Hobby Thread - February 28, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) a spin and it landed on woodworking on a lathe.

***

What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. I understand that some people pay attention to military hardware, tactics and strategy as a hobby. Discussion of current events permitted but must be made in the form of hobby commentary. Pants are optional. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

***

The Grateful generously arranged for delivery of a new mini-lathe to our house to recognize a recent birthday. Hooray! Apparently I made a comment on a Hobby Thread at some point that expressed interest in a wood lathe. The idea is small scale tinkering (for now).

Anyway, by complete coincidence, the Hobby Thread is being repurposed for wisdom and recommendations relating to turning wood. Are you wise in the ways of the wood lathe? What do you make?

Suggestions for set-ups? Build or buy a bench to give it a stable base? Ideas to manage the resulting dust and debris?

Suggestions for other necessary tools, like calipers, gouges and clamps? (No need to suggest eyewear and sandpaper.)

Suggestions for types of wood to use for practice and for real?

Suggestions for beginner projects? Seems like candle holders and small bowls are the usual ideas.

Other advice, guidance or wisdom?

What is not intuitive, but important?

***

Setting up your first woodworking lathe:

***

Your first go on a wood lathe:

***

Making snowmen:

***

What tool should I use?

***

Fun making spinning tops.

***

This is not a mini-lathe, but features making wood bowls on a lathe. The name of the guy's channel - Jim Made it from Junk - earned it a place here.

***

Simple, but clever:

***

Making a Christmas ornament - inside out!

***

***

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did an gold panning theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

***

Notable comments from last week:

***

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

***

If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute your own. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 What? Not target shooting?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 28, 2026 05:30 PM (uQesX)

2 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at February 28, 2026 05:32 PM (Ia/+0)

3 I've been drawing maps for my atlas of imaginary countries. It's fun because nobody can say I'm doing it wrong!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at February 28, 2026 05:32 PM (kpS4V)

4 My past uncle had a full size lathe, I never tried using it

Posted by: Skip at February 28, 2026 05:33 PM (Ia/+0)

5 My current hobby is dialing in my IDE.

It is said that no Neovim config is ever complete, but mine may be close.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 28, 2026 05:33 PM (XV/Pl)

6 Dad did woodworking for fun. I didn't. No more of his tools or saw left.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 28, 2026 05:33 PM (uQesX)

7 I love that commemorative plaque on the band saw! I took shop class in junior high (mandatory) and the band saw terrified me.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at February 28, 2026 05:35 PM (kpS4V)

8 I really wanted to do a SOTA hike today, but it's raining steadily and water is NOT good for electronics. I need a TX-500MP or some big-assed military surplus radio for weather like this. I could haul around a PRC-77 and pretend to look out for Charlies in the trees.

Posted by: PabloD at February 28, 2026 05:35 PM (+HNa2)

9 Are those man-packable radios?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at February 28, 2026 05:37 PM (kpS4V)

10 Just get on with it and craft up some sweet Christmas Ornaments.

Posted by: HappyFun at February 28, 2026 05:37 PM (CoQfd)

11 Guy I knew in high school cut half of one of his middle fingers off with a band saw while making a skate board in shop class.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 28, 2026 05:37 PM (Cqx++)

12 Speaking of tops.... who remembers "Wizzers?"

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 28, 2026 05:38 PM (jtM2q)

13 If the Iranian protestors had some type of rudimentary lathe they could………

Posted by: Opinion fact at February 28, 2026 05:39 PM (4hjRS)

14 Wood turning looks cool

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at February 28, 2026 05:40 PM (vfth7)

15 Our shop class instructor had a scar running up his thumb, through the nail, up to the first knuckle.

Band saw.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes. at February 28, 2026 05:41 PM (kpS4V)

16 Congrats Trex, may your tools ever be sharp!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 28, 2026 05:41 PM (H0pbe)

17 I have 3 metal lathes. One functional and two that need to be combined. I really want an old Bridgeport Mill.
My wood lathe is in storage at my brothers place along with the rest of the woodworking machines.
That bandsaw was manufactured by a guy who was investigated by the Warren commision. There were like 10 of them in a foundry I worked at and when I went to search the company I was soon immersed in Kennedy conspiracy world.

Posted by: Reforger at February 28, 2026 05:42 PM (onCFI)

18 When I took shop class in high school, we all made billy clubs using the lathe. I still have mine somewhere.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at February 28, 2026 05:42 PM (CHHv1)

19 I certainly have lots of dangerous power tools, still hsve all my fingers and eyes

Posted by: Skip at February 28, 2026 05:44 PM (Ia/+0)

20 Penn State Industries - https://www.pennstateind.com/ will get you all hooked up for making pens, which is *very* fun and gives you lots of neat gifts to give away.

For setup you might consider a rolling cart (locking casters, of course). I made one for my scroll saw so I can put it away when not in use. My little lathe I just set on a table because I don't use it that much.

If you make a cart then during good weather you can make your messes outside.

Posted by: KCSteve at February 28, 2026 05:46 PM (2+WvJ)

21 Just get on with it and craft up some sweet Christmas Ornaments.
Posted by: HappyFun
*********
Right? You should see the list of "suggested" projects that accompanied the gift....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 05:49 PM (IQ6Gq)

22 the list of "suggested" projects that accompanied the gift....
Posted by: The Grateful

Perfect! Now lay in fresh first aid supplies.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 28, 2026 05:53 PM (H0pbe)

23 There was shop class in my jr. high and high school, centuries ago during the Punic Wars. I don't remember anybody losing a finger.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 05:55 PM (wzUl9)

24 Had a great summer job in college as a reenactor at Historic Fort Snelling. I was the Fort's carpenter.

Got to be pretty good on the Spring-Pole Lathe (look it up.) Also pretty accurate at hitting the tobacco spitbox at 8 -10 feet.

Fun Fact: Helped the Fort's Blacksmith make the hinges for the Main Gate built that year.

Another Fun Fact: Had a great summer romance with a girl staying with her Dad for the summer that I met there.

A Third Fun Fact: My made-up name was Zubaleh Bubalakowsky.

Posted by: Fritzy at February 28, 2026 05:56 PM (2GIh1)

25 My neighbor set up his shopsmith for routing. His wife called and asked if I'd watch the dogs while she took him to the hospital. Apparently it ate a bunch of his finger.
Heh.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 28, 2026 05:57 PM (2WIwB)

26 Eris - the TX 500 is pretty small and easily portable. It's also expensive hard to acquire, being made in Russia.

Ebay always has mil-surp radios for sale, but who knows if any if them actually work. There are people on this blog who could probably fix them; I'm not one of them.

Posted by: PabloD at February 28, 2026 06:00 PM (+HNa2)

27 Time I went to feed the furry thugs.

The thread before the Pet Thread is still going at 1000 comments.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 06:06 PM (wzUl9)

28 1 What? Not target shooting?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 28, 2026 05:30 PM (uQesX)
---
That's a nice lathe up top, but I'm pleased as punch with the sight remover tool I bought for my handguns. It's a similarly mechnical contraption.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 06:13 PM (cWLG3)

29 That's a nice lathe up top, but I'm pleased as punch with the sight remover tool I bought for my handguns. It's a similarly mechnical contraption.
Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 06:13 PM (cWLG3)

Be careful, you'll put your eye out!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 28, 2026 06:14 PM (uQesX)

30 @29 Am I using it wrong? I still have sight in both eyes.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 06:16 PM (cWLG3)

31 OT: oh no will I kicked off from here too?

I got suspended from X for telling Bernie Sanders to die in one of the beautiful homes he owns.

LOL..

Posted by: no one of any consequence at February 28, 2026 06:19 PM (qFwJc)

32 I love the stuff made by woodturners, but it definitely isn't a hobby for me.

If any other gamers are interested in a *free* wuxia-inspired MMORPG Where Winds Meet Is gorgeous and we have a guild there. My name in game is Nisaana and teh guild is called AoSHQHorde. You can contact me there or leave a message on the Tech thread.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 28, 2026 06:20 PM (lFFaq)

33 I need one of those wood lathes. I want to make a bunch of chisel handles. I have a shit ton of ebony turning squares.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at February 28, 2026 06:21 PM (snZF9)

34 Recently in pipe smoking: I bought a blend from Cornell & Diehl (almost the only large company left in the pipe tobacco field) called Redburn. Rather than being in ribbons or flakes, it's a "crumble cake" -- it looks like a hefty brownie and you carve bits off of it to load your pipe. Got some cocoa aroma to it, and a bit of a kick. I'll mix it with something milder.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 06:22 PM (wzUl9)

35 Had a full size lathe for a time and enjoyed using it. Made a few useful items, nothing too involved. Lathes are unexcelled at making saw dust and shavings while doing something useful. (This is great if you have hamsters.) My brother in law has it now.

If I were to replace it, I would get one of the smaller models, maybe 12 inch. Something suitable for turning pens and the like. It is satisfying to take a rough blank and see it take shape so quickly. It's also surprising how smooth and polished a surface can become using a lathe.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 06:22 PM (yTvNw)

36 If you can't operate a bandsaw without bleeding, you need to stay indoors and knit.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 28, 2026 06:22 PM (gVUi7)

37 Am I using it wrong? I still have sight in both eyes.
Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 06:16 PM (cWLG3)

Cheap Chinese junk. Buy ACME instead.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 28, 2026 06:23 PM (uQesX)

38 Oh, and last week I bought another blend from the same C & D people called "Briar Fox." The online descriptions sounded pretty good. As yet I haven't opened it; I guess I'm waiting for a special occasion.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 06:23 PM (wzUl9)

39 One thing about wood lathes, do NOT buy shit wood turning tools. You will be pissed. Good ones are a bit pricey, but in the long run they are worth it.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at February 28, 2026 06:23 PM (snZF9)

40 If you can't operate a bandsaw without bleeding, stay sober.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at February 28, 2026 06:25 PM (qFwJc)

41 I thought about building a rudimentary lathe once when I was in a tight spot, but just didn’t have the time.

Posted by: Commander Taggart at February 28, 2026 06:25 PM (etYFQ)

42 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 06:23 PM (wzUl9)

Wolfus, just posted something on ALH you might be interested in.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 28, 2026 06:26 PM (uQesX)

43 34 ... " I bought a blend from Cornell & Diehl (almost the only large company left in the pipe tobacco field) called Redburn. Rather than being in ribbons or flakes, it's a "crumble cake" -- it looks like a hefty brownie and you carve bits off of it to load your pipe. Got some cocoa aroma to it, and a bit of a kick. I'll mix it with something milder."

Just bought a tin but haven't tried it yet. Have you lit a bowl of it yet? I understand it's a burley base and I've been in a burley mood lately.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 06:27 PM (yTvNw)

44 Elementary school summer Y program I turned bowling pins into lamps. Don't remember a thing. The idea of sticking a knife into a turning piece of wood creates visions of blood and torn flesh.
But I was a kid and he said you do it like this.
And I did.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 28, 2026 06:30 PM (v5dF2)

45 My sister, declaring her disgust for Home Ec, took wood shop in high school. She made several things, but the one I recall best was a bongo board! Man, we had fun on that thing. I'd be scared for my life to step on it today, for fear of breaking a hip or something...

Posted by: tankascribe at February 28, 2026 06:30 PM (NtoJk)

46 the list of "suggested" projects that accompanied the gift....
Posted by: The Grateful

Perfect! Now lay in fresh first aid supplies.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron
*******
No worries, I have a big red bag full of all kinds of supplies...problem is it's currently in TX.....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 06:31 PM (IQ6Gq)

47 No worries, I have a big red bag full of all kinds of supplies...problem is it's currently in TX.....
Posted by: The Grateful

Something, something, something, poor planning!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 28, 2026 06:34 PM (H0pbe)

48 Other advice, guidance or wisdom?

What is not intuitive, but important?
One thing about wood lathes, do NOT buy shit wood turning tools. You will be pissed. Good ones are a bit pricey, but in the long run they are worth it.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division

This!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at February 28, 2026 06:36 PM (H0pbe)

49 For those who watched the Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill, I can say the spring pole lathe he made does work surprisingly well. Even with my less than stellar skills I was able to make one and turn some tool handles and use it to put a smooth finish on the pieces. Obviously a lot slower than a motorized lathe but since it can be made even on a raw frontier with everyday hand tools, it would have been a valuable resource for pioneer settlements. It doesn't even need fancy gouges. You can do a lot of shaping with rasps and finer wood files.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 06:36 PM (yTvNw)

50 I'd like to get one of those all-in-one milling machines to make things. Anyway...

How many hard boiled eggs will fit into a 1 gallon pickle jar?

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 28, 2026 06:36 PM (/lPRQ)

51 Quick Bing search says...

A 1-gallon pickle jar can fit approximately 12 to 18 hard-boiled eggs...

I would think it closer to 3 or 4 dozen.
Only one way to find out...

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 28, 2026 06:37 PM (/lPRQ)

52 My husband wanted to learn to use a wood lathe. He managed to find a guy to give him lessons, which was nice. He picked up a 1940s wood lathe with a homemade contraption to vary the speed. He didn't do much with it and I hope it wound up at the Toledo Boat Shop (in OR), where it was supposed to go after he died.

We had a lot of fun looking for places to buy wood and meeting people that did this. And I have a couple of pieces from the guy that gave the lessons, including three tiny wooden bowls for my supported spindles.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 28, 2026 06:37 PM (gQ15S)

53 " I bought a blend from Cornell & Diehl (almost the only large company left in the pipe tobacco field) called Redburn. Rather than being in ribbons or flakes, it's a "crumble cake" -- it looks like a hefty brownie and you carve bits off of it to load your pipe. Got some cocoa aroma to it, and a bit of a kick. I'll mix it with something milder."

Just bought a tin but haven't tried it yet. Have you lit a bowl of it yet? I understand it's a burley base and I've been in a burley mood lately.
Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026

***
JTB, I have smoked it; that's how I know it has some nicotine strength, more than I like. And yes, it is a burley w/ some Virginia and some dark-fired Kentucky.

Today I mixed it with some mild Match Field & Stream. While a half bowl woke me up, it wasn't overwhelming.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 06:40 PM (wzUl9)

54 Suggestions for set-ups?
Expect a LOT of mess for about a 4' radius. I have mine about 16" from a wall so that I can hang tools (there will be a lot of them) and the dust collection pipe.
Build or buy a bench to give it a stable base?
Either, but go for HEAVY. Weight greatly reduces the "walking" that happens when you turn something that's not balanced.
Ideas to manage the resulting dust and debris?
A dust collection system that's not a shop vac. A shop vac grabs what's close to the hose, while a real dust collector clears the air.

Suggestions for other necessary tools, like calipers, gouges and clamps?
Things I use regularly: straight calipers, figure 8 calipers for measuring wall thickness, drill chuck for the tailstock, 4 jaw chuck for the head stock, bench grinder for sharpening gouges, gouges of course. I have straight and right angle looong reach needle nose pliers for holding sandpaper deep inside a bowl or vase.
(No need to suggest eyewear and sandpaper.)

Suggestions for types of wood to use for practice and for real?
Don't practice with cheap soft wood, because it won't help. The easiest wood I've turned in southern red cedar. Cuts like soap.

Posted by: watchin at February 28, 2026 06:41 PM (dewkg)

55 For those who hand laod ammo as part of the shooting hobby, a number of the bigger retailers, Natchez, Midsouth, and MidwayUSA, are having sales on reloading tools and gear. Haven't noticed the same level of sales for components like powder, brass and primers.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 06:44 PM (yTvNw)

56 Does anyone have a good plan for a raised garden bed. I have a bunch of treated wood for a deck left over and want to put it to good use. There's a million different plans out there and I'm not sure which to jump on.

Posted by: Are you sure about this sir? at February 28, 2026 06:44 PM (U/7CP)

57 Don't know if this qualifies as a hobby, but I like to work on the house. My latest annoying project is extending a propane line under my new deck for a grill. I've worked with CSST before so that's no issue but I have to cut into a 1/2" black pipe and thread it.

Guess who sold off all of his threading equipment before moving down here? I've talked to 5-6 others who also got rid of their taps and dies.

I don't want to buy a new set and I'm just sick I got rid of my Ridgid dies.

Oh yeah, and get off my lawn.

Posted by: Tonypete at February 28, 2026 06:47 PM (cYBz/)

58 Does anyone have a good plan for a raised garden bed. I have a bunch of treated wood for a deck left over and want to put it to good use. There's a million different plans out there and I'm not sure which to jump on.
Posted by: Are you sure about this sir?

Treated wood? Absolutely not for food crops.

Otherwise, go for small enough to reach across and high enough not to wreck your back bending over.

Say, 18" high, 3 ft or less wide, as long as you want.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 28, 2026 06:47 PM (/lPRQ)

59 I have to clean my shop. I have 4 large contractor bags of shavings outside, and probably another 3 or 4 to clean up.

My turnings were featured on here awhile back. If I can help with questions, techniques, setup, etc.... I'd be glad to help.
scohargroveatprotonmaildotcom

Posted by: watchin at February 28, 2026 06:48 PM (dewkg)

60 53 ... " it has some nicotine strength, more than I like. And yes, it is a burley w/ some Virginia and some dark-fired Kentucky.

Today I mixed it with some mild Match Field & Stream. While a half bowl woke me up, it wasn't overwhelming."

Wolfus,
I wonder how it would do mixing it with something like Lane BCA. That flavored black cavendish adds a bit of mildness and flavor to stronger blends. I keep some on hand just for that although I enjoy a bowl by itself now and then.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 06:50 PM (yTvNw)

61 Wolfus,
I wonder how it would do mixing it with something like Lane BCA. That flavored black cavendish adds a bit of mildness and flavor to stronger blends. I keep some on hand just for that although I enjoy a bowl by itself now and then.
Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026

***
That sounds like it would work great. I've never tried the Lane blends under that name. No doubt some of them were the blends Tinder Box marketed in the '80s, when I first tried the pipe.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 06:51 PM (wzUl9)

62 There was shop class in my jr. high and high school, centuries ago during the Punic Wars. I don't remember anybody losing a finger.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

We had an industrial sized joiner in my high school shop class. A teacher's aide lost all of his on one hand using it. We also had a vacuum sawdust collection system, and someone had to replace all of the clear tubing, for obvious reasons.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 28, 2026 06:52 PM (0U5gm)

63 I have my late maternal grandfather's shop lathe. It has to be somewhere around 70 years old and has enough use on it that he said the bed needs to be planed level.

Someday I'll rehab it and set it up.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at February 28, 2026 06:56 PM (/HDaX)

64 59 If I can help with questions, techniques, setup, etc.... I'd be glad to help.
scohargroveatprotonmaildotcom

Posted by: watchin at February 28, 2026 06:48 PM
***
Thank you!

Posted by: TRex - dust collector dino at February 28, 2026 06:56 PM (IQ6Gq)

65 I'm pleased as punch with the sight remover tool I bought for my handguns. It's a similarly mechnical contraption.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 06:13 PM (cWLG3)

I bought a sight tool built specifically for H&K, and it is a piece of shit!

What did you buy?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 28, 2026 06:59 PM (n9ltV)

66 57 Don't know if this qualifies as a hobby, but I like to work on the house.

Posted by: Tonypete at February 28, 2026 06:47 PM
***
Yes, tinkering, improving and taking care of "fix its" around the house qualifies.

Posted by: TRex - home on the range dino at February 28, 2026 06:59 PM (IQ6Gq)

67 62

We had an industrial sized joiner in my high school shop class. A teacher's aide lost all of his on one hand using it. We also had a vacuum sawdust collection system, and someone had to replace all of the clear tubing, for obvious reasons.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at February 28, 2026 06:52 PM (0U5gm)

----
What you have recounted could be scenes from a horror movie. I imagined heinous screams followed by the camera turning its focus on the clear tubes as the sawdust turned red with blood.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 07:00 PM (cWLG3)

68 Aha. A bit of poking around the web and I found a picture that looks like the lathe I'm talking about:

https://tinyurl.com/oldcmlathe

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at February 28, 2026 07:03 PM (/HDaX)

69 Writing is not a hobby for me (too many years of crazy deadlines for business writing and user manuals) but using fountain pens is. Lately I've been using fountain pens even for casual notes. It requires a slower pace and my handwriting definitely improves when I use them. It's not calligraphy or anything fancy, just enjoyable.

I used to prefer a fine or extra fine nib. The last few years I've come to prefer a broad nib or even a 1.1mm stub for writing. Not sure of the reason for the change but the bigger nibs allow for a bit of flare in shaping the letters.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:03 PM (yTvNw)

70 65 I'm pleased as punch with the sight remover tool I bought for my handguns. It's a similarly mechnical contraption.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 06:13 PM (cWLG3)

I bought a sight tool built specifically for H&K, and it is a piece of shit!

What did you buy?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 28, 2026 06:59 PM (n9ltV)

-----
This is the one:
https://a.co/d/0fkQwFjD

Please note: be sure to lube all the screws with machine oil and run them all the way in and out before use. Also, in spite of what some commenters said, DO NOT use a socket wrench to turn the crank for the pusher -- that how you will break it! Back it off then crank it forward again if it's resisting mightily.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 28, 2026 07:05 PM (cWLG3)

71 Every time a lathe is mentioned I think of Galaxy Quest

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 28, 2026 07:06 PM (HYqoK)

72 I used to prefer a fine or extra fine nib. The last few years I've come to prefer a broad nib or even a 1.1mm stub for writing. Not sure of the reason for the change but the bigger nibs allow for a bit of flare in shaping the letters.
Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:03 PM (yTvNw)
---
I love old fashioned pens, but, being left-handed I write sideways, which lends itself to much smearing.

But for art projects I will use high-end felt tip markers that use India ink, and I've had good results. I love the precision of a good ink drawing.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:08 PM (0aYVJ)

73 72 ... "But for art projects I will use high-end felt tip markers that use India ink, and I've had good results."

Pug,
What's the brand you use for those felt tip markers?

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:10 PM (yTvNw)

74 But for art projects I will use high-end felt tip markers that use India ink, and I've had good results. I love the precision of a good ink drawing.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank
**************
I have never tried to do an ink drawing, but I do enjoy looking at them. Such skill....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:10 PM (IQ6Gq)

75 69 It's not calligraphy or anything fancy, just enjoyable.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:03 PM
***
The Wheel of Hobbies may consider a calligraphy theme at some point...

Posted by: TRex - bad handwriting dino at February 28, 2026 07:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

76 Any body knows what times Presdent Obana was be on CNN twonite ?

Posted by: Mary Cloggistein from Brattleboro, Vt at February 28, 2026 07:11 PM (4MFaN)

77 Every time a lathe is mentioned I think of Galaxy Quest
Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 28, 2026 07:06 PM (HYqoK)

Make sure it's rudimentary.

Posted by: Additional Blond Agent, STEM Guy at February 28, 2026 07:13 PM (/HDaX)

78 Pug,
What's the brand you use for those felt tip markers?
Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:10 PM (yTvNw)

Alsa, I do not remember the brand, and I cannot locate them after we moved. Probably in a box somewhere. But they run .03 to 0.1, and there is a chisel tip one I like a lot.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:21 PM (0aYVJ)

79 The Eduard/HKM 1/48 B-25J strafer nose Mitchell has finally arrived at Sprue Brothers. MSRP is $144.

Squadron still has it listed as pre-order for $144.

Sprue Brothers is also having a 20% off MiniArt sale this weekend.

Posted by: Anna Puma at February 28, 2026 07:22 PM (2GVsD)

80 I have never tried to do an ink drawing, but I do enjoy looking at them. Such skill....
Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:10 PM (IQ6Gq)

It's my favorite medium. I don't paint, but I draw. I've used pencil, charcoal, pastels. I like all of them, but ink is simply fun. I also mix media, ink and pastel, for example.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:25 PM (0aYVJ)

81 78 ... Pug, Thanks for mentioning the markers. I did a quick search and the Faber Castell Pitt artist pens use india ink and they seem to be the standard. Even the local Michaels store has them.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:25 PM (yTvNw)

82 Treated wood? Absolutely not for food crops.

Otherwise, go for small enough to reach across and high enough not to wreck your back bending over.

Say, 18" high, 3 ft or less wide, as long as you want.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 28, 2026 06:47 PM (/lPRQ)

I actually looked into that. Apparently that shouldn't be an issue with newer (last 10 years, I can't remember exactly) wood. I welcome informed opinions on the subject however!

Posted by: Are you sure about this sir? at February 28, 2026 07:26 PM (U/7CP)

83 Does anyone have a good plan for a raised garden bed. I have a bunch of treated wood for a deck left over and want to put it to good use. There's a million different plans out there and I'm not sure which to jump on.
Posted by: Are you sure about this sir?

Treated wood? Absolutely not for food crops.

If you are are making an open bottomed box (just the four sides) the treated wood is probably going to be fine for your ground-contact layer. The rest probably shouldn't be treated. Painted, maybe, especially if it's going to be in direct contact with the dirt,

My parents built some nice ones out of lumber and corrugated metal. You put together L-shaped rails for the top rim and bottom rim, posts at the corner, and use the corrugated metal for the sides, screwing it in to the post and rails.

I made a bunch of boxes by cutting notches into the edge of 2-bys, lincoln log style, that work really well, except they require a liner (road cloth works for this) to keep the soil in.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 28, 2026 07:27 PM (C0Nlv)

84 Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:25 PM (yTvNw)

Yeah. that sounds right. I think I bought them at Michael's, now that I think about it. It was for an art project when I was taking classes.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:27 PM (0aYVJ)

85 Thanks for being here. Lots going on today/tonight.

We'll do it again next week.

Posted by: TRex - revolving dino at February 28, 2026 07:28 PM (IQ6Gq)

86 It's my favorite medium. I don't paint, but I draw. I've used pencil, charcoal, pastels. I like all of them, but ink is simply fun. I also mix media, ink and pastel, for example.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank
**********
I've done pencil, charcoal and pastels. And painted using watercolors, oil and acrylic. I suppose I should look into trying an ink drawing at some point...

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:30 PM (IQ6Gq)

87 We'll do it again next week.
Posted by: TRex - revolving dino at February 28, 2026 07:28 PM (IQ6Gq)

thanks, dinosaur guy. I like these weekend threads.

*Forrest Gump wave*

Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:30 PM (0aYVJ)

88 Just remember, the deeper a planting box, the more stuff you have to put in it to fill it, and if you use wood ships, yes the will rot down after a while but the fungus that rots them may decide to venture up to your planting layer and eat your onions too.

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 28, 2026 07:31 PM (C0Nlv)

89 TRex, Thanks for another fun hobby thread. The only problem is it gives me ideas for things I don't have time for. :-)

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:31 PM (yTvNw)

90 chips, not ships, Yikes

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 28, 2026 07:31 PM (C0Nlv)

91 JTB, if your'e still here, the Pipes and Cigars site has some specials going on. I got a flyer from them in the mail. 15% off site wide, no minimum, and 20% off on Peter Stokkebye blends.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 28, 2026 07:32 PM (wzUl9)

92 Obviously a lot slower than a motorized lathe but since it can be made even on a raw frontier with everyday hand tools, it would have been a valuable resource for pioneer settlements. It doesn't even need fancy gouges. You can do a lot of shaping with rasps and finer wood files.
Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 06:36 PM (yTvNw)

The other important tool was the shave-horse for shaping with a draw knife. I have tried to make one, but it barely worked. It is best for roughing out and finishing tool handles, and cleaning up wood shingles after splitting them out of the bolt.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 28, 2026 07:32 PM (rbvCR)

93 TRex, Thanks for another fun hobby thread. The only problem is it gives me ideas for things I don't have time for. :-)
Posted by: JTB
**********
True. I really should avoid this thread for awhile....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:32 PM (IQ6Gq)

94 Hopefully gets a little warmer out will get to doing something hobbyist

Posted by: Skip at February 28, 2026 07:32 PM (Ia/+0)

95 nood movies

Posted by: FeatherBlade at February 28, 2026 07:33 PM (C0Nlv)

96 I've done pencil, charcoal and pastels. And painted using watercolors, oil and acrylic. I suppose I should look into trying an ink drawing at some point...
Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:30 PM (IQ6Gq)

My method is to do a really light pencil sketch of the subject, say, a portrait of an old man; then start with the pens, drawing the fine lines first, then building on that, smile-lines around the eyes, etc. I have fun with the level of detail, and it forces me to be more methodical.

I love the quick lines that charcoal creates; it came in handy during figure drawing classes. But ink is very calming.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:35 PM (0aYVJ)

97 86 ... "I've done pencil, charcoal and pastels. And painted using watercolors, oil and acrylic. I suppose I should look into trying an ink drawing at some point..."

The Grateful,
Check out the Chloe Gendron channel on YT. She describes the styles and techniques for pen and ink wonderfully. Her channel introduced me to the drawings of Franklin Booth, an absolute master.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:36 PM (yTvNw)

98 91 ... " JTB, if your'e still here, the Pipes and Cigars site has some specials going on. I got a flyer from them in the mail. 15% off site wide, no minimum, and 20% off on Peter Stokkebye blends."

Wolfus,
Thanks for the heads up. And Stokkebye blends have become some of my favorites, especially now that the HH line is discontinued. Their Deluxe Navy Flake is excellent and the Nougat blend is what was used in the LOTR movies. It is a really pleasant smoke, mild but flavorful.

Posted by: JTB at February 28, 2026 07:42 PM (yTvNw)

99 The Grateful,
Check out the Chloe Gendron channel on YT. She describes the styles and techniques for pen and ink wonderfully. Her channel introduced me to the drawings of Franklin Booth, an absolute master.
Posted by: JTB
***********
Thank you for this, I will definitely check her out.

And thanks Pug Mahon for your feedback!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:42 PM (IQ6Gq)

100 The Grateful,
Check out the Chloe Gendron channel on YT. She describes the styles and techniques for pen and ink wonderfully. Her channel introduced me to the drawings of Franklin Booth, an absolute master.
Posted by: JTB
***********
Thank you for this, I will definitely check her out.

And thanks Pug Mahon for your feedback!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at February 28, 2026 07:42 PM (IQ6Gq)

101 Posted by: Pug Mahon, aka Agent Frank at February 28, 2026 07:35 PM (0aYVJ)

My problem with drawing is that I seem to be entirely incapable of making light sketch lines. I really do try, but end up with dark, thick lines every time anyway.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at February 28, 2026 07:54 PM (lFFaq)

Processing 0.01, elapsed 0.022 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0074 seconds, 110 records returned.
Page size 76 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.