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Big hello from Galloway, Scotland

Claymore

Apprentice Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2016
Posts
11
Location
Galloway, Scotland
First Name
Brian
Hi,
I have just joined the forum and have been waiting for my lathe to arrive before posting, in the meantime I have been browsing the forum and looking at the beautiful stuff you guys make.
My name is Brian and I live in Galloway, Scotland and received my beast of a lathe today (still not setup). What beast did I buy? a Proxxon DB 250 :thumbs: I know you guys probably think its nowt more than a toy and maybe it is for pen making but for myself I'd say its perfect.
For starters I don't intend on making any pens nor bowls etc.... its for making parts for my Intarsia Motorcycles and as I have only really the use of one good hand/arm I don't think the Proxxon will rip my arm off if I mess up? the parts I want to turn are the engine/forks/suspension/handlebars etc basically anything straight and tubular. At the moment I have been sticking a bit of hardwood in my drill press and holding a file on it to make them but its not exactly safe/easy nor ideal for detailed turning, so I did a little browsing online and thought the skills needed to turn a pen is similar to what I need to learn and I found you guys:thumbs:.
I have never used a lathe before so a total beginner...... one of the plus's though is I haven't picked up any bad habits so If i take my time and do my homework and watch and listen I recking in time I will be able to achieve my goal and improve the detail on my Intarsia work.
I have attached a few photos of my Intarsia work to give you an idea of what I make and it will hopefully explain the type of parts required.
I have the DB250 plus all the extras (don't know if i needed them but they are there just in case) tomorrow I will mount the lathe onto a nice solid bench (with the lathe screwed onto a thick piece of kitchen worktop which should be solid/stable enough to stop vibration etc?) and will also make some adaptors for my dust extraction, I have quite a decent workshop so far and like most people constantly improving it when funds allow and as I gain knowledge/skills hopefully so have the following Axminster Trade Scrollsaw (Hegner Clone), Planer thicknesser/Router/table/ drill press/bandsaw/bench belt/disc sander, bobbin sander....plus usual kit like drills a lovely Proxxon rotary tool that makes my Dremel look like a toy.
So have the kit to make most things and actually know how to use most of them lol.
Anyway I am looking forward to doing a bit of turning and hope you don't mind if a ask plenty of questions? you learn more by listening to the experts my late dad used to say and he was right.
Hope you like my posh kindling
Cheers
Brian
 

Attachments

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  • BMW R1200GS INTARSIA (Small).jpg
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  • Triumph Rocket 3 Intarsia 5th Sept 2015.jpg
    Triumph Rocket 3 Intarsia 5th Sept 2015.jpg
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Buckeye

ペンメーカー
Executive Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2013
Posts
9,697
Location
UK
First Name
Peter
Welcome to the forum, some nice scroll saw work. Have a look in the Scroll Saw forum.

Peter
 

Jim

Grand Master
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Posts
15,617
Welcome to the forums Brian, i love the work you have shown, the detail is fantastic .. You have a good little machine in the Proxxon, it certainly will do you the job that you are after .. :thumbs:
 

AllenN

Fellow
Joined
May 20, 2013
Posts
2,242
Location
Lancaster, UK
First Name
Allen
Welcome Brian. That is some pretty impressive stuff you have shown us. Welcome to the forum, I am sure you will find plenty to enjoy and learn from on here, I know I do.
 

billyb_imp

Registered
Joined
Mar 2, 2014
Posts
4,298
Location
Lincoln, UK
First Name
Billy
Welcome to the forum Brian, any questions ask away

I am sure the Proxxon will do fine for what you want and more

Some great scroll work you have shown there
 

Lons

Fellow
Joined
Dec 17, 2013
Posts
4,753
Location
Northumberland
First Name
Bob
Welcome Brian, love the bikes, some amazing detail. I'm a car man myself but having just bought a little Hegner I'm determined to try some intarsia.

Don't discount having a go at some pens though, I'm sure the Proxon can manage it and so can you with your one good arm. Have you looked at some of the turnings Bill Mooney produces, much better than me and he can't see what he's doing! :up:
 

Bill Mooney

Blind old git
Grand Master
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Posts
10,997
Location
County Durham
First Name
Bill
Welcome to the forum Brian. You do some fantastic work & the proxxon is an excellent little machine so should help you make things easier. Hope you enjoy your new toy.:thumbs:
 

Penpal

Grand Master
Joined
May 26, 2013
Posts
25,340
Location
Canberra AUSTRALIA
First Name
Peter
Brian to make and put together these masterpieces so far is unbelievable for someone with the full use of two arms you seem to have found your niche in woodwork. Thank you for the perfection in what you do. Great to see you join from over her.

Peter.
 

bigbob

Graduate Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2014
Posts
557
Location
Inverness
First Name
Bob
Welcome Brian nice work loved the old Manx Norton and the second bike down is I believe is the BMW 1200GS which I used to have and the Triumph is very nice too although in reality I would not like to keep it in back tyres. Look forward to seeing some more of your work.

Cheers Bob
 

bluntchisel

Registered
Joined
Sep 2, 2013
Posts
3,849
Location
Kent, UK.
First Name
Bob
Hi, Brian,
Welcome aboard. matey! Our forum has just benefitted from your arrival, as there are a tidy few of the guys here into intarsia and scrollwork. Good luck with your lathe, Brian - go steady with it and never lay a chisel on it until you've thought about what you are doing (in other words, don't be casual when using it). I wish you lots of happiness as you go on to make pens as fine as the ones you seen from our members!
Regards,
Bob.
 

stevenw1963

Bodger supreme
Fellow
Joined
May 9, 2013
Posts
3,551
Location
South Lanarkshire - Another tyke in exile
First Name
Steven
Welcome Brian, think I've seen your work elsewhere as it certainly stands out as some of the best intarsia work I have seen, maybe because I like the subject lol.
Anyway, I am only up in South Lanarkshire just off the M74 if you're ever up this way.
 

Claymore

Apprentice Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2016
Posts
11
Location
Galloway, Scotland
First Name
Brian
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! and glad you like the Intarsia's, I love making them and as I have had 40+ bikes over the years it was only a matter of time before I started to make some. I have a long list of bikes/riders to do and here's a few of them, George Formby riding the Shuttleworth Snap from the Isle of man TT race film No Limits, Lawrence of Arabia with his Brough Superior SS100 (that bike has lots of parts for me to try the lathe out on) Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda riding the Easy Rider bikes, Joey Dunlop TT racer, Freddie Spencer on the Rothmans NSR Honda and plenty more. I have made the pattern for my George Formby one already so as soon as I finish my current one (BMW K100RT) I will be starting on George.

Thanks again for the welcome and look forward to contributing to the forum in the future.

Cheers
Brian
ps also do wildlife Intarsia's there's a few on my Flickr gallery if you want to look. https://www.flickr.com/photos/39613787@N05/ hope its ok to post this link? if not give me a shout and I will remove it.
 
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