Gary, starting with a mini can let you get into turning with a lesser amount of $$$, but be warned, even a mini can turn into a money pit. DAMHIKT!!!!
You might check out a Woodcraft for a demo or lessons, or go to a woodturners' meeting a time or two and use your best hang-dog homeless-puppy look to get a turner to let you try your hand at turning something. Who knows, it may turn out that you don't like turning as much as you like flatwork.
But I warn you---that won't happen. The sheer joy of chucking up a nondescript piece of wood and turning it into a thing of beauty in the space of a couple of hours is something that can't be described, only experienced. And once you experience it, you are hooked!!!!
Costs?? Hmmm. How deep are your pockets? Or...how high is the limit on your VISA card?
You'll need:
Lathe--with stand
Chucks - yes, plural - different ones for different uses
Turning tools - lots and lots of turning tools
Mandrels for pens and/or stoppers
(Subhead: pen kits, bushing sets, pen blanks, stopper kits, bushings, blanks, pen boxes)
Live centers
Bowl steady and spindle steady
Hollowing tools
Coring tools
Laser measuring tools
Sandpaper - LOTS of sandpaper
Finishing supplies
Trend airshield -- a turning helmet at the very least
Turning smock - to keep the chips out of your shorts and pockets (and your wife's washing machine)
Digital camera - to take pictures of all of your turned pieces to show off on SMC
Photo booth - in which to take the above pictures
New shelving for your home on which to display all of your turned pieces.
Yep, it's a vortex, but a very satisfying one. I'll tell you like I tell a lot of newbie turners--when you buy that first lathe, it's like you are buying an empty CPU tower--they are cheap; it's all of the inside stuff that makes the computer run that adds to the price. It's the same way with turning. Just take out your wallet and remove the money, take a photo of it and tack it on the shop wall so you can see it--because it will be THE LAST you will see of it.
FAIR WARNING: Do NOT order an edition of the Woodturners' Catalog from Craft Supplies USA until you are ready to spend some serious money!!!
Nancy (who obviously fell hard and fast)
(51 days)