Brand new PM1030V, never used a lathe before, what do I need?

[PrettyHateMachining]

Hi guys,

I've literally never even seen a lathe in person before my PM1030V arrived yesterday. I'll be turning almost exclusively round steel stock for mostly artistic purposes (so crazy accuracy is not required generally). I mostly make steel art and weapons so things like decorative handles, pommels and other stuff like that.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ASD9000]

This may be to late but better than never, I assume you have seen the 1030v thread by now but in case you have not this is what I recommend. First things first clean everything, I used wd40 and to clean everything wipe all the rust inhibitor off and proceeded to adjust gibs, I also disassembled the chucks and cleaned them and assembled them again. And the next thing Iwould say to do but it it is a little more involved is flush and change the oil in the apron and the gear box.

 

[wrmiller]

You need some basic lathe bits, obviously, and I would suggest looking into a quick-change tool post (AXA?) for your lathe if one is available (ask Matt?). Reason I suggest that is because when I'm doing artsy stuff I'm switching out cutters quite a bit, e.g. cutting in opposite directions, angled shoulder vs. perpendicular, etc., and a quick-change saves a boatload of time going back and forth from cutter to cutter.

I would also suggest a small radius turning tool for doing radius' like on a pommel and whatnot. If you could find one that fit into a tool holder for you quick-change that might be ideal. Or you could make one, or have someone here make one for you.

That's all I have at the moment and off the top of my head.

 

[Dave Paine]

If you will want to machine profiles/curves, this thread on gravers is worth reading. You can make a lot of different shapes with gravers, just takes time and practice, like everything else.

Gravers thread by Mikey

 

[PrettyHateMachining]

Interesting, never heard of a graver but now I'm diving in head first!

Dope

 

[T Bredehoft]

Send it to me, I've never run that lathe before, myself. But,i'll spend two months checking it out and send it back with a report.