QUESTION 3: WHAT IS MY TOTAL TURNING BUDGET?

Notice the word "total" in that question? As you are probably aware, the cost of the lathe itself is only part of the picture. Most first-time lathe buyers don't realize how quickly the other "essentials" can add up. But with some preliminary research you can know up-front what other items are required, allocate your budget wisely, and avoid the "I didn't know I needed that" game. We'll discuss each of those "essential" items on the next page. We'll also discuss a few optional items in a later section.

Another frequently asked question related to budget is, "Do I need to buy quality gear?"

Yes, and no. For some items, the old adage "buy cheap, buy twice" applies. For these items you can save money in the long-run by spending a bit extra up front. In other areas the quality of a given item is not that important. These are the areas you should try to stretch your dollar. I'll share a few thoughts on item quality as we go through each of the item categories.

But always keep the following in mind:

Your hand and eye are THE most important tools in your arsenal.

Your equipment, by itself, will not make you a good turner. Proper technique and an eye for form will carry you much further than a $100 gouge. Richard Raffan or Nick Cook could turn beautiful work on a 50 year old tube lathe if they had to. By the same token, a top-of-the-line lathe with all the attachments and highest quality tools does not make you a professional turner, or even a good one for that matter. It simply makes you another turner with a nice lathe. What you produce with the tool is up to you.

Keep that in mind as you continue reading.