Who is always thinking of buying a tool they don't really need?

[Vaughn McMillan]

I looked at the ad again and it is a 16-43. When I was in high school I got to use a lath and just loved making bowls and little bats. So I'm not certain wether I would find that much joy in it or not. Its really hard to say if I would even find the time...

To expand on what Ryan said, the lathe is just the beginning of expenses for turners. I don't think I've ever met a turner who didn't have more money in lathe tools and accessories than the cost of the lathe itself. Quite often it's double the cost of the lathe or more. By the time you buy a few chisels, a sharpening setup, a chuck, and finishing supplies, you can easily spend over $500, especially if you don't already have things like a bandsaw, compressor, shop vac, chain saw, etc. And that's just to get started. You'll inevitably find other stuff to add to your tools and accessories.

On the other hand, it's a lot of fun.

[Rob Keeble]

I am not what one would call a turner, rather i dabble from time to time. I think Vaughn is being conservative about the extras costs.
Of course it all depends on which lathe you start out with.

Keith you not alone on the tool thing.....i even have a list

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[scott spencer]

I've gotten a little better, but for a while, all those "great deals" were costing me a fortune!

[keith Boutselis]

I never knew turning could get that complicated. I was planning on waiting till the middle of the week and making an offer if it was still available. I never gave the needed accessories a thought till I read the latest posts on the subject.

For instance there are no chisels that come with it. I'm not even sure what else i would need.
Then my thought quickly went to "what are you going to turn on it" meaning where is the wood coming from? I had this romantic image of me carving out a beautiful 16" dia bowl. My image didn't have a price tag on the block of wood I would need. I not only have no idea how much the wood cost, I never even thought of where I would get it. I haven't seen any turning stock at either of the two places I buy hard woods from.

I have gone from "I can't wait to get my lath" to "I better think this over a little harder"

But I still really want one. Its not that I am over dreaming. I think I am just under funded.

[larry merlau]

I never knew turning could get that complicated. I was planning on waiting till the middle of the week and making an offer if it was still available. I never gave the needed accessories a thought till I read the latest posts on the subject.

For instance there are no chisels that come with it. I'm not even sure what else i would need.
Then my thought quickly went to "what are you going to turn on it" meaning where is the wood coming from? I had this romantic image of me carving out a beautiful 16" dia bowl. My image didn't have a price tag on the block of wood I would need. I not only have no idea how much the wood cost, I never even thought of where I would get it. I haven't seen any turning stock at either of the two places I buy hard woods from.

I have gone from "I can't wait to get my lath" to "I better think this over a little harder"

But I still really want one. Its not that I am over dreaming. I think I am just under funded.

well keith to help you in the thinking part,,, the main reason i dont have a lathe is the added costs that come after to make things round,, and what will you do with all of these round things? you would be far better off to have one fo the afflicted folks on this forum make you the round things yu just have to have than to do it your self with a lathe and the tooling that follows behind it.. thats what i do and and i have got enough wood so that doesnt even enter into the picture,,

[Ryan Mooney]

I'd figure somewhere around $150-200 conservatively to get a minimal set of chisels, centers and a face plate new for doing ~most stuff (simple spindles and bowls on a face plate, no chuck, add another $150-200 for a chuck with a couple of jaws when you decide you want that...)

The problem I have is that the "boy it sure would be handy to also haves" keep adding up, I'd put a number on it but I'm afraid that LOML might someday read this board .

I do think that the lathe is probably the most fun tool I have in a lot of ways.. You can go out for a couple of hours and end up with something really cool pretty fast. I've been using it to reduce my scrap pile into things that I can pawn off on others

[Rob Keeble]

Ryan i agree the one thing that can give you some instant gratification and feel good feeling is a quick spin on the lathe.

[Karl Brogger]

I'd like to buy a Gransfors axe. No clue why other than it could come in handy for the zombie apocalypse.

[Jonathan Shively]

Buying tools is cheaper than buying horses. At least the tools don't eat and well, you get the point! Tools, they patiently wait on you. If you can afford it, it is a good deal, so what if it takes another year or two to get the tooling. When you have spare time, when you make the time, you have it. I don't lust after tools, but when I do see one I want, I buy it if I can afford it out of my wallet. I don't put things on a credit card nor do I take any money from our house/living fund. I work hard enough that I do try to put some extra cash in my pocket, guns and tools are to me very soothing and a great way to utilize my extra time (hmmmm, haven't much of that!) at home because I detest going away from home. (Except to go to Larry's and now the upcoming Family Gathering!!!!!!)

[Bill Satko]

I'd like to buy a Gransfors axe. No clue why other than it could come in handy for the zombie apocalypse.

Me too! A broad axe beveled on one side for trimming wood down and probably a forest axe for zombies ... or would their American Felling axe be better for that?