So it’s finally time to replace my secondary lathe which was my first lathe (will be gifted to a home where I know it will get great use). My primary is the big sliding Rikon, which I do everything from giant platters down to pens on. Really love it, but two things vex me, 1 belts, 2 the lack of a headstock stop. So I took that in mind as I started looking at a new secondary lathe. I ended up landing on the Nova Neptune Max, and due to not having reliable local dealers where I’m at, landed on ordering from Rockler, as I have had good luck with them.

Here’s my quandary, emailed Teknatool and they say ship time is late May. Emailed Rockler post order and they say on or before 2/25. So anyone have any experience with like this? Any experience using this lathe? Really sold on the features it has.

I posted the other day about chocking up in a tool when doing delicate work using a 3/8" spindle gouge.

I've found that a typical tool handle is a bit clumsy. The balance is all wrong. So I take the tool out of the handle and do my work with the tool like that. Using the naked tool works but is not particularly comfortable.

I came up with this solution:

https://preview.redd.it/hd901frowsge1.jpg?width=4023&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=459f4a659e37f9ab137bf67efe9c1405af170167

I made a short handle (hard maple), drilled out to 3/8". It fits the tool tightly so it doesn't move around much and can be placed pretty much anywhere on the tool. Balances well, provides a comfortable grip and can be removed to add back to a regular handle, or sharpened.

For some silly reason, I gave it a name - a Choke Grip.

It works pretty good.

Thoughts?

Wanting to give my first bowl/cup a try. The lathe I got only game with a roughing gouge, skewer chisel, and a scraper. Curious if anyone has gotten this set at HF and if it’s good enough for a beginner like me before invest bigger money.

https://www.harborfreight.com/wood-lathe-chisel-set-8-piece-70461.html

A beech tree in my wife's childhood home has been cut down and I've been given a 50cm length of branch to make something for her as a souvenir. It is somewhat oval in cross section at 19cm x 23cm. Would turning it into a thick walled (mostly) hollow cylinder before drying help stop it from cracking?

Ash with danish oil.

The attached pic is a rough approximation of what i am wanting to make. Although mine will not have the stainless steel insert. The inside will be sanded to a 240 grit and coated with a UV curing epoxy 2 or 3 layers thick. My problem that I am struggling with is more of a math/measurement problem. So if it doesn't belong here, please delete.

I want to make a 10 staved column that I will round and hollow on the lathe. I know that each stave is a trapezoid with 18° angles. I am using basic 2x6 pine for the staves.

If the stave is 1.5" thick, how wide, at the widest point must the stave be to get a column that is 5.5" in outside diameter once it is turned round?

Over the last year I've launched a bunch of self-designed tools/products for woodturners. I've been selling them on Etsy and at my local club, and wondered about showing them here.

I'm not looking to spam or anything. People have been really responsive to the products and I love the idea of getting them to a wider audience. I couldn't find any rules against it, but wanted to see what people on the sub think.

Picture is of one such product, a threaded insert that is much more economical than those brass threaded inserts. As long as it's not against the rules I'll post the link later on.

https://preview.redd.it/buyfs05essge1.png?width=726&format=png&auto=webp&s=a076bf7a956c934f45696443a1b9290efd51f76d

I'm a new turner interested in starting with small bowls. Looking at rikon 70-150vsr for $649 plus $100 shipping vs Jet 1221 $849 and $0 shipping.

From what I have learned both seem to be excellent choices and have 5yr warranties. Seems like the Jet usually gets slightly better reviews but does the $100 savings tip the scales in the Rikon's favor?

Do you know some good books to learn something?

Working on my first bowl and did the first coat of Tried & True over the cedar and it looks patchy. Is this normal and I just need another coat or two? Or is it because it’s cedar?

Looking for some advice.... I've been trying to learn to use beeswax as a finish, largely inspired by Richard Raffin's YouTube channel. However, it doesn't seem to be applying very thickly and I'm not getting much protection out of it.

Does anyone have good tips or resources on beeswax finishes?

Got a bunch of cedar donated to me by a local church.

It has been sitting in the Florida sun for about a year but it has a while to go before I can turn it.

The colors really pop! There is some gold streaking through the red that looks like flames.

Starting out with a Rockwell 46-111. Any recommendations on a chuck to use with this machine?