The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource - Proper Horse Power for general lathe work

Randy Welch WR Noob Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 1 Delta	Proper Horse Power for general lathe work Oct 20^th, 2016 at 2:57pm What is considered the proper Horse Power for turning bowls and vases.
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Ed Weber

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Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work
Reply #1 - Oct 20^th, 2016 at 4:10pm

As the diameter of the bowl increases, so should the HP increase.
I don't know if there is an actual chart somewhere but as a guide something like this
Anything up to 10" you need 1 hp
10"-16" you need 1 1/2hp
Over 16" diameter 2hp
These are just guidelines and minimums, more hp is usually better. Because there are so many factors involved from the wood to the tool used, it's just a guess.

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Ron Sardo WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Chief cook and bottle washer Posts: 9,674 Drums Pennsylvania USA PM 3520	Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work Reply #2 - Oct 20^th, 2016 at 6:22pm I'm not sure about that Ed, I have a 357 Hemi on my pen lathe
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Don Stephan WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 2,659 Cincinnati, Ohio Ohio USA Gender:	Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work Reply #3 - Oct 20^th, 2016 at 7:29pm Ed's always calling for pictures, Ron. That's one even I would like to see.
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Steve Arnold Active Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 139 Burbank California USA Gender: Jet 1640EVS	Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work Reply #4 - Oct 20^th, 2016 at 7:35pm Ron Sardo wrote on Oct 20^th, 2016 at 6:22pm: I'm not sure about that Ed, I have a 357 Hemi on my pen lathe WOW! How many miles do you get to the refill?
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Bert Delisle WR Addict Offline Posts: 1,424 Calgary Alberta Canada Gender: Vicmarc 300	Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work Reply #5 - Oct 21^st, 2016 at 8:32am Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or Not a Hemi but it gets the job done.
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robo_hippy

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Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work
Reply #6 - Oct 21^st, 2016 at 11:27am

For easier bowl turning, especially if you are coring your blanks, minimum 2 hp and 220 volt. I have 3 hp. This is more in the production level of turning. You can get by with less, but you spend more time turning. If you plan on selling, you need bowls up to about 14 inch diameter. Anything above that size is more of a specialty market and harder to move. Bowls down to 4 inch or so also move well. You just never know. Selling is as much of an art as drying is, and turning, and wood selection as every situation is different, and some are more different than others.

robo hippy

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David Hill

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Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work
Reply #7 - Oct 22^nd, 2016 at 10:04pm

What robo said.
I started with less hp only because I wanted to see if I liked it--well I did. I went up the ladder from lathe to lathe--you can see where I am now & there are no upgrades left for now. Roll Eyes

At least 1 hp for bowls which gives you lots of choices---we all have our druthers, so the best advice is do your research and by all means try them out before you plunge (that's what the Clubs can offer & you make great new friends with like interests).

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« Last Edit: Oct 22^nd, 2016 at 10:07pm by David Hill »

Everyday liberating nice things from ordinary chunks of wood---and I like gnarly wood, the outcome is nearly always better than the start.

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Ron Sardo WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Chief cook and bottle washer Posts: 9,674 Drums Pennsylvania USA PM 3520	Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work Reply #8 - Oct 23^rd, 2016 at 7:09am @ Randy Welch You can always turn something small like a pen on a big lathe, but you can't always turn something big on a small lathe.
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Bert Delisle

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Re: Proper Horse Power for general lathe work
Reply #9 - Oct 23^rd, 2016 at 8:47pm

Ron Sardo wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2016 at 7:09am:

@

Randy Welch

You can always turn something small like a pen on a big lathe, but you can't always turn something big on a small lathe.

Very true Ron,
I can and have turned the max my lathe can handle , 24" ended up with a 22" bowl. (Once). Have cored many blanks but now find most turnings are smaller but on occasion the heavy lathe with large throw is great for off center work . Thumbs Up

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