Good evening I am planning on purchasing a ALPS Chuck, i was wondering if this will have the power to turn cork and eva or should I just purchase a seperate lathe i wont be doing this alot just here and there. also is the pac bay tool rest and mandrel enough or should I just get the Alps tool rest as well as the mandrle as well just getting started dont want to spend money and have to upgrade.

If you have the space for it, why not pick up awood lathe first and try it? Lots of used ones for sale, and fairly easy to get your money back out of it later if it doesn't work out.

Joseph,
If you want to turn materials, the very best thing to do; is to purchase a new or used wood lathe.

Simply put, any of the wrappers use relatively small motors. Wrappers tend not to have the best tail stock set up that really helps in various types of turning activities.

If you can't afford - or don't want to buy new -- it is possible to find quality used equipment. Check want ads, pawn shops, used tool shops ets.

Another possible vendor for equipment:
[www.harborfreight.com]


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You use the word Alps Chuck. Is this chuck going to be put on a machine that you already have; or are you planning on purchasing an entire machine?

Be safe

Yes this will work - especially if you plan on only doing a little / few handles in cork or foam (hypalon). If you are planning to use a mandrel this will also work but you'll have to consider the diameter of the mandrel & plan on building up smaller / thinner mandrels so they clamp tightly in the jaws. Of equal concern for you will be to adequately support the piece being turned & anchor any light duty (American Tackle / PacBay/ALPS) machine to avoid wobble

The Alps chuck is an outstanding product and is capable of turning stock on the AT/Pac Bay /Alps lathe. The big concern I would have is that it is turning in the wrong direction for turning. Unless you have a unit that can reverse the direction of the material you are not going to be able to properly/ easily turn material on that type of lathe. That is unless you can set your tool rest on the other side of the lathe of which I am not sure if that can be done on the Alps tool rest. From the photos I have seen it may be able to do so.

And as others have said a simple good used lathe is an excellent option for turning.

Turning cork and EVA is almost always just sanding. I have probably a couple of hundred hours of sanding and shaping both materials on the Pac Bay machine and as many on my CPW. Replaced drive belts a couple of times. A wood lathe is nice (I have one of those as well) but you won't "need" it for the majority of work you'll do with those two materials. The material you sand with is the important thing.

I have a lathe, but wouldn't buy one again unless I wanted to turn wood. A couple of years ago I turned square blocks of cork and EVA on the lathe but found it messy and wasteful. Since I seldom use full handles anymore, I now use the Alps set-up for my handle work.

If you are planning to use chisels, you'll need a tool rest. If you're turning handles on a mandrel, you'll need a tail stock.
When I do use tools with the Alps winder, I just turn the machine around so that it turns the right way. However, for the 2 to 4-inch grips and butts I use on split grip rods, I glue up my stacks of cork rings on 1/4 - 20 bolts from the hardware store. Next day, I clamp the bolt in the chuck, and sand them down. That way I don't need tools or mandrels and the fact the chuck naturally turns the wrong way is mute.

I have thought about buying the new Alps tool rest, and perhaps the tail stock, for the odd time I might want to use a chisel or need a steady rest.

Alps Chuck is a great way to go, turning cork and eva is a breeze in addition to being a much smoother/truer chuck for general wrapping. We have them in stock. Keep and eye out for our Black Friday Sale coming up this week. ;)

Tight Lines and Bull's-eyes,

Get Bit Outdoors
407-542-7840
www.GetBitOutdoors.com
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The ALPS Chuck was intended to do exactly what your asking for. A lathe would be nice, but it really depends on how much turning your planning on doing. Also there is tools to add to the ALPS Chuck for turning as well. [alpsforecast.com]

R. McBride

Batson Enterprises
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