Reddit reviews PSI Woodworking LCSIXW Lathe Woodturning 6pc HSS Chisel Set

What is the difference between these two sets(aside from number of pieces)?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KIECW4/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KI8CTS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I am trying to figure out what to get for my boyfriend for Christmas, and he's in a similar situation of having a lathe but no turning tools. I also have a face shield in my amazon cart. He's had a box of smaller turning blanks for a while now.

He does a reasonable amount of woodworking(makes a lot of furniture, is super into hand tools), but he's new to turning, so if you have any suggestions, it would be appreciated!

something to sharpen with (grinder)

told that these are good to start with https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KIECW4/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Yeah, I think part of the problem is that there is just plain not a lot of action on lathes in your local Craigslist. I took a quick peek for you yesterday and couldn't really find anything else I'd recommend for you to check out, so the seller may be aware of this too and might be able to get more for this than I'd feel good about paying.

About the cheapest I can see you getting a reasonable start new would be just under $600.00 (+tax & shipping). Keep in mind that part of the stuff listed below is stuff that you'd still have to buy even if you bought that used lathe, so really I think you're coming out about the same going the new route:

• ~$255 ($319 with 20% off coupon): Harbor Freight 12 × 33 lathe. I've never used this lathe myself, but a lot of folks here and in r/turning have and they seem to consistently report that for the money, you can't beat it. Your next level up in new lathe shopping will get you up around or above $500-$600 easy.
  
• $79.95 PSI 6 piece set I hate to recommend a set (buying individual tools is really the way to go in the long run), and I really hate recommending anything from PSI (their customer service sucks, but you'd be dealing with Amazon here), but this set is reportedly not too bad steel and at least contains an actual bowl gouge. For that reason alone, this set is a far better value than the 8 piece HF sets.
  
• $99.99 Rikon Slow Speed 8" grinder You get lucky here - this is regularly $139.99, but on sale for another couple weeks through 9/23. You definitely need a grinder to sharpen turning tools. There's a few people around here (that I suspect have never turned a damn thing) that will try to tell you that you don't, but trust me: you do
  
• $89.95 Wolverine sharpening jig base unit. This is the #1 most used sharpening system by turners in the US. It's easy to use and helps you get consistent grinds. I consider it a must unless you are the type that likes extreme challenges and won't back down from the very steep learning curve of freehand sharpening on the grinder.
  
• $54.95 Vari-grind jig for the Wolverine. This part lets you get a repeatable swept back "fingernail" grind on your bowl gouge.
  
  If that's still pushing the budget, you could get it a little cheaper by getting the smaller HF lathe. Still a plenty serviceable beginner lathe, but you have the potential to do a lot more on the other.
  
  If you've got other existing woodworking equipment and can build your own jig to replace the Wolverine, we've got plans for that in the wiki, so you could shave off a bit of money there too.
  
  Contrary to popular belief, you don't need a chuck to get started. Chucks are awesome, and convenient, but they are a (relatively) recent addition to woodturning, and you can do almost everything that you can do with a chuck with the faceplate that will come with every new lathe you buy. As a bonus, it will likely be safer that way too.
  
  Of course, you'll eventually need a bigger lathe, a bandsaw, a chainsaw or three, and a pickup, but um we usually don't tell potential new turners that, don't want to scare anyone off...