I am starting my first protect on my lathe. My of a lack of c clamps has stopped me from making my first blank. so i have to use a 4 x 4 blank of ceder and a face plate. i plane to make a cup.

should i glue it to another piece of wood or just go for it?

I saw a guy in a video use Tesa double sided tape to put a blank and another piece of wood together. Has anyone else done this?

Do you have a chuck for the lathe?
If so, between centers long enough to turn a tenon to grab with the chuck.
For my money, glue blocks can be unsafe if not applied 100% correctly. A new turner is going to have some spectacular catches, and a glue block is the weak link.
If your blank is square, find a way to knock the edges and corners off, saves a lot of time, and wear and tear on man and equipment.
Rub the bevel, and raise the handle until it begins to cut, Simple to say, execution is sometimes the problem.

I don't have a chuck. That's one of my problems. In school I was spoiled with a 3 jaw. I'm starting with a cup so i can challenge myself and get back in the swing of things. thanks for the advice. 

The cup could be used. I got some Butcher Block Conditioner i can use. but it will probably get used for screws or something.

Michael

Congrats on succumbing to the lure of woodturning and welcome to the forum.  This is a tremendous source of information and support.  The Internet can be an overwhelming collection of written and video information, but unfortunately some is inaccurate, ineffective, or even unsafe.

One of the most effective ways to learn and develop effective and safe lathe experience is through a local woodturning group.  Most have a list of pre-qualified mentors, many offer classes and workshops, allow one to see and ideally test drive tools and accessories before buying, and so on.

I am not comfortable offering up specific solutions without some awareness of one's prior experience, equipment, budget, and short and long term goals.  What's your experience and skill level with spindle gouges, bowl gouges, skew, and scraper.  What is the size of your lathe and what accessories and tools do you have.  What is your sharpening experience and equipment?  Is your immediate interest things like spinning tops, childrens toys, speaker gavel and base, and solid and hollow holiday ornaments (spindle work)?  Is your immediate interest bowls, cups, and platters?  If unsure, by all means join a local woodturning group to gain some knowledge and exposure before maxing out one or two credit cards (lol).

If you want to start with spindle work, a steb or 4 spur drive center for the drive spindle, a live center for the tailstock, a spindle roughing gouge, 3/4" bar diameter spindle gouge, and 1" skew are common tools.

If you wish to start with bowls, cups and platters, different work holding accessories and tools are common.  Typical initial ways to hold bowl blanks include flat or screw faceplates (perhaps in conjunction with glue blocks) and four jaw chucks.  Basic bowl tools can include a 1/2" or 3/4" bar diameter bowl gouge and a 1" scraper with a curved left edge.

Some may suggest carbide tipped tools as a way to immediately begin spindle and/or bowl work without taking the time to learn how to sharpen, and move more traditional gouges and scrapers - I have no experience with them and cannot offer any comment.

There are perhaps three easy ways to get frustrated with initial lathe experience.  One might be only to practice tool presentation and movement for hours on end without making something.  Another might be to immediately suffer catches and poor quality results from trying to make projects too quickly.  A third, with bowl work, might becoming overwhelmed by the different approaches, such as a four jaw chuck, a faceplate, even a vacuum chuck, too early.

For beginning spindle work, 2x2 stock from a big box store or lumberyard is extremely economical and easy to turn, if you stay away from knots.  Once some tool comfort and expertise is developed, thicker poplar is excellent turning stock if one has a local source and the equipment to break down a 2" or thicker board into appropriate sized blanks.  For beginning bowl work, 5 1/2" squares of 2x6 again from a big box store or lumberyard is very economical, easy to work, and economical if one uses a faceplate and glueblock.  With any of a number of different appropriate finishes, a 2x6 bowl can be a very serviceable cereal, snack, or daily utility bowl.

Thank you very much. You all have been very helpful. I have gone with just spindle work and talked to my old wood shop teacher. just a spur center and a live center. I just don't want to wast a 4 x 4 of good ceder. Not having c clamps is a pain. but i did get the wood for 70% off.