Originally Posted by
Aric Krueger
IMHO, this would be an excellent starter set.
Set of 6 Benjamin's Best HSS Lathe Chisels Item #: LXWM1007
They are available from pennstateind.com.
It has all the basic chisels in the typical sizes you need to learn both spindle and bowl work. They are good enough quality to function well and inexpensive enough that a few errors in learning to sharpen them won't be a huge bummer. They will probably require a little preparation work such as removing the lacquer from the metal with acetone, using a few grades of sandpaper to smooth the metal finish so they glide nicely on the tool rest and initial sharpening to the desired bevel angles. (Your instructor should be able to help you with the initial sharpening.) The Harbor Freight set (Item #69723) does not include a bowl gouge.
If you can afford it, as Thom mentioned, an extra spindle gouge and bowl gouge would be useful to use with different bevel angles for different cuts and a flat nosed box scraper.