# Looking to purchase a wood lathe for turning yo-yos **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [December 30, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045 "2023-12-30T21:42:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 4:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/61 "2024-01-06T16:19:14Z")
@anon5341354 @vegabomb Do you have a preference on tool length when turning yo-yos? I’m currently deciding between 19” (48.26cm) or 26.5” (67.3cm) overall length. The 26.5” looks and feels a bit long when I hold out a measuring tape, but maybe it doesn’t matter and I can just hold further up the grip area if it feels that way while turning? Or is there a benefit to having a shorter grip area when turning smaller objects? ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2024, 8:16pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/62 "2024-01-06T20:16:32Z")
Longer is better. This is because you can hold the tool firmly to your side while turining and move your body, not your hands to make cuts. You can do this with shorter tools, but its more difficult. The shorter tool you mentioned is still plenty long enough and if its carbide, it will never become shorter. ---
**Author:** ![vegabomb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/vegabomb/32/199_2.png) [@vegabomb](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/vegabomb)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/63 "2024-01-07T00:50:20Z")
@anon5341354 nailed it. ---
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2024, 11:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/64 "2024-01-07T23:47:18Z")
So if it is between 1/2” and 3/8” carbide tools, which do you think would be best? Ideally I’d order a set with both a 1/2” 90° square rougher and a 3/8” simple turner & hollower… however, I’ll save $100 if I order them in sets of the same size. That being said, if you think it’s best to have both sizes, I can do that too. ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/65 "2024-01-08T01:20:13Z")
> [@GnarlyCharlie](#): > > Ideally I’d order a set with both a 1/2” 90° square rougher and a 3/8” simple turner & hollower… Yes, that would be ideal. However, you would be fine with just the 1/2" set. ---
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/66 "2024-02-10T19:49:51Z")
After waiting a month, it has arrived! ![IMG_4462](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/4/b/4/4b4f505b18af51982f4bb4f153d5d03ba8af131a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![fradiger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fradiger/32/66850_2.png) [@fradiger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fradiger)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/67 "2024-02-10T19:51:08Z")
Cannot wait to see how this turns out, been stalking this thread. Please don’t injure yourself 😃 fast spinning objects be spooky ---
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/68 "2024-02-10T19:55:25Z")
I’m super excited about this too. Unfortunately it came on the one weekend I’m unable to mess around with it, but I’m hoping next weekend will be my first trial! ---
**Author:** ![Yodaddyo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yodaddyo/32/602050_2.png) [@Yodaddyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yodaddyo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/69 "2024-02-10T21:42:59Z")
Stoked for you dude! Can’t wait to see what you turn out. Pun intended ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/70 "2024-02-10T21:54:29Z")
Awwsome ---
**Author:** ![Grendel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/grendel/32/92975_2.png) [@Grendel](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Grendel)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 5:52am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/71 "2024-02-11T05:52:37Z")
I like others am lurking to see if this is in my future. I do have space in an exterior closet. ---
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 6:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/72 "2024-02-11T06:41:38Z")
Currently trying to find the best way to easily move it in and out of my house between uses. But dam, this thing coupled with the stand is like 130lbs. ---
**Author:** ![Yodaddyo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yodaddyo/32/602050_2.png) [@Yodaddyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yodaddyo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/73 "2024-02-11T20:53:45Z")
This is why I haven’t set my lathe up. I’ve had one for over two years, I think, and it’s still sitting in the box. What I wouldn’t do for a nice shop… oh and time, yeah, time would be nice too. Haha. Maybe a couple cheap skateboards? Or just mount two wheels from harbor freight on one side of the stand and wheel it around like a dolly. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2024, 9:41pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/74 "2024-02-11T21:41:45Z")
I’ve done that with both my radial saw and my jointer. Wheel them out as needed. ---
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 11:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/75 "2024-02-15T23:35:42Z")
Was very pumped and ready to start turning the block I’ll mount the blank yoyo pucks to. Then I realized… I don’t have a face shield! Sadly I’ll have to start up again once it arrives. ![IMG_4549](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/f/7/f/f7fad621edd8c02074fe85b3a0beff930471f4fa.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 11:36pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/76 "2024-02-15T23:36:46Z")
You’re smarter than I. I would have gone for it without considering the risk. ---
**Author:** ![Grendel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/grendel/32/92975_2.png) [@Grendel](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Grendel)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/77 "2024-02-15T23:49:35Z")
Sunglasses!! ---
**Author:** ![GnarlyCharlie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gnarlycharlie/32/279610_2.png) [@GnarlyCharlie](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GnarlyCharlie)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/78 "2024-02-16T00:09:15Z")
I heavily debated that. Then I had the image of a large shard of wood impaling my cheek pop into my head and nixed that idea. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 1:59am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/79 "2024-02-16T01:59:53Z")
I know nothing about wood turning, but you’re actually starting with a square block? ---
**Author:** ![Grendel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/grendel/32/92975_2.png) [@Grendel](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Grendel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045/80 "2024-02-16T02:29:35Z")
For the record Grendel was KIDDING about using sunglasses as safety equipment kids. That’s called a joke in some parts. Use only osha approved personal protection equipment, properly sized and fitted to your person. Thank you for your time. [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045.md?page=3) [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/looking-to-purchase-a-wood-lathe-for-turning-yo-yos/391045.md?page=5)