You may have seen my other posts regarding getting my "new" lathe up and running. I have a few simple questions before I start turning.
First - I have never made anything on a lathe. I have a bit of experience with furniture making, and that is why I got a lathe. I plan to just do spindle work (for now). Tool handles, drawer pulls, and furniture parts. So, I want to learn to spindle turn (not bowl turn).
I bought a book. Elementary Turning. It is a book meant to be used in a trade school to teach turning to beginners. It is a great book with lots of great pictures. I have read it all the way through and I have a few questions before I start working the wood.
1 - The book recommends that you start by turning pieces in pine. I have no pine and I don't have plans to use pine in my projects. I use cherry and walnut almost exclusivly. Is it worthwhile to buy some pine for practice, or can I get started with cherry just as easily?
2 - The book recommends turning these projects at 3500 rpm. The blanks are 1.75in square by 8in long. This seems really fast to me. My lathe tops out at 3600 rpm. What is a good starting speed for a beginner?
3 - Building on the last question - the book makes no mention of changing speeds. Should I start slow and move to fast?
4 - the book uses spindle gouges (which is simple calls "turning gouges"), a roughing gouge, and skew chisels. That is it. It seems to use skews a lot more than I hear them being discussed. Are there any GREAT resources on using skew chisels? I need to learn more about sharpening them and using them for spindle turning.
5 - how about other great resources for learning spindle turning?
6 - unrelated to the book - tool sources. I need some extras (drill chuck, steb center, live center) and I am wondering about suppliers. Lee Valley sells good stuff, but PEN STATE and Woodcraft sell stuff that is 1/2 to 1/3 the cost. Are the cheaper tools any good? I assume they are all made in China. I hate tools that don't function properly.
Thanks in advance!