Woodturning thread.

[bassmatt72]

Lets start a woodturning thread. Everyone is welcome from never turning with questions to highly experienced. Let's keep things polite, remember we all do things a little different and can learn from each other. Share a little knowledge of how you turned or are turning the items you share, this is a DIY thread of "how to" things. Who knows, you might inspire someone else? I would ask we follow the rules and keep the selling on the classifieds or take care of that through private messages, please don't post asking for prices or "Pm sent". If you are a turner post a little about your experience level and maybe a little about your work shop, but remember to share some DIY knowledge in the post.

[bassmatt72]

I've been turning for about three years now and enjoy turning bowls the most, I can do spindle work but like bowls better. I just recently moved from a 12X24 shop to a 24X30 and I'm still trying tools in different locations and setting up the shop. I have a JET 1642 and a Powermatic 3520B. Here is a Bradford Pear "chip n dip" platter I did several months back, and a video of Antler rings I did this past month, with a basic "how to" explanation.

Antler ring turning - YouTube

[highspeed]

That’s an amazing platter!! I’ll round up some pics of past projects and post up.

[bobc]

Cool idea, Matt. In to learn!


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[SamHarper]

I have only ever turned one thing in wood. I was originally trying to make a bowl out of a piece of walnut, but I kept messing up. In the end, I came up with a salt cellar.

[John Paul]

Started turning this year. I love bowls as well, first was a total blow up. That was interesting, thank God I took a friends advice about face shield. Here are my second and third attempt with raw mesquite.

[texashunter]

Nice work you guys

[Biggs]

[Hoggslayer]

The only thing I've ever turned was a chunk of Pine sapwood.



I wedged it in my drill press with a homemade live center, and used my grinder and a ferries rasp to shape it.

I've always wanted to get a lathe and the proper tools.

Looking for inspiration.

[doug]

Great idea for a thread! I bought a small lathe when I retired 2 years ago. Started out doing pens and made a bunch. Easy to do for the most part. Then made a bunch of bowls but limited to small ones because the size of my lathe. I sure do enjoy turning but lately started making boxes and other wooden projects. Im really just learning all of it. My biggest struggle with all woodworking is in the finishing.

The stuff posted so far is very nice! I'm at the lease now but will try and post some pictures when I get back.

[John Paul]

Biggs, I hope I can get that good in the next few years. Great looking bowls.

Question, most everybody use chisels or does anybody use carbide? I went ahead and bought a couple of large carbide handles and tools and I am able to work better with them in most instances. I just had a hard time with some of the sharpening required with chisels, but getting better at it. Most of my chisels are to large and won't fit in my one way jig for sharpening.

[bassmatt72]

Originally Posted by Hoggslayer

The only thing I've ever turned was a chunk of Pine sapwood.

Attachment 1030074

I wedged it in my drill press with a homemade live center, and used my grinder and a ferries rasp to shape it.

I've always wanted to get a lathe and the proper tools.

Looking for inspiration.

Cool little project! How did you make the homemade live center?

[bassmatt72]

Originally Posted by John Paul

Question, most everybody use chisels or does anybody use carbide? .... won't fit in my one way jig for sharpening.

I typically use "conventional" gouges, skews and scrapers. Nothing wrong with conventional tools nor carbides, I do use both just more of the conventional tools. I have the wolverine sharpening system. How is your "chisels" to large for the sharpening system?

[John Paul]

Well my large gouge won’t fit into the little vice deal that cradles into the base. The opening circle on both sides is not big enough. Sorry my technical lingo isn’t great. Been trying to teach myself. I can back out the base all the way and just barely get to the angle needed for the gouge but upi have to freehand hold it. Really messed the edge up a few times.

[John Paul]

Bassmat by the way I have watched your antler ring video over and over, you have a steady hand for sure and your work is awesome.

[bassmatt72]

Originally Posted by John Paul

Bassmat by the way I have watched your antler ring video over and over, you have a steady hand for sure and your work is awesome.

Thank you! Is it the original Vari grind system that you have? Looks like it comes in two sizes a larger and smaller, if thats the case I totally understand now how it might not work for your gouge.

[highspeed]

Here’s some pens I turned. I’ve got about 2 dozen done so far. The top one is made from oak. The bolt action pen is made from box elder and the bottom is a pencil I made for my daughter and it’s made out of mesquite and acrylic.

[highspeed]

Double post

[bassmatt72]

Originally Posted by highspeed

Here’s some pens I turned. I’ve got about 2 dozen done so far. The top one is made from oak. The bolt action pen is made from box elder and the bottom is a pencil I made for my daughter and it’s made out of mesquite and acrylic.

Nice! Which mandrel do you use? Can you post a pic. of it with a simple explanation of how you turn a pen?

[Biggs]

Carbide cutters mostly. I made my own carbide tools.

[WildThings]

Started with a PSI benchtop lathe and made tons of pens, calls and boxes. Haven't turned in a couple years since we moved into the new place. Here's a few of them

[eaglegolfj]

I will be back on this one tomorrow while I am at work.
I dont have to may pics on this laptop.

[bassmatt72]

Originally Posted by WildThings

Started with a PSI benchtop lathe and made tons of pens, calls and boxes. Haven't turned in a couple years since we moved into the new place. Here's a few of them

Very nice, and you displayed them nicely. How did you drill the antler for the brass tube that goes inside the pen kits?

[WildThings]

Originally Posted by bassmatt72

Very nice, and you displayed them nicely. How did you drill the antler for the brass tube that goes inside the pen kits?

I tried many ways to do it. Hand drill, Drill press with and without a pen blank vise...but the best and actually easiest way I found was on the the lathe just like the way he does in the linked video. I always start me a small starter hole on both ends so it will line up easier than what he does.

BTW great idea for a thread

Drilling antler..

[bassmatt72]

...BTW great idea for a thread...

It was eaglegolfj idea, I just took the idea and got it going. Good video with lots of ideas in it.
Notice it didn’t look like he wasn’t using a mandrel? I think he was just turning with the bushings and using a live center in the tail stock and a dead drive center in the head stock?

[eaglegolfj]

A few of mine.

[eaglegolfj]

Pens

[eaglegolfj]

Some duck calls

[eaglegolfj]

pen, bottle opener

[eaglegolfj]

Some acrylic darts.

[eaglegolfj]

pen and pencil set

[eaglegolfj]

Cedar ring I made.

[bassmatt72]

Originally Posted by eaglegolfj

A few of mine.

Nice!

[bassmatt72]

Let’s try and share tips and methods to help each other out.

[Hoggslayer]

Originally Posted by bassmatt72

Cool little project! How did you make the homemade live center?

I had a flange bearing that I bolted to my drill press table. Then I put a bolt in it with a X ground in the head of it to bite into the wood. I did the same thing in the chuck and cranked the table up to hold the workpiece. Worked out pretty good, I just had to make sure the table stayed tight.

[eaglegolfj]

Originally Posted by WildThings

Started with a PSI benchtop lathe and made tons of pens, calls and boxes. Haven't turned in a couple years since we moved into the new place. Here's a few of them

That sweet gum ball pen is bad ace.

[eaglegolfj]

The best tip I have so far is, sanding sanding sanding.

[gwellstx]

Great thread idea and some AWESOME turnings!!! I'll try to round up some of my pics. I've self-identified as a turner for almost ten years. Used conventional tools ONLY for the longest time because they were "sexier" than carbide. Made me more of a purist, I guess. However, when I moved into my new shop that I share with Grampa-in-law, I had a turning project that was way past the deadline and didn't have my grinder/sharpener set up so I used his carbides. I folded. They were awesome so now I use both. I still probably lean towards the conventional tools, but I'm not the least bit scared to reach over the fence. Haven't turned in a while since the new baby, but sure do miss it. Y'all may have inspired me to get back in the game!

[eaglegolfj]

I like you still do my rough work with the old carbon set, but then use the carbide for finishing, I seem to get a smoother finish with them.

[WildThings]

Originally Posted by eaglegolfj

That sweet gum ball pen is bad ace.

Thanks! Here's another view of it.
I just sent a MFRB of them to a lady in Alaska. In return she sent me a large blank of them she casted. Haven't done anything with it yet.

I've got some turkey pot call blanks cast with them. I'll snap a picture of them tomorrow

[Witchgrass]

I built a fairly large lathe about 25 years ago.I used it for about a year, and I put it in the back of the barn when we had our house built, and it sits there untouched to this day. I just started building a new shop and WILL make a space for it. Keep the info and pics coming guys. ����

[eaglegolfj]

Some more stuff

[eaglegolfj]

Darts from live oak,

[Tomkat70]

Really great work guys keep it coming!!!!

[eaglegolfj]

Rolling pin I did for my wife to cut dumplings.

[bobc]

Lots of good looking pieces on this thread.


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[bassmatt72]

Is there a specific question on turning anyone has?

[Witchgrass]

I’ve got one, in trying to slow the rpms down, I had a couple of pulleys, but also added a small rheostat but it doesnt work very well. What is the best way to slow it down?I believe the motor is around 1700 rpms(been a while since I’ve looked at it)

[eaglegolfj]

Originally Posted by Witchgrass

I’ve got one, in trying to slow the rpms down, I had a couple of pulleys, but also added a small rheostat but it doesnt work very well. What is the best way to slow it down?I believe the motor is around 1700 rpms(been a while since I’ve looked at it)

Look for a better speed pot or a new VS machine. I hate changing speed with belt. The VS machine is so much better. IMHO.

[eaglegolfj]

Anybody have a good lead on an inexpensive sphere jig that is decent.