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New Turner

Davew

Apprentice Member
Joined
Feb 22, 2018
Posts
8
Location
Stoke on Trent
First Name
David
Hi Everybody
My name is Dave and I am in the process of setting my first lathe up in my shed. I have always wanted to have a lathe but work commitments have prevented me. Over the last 2 years I have become ill and have now retired from my job as an electrical fitter. I am house bound but could not afford a lathe . I have always made models for my childhood. So I started matchstick modeling which I find very relaxing. I have made a number of scratch models. I am collecting my pension in two months so I have taken the step of buying a wood turning lathe. I intend to try to make pens and small bowls over time. I also make farm carts so the lathe will allow me to make the complete wheels which will no doubt test me to the extreme.
I will know doubt ask silly questions on the forum over the future months so I will apologise now.
I have watched a large number of videos on utube and have purchased a couple of books.
I cannot wait to enter into this new adventure.
The first question I would like to ask is can you purchase pen kits without the wood blocks as I have been given a quantity of wooden pen blocks?
Thank you in advance

Dave W
 

silver

General dogsbody
Executive Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2013
Posts
6,301
Location
Somewhere in Staffordshire,
First Name
Eamonn.
Welcome on board David, nice to see another "pot herb" on here.. I'm not one by the way.:tongue.

There is never a stupid question mate, only stupid answers.

The search tool on the forum is really useful as I can grantee the questions you are wanting to ask have been done so before..

Also look at the Tutorials, there will be quite a bit of help there.

Looks like the retirement is planning well with plenty to keep you occupied.
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Hi Dave and welcome. Ask as many questions as you like.
Pen kits do not normally come with the blanks it is only a few people that do this so they can boost their sales. You will soon have a draw full of blanks and the more plain looking ones may just end up as firewood as you become more selective
 

Phil Dart

Moderator
Executive Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Posts
5,455
Location
Colebrooke, Devon
First Name
Phil
Hi David - welcome to the fold. Everyone here had to start making pens somewhere, so don't be afraid to ask anytime there's something you want to know. We are also lucky enough to have a master model maker amongst us, in the shape of [MENTION=449]Dalboy[/MENTION], who posted just above ^^^, so if you find a spoke in your wheel when you're putting spokes in your wheels, he's the man to ask.
 

Dalboy

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Posts
7,679
Location
Kent
First Name
Derek
Thank you for the vote of confidence [MENTION=735]Phil Dart[/MENTION]. Yes I have been know to make a few wooden models and have also made a jig for drilling holes for spoked wheels
 

Unique

Registered
Joined
May 7, 2017
Posts
251
Location
Kent
First Name
Tony
Welcome to the forum - its a supportive group with a tremendous amount of knowledge and a true source of inspiration.

Tony
 
Warning! This thread has not had any replies for over a year. You are welcome to post a reply here, but it might be better to start a new thread (and maybe include a link to this one if you need to).
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