new lathe

[BigGobbler]

Maybe I need to buy me a wood lathe and get rid of the drill press and the hole saws. I am sure a lot of you guys started out with a drill press an moved on to a lathe my question would be would you ever go back to the drill press. Do you find it much easier to use a lathe or drill press. Do you use the lathe from start to finish to make the pot from the raw wood blank.

[misfire]

I too started out on a drill press, will NEVER go back! The lathe is just a lot easier to deal with once you learn it

[ccleroy]

Lathe all the way.

[Longbeardfever4ever]

DEFINITELY the lathe.

[WaddleWhacker]

ok i have got to ask...what's the hole saw used for??? i make all my pot's on a drill press but i can't figure out what the hole saw is for....i have a lathe but all i use it for is to turn top's for striker's...maybe i'm a dummy and do it the hard way

[BigGobbler]

ok i have got to ask...what's the hole saw used for??? i make all my pot's on a drill press but i can't figure out what the hole saw is for....i have a lathe but all i use it for is to turn top's for striker's...maybe i'm a dummy and do it the hard way
[/quote

Used to cut out the round pot from the wood blank

https://www.google.com/search?q=hole+saw+pics&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=a5H0ToyQLYe9twen1oXQBg&sqi=2&ved=0CG4QsAQ&biw=1440&bih=785

[WaddleWhacker]

i bet that can be a little dangerous....

[BigGobbler]

No everyone will do something different how do you get your pots round from the raw wood blank- A band saw?

[WaddleWhacker]

started out using a copping saw but now i use a bandsaw..maybe i make them the hard way but i enjoy making them the way i do it

[WaddleWhacker]

i use forstner bit's...3 1/2 and 3 1/4 inch bits....i'll run up to 30 or 40 at a time....i start out with a 7/8" blank and run the 3 1/2 to the depth i want then change to the 3 1/4" bit run to the depth i want....then cut them out with the bandsaw then sand with the disc sander.....no pedestal in my pot's...i glue my pedestal's on to what ever type sound board i will be using....i will spend a day making up sound boards and a day making pot's...it takes alot of time to do it like i do but i enjoy it....

[jerseyjimk]

ok i have got to ask...what's the hole saw used for??? i make all my pot's on a drill press but i can't figure out what the hole saw is for....i have a lathe but all i use it for is to turn top's for striker's...maybe i'm a dummy and do it the hard way

I used a series of hole saws to make calls. Started with a 3/4 inch thick blank, then used a  1 inch holesaw and drilled a 1/2 inch deep. Then repeat with a 1 1/2. That gives you the pedestal.
Then a 3 1/4 to the same 1/2 inch depth, followed by a 3 1/2 to a depth of 1/4 inch that gives you the inside rim of the call and shelf for your striking surface. Last was a 4 inch holesaw for the outside of the call. Then router out the inside to hollow the call out.
So 5 different holesaws and a lot of router work later, I went and bought a lathe. 
Here is the first one I made some years back.

Thats real nice,almost to good for the woods

[merocustomcalls]

Keep in mind, once you have a lathe, you can buy a drill chuck for the lathe tail stock and you have a drill press too.  I also have a four jaw head stock chuck.  You can make almost anything you want after that.

[CallMaker]

A lathe all the way!  You can do so much more and detail work is so much easier and safer!