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Average rating (24 ratings):

Current reviews (24):

Reviewer: John P.
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Lathe Learnin is both informative and entertaining. Without in any way compromising information and knowledge transmission, this video keeps one interested and learning, and does not bog down in technical trivia which can be found in Macinery's Handbook. Furthermore, this video makes you feel as if you really can do this stuff. First Rate!

Reviewer: James S.
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This is a very impressive set of DVDs. I watched the entire series, and found any number of things that will make a difference when I work with my old South Bend lathe.

It's like being in a shop with an experienced machinist, and he's just showing you what to do and explaining why these methods make sense.

It is just simple, down-home, plain language instruction--exactly the way I like it. I highly recommend this series.

Reviewer: UNKNOWN
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Great video's, I watched the whole set. He gives you several real world examples and tips as well as the basics on how to use a lathe. I highly recommend the the whole set but if you only watch one get the one on tool sharpening. I have rented most of the lathe videos on here and found this series to be the most informative and interesting of all of them. JT

Reviewer: Elliott B.
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Great Course! The guy is a real pro! Got a good sense of humor too. Uses mostly a huge South Bend lathe, but almost everything would apply equally to a mini lathe. This vid is even better than his Mill vid, which was highly acclaimed. Covers everything clearly, good camera work and lighting.

Reviewer: Michael K.
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What a great video set this is - he knows his stuff. Video is well made and entertaining. I rented this set and watched it over vacation. If you are getting started, rent this set. You won't be disapointed.

Reviewer: Kim S.
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Loved it! Very informative.

Reviewer: Chuck M.
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I liked it, a little slow at times but, overall I would rate it very good for the beginner. Be sure to get part 2 if available.

Reviewer: Robert P.
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I enjoyed the informal approach. Camera work was better than average. The most frustrating thing was not being able to ask questions, but that is true of any video. Not much wasted time in set-up, etc., but stuck to what he had to say. Got some excellent ideas, which I immediately applied. Since he obviously knows what he is doing, you need to pay attention, and not fast forward, even the slower parts. Never know when he will throw in some little idea which is worth the video in itself.

Reviewer: Robert P.
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Excellent. He sometimes forgets we don't all have a 15" lathe.

Reviewer: Malcolm L.
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I have rented both this set and also the "Bridgeport Mill" set by the same author. I find the author's style and delivery very true to life and conducive to learning. I am not a beginner and my old South Bend 16" X 72" can still do a few tricks. Nevertheless I learned some neat stuff in these DVDs (and wish my lathe would ramp up and brake like the newer model in the video). The author (is his name "Puddy"? See disk 5) passes along some techniques that are fantastic and are the type of thing not taught in trade schools or shop classes. You have to learn this stuff from skilled machinists who are willing to help out the junior guys like the rest of us.

This DVD may not be immediate help to the new 7 x 10 Chinese lathe owner but the basic techniques are the same and will be helpful for any size lathe. The section on lathe tool grinding is worth the price of the set; simplify, simplify, simplify!

I wish I lived in Texas so I could stop by this shop and watch some more.

Reviewer: Gene S.
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There is some good info here. Learned some tips and tricks of the trade. I liked the detail on centering and centering in a four jaw chuck.

Reviewer: Paul F.
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DISK #5

I would not recommend getting disk #5. This disk is only a few minutes of "learnin". It does have "out-takes".

The other four disks are very good.

Reviewer: Joshua S.
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Great information. Just getting started on my mini lathe, and this has helped out a lot.

Reviewer: Janet M.
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This DVD had repetitive dialogue. More close-ups would help.

Reviewer: George H.
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If you don't already own a lathe and need advice on how to select one, or if you're interested in comparing lathes and their various features, this DVD will probably be worth your time. It is anything but fast paced as it d-r-a-g-s along leaving you to wish the moderator would get to the point and move on to the next point he intends to make. This is not, as you might have guessed, a professionally produced video presentation. But the information the DVD contains is, IMHO, worth the pain of sitting through it all.

Reviewer: George H.
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This portion of the series, while still somewhat crude as an educational production, offered some very valuable and simplified information concerning the choice of cutting tools and methods for sharpening them. Keep your notebook handy so you can diagram the examples for future reference.

Reviewer: Alan K.
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Compared to Darrell Hollands series on the Lathe, this guy is tooooo slow. His cadence and information are lacking.

Reviewer: Harold H.
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You can tell this guy really has been "hanging off the end of the lathe" for 25 plus years. His down home humor mixed with dead serious instruction keeps you interested even in the slow parts. Like he says in the beginning, he is not in a soundproof studio, and you will hear people passing through, a plane flying over, and see a dog and a cat meandering around. A little better camera work and audio would have made it more professional, but I still recommend it because of the amount of jam packed information for beginner and pro alike.

Reviewer: Lindsay M.
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I really enjoyed the Lathe Learnin series of videos. Some instructional videos can be rather boring and dry, but not these. The presenter obviously knows his stuff and I especially enjoyed the tips and shortcuts. It's like he said in the beginning of the series; "We are not professional video makers, but, if you'll listen up you will learn a lot of information in a short period of time". I highly recommend the series.

Reviewer: Donald H.
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I am 70 years old, and have not touched a metal lathe since high school. A month ago I purchased a medium size metal lathe to use in my shop for retirement projects. I have just reviewed the Lathe Learnin vidios 1, 2, and 3,as well as Machine Shop Secrets. These instructional videos served to teach me enough to get started on my new lathe with some degree of confidence. From a novice point of view I found them to be terrific. I am really looking forward to viewing the rest of the series offered by Smartflix. Donald Hubbs Ottawa. Canada

Reviewer: Walter L.
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Lathe Learnin' #2 is great in terms of useful things explained. It's really everything I've been looking for in a Lathe DVD. The production could be better, but other than that it's perfect. The instructor's manner is really quite endearing - it makes you want to move to Texas and work for him.

Reviewer: david c.
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I have watched lathe learnin 1 &2 and have enjoyed both equally as much. The gentleman running the machinery has a world of info to share and is doing anyone who is interested in machining a great service by taking the trouble to make this video and share his time and skill with us all. A very informative video series and I can't wait for the rest of the series to show up in my mailbox. Thanks to all the "old guys" for sharing their experiences and reasoning with us of a lower skill level.

Reviewer: Donald B.
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This did not do me a lot of good as I already have a lathe and am not shopping. There were several points that helped me with what I already have.

Reviewer: Donald B.
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Not what I had hoped for. It was not instructional. I already have a machine so I wasn't looking on tips for purchase.