Newbie Turner

Those look great. It is addictive. Im new to turning too. Just turn down a chunk of 2×4 to a 4 or 5” circle and make i tiny bit concave and screw thatt to the faceplate, then mark center on your blank and superglue to your piece to turn. Part off when done. I used that method for a while, works pretty good. You can use the CA accelerator and be ready to turn almost instantly

-- Witty signature line still pending

+1 to above.

I’ve been using the same glue block for years. Mines is made form scrap maple. I don’t use CA though. I just use yellow glue and some newspaper or brown paper bag, just separate with a chisel when ready to part off.

a good 4 jaw is a good thing to have though.

Here’s a great book for holding things on your lathe.

Fixtures and Chucks for Woodturning: Everything You Need to Know to Secure Wood on Your Lathe

Projects look great, keep turnin’ ‘em out.

-- - Terry

I’d say that for a Newbie Turner, you seem to have mastered the craft already. Those are some beautiful turnings. I especially like the goblet, beautiful work.

-- "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln

Good job. You may be new but with practice, cause my first pieces and some now are far from these. Keep it up.

-- I,ve had amnesia for as long as I can remember. Vernon

Thanks! I’m turning a chalice at the moment. I’ll post up pics later! I think I found my calling

You are doing a great job for a novice.
Chucks are worth every penny. I especially like being able to un-mount the piece for any number of reasons and be able to put it back on and know it is still centered. Works great when applying a finish that needs further sanding or buffing on the lathe
I like to cut a recess for the chuck jaws to grip on in the blank using a circle template (of the correct size) cut in a scrap piece of plywood and a dovetail bit with template guide on my router. I usually do this on the “top” side first so I can turn and shape the bottom, where I also cut a new recess for the jaws, so that when the bottom is all done (including sanding) I can turn it over and complete the inside. I leave the recess in the bottom. Sometimes I cut decorative ring patterns in the center of the recess. Some people prefer to mount the work using a raises spigot for the jaws to clamp on and then cutting it off when they are done so the bottom is smooth. For me that is just extra work.
My second favorite tool on the lathe is the Munro Hollowing tool for making bowls and similar hollow shapes. It is expensive but does a great job and saves a lot of time. It is next to impossible for it to catch and damage the piece; even when working deep in a bowl. Google it for more info. There are others who make similar tools but none are cheap.

-- Les B, Oregon

Welcome to T.A.(turners anonymous). Get the best chuck you can afford. It’ll last a lifetime and you won’t be sorry.
Great turnings btw.

-- A family man has photos in his wallet where his money used to be.

I too say try to get yourself a chuck a.s.a.p. especially when you need to make more stuff which is not really suitable to be turned between centres.I see your turnings are for a beginner very good and feel you would benefit from having the benefits from chuck holding and see an almost immediate improvement in your work.Alsi I would strongly advise that you try to join a club, or get someone in your area to help you along as good quality turning is not as easy as it looks that is to say to get really nice results,there are a lot of rules to follow and unless you learn them methodically you will make things harder for your self with uneccessary dig ins etc to get constantly good results. Aslo maybe get some or hire some videos re beginner turning watch them as I did over and over and you will be surprised each time you do you will learn another little bit.. However I feel that you have a talent worth pursuing I have been turning now for about fifteen years or more and have three wood lathes and am still improving and still making dumb mistakes.It is all part of the fun of turning. so have fun long term fun.lol Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

beautiful work, check out my home made lathe

-- Brian - Hazelton, British Columbia

What is the lathe you purchased? I’ve been thinking of one for years, and I may just end up with a Harbor Freight el-cheapo for starters.

Thanks for all the info! Youtube has been a good friend to me since I have a limited budget. I thought about making my own carbide tip tools out of quality hardened steel scraps I got lying around. I made my own bowl gouge out of a shaft from an old electric motor. Grind…sharpen…check…til it does the job. I would like to have a nice turning set…other than these craftsman tooled steel chirp swords! I can’t afford an awesome chuck…but I may have to save some pennies and get one next year or something! Dovetail jaws…I really wants the dovetail jaws!

I got this older Craftsman 12” lathe….made a 1mt live center from my 2mt with a little filing, bought a 4” faceplate and going til my tendinitis tells me to go to bed! I haven’t even touched the fastest speed yet…for sanding I had some old belt sanding belts lying around so I tear them off to whatever width I need and hammer down with dust mask clogging quick!

I thought making boxes was fun…

Which chuck would you veterans recommend?

Toolpost.co.uk , got a model T off them 2 yrs ago. Found it to be reliable & value for money.

-- A family man has photos in his wallet where his money used to be.

Wow! They all look great and have awesome and different shapes. Pretty impressive for a newbie, great job!