Hello from Northern Alberta

[AB_Winter]

I have 15+ years of professional design experience using Autocad, Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor, and other software. It's been several years now, but I do have some experience with CNC programming. Unfortunately, I haven't spent much time actually building things, at least not using metal. I've decided to start putting a home machine shop together to remedy this.

I am a hobby furniture maker and I'm exploring lathe options that would be suitable for both wood and metal. I could plan for two lathes, but my workshop is less than 600sq feet and already contains some tools and equipment such as a welder, workbench, wood storage, tools storage, bandsaw, and dust collection system. I plan to spend a couple of weeks browsing the forums, and I will likely have additional questions to post on this subject.

I'm not certain about which sort of projects I would like to concentrate on. I often find that my furniture designs are limited to existing hardware options and it would be nice to have the ability to build hardware to match the design, and not the other way around. I also occasionally have a need for custom tools or jigs. Other projects that interest me are clocks, telegraph keys, antique radio tuning mechanisms, flutes, and uilleann bagpipes.

 

[YYCHM]

Welcome from Calgary. How far north is north?

 

[AB_Winter]

Welcome from Calgary. What do you consider northern Alberta to be?

Great question, and I'm not exactly sure of the answer. I'm in the Grande Prairie area, and I always find it funny when some people refer to Edmonton as northern alberta. I guess someone from high level would say the same about Grande Prairie.

 

[crittermutt]

Welcome from Sherwood park.

 

[Susquatch]

Welcome from Ontario Farmland.

As far as I know, there are no wood/metal lathes. The speeds, tools, and access requirements, rigidity, and workholding are all too different. I do make the odd wooden part on my metal lathe but only because I need to. But I doubt you could ever turn metal on a wood lathe. If you don't have the room, I'd try to decide which you want most and live without the other.

 

[deleted_user]

I have 15+ years of professional design experience using Autocad, Solidworks, Autodesk Inventor, and other software. It's been several years now, but I do have some experience with CNC programming. Unfortunately, I haven't spent much time actually building things, at least not using metal. I've decided to start putting a home machine shop together to remedy this.

I am a hobby furniture maker and I'm exploring lathe options that would be suitable for both wood and metal. I could plan for two lathes, but my workshop is less than 600sq feet and already contains some tools and equipment such as a welder, workbench, wood storage, tools storage, bandsaw, and dust collection system. I plan to spend a couple of weeks browsing the forums, and I will likely have additional questions to post on this subject.

I'm not certain about which sort of projects I would like to concentrate on. I often find that my furniture designs are limited to existing hardware options and it would be nice to have the ability to build hardware to match the design, and not the other way around. I also occasionally have a need for custom tools or jigs. Other projects that interest me are clocks, telegraph keys, antique radio tuning mechanisms, flutes, and uilleann bagpipes.

Just my unsolicited two cents, if you plan to use lathe to turn any furniture parts like spindles, or accessories like platters and bowls, well you will want a dedicated wood lathe. With a good chuck, tool rest and steady hand you can even turn things like brass, and plastics like delrin, and ABS, and composites.

ps welcome from Toronto

 

[Susquatch]

With a good chuck, tool rest and steady hand you can even turn things like brass, and plastics like delrin, and ABS, and composites.

Well, I can see cutting plastics N stuff, but you cut brass on a wood lathe? I'm VERY IMPRESSED!

How do you handle keeping brass cylindrical without a compound?

 

[deleted_user]

Well, I can see cutting plastics N stuff, but you cut brass on a wood lathe? I'm VERY IMPRESSED!

How do you handle keeping brass cylindrical without a compound?

wide flat cutting tool. that and i turned mostly knobs on the wood lathe. oh and small cannons for ship models

 

[Tincup]

Welcome from Grande Prairie, I am also a new guy, and just getting into machining

 

[StevSmar]

Welcome from Winnipeg!!!

 

[DPittman]

Welcome from the deep south of Alberta. You have some intriguing interests.

 

[6.5 Fan]

Welcome from SK.

 

[CalgaryPT]

Welcome aboard. Some of us here make furniture as well. I'm more on the fabrication side of the metalworking, but occasionally venture into the furniture realm. Here's one of my attempts, but it's more on the beginner's side: https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/small-furniture-project.2323/#post-29557

 

[DPittman]

but it's more on the beginner's side: https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/small-furniture-project.2323/#post-2955

Ya who are you trying to kid, maybe the newcomers.

 

[Johnwa]

Great question, and I'm not exactly sure of the answer. I'm in the Grande Prairie area, and I always find it funny when some people refer to Edmonton as northern alberta. I guess someone from high level would say the same about Grande Prairie.

Welcome to the group. I’m originally from the North Peace, I think that is still only half way up Alberta. But I’m now definitely in the southern Alberta.

 

[Get it done]

From Sylvan Lake bought a Atlas press and going to try to restore it needs a dust cover any out there?

 

[Clipper]

Welcome from the South Okanagan. Originally from Hinton..

 

[Blouin55]

Welcome from Gaspe

 

[AB_Winter]

Welcome aboard. Some of us here make furniture as well. I'm more on the fabrication side of the metalworking, but occasionally venture into the furniture realm. Here's one of my attempts, but it's more on the beginner's side: https://canadianhobbymetalworkers.com/threads/small-furniture-project.2323/#post-29557

Compared to the construction 2x4 and deck screw furniture projects that I see people trying to sell locally, I would say you're far beyond the beginner level with this one. It looks great. The zebrawood grain works really well with the metal. I've been considering getting into some hybrid metal/wood projects. Wood suitable for furniture making is pretty expensive here, but there is an abundance of scrap metal available, so it would be a cheap option for me.

 

[AB_Winter]

Just my unsolicited two cents, if you plan to use lathe to turn any furniture parts like spindles, or accessories like platters and bowls, well you will want a dedicated wood lathe. With a good chuck, tool rest and steady hand you can even turn things like brass, and plastics like delrin, and ABS, and composites.

ps welcome from Toronto

Thanks, this is really helpful.