Chucking Up My Perform CCSL...

[afterglow]

OK, I'll come out and admit it here. I'm a complete and utter beginner at turning, but it's something I want to get better at.

The sum total of my turnings to date are 5 chess pieces and 3 or 4 furniture knobs. I bought the lathe, a little Perform CCSL like this:

www.axminster.co.uk/product-Perform-CCSL-Woodturning-Lathe-21733.htm

just before circumstances got in the way of my woodworking for the last 4 years.

So - any idea where I can get a longer tool rest for it?

And what would be a sensible first real chuck to add to my birthday list (March is coming soon ) - I've got a drill chuck that I've used for knob turning!

And, is there a decent video that teaches turning that won't send me to sleep after 3 mins? Keith Rowley's video is very good, but I haven't managed to be awake at the end of it yet

Thanks,

Lee

[jaco]

Lee, find a mate with an engineering workshop and ask them to make one for you. Thats what I did for a smaller tool rest.

Cheers
Phil

[jaco]

O, on the chuck - sure someone will be along with some advice.

My lathe was built before they even thought of chucks!

[tigerturnings]

Lee,

I didn't see the tool rest post size listed on the Axminster site, but you'll need to know it to work out which after market tool rests will work with it. Once you know that, you could check Stiles & Bates for tool rests. I've used them for other turning supplies, and have always been impressed with their service but not actually used their tool rests.

As for a chuck, with a lathe that size you really want something fairly lightweight. When I first got into turning I had a Craft Supplies Mini Gripper chuck. It's an expansion-only chuck which expands into a recess you cut in the bottom of the work with a forstner bit. It has a draw bar through the headstock to stop it coming out of the Morse taper (wood turning chucks aren't what a Morse taper was designed to hold; they may otherwise work loose - but I had no problems with mine while using the draw bar). As long as your lathe has a hollow headstock spindle that should work well.

Other ideas would be one of the Multistar Duplex chucks which I've never used but which seem to have a good reputation as long as you cut the mounting recess carefully. Axminster's Clubman K8 is another compact chuck, this time based on the same scroll mechanism of larger chucks which appears to be made for smaller lathes.

With the Mini Gripper you get only two choice of jaws which fit a parallel sided hole (1" or 1.25", the standard size). With the others, pay attention to the availability of different sizes/designs of jaws since not having suitable variety available can be an unwelcome limitation. Also check whether any chuck you consider supports accessories like screw chucks, good for a quick and easy mounting for e.g. turning the outside of a bowl.

Happy new year to everyone!

Neil

[jpt]

HI

I have a CCSL and use the Sorby modular toolrest system and it is excellent. www.turners-retreat.co.uk/acatalog/Modular_Tool_Rest_System.html

As for a chuck the Axminster K10 works very well on that lathe and the range of jaws is bigger than for the K8.

john

[afterglow]

Oops, sorry for the delay in replying, got so excited this week by table drawer-knobs that I suffered temporary forgetfulness about my lathe questions!

Jaco - I can't think of anybody with an engineering workshop, but that's a great idea thanks.

Tiger - I'll have to measure up the toolrest post in the morning or even (god forbid) take a look at the manual

The Stiles & Bates site was a revelation for me - thanks. So many great things to look at relating to woodturning, nicely presented with clear pictures. I took a good look at the various chuck options and also the courses they run - I really do fancy a couple of days with somebody to shout at me every time I get a dig-in with my skew. Suffice to say that the site now lives in my bookmarks

I like the look of the Patriot and the Axminster K8/10. I was tempted a few years ago by the Nova and since the Patriot is a UK improved version, that's probably my favourite at the moment.

JPT - thanks for the tip on the Sorby toolrest system - that appeals to me because it's got lots of bits to interchange :-) Which of the chucks (the k10 or the k8) is the better - you said k10 twice or am I just seeing double?

Cheers,

Lee - feeling the sucking sound of tools getting closer to my wallet by the hour...

[jpt]

HI

Sorry about that have edited the post.

In my opinion the K10 is the better chuck as there are more jaws available for it.

Have you been along to a club yet there are a couple in the Cambridgeshire area. The one I belong to at peterborough and one in Cambridge. Details can be found here www.woodturners.co.uk/branches.htm

john

[afterglow]

Hi John,

Thanks for clearing that up for me - the K10 looks a good buy.

I haven't been to any woodturning club yet - in fact I didn't realise there were a couple so close to home. I'm just off the A1 about 20 mins south of P'boro so pretty close for me - sounds like something I'd love to have a look at.

Is the Peterborough club meeting tomorrow (the schedule of dates ended last December!) - as I'd be quite interested to have a nosey at that. Having said this, of course, Mrs Afterglow will have to stamp my passport as it's rather short notice...

Cheers,

Lee

[jpt]

HI

Yes it is meeting today, starts at 10am finishes about 1pm, then on the first and 3rd Saturdays every month.

regards
john

[jake]

I think it would be better not to eat it in the first place.

[afterglow]

Jake said

I think it would be better not to eat it in the first place.

and I'm delighted that somebody got the joke in the title <groan>


John - didn't catch your message until this morning and by then I'd already spent a leisurely couple of hours with a hot cup of tea and my sketch-pad in front of me, designing a dressing table for, and with, my 6yr old princess. I'll be posting some sketches once I get the design finalised - but she's chosen Jarrah for the legs and Rose Sheoak for the rest of the frame, which I'm rather excited about.

I've committed to making some turned legs for it, so I shall have to come along and get learning fast or suffer a very disappointed 6 year old's wrath!

Cheers,

Lee

[nick]

Short legs then, Lee.
You're welcome to try some on my lathe if you need greater length....... I'm near Stamford