Some of the work I have seen here is really exceptional. And it is not just the fancy finish either... Very interesting designs.
Again, if you guys need any spending $ for Xmas....please think of the sandman.

I actually have a semi-dormant woodworking workshop in the basement and the only tool I don't have is a lathe. Sounds like a birthday present..eh? Just what I need....another hobby I honestly don't have the time for it but it looks like fun. I would rather buy them from you guys and just go fishing.

I have a semi-dormant woodworking workshop in the basement and the only tool I don't have is a lathe.

You can never have all the tools, just when you think you do some guy will invent a newer, better, more $ tool for you to spend your money on (You gotta spend it on something, or else it just sits in the pile - which is no fun)

about having to have something newer or more advanced, my lathe is 30yrs old and it runs on a maytag washing machine motor older than that. just like to tell ya.

Originally posted by Christian
about having to have something newer or more advanced, my lathe is 30yrs old and it runs on a maytag washing machine motor older than that. just like to tell ya.
I bet You couldnt Killit if You tryd

Christian:

The lathe I work on is probably just as old as the one you have. It was givien to me years ago, after a Grand-uncle passed away. He had a shop full of old tools, and his widow wanted all the equipment ot go to relatives rather than sell it at a junk sale, give it away or just junk it.
He was a really interesting guy, he was born premature, and the doctors never expected him to live long at all. He proved them all wrong...and lived to be 83. He never had much 'book learning' whick for me made him that much more amazing. When I saw all the tools he made himself, you realize that he made do with what he had...it all just makes you appreciate what you have.
The lathe has an ancient motor that was canabalized from some house applience, the tailstock likes to bind, the headstock has the wrong threads, and if you try to make a thick cut the motor shakes the entire lathe...but it makes chips.

young salt, my lathe does EXACTLY the same thing, when ever i try too take off a large amoutn of wood quickly my motor sort of hops and starts to shake, thats when i know to slow down.

I have a shelf on the bottom of the lathe with a couple bags fo play sand I'm eventually (yeah right) going ot put in the sandbox. I do quite a bit of faceplate work and the sand really absorbs the shake.