I’ve always been a bit fascinated with wood turning, but never really had a good place to have a set of woodworking tools.  But we bought a house a couple years ago with a 3 car garage and recently I began watching wood turning videos again on You Tube.  She noticed, and is rather encouraging in my potential endeavor.  I think she wants me to begin making stuff so she can have more stuff.  I’m good with that.   

So I am getting the HF 34706 for Christmas, along with a grinder, chisels, and probably a miter or table saw.  Depends on what is found.  But I have researched enough to know that I am firm on the 34706 due to price and a HF store 3-4 miles down the road.  The model looks like the right thing for a beginner without spending $500+ on just the lathe itself.  I didn’t want the smaller bench sitting one because it’s smaller and I will just wind up wishing I had gone a bit larger.

I hope to learn a lot here on this site between now and Christmas, and I look forward to showing everyone all the bowls and baseball bats I am about to make.

No seriously, I I have 4 kids that love cereal in the morning every morning, so bowls will be made.  I figure 8-12 should do.  Also, my youngest boy (just turned 9) loves baseball and would definitely like to help make his own bat.  Recommendations on wood for either project?

Thanks for the info.  Are the 20% coupons at HF an occasional thing?  I see online coupons but they seem equipment specific.

Any advice turning willow?  I have a scrap pile out back that I cut up from two that died a couple years ago,  been thinking what to do with it, but guess I know now.  The ends of each log are cracked, but they should be good if I cut off the ends maybe.  Two large trunk bases I might be able to do something with also.

This is the first Christmas in 30 years that has me beside myself with anxious. 

What Jeff said about the HF 20% coupon is correct. They are pretty easy to find either in the paper or just google Harbor Freight coupon.  They always have a 20% coupon.  the 25% are harder to find.  $255 for that lathe is a good deal.  I have never turned willow. Since I have no patience, I have been buying kiln dried wood mostly.  I also practiced on some 2x6s for shallow bowls and they came out pretty good.  I would not use them for cereal.  Too small. I did a mini ball bat (16") out of pine that came out pretty good but you could not hit a ball with pine.  This was more for turning practice.

I forgot to budget a good chuck.  Any recommendations on a store/brand?

Jeff, Great to have you with us.  Welcome.