI

Jet Lathes on Sale | 1014I-1014VSI
Jet lathes are currently on sale, check out this post to save 20%-30% on the some of the most popular models of mini wood lathes available. Two of the bestselling models are at reduced prices as long as stock lasts.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Wood Lathe for Sale

Wood Lathes for Sale
This list of wood lathes available online has been updated. This is a great place to start your search for a wood lathe, and I highly recommend taking a look. You can save a lot of money by shopping online for a wood lathe vs. buying one from a store.

If you buy your wood lathe from amazon you can even get free shipping included, which will save you even more money. Finding the best deal isn't always easy, but it's best done online where you can easily compare different tools and retailers with the click of a mouse, instead of having to drive your car all over town searching for a good price.

Take a look at these listings of wood lathes for sale and you'll be on your way.

Posted via email from Wood Lathe Updates

Friday, March 12, 2010

5 Wood Lathe Tool Care Tips

5 Wood Lathe Tool Care Tips
A list of tips for taking care of your wood lathe tools. Follow these steps to produce great results and keep you tools in great condition for years. Well maintained tools make all the difference in wood turning so make sure you take care of your tools!

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Buy a wood lathe on sale

You can save lots of cash by shopping on the internet for a wood lathe. There are lots of sites that have great prices and have free shipping as well. Amazon especially has a lot of excellent deals, and has occasional specials. This page lists several wood lathes for sale and is a good place to start looking.

It can be very aggravating running all over the place looking at the same lathes over and over again to find a good price, and the salesperson is trying to sell you on the most expensive one. On the internet you can shop around easily, and compare reviews and specs before making a decision. It's a no brainer in my opinion!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Caring for Wood Lathe Tools

Care of Wood Lathe Tools
Well maintained wood lathe tools are very important in wood turning. Dull or chipped tools can catch and snap your spindle and will not give the best results. This article on Ezine gives some good tips on how to care for your tools and keep them sharp and in good condition.

Posted via email from Wood Lathe Updates

Wood Lathe Jig Video

Wood Lathe Jig Video
A video of Rex Burningham demonstrating how to properly use a jig and grinder to sharpen wood lathe tools. It's very important to keep you tools sharp and this video is a good place to get started.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Jumbo Lathe Chuck Jaws - PSI CJAWFJ2

Jumbo Lathe Chuck Jaws - PSI CJAWFJ2
A review of PSI jumbo lathe chuck jaws. These extra large flat jaws from are a great addition to a wood lathe chuck. They are compatible with any 'C' type chuck and can fit pieces up to 8 inches in diameter. Large jaws are essential if you want to do bowl turning, and are designed to hold your bowl while you finish the bottom.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wood Lathe Tools Article on Ezine

About Wood Lathe Tools
Take a look at this article on Ezine about wood lathe tools. It has a lot of information about how you can get the most out of your chisels and produce great turning projects. I think you'll find it very helpful, it explains things simply and clearly.

Posted via email from Wood Lathe Updates

Monday, March 1, 2010

Wood Lathes for Sale

General Lathe 25-200M1

General Lathe 25-200M1
A review of the General International 25-200M1 wood lathe. This lathe comes with a 12" bed and a 0.75 horsepower motor operating at 110 volts. This is a variable speed lathe and spindle speed is electronically controlled for greater precision. This is a high quality Canadian made lathe, with lots of interesting features and is great for fine detail work.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Sunday, February 28, 2010

How to choose wood lathe tools

Choosing Wood Lathe Tools
Choosing the right wood lathe tools can be tough, it's not obvious
what task each one is best suited for. Take a look at this article on
eHow, it's a very good place to start. It explains the function of
different wood turning tools and provides some very sensible tips on
the best way to approach a new wood turning project.

Posted via email from Wood Lathe Updates

Friday, February 26, 2010

Barracuda Wood Lathe Chuck System

Barracuda Wood Lathe Chuck System
A review of the CSC3000C wood lathe chuck set from PSI. This set works with any size lathe and can fit large or small turning projects. This is a great beginner set providing good quality at a discount price.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Monday, February 22, 2010

Wood Lathe Tools

This is a great set of mini wood lathe tools from PSI. These tools aren't fancy, but they are well made and durable. This set of wood lathe tools is a great value. These are chinese made, so you don't get the same attention to detail and finish as you would on American or British made tools, but these come at a fraction of the price

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Moulding Profile Chart

An Education in Moulding
Check out this great post on moulding, it includes some good tips and a link to this very helpful chart.




Saturday, February 20, 2010

Bowl Turning Done Quick

Bowl Turning Done Quick
Andy from Cobweb Crafts shows how quickly a wood bowl can be made on a lathe. This can take hours for an amateur, but he whips out a professional looking bowl in a matter of minutes. Anyone who appreciates wood turning should check out the video. He goes form blank to bowl in under ten minutes.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

JET JML 1014L Wood lathe

JET JML 1014L Wood latheThe JML 1014I from Jet is an update on the popular original model. Jet is known for making good quality lathes and this is no exception. The 1014I is a great mini lathe at a good price point. There is a reason all the reviews of this lathe are very positive: it's difficult to find anything to complain about on this lathe.

Posted via web from Wood Lathe Updates

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Great info on wood lathe tools

Take a look at this article about wood lathe tools on weebly. Explains the difference between chisel types and profile. Learn what tools is good for what job when it comes to wood lathes. If you ever find yourself reaching for the closest chisel when you're working on a project, or are confused what angle of attack you should be using then this post will help you out a lot. Check out this post on wood lathes!

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Monday, February 15, 2010

Great Squidoo Lens on Wood Lathes

Squidoo lenses focus information on a subject in one place. This one is about wood turning and wood lathes. There is a lot of good information here. Wood Lathes

Posted via email from woodlathe's posterous

Wood Lathe Chucks

Take a look at this new blog about wood lathe chucks. Wood lathe Chucks are used to hold a piece of wood in place on a wood lathe so that it can turn without slipping. This allows the piece to be carved using a chisel. Check it out: Wood Lathe Chucks. http://woodlathechucks.blogspot.com

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

Wood Lathes

A wood lathe is a tool which spins a block of wood in order to allow the user to use tools tocarve, sand, knurl, drill, ordeform the piece of wood. This results in an object which hassymmetry about an axis of rotation. Wood lathe tools such as chisels are used in order to carve out patterns in the wood.


Lathes are also used in metalworking, glassworking and pottery. The principle behind the wood lathe is similar to the potter's wheel. In a lathe the piece of wood is held in place by a wood lathe chuck and turned at high velocity. Ornamental lathes can be used produce three-dimensional wood pieces that can be very complex and beautiful. The wood is held in position by one or two centers, which can be moved to allow for differing wood lengths. Other holding methods are clamping the wood about the axis using a chuck or collet, or attaching it to a faceplate, using clamps or dogs.


Cue sticks, table legs, bowls, baseball bats, musical instruments can all be made using wood lathes.


If you've never used a wood lathe before you owe it to yourself to try one out. The experience can be very fun and rewarding. Making a table leg on a lathe can bring out the artist in anyone, and it is a lot of fun watching a chunk of wood fly around at high speeds.