Reply by Wildwood

Swing over the ways and tool rest base always limit size of bowl blanks can turn. You know from previous post swing over the ways is 6” for your lathe. We do not know the height of your tool rest base on you lathe. Some owner’s manuals give you real numbers you can use and some do not.

My manual says 16” swing over the ways & 12” swing over tool rest base, which is not true. Have to mentally take away fractions or inches to be safe. Also, have to watch your placement of tool rest & base. With lathe off always rotate a blank by hand to insure proper clearances over ways, tool rest & base.

No, do not need a 4-jaw chuck to turn bowls; they do make life easier but not always necessary.

-- Bill