LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

As The Lathe Turns

Tags
lathe review
244K views 1K replies 89 participants last post by  greasemonkeyredneck 
#1 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
 

Attachments

See less See more
18
#27 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
Thanks anyway Rich, but….............

Change of plans folks.
I officially have a lathe.
Eddie, a fellow Lumberjock, on another thread offered me his lathe.
I had to drive to a long ways to get it, but I could have it.
So, I now have a Ridgid lathe sitting in the back of my Blazer.
My back is killing me, so I don't feel up to unloading it tonight.
I will try my best to get ya'll a report tomorrow.
As an added bonus, I got to meet another Lumberjock that I'd been dying to meet anyway.

This works out better for me.
I kind of hated my wife spending her saved up money on something that I'm still learning on.
I think the Ridgid will get me moving again,
And at least I think parts will be easier to find for a Ridgid.
Then, if I get real good at a lathe, maybe I can move up to a better one at a later date.
Unless I see a helluva deal on Craiglist before then…..
 

Attachments

#28 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
your a determined man William, you remind me of myself, you should not have lifted that thing and you shouldn't be unloading it, but sometimes we gotta do what our bull headed mind tells us, ive cut down trees and handled it when i knew i shouldn't have, but we have these bullheaded drives, i hope maybe you can get some help to come over and help unload that lathe…you rest your back buddy…
 

Attachments

#29 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
Fantastic news William! That was a really nice gesture by Eddie!!!

Now be sure to get your young 'uns to move that lathe for you!!! Doctor's orders!!!

Kudos, Eddie, you're a stand up guy!!!
 

Attachments

#30 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
Grizz, me and Eddie loaded it and it seems that neither of us had any business lifting it, but with some disassembly, and perseverence, we got it done.
My older boys are coming tomorrow to help set it up. I hope to be making chips fly again real soon.

Randy, It sure was nice of Eddie. I am always amazed at what some people will do to help others. It give me a glimmer of hope for humanity after all.
 

Attachments

#31 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
eddie- You are a class act!
 

Attachments

#32 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
William you and I have the same luck.
 

Attachments

#33 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
Dave, that would be bad luck?
If it wasn't for bad luck we wouldn't have any luck atall!!!
 

Attachments

#34 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
But eddie changed William's luck!
 

Attachments

#35 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
Yes he did Andy.
So true.
 

Attachments

#36 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
I'm with boxcarmarty on this one….......hehehe
 

Attachments

#37 ·
How a Good Day Turned Bad

In the responses to yesterday's blog, I told a friend of mine, Grizz, that I would turn him one of my bowls. I don't know why, as I'm still learning, but he hinted that he'd like one.
Also, some things Bearpie said in response to that blog kept sticking in my mind. The main thing is sharpen my lathe tools. I've been and am using the Paul Sellers method of sharpening these days for pretty much everything. It works great for all my tools, except those lathe tools. It puts a sharp edge on them, but they never seem to cut as good as they used to when I was simply hitting them on a bench grinder.
The thing is, my sharpening on the grinder was sort of a hit and miss thing as well. So I started thinking about it. I remembered seeing a video by Alex Harris, the teenage woodworker, about a jig he built for sharpening lathe tools. I looked it up and built this.
Wood Sewing machine Gas Machine Auto part

It was easy to build, and easy to use, just as Alex said it was. So I sharpened up a few of my tools, chucked up a piece of wood and tried it out. It made an amazing difference.
Then I went back to thinking about Grizz's bowl. I really didn't have anything large enough to get started though in the way of wood. So I walked outside to smoke a cigarette. While standing at the fence, I looked out across my neighbor's field, and remembered the pecan tree he'd cut down about a year ago. It was just laying there in pieces that he had cut up. So I walked on over and asked him for a piece. He said to take all of it I wanted, so I took the only piece at the time that I was capable of carrying back to my shop.
Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Tool Gas

After chopping some of the edges sticking out off with an axe, I mounted it on the lathe. There was still a tiny bit of wood sticking out hitting the tools rest bracket though. I really did not want to take this heavy piece of wood back down again.
Saw Tool Table Wood Hand tool

Then I thought about an electric chain saw my wife had bought me some time ago. I'd never even turned this thing on before.
Back story here:
I have a messed up back, as some of you know. The last time I put myself in the hospital with my back, was from trying to crank a gas powered chain saw. Before I made it home from the hospital, my wife had sold the chain saw and bought me this electric one.
I had scoffed at this little chain saw until today. It did a real good job though of trimming the offending wood off the pecan log that was on my lathe.
Now let me tell you, I have to thank Bearpie and Alex Harris. The advice, and the now sharper than ever lathe knives made a world of difference.
Wood Outdoor bench Motor vehicle Automotive exterior Bumper

Now, some of you may be asking yourself right about now, why in the world am I so determined to get this lathe thing going?
Even before I got into woodworking as much as I am now, I have always, for some reason, been in awe of seeing guys take logs, bark and all, spinning them on a lathe, and using only knives, turning that log into something useful. The thing I've wanted most for a long time was to happily turn a bowl while standing ankle deep in wood chips, while more fly over my shoulder. I know some people may find it weird, but this is something I have just wanted for so long.
Wood Floor Flooring Hardwood Gas

So, if any of you can understand what I wanted, and why, then you ought to already know where the topic of this photo is heading. This was FUN!
This photo was taken before I even finished today. By the end of it all, I was turning a bowl, ankle deep in wood chips, and neck deep in heaven.
Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Auto part Machine

Wood Gas Machine Automotive wheel system Auto part

Up until this point, things were going just great for me.
As I got deeper into the bowl though, no matter how sharp the tools were, no matter how careful I was, edges would sometimes dig in on the inner sides, or in the other material I was trying to hog out, and things got dangerous, QUICK. This last photo was where I decided that enough was enough. I had to back up and figure out what I was doing wrong before I wound up getting seriously hurt.
So there I stood, as I sometimes do, thinking things over. As I was doing so, I started rolling my turning round and round on the lathe with my hands. I noticed something didn't feel right. Now, I'm no expert turner. I'm only a beginner, but I knew that there shouldn't be that much wobble up and down in this. The outside seems perfectly round, but the inside was off. I can't explain it, but it was just off. It was off center and off round. What was going on here?
The first thing I checked was that the turning was still firmly in the jaws of the chuck. It was. I couldn't figure that out anyway, because the outside still seemed fine.
Then I took the bowl out and spun the chuck itself at low speed, under the power of the motor. It looked like it had some wobble to it. So I pulled out my micrometer and set it up in a makeshift stand. Sure enough, the chuck was turning out of round.
So then I pulled the chuck off and checked the shaft on the lathe itself. Sure enough, the shaft was not turning true.
Blue Wood Motor vehicle Machine tool Gas

The first thing I thought about was bearings. So I tore the head of the lathe apart. I could not feel any play in the bearings though. So I started checking everything that could possibly be causing this.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Metal

I couldn't believe it myself, but the offending part if the shaft itself. It is bent. I rolled the shaft by itself along the best know flat surface in my shop, the table saw. There is noticable wobble at the inner threaded section of the shaft. With this crude checking, I cannot tell if the bend is somewhere in the middle of the shaft, or just at the end. It appears the outboard side is running true, so I don't think it's the middle of the shaft. I don't know. What I do know is that, being a cheap chinese made machine that I bought used, I have no dilissions of finding a replacement shaft.
So, unless I can figure out a place to find parts for this machine, or win the lottery (and I don't play) so I can buy a new lathe, my bowl turning days are done for the time being. That just turned my day to crap, because I was thoroughly enjoying it.

So Grizz, how about something besides a bowl???
About the ice cream?
Or about using Randy's credit card to buy tools?
Or both?
 

Attachments

#38 ·
As The Lathe Turns........Again

Wood Gas Machine Shear Art

I bugged the boys to get their butts over here early. We replaced the MDF top on the stand and mounted the new (to me) lathe. In case any of you don't know, fellow Lumberjock, Eddie, gave me the lathe after mine bit the dust. Thank you so much Eddie. You have no idea how much this means to me.
So I checked everything out on the lathe. Everything seems to be in good working order. My only complaint with it was the tailstock center. It has the type that does not turn. I do not like that type because of a past experience. That was no problem though. I just took the bearing type out of the old lathe and put in this one and I was back in business.
Table Blue Wood Musical instrument Machine

And I wasted no time getting down to business. This is my third lathe. My first one came from Harbor Freight. It lasted for all of a total of about two hours of practice before it just fell apart. My second lathe I bought used from a fellow Lumberjock. It was a decent lathe, but I think my iniexperience and gung ho attitude quickly ruined the cheaply made lathe before I got too far on it. That lathe always had a vibration to it that I never could figure out though.
Now I come to this lathe. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me. This lathe is almost identical in design to the last one, but just the look and feel of the parts and you can tell there is more quality in it. Another thing I like about this lathe is, being a Ridgid, I am sure I can find parts for it should anything happen to it. So far though, everything seems to be working flawlessly on this lathe.
Plant Natural material Cuisine Ingredient Dish

Someone's who's advice has helped me greatly in this turning adventure is Bearpie. Upon that advice I also have recently took another look at my method of sharpening lathe tools. Between the better sharpening, and the lathe that actually runs true, I now am getting shavings instead of chips once my wood is rounded out. I have NEVER gotten this from any lathe. It was such a great feeling.
Wood Ingredient Natural material Gas Rectangle

Being the stubborn mule I am, the first thing I done was went back to that pecan bowl I was trying to turn for Grizz. I actually done a good job on it too. My only problem was getting rid of those lines that Bearpie told me about. That was when I considered another piece of wisdom Bearpie mentioned. Maybe I am getting a tad bit ambitious with my early bowll turnings. I'm doing a good job in my opinion. However, pecan is some very hard wood. I already knew that, but it was the only thing I could find that was large enough to start with for me to turn a bowl out of. Yes, I know I could glue up material for it, but let me get used to actually turning bowls first before I dive off into segmented stuff.
I got the bowl done though, and it went well. I ran into no more problems. I think that is because of the lathe the Eddie gave me (which is of better quality than I've been trying to use) and the advice of Bearpie (which I've never had anyone help me with besides just generalized hints). So thank you guys very much.
I had to get the thank you's out of the way before I tell ya'll how I screwed up the bowl.
Wood Gas Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

Wood Ingredient Automotive wheel system Hat Artifact

When I started this bowl, I left a round piece sticking out of the bottom as a means to hold it in my four jaw chuck. After turning the bowl down till I was happy with it, I needed to remove this circle. I considered different ways of doing this and thought I could do it on my band saw. Things were going good with that until I was almost through it. Then, I'm not sure, but I think the waste side of the wood closed up on the blade and wreaked havoc. The blade snatched the whole bowl out of my hands, up into the upper blade guide, bent the blade, then shot it back towards me forcefully, and bending the blade in the process. So I wound up ruining a thirty dollar band saw blade, ruining the bowl, and leaving myself with a sore spot on my stomach. It must have really done a number because it chewed the bowl up pretty good. So, something tells me that this is not the proper way to remove that ring of wood that I'm talking about.
Bearpie, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. So I am hoping you'll chime in and help me again. I need to know the proper method of removing that ring of wood without damaging equipment or causing bodily harm to myself.

.

So here's where I'm at now.
I have really enjoyed this little adventure in wood turning. It is something you all will be seeing me do more of. I plan to learn a lot more and turn a lot more. However, this all started with me wanting to take one day and turn a bowl. It has lasted for the better part of a week instead though. I am desperately wanting to get to a project I was planning starting on days ago. So I have to bring this lathe adventure to a close for the time being. I couldn't just yet though.
You see, one thing that kept me on this road this week was the fact that I told another friend, Grizz, that I would do something for him. When I say I'm going to do something, by God, I do it.
Going back and taking Bearpie's advice (been all good advice so far) I decided that I do need to not be so darn stubborn about taking on too much in an area of woodworking that I'm just learning in. Part of that I believe is, I need to find some softer wood than pecan to turn bowl with for now. That leaves me a problem with getting Grizz's gift. So I thought about this.

A hammer. What woodworker does not need a wooden hammer? I have made several wooden hammers for myself. I'm sure some people use them for other things, but I use my wooden hammers, the style I've made, for hammering on my chisels. So, since I had one more log of pecan, and I knew I could make a hammer, that is what In decided to make him.
Wood Musical instrument Gas Art Metal

Hand tool Wood Gesture Axe Thumb


So Grizz, I apologize, but I so broke I can't pay attention. I spent what little money I had left going to Eddie's yesterday to get a lathe. It will be early February before I can ship you your package. Since I have to wait though, I won't keep you wondering. Here's a photo of what I'm sending.
Wood Art Font Gas Wood stain
 

Attachments

#39 ·
As The Lathe Turns........Again

Wood Gas Machine Shear Art

I bugged the boys to get their butts over here early. We replaced the MDF top on the stand and mounted the new (to me) lathe. In case any of you don't know, fellow Lumberjock, Eddie, gave me the lathe after mine bit the dust. Thank you so much Eddie. You have no idea how much this means to me.
So I checked everything out on the lathe. Everything seems to be in good working order. My only complaint with it was the tailstock center. It has the type that does not turn. I do not like that type because of a past experience. That was no problem though. I just took the bearing type out of the old lathe and put in this one and I was back in business.
Table Blue Wood Musical instrument Machine

And I wasted no time getting down to business. This is my third lathe. My first one came from Harbor Freight. It lasted for all of a total of about two hours of practice before it just fell apart. My second lathe I bought used from a fellow Lumberjock. It was a decent lathe, but I think my iniexperience and gung ho attitude quickly ruined the cheaply made lathe before I got too far on it. That lathe always had a vibration to it that I never could figure out though.
Now I come to this lathe. It's like a whole new world has opened up to me. This lathe is almost identical in design to the last one, but just the look and feel of the parts and you can tell there is more quality in it. Another thing I like about this lathe is, being a Ridgid, I am sure I can find parts for it should anything happen to it. So far though, everything seems to be working flawlessly on this lathe.
Plant Natural material Cuisine Ingredient Dish

Someone's who's advice has helped me greatly in this turning adventure is Bearpie. Upon that advice I also have recently took another look at my method of sharpening lathe tools. Between the better sharpening, and the lathe that actually runs true, I now am getting shavings instead of chips once my wood is rounded out. I have NEVER gotten this from any lathe. It was such a great feeling.
Wood Ingredient Natural material Gas Rectangle

Being the stubborn mule I am, the first thing I done was went back to that pecan bowl I was trying to turn for Grizz. I actually done a good job on it too. My only problem was getting rid of those lines that Bearpie told me about. That was when I considered another piece of wisdom Bearpie mentioned. Maybe I am getting a tad bit ambitious with my early bowll turnings. I'm doing a good job in my opinion. However, pecan is some very hard wood. I already knew that, but it was the only thing I could find that was large enough to start with for me to turn a bowl out of. Yes, I know I could glue up material for it, but let me get used to actually turning bowls first before I dive off into segmented stuff.
I got the bowl done though, and it went well. I ran into no more problems. I think that is because of the lathe the Eddie gave me (which is of better quality than I've been trying to use) and the advice of Bearpie (which I've never had anyone help me with besides just generalized hints). So thank you guys very much.
I had to get the thank you's out of the way before I tell ya'll how I screwed up the bowl.
Wood Gas Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

Wood Ingredient Automotive wheel system Hat Artifact

When I started this bowl, I left a round piece sticking out of the bottom as a means to hold it in my four jaw chuck. After turning the bowl down till I was happy with it, I needed to remove this circle. I considered different ways of doing this and thought I could do it on my band saw. Things were going good with that until I was almost through it. Then, I'm not sure, but I think the waste side of the wood closed up on the blade and wreaked havoc. The blade snatched the whole bowl out of my hands, up into the upper blade guide, bent the blade, then shot it back towards me forcefully, and bending the blade in the process. So I wound up ruining a thirty dollar band saw blade, ruining the bowl, and leaving myself with a sore spot on my stomach. It must have really done a number because it chewed the bowl up pretty good. So, something tells me that this is not the proper way to remove that ring of wood that I'm talking about.
Bearpie, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. So I am hoping you'll chime in and help me again. I need to know the proper method of removing that ring of wood without damaging equipment or causing bodily harm to myself.

.

So here's where I'm at now.
I have really enjoyed this little adventure in wood turning. It is something you all will be seeing me do more of. I plan to learn a lot more and turn a lot more. However, this all started with me wanting to take one day and turn a bowl. It has lasted for the better part of a week instead though. I am desperately wanting to get to a project I was planning starting on days ago. So I have to bring this lathe adventure to a close for the time being. I couldn't just yet though.
You see, one thing that kept me on this road this week was the fact that I told another friend, Grizz, that I would do something for him. When I say I'm going to do something, by God, I do it.
Going back and taking Bearpie's advice (been all good advice so far) I decided that I do need to not be so darn stubborn about taking on too much in an area of woodworking that I'm just learning in. Part of that I believe is, I need to find some softer wood than pecan to turn bowl with for now. That leaves me a problem with getting Grizz's gift. So I thought about this.

A hammer. What woodworker does not need a wooden hammer? I have made several wooden hammers for myself. I'm sure some people use them for other things, but I use my wooden hammers, the style I've made, for hammering on my chisels. So, since I had one more log of pecan, and I knew I could make a hammer, that is what In decided to make him.
Wood Musical instrument Gas Art Metal

Hand tool Wood Gesture Axe Thumb


So Grizz, I apologize, but I so broke I can't pay attention. I spent what little money I had left going to Eddie's yesterday to get a lathe. It will be early February before I can ship you your package. Since I have to wait though, I won't keep you wondering. Here's a photo of what I'm sending.
Wood Art Font Gas Wood stain
Back in the game quickly. Nice, and congrats to you and fellow LJ Eddie.
 

Attachments

#80 ·
The Lathe Saga Continues

Table Furniture Wood Engineering Gas

I have been working on a project. In the meantime though, my newly found wood turning fascination is still in full swing. What you see here is the corner of my shop over behind the table saws where the lathe always sat. I use the word sat, as in past tense, because you may notice there are three lathes now.
The one closest to the camera is the old one that I recently discovered had a bent shaft. I thought of carrying it out back and putting it out of it's misery, but I think it can still be of use.
I am going to use it if I need to rough out something that is extremely out of balance. This will safe from having to worry about tearing up either of the other ones.
Also I'm thinking, at the advice of an experienced wood turner I've been talking to, of setting up a polishing center for my turning projects that mounts between the centers on this lathe. The out of true condition the shaft presents will not effect a polishing set up.
Wood Gas Machine Shear Art

Next, closest to the window, is the Ridgid lathe. It is actually very similar to the first lathe. Most of these pipe bed lathes made these days, besides some cosmetic and quality differences, are direct copies of an old Craftsman lathe I've seen from the eighties.
The Ridgid lathe was given to me by a good friend. I talked about it in my last post. It is a good lathe. The shaft is made of thicker material, which makes me a little more confident. The accessory controls, such as handles for tightening up the tool rest for example, are better made. I believe it is going to be a decent lathe.
Wood Machine tool Gas Engineering Tool and cutter grinder

The newest addition to the line up is the purpose of this post though. My lovely wife wanted to get me something nice for the upcoming Valentine's day, and this is what she got me. I have been wanting this lathe for some time and just have never been able to afford it. She has been putting in overtime at work and, while I don't think she will tell me that it was still hard on her to afford it, she used some of that extra cash to buy me the lathe I've been wanting.
This lathe is from Harbor Freight. I can almost hear the groans from my computer screen when I typed that. I know Harbor Freight sells some pretty cheaply made stuff. If you do your research though, you can find some diamonds in the rough at that place. I believe this to be just one of those precious gems.
For starters, I have read in numerous places that the lathe I have now is the exact same lathe as this one in the Jet lineup. The major differences between the two are the paint color, the supplied legs that are shipped with each of them, and the price. The color means nothing. I know for a fact that many items are made in the same factories, in the same assembly lines, and shot with different colors for different stores. I think most of us are aware of that. As for the legs, I don't know. From what I can see in the website photos, they look the same to me. It doesn't matter too much in my opinion though. For what I want, a machine that weighs as much as this one doesn't need heavier legs, and if it does eventually, I'll build a heavy stand for it.
So let us start with the weight of the machine. This thing, as listed on the box when I got it back to my shop, weighs in at 187.85 pounds. I couldn't even get it out of the box, much less set it up. While my wife and I usually handle most things ourselves, I had to call for backup just to get this thing on it's stand.
My only other complaint on this machine is the plastic used in some of the handles, such as the tool rest. That is usually expected in everything we buy these days though, and I am always good at working around these things by remaking them out of better material should anything ever go wrong with them. A fact of life these days is that products have too much plastic in them.
I also want to address other things about this lathe though. Through research of it, I came across items of concern to me, and I just generally want to show off my new toy.
$$$
Let's start with price. If you buy the Jet version of this lathe, you will pay considerably more than Harbor Freight. That is to be expected. When I went and looked at the difference though, I was shocked.
This lathe, on sale for $269.99 at Harbor Freight, was already in a reasonably price range for what it is. Then there are taxes added. However, we had a 25% off coupon. That brought the price down even considerably more. Then we added back a two year extended warranty to it. I have used Harbor Freight's warranties before and know for a fact that, if you pay for the warranty, they will take it back with no questions asked and give you a new one in the box. That brought the price back to about where it was. So for around $270, taxes included, we got the lathe and a two year extended warranty. I think that is a good deal.
Now, the Jet lathe. I went to the Rockler site to price it. It is available online only in my area. I did not check twenty sites for the cheapest one. I just wanted to give a general idea. Here, on the Rockler site, before any possible taxes or shipping, the lathe sells for $919.
Wood Monoplane Machine Gas Aviation

Next up is the tool rest. I did not even notice this feature when looking at this lathe, but it is nice. Both my other lathes have a bar that slides along the bed, then the extension bar swivels and the tool rest swivels. That works, but it limited. This one has more movement to it. I am sure this may be standard for flat bed lathes and no big deal to most experienced turners. This is my first flat bed lathe though, and for me, it is a whole world better than what I am used to.
Saw Motor vehicle Gas Engineering Machine tool

Some of you who have never turned probably have no idea why a tool rest would be so important to me to even mention it. Well, besides just being more versatile, in addition to the swiveling head on this lathe, you can see just above the orientation I can put a bowl while working on the inside of it. This is a huge advantage to me. In the past, on the pipe bed lathes I've used, I eight had to walk around the back of the lathe. This put me on the opposite side of the lathe from the controls. That is something that has always made me uncomfortable. The other option was to lean over the bed, and work back towards me, into the downward turning bowl. This was not just uncomfortable to me, but downright painful if I done it for more than a couple of minutes at a time. This lathe's features will eliminate these issues all together. Once roughed out, I can just turn the whole headstock around towards me, adjust the tools rest accordingly, and be able to work much more comfortable than I have ever been able to while turning bowls.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Gas Engineering Aircraft engine

The single most complaint I have read in reviews of this lathe stemmed from this, the Reeve's variable speed system. I have read so many times, if you do not keep this oiled, it will fail, and the pulleys will literally fall apart in your hand. So I was a little apprehensive, when I pulled the cover off to oil it for the first time and to snap this photo, what horror I would find.
Let me start by saying I would love to have electronic variable speed. There may come a point in time that electronic variable speed is obtainable to the common man. Most people cannot afford that luxury though. So, just having the ten speeds that this Reeve's system affords me is a blessing. On this machine, I will not have to remove a cover and change belts on a set of pulleys every time I change speeds.
I have seen this system, and worked on this system, in many uses. It is very similar to the system on my old Total Shop. That motor now powered my shop made band saw and works flawlessly. The Total Shop was one of the cheaper made Shop Smith clones, and yes, it too was problematic if not oiled and maintained properly. Amazingly, I've also seen this system on variable speed PTO drives on tractors made decades ago.
Yes, the pulleys do seem to be made out of less than premium material. However, the look to be of the same material I see on 99% of stock pulleys on any brand these days. It's pot metal. No it is not the strongest material known to man, but it has always, from my experience, worked well for pulleys as long as it's taken care of.
The bottom line on this matter, to me, is this. This system involves moving parts that slide back and forth on a fixed shaft. Anything with moving parts, that move against unmoving parts, requires maintenance. If not, it will fail. That is a plain and simple truth no matter how you look at it. So, unless some other problem crops up in the future, this whole issue is a non-issue to me. For the torque the Reeve's system provide, in addition to the larger three quarter horse motor I have on this lathe compared to my others, I like this system.

So that's my new toy.
You will see many more turning projects in my future, and I'll keep you all posted if any problems arise with the new lathe. I look for it to work very nicely for me.
 

Attachments

#81 ·
The Lathe Saga Continues

Table Furniture Wood Engineering Gas

I have been working on a project. In the meantime though, my newly found wood turning fascination is still in full swing. What you see here is the corner of my shop over behind the table saws where the lathe always sat. I use the word sat, as in past tense, because you may notice there are three lathes now.
The one closest to the camera is the old one that I recently discovered had a bent shaft. I thought of carrying it out back and putting it out of it's misery, but I think it can still be of use.
I am going to use it if I need to rough out something that is extremely out of balance. This will safe from having to worry about tearing up either of the other ones.
Also I'm thinking, at the advice of an experienced wood turner I've been talking to, of setting up a polishing center for my turning projects that mounts between the centers on this lathe. The out of true condition the shaft presents will not effect a polishing set up.
Wood Gas Machine Shear Art

Next, closest to the window, is the Ridgid lathe. It is actually very similar to the first lathe. Most of these pipe bed lathes made these days, besides some cosmetic and quality differences, are direct copies of an old Craftsman lathe I've seen from the eighties.
The Ridgid lathe was given to me by a good friend. I talked about it in my last post. It is a good lathe. The shaft is made of thicker material, which makes me a little more confident. The accessory controls, such as handles for tightening up the tool rest for example, are better made. I believe it is going to be a decent lathe.
Wood Machine tool Gas Engineering Tool and cutter grinder

The newest addition to the line up is the purpose of this post though. My lovely wife wanted to get me something nice for the upcoming Valentine's day, and this is what she got me. I have been wanting this lathe for some time and just have never been able to afford it. She has been putting in overtime at work and, while I don't think she will tell me that it was still hard on her to afford it, she used some of that extra cash to buy me the lathe I've been wanting.
This lathe is from Harbor Freight. I can almost hear the groans from my computer screen when I typed that. I know Harbor Freight sells some pretty cheaply made stuff. If you do your research though, you can find some diamonds in the rough at that place. I believe this to be just one of those precious gems.
For starters, I have read in numerous places that the lathe I have now is the exact same lathe as this one in the Jet lineup. The major differences between the two are the paint color, the supplied legs that are shipped with each of them, and the price. The color means nothing. I know for a fact that many items are made in the same factories, in the same assembly lines, and shot with different colors for different stores. I think most of us are aware of that. As for the legs, I don't know. From what I can see in the website photos, they look the same to me. It doesn't matter too much in my opinion though. For what I want, a machine that weighs as much as this one doesn't need heavier legs, and if it does eventually, I'll build a heavy stand for it.
So let us start with the weight of the machine. This thing, as listed on the box when I got it back to my shop, weighs in at 187.85 pounds. I couldn't even get it out of the box, much less set it up. While my wife and I usually handle most things ourselves, I had to call for backup just to get this thing on it's stand.
My only other complaint on this machine is the plastic used in some of the handles, such as the tool rest. That is usually expected in everything we buy these days though, and I am always good at working around these things by remaking them out of better material should anything ever go wrong with them. A fact of life these days is that products have too much plastic in them.
I also want to address other things about this lathe though. Through research of it, I came across items of concern to me, and I just generally want to show off my new toy.
$$$
Let's start with price. If you buy the Jet version of this lathe, you will pay considerably more than Harbor Freight. That is to be expected. When I went and looked at the difference though, I was shocked.
This lathe, on sale for $269.99 at Harbor Freight, was already in a reasonably price range for what it is. Then there are taxes added. However, we had a 25% off coupon. That brought the price down even considerably more. Then we added back a two year extended warranty to it. I have used Harbor Freight's warranties before and know for a fact that, if you pay for the warranty, they will take it back with no questions asked and give you a new one in the box. That brought the price back to about where it was. So for around $270, taxes included, we got the lathe and a two year extended warranty. I think that is a good deal.
Now, the Jet lathe. I went to the Rockler site to price it. It is available online only in my area. I did not check twenty sites for the cheapest one. I just wanted to give a general idea. Here, on the Rockler site, before any possible taxes or shipping, the lathe sells for $919.
Wood Monoplane Machine Gas Aviation

Next up is the tool rest. I did not even notice this feature when looking at this lathe, but it is nice. Both my other lathes have a bar that slides along the bed, then the extension bar swivels and the tool rest swivels. That works, but it limited. This one has more movement to it. I am sure this may be standard for flat bed lathes and no big deal to most experienced turners. This is my first flat bed lathe though, and for me, it is a whole world better than what I am used to.
Saw Motor vehicle Gas Engineering Machine tool

Some of you who have never turned probably have no idea why a tool rest would be so important to me to even mention it. Well, besides just being more versatile, in addition to the swiveling head on this lathe, you can see just above the orientation I can put a bowl while working on the inside of it. This is a huge advantage to me. In the past, on the pipe bed lathes I've used, I eight had to walk around the back of the lathe. This put me on the opposite side of the lathe from the controls. That is something that has always made me uncomfortable. The other option was to lean over the bed, and work back towards me, into the downward turning bowl. This was not just uncomfortable to me, but downright painful if I done it for more than a couple of minutes at a time. This lathe's features will eliminate these issues all together. Once roughed out, I can just turn the whole headstock around towards me, adjust the tools rest accordingly, and be able to work much more comfortable than I have ever been able to while turning bowls.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Gas Engineering Aircraft engine

The single most complaint I have read in reviews of this lathe stemmed from this, the Reeve's variable speed system. I have read so many times, if you do not keep this oiled, it will fail, and the pulleys will literally fall apart in your hand. So I was a little apprehensive, when I pulled the cover off to oil it for the first time and to snap this photo, what horror I would find.
Let me start by saying I would love to have electronic variable speed. There may come a point in time that electronic variable speed is obtainable to the common man. Most people cannot afford that luxury though. So, just having the ten speeds that this Reeve's system affords me is a blessing. On this machine, I will not have to remove a cover and change belts on a set of pulleys every time I change speeds.
I have seen this system, and worked on this system, in many uses. It is very similar to the system on my old Total Shop. That motor now powered my shop made band saw and works flawlessly. The Total Shop was one of the cheaper made Shop Smith clones, and yes, it too was problematic if not oiled and maintained properly. Amazingly, I've also seen this system on variable speed PTO drives on tractors made decades ago.
Yes, the pulleys do seem to be made out of less than premium material. However, the look to be of the same material I see on 99% of stock pulleys on any brand these days. It's pot metal. No it is not the strongest material known to man, but it has always, from my experience, worked well for pulleys as long as it's taken care of.
The bottom line on this matter, to me, is this. This system involves moving parts that slide back and forth on a fixed shaft. Anything with moving parts, that move against unmoving parts, requires maintenance. If not, it will fail. That is a plain and simple truth no matter how you look at it. So, unless some other problem crops up in the future, this whole issue is a non-issue to me. For the torque the Reeve's system provide, in addition to the larger three quarter horse motor I have on this lathe compared to my others, I like this system.

So that's my new toy.
You will see many more turning projects in my future, and I'll keep you all posted if any problems arise with the new lathe. I look for it to work very nicely for me.
Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive tire Automotive exterior Wood


Nice setup. I just got a HF 10×18 mini lathe started on new handles.
 

Attachments

#94 ·
I Feel Like An Idiot

I've had the flu and haven't felt up to doing too much. I'm been puttering around though and doind what I can.
Spinning Gas Wood Engineering Cylinder

Yesterday, I pulled out my grinder and oil stones. It was something I could do sitting down. So I got some of my lathe tools sharpened up nicely.
Tire Automotive tire Wood Wheel Motor vehicle

One of my older sons had brought me a small pile of firewood. It was still pretty wet, but I remembered someone telling me green wood was a good idea to start with for practice. So, today, I pulled out my electric chain saw and chopped off a piece large enough for a small bow. After plenty of reading, and plenty of helpful advice from fellow Lumberjocks, and some new toys thanks to my friend Eddie and my wife, I was ready to crawl back on that horse.
Blue Wood Gas Engineering Machine

The first thing I done was chucked it up in the old lathe, the one with the bent shaft. As long as I'm still learning, I figured this would be a better idea. I can rough things out on this old lathe. That will get things almost balanced well before putting it on the good lathes.
Wood Gas Rectangle Engineering Machine

After it was balanced good, I put it on the Ridgid lathe that Eddie had given me. I worked with it here until I was ready to chop off the excess amount I did not need. I intentionally started with more wood than I would possibly need, in case there was any mistakes.
Blue Wood Gas Flooring Composite material

Up until this point, everything was going perfectly. The chips were flying and there was a smile on my face.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering

Then I mounted this onto the new lathe that my wife got me. Between the Ridgid lathe, and this new lathe, and both of them running true, things went so much smoother than my past experiences. The piece chucked into my four jaw chuck and ran perfectly true. There was no issues.
Then my new troubles began.
I have done a lot of reading lately. I thought I knew exactly what I needed to do. Apparantly I was wrong. No matter what I did, had so many, and with such severety, catches with the tools, that I wound up having to stop before I finished and make the decision to try and figure out what I'm doing wrong before I mess around and hurt myself.
No, I do not have a "proper" bowl gouge. I know that is an issue, but I can't believe that it the only problem.
I tried different tools.
I tried different angles.
I tried adjusting to tool rest to different positions.
I spent close to three of the most frustrating hours of my life trying to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong as compared to the information I've read and the tons of video I have now watched on bowl turning. As determined as I am though, I am not quite sure at this moment what exactly I'm doing wrong.
I do know that the catches I'm getting are severe enough to do damage, either to the mcahine, or myself. Also, I think this is how I bent the shaft on the first lathe. Overall, I am fearful at this point to continue until I figure this out.
I understand that a proper bowl gouge will become something I just can't continue without. At this time though, I can't believe that the inability to afford an expensive tool at this time is the only problem.
Automotive tire Wood Serveware Automotive design Automotive wheel system

Wood Headgear Hat Gas Tints and shades

This is how far I got into the inside of the bowl before I decided it was best for me to stop. I followed the advice I read in one of the books I've been in, and used a forstner bit to remove a lot of the center before beginning.
At this time, I can turn spindles and such, and some real nice bowl blanks. I cannot seem to get face turning, or the interior of bowls, right. So I left this piece chucked into the lathe for now, as a daily reminder that I need to try and learn some more.

As for the title of this entry, it is how I feel at the moment. This is now the first time I've felt this way, and probably won't be the last. It is a feeling I am sure some others feel when you try something that you've seen others make look so easy, and you just can't seem to get it right.
Oh, well, back to the drawing board. In other words, time to learn some more.
 

Attachments

#95 ·
I Feel Like An Idiot

I've had the flu and haven't felt up to doing too much. I'm been puttering around though and doind what I can.
Spinning Gas Wood Engineering Cylinder

Yesterday, I pulled out my grinder and oil stones. It was something I could do sitting down. So I got some of my lathe tools sharpened up nicely.
Tire Automotive tire Wood Wheel Motor vehicle

One of my older sons had brought me a small pile of firewood. It was still pretty wet, but I remembered someone telling me green wood was a good idea to start with for practice. So, today, I pulled out my electric chain saw and chopped off a piece large enough for a small bow. After plenty of reading, and plenty of helpful advice from fellow Lumberjocks, and some new toys thanks to my friend Eddie and my wife, I was ready to crawl back on that horse.
Blue Wood Gas Engineering Machine

The first thing I done was chucked it up in the old lathe, the one with the bent shaft. As long as I'm still learning, I figured this would be a better idea. I can rough things out on this old lathe. That will get things almost balanced well before putting it on the good lathes.
Wood Gas Rectangle Engineering Machine

After it was balanced good, I put it on the Ridgid lathe that Eddie had given me. I worked with it here until I was ready to chop off the excess amount I did not need. I intentionally started with more wood than I would possibly need, in case there was any mistakes.
Blue Wood Gas Flooring Composite material

Up until this point, everything was going perfectly. The chips were flying and there was a smile on my face.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering

Then I mounted this onto the new lathe that my wife got me. Between the Ridgid lathe, and this new lathe, and both of them running true, things went so much smoother than my past experiences. The piece chucked into my four jaw chuck and ran perfectly true. There was no issues.
Then my new troubles began.
I have done a lot of reading lately. I thought I knew exactly what I needed to do. Apparantly I was wrong. No matter what I did, had so many, and with such severety, catches with the tools, that I wound up having to stop before I finished and make the decision to try and figure out what I'm doing wrong before I mess around and hurt myself.
No, I do not have a "proper" bowl gouge. I know that is an issue, but I can't believe that it the only problem.
I tried different tools.
I tried different angles.
I tried adjusting to tool rest to different positions.
I spent close to three of the most frustrating hours of my life trying to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong as compared to the information I've read and the tons of video I have now watched on bowl turning. As determined as I am though, I am not quite sure at this moment what exactly I'm doing wrong.
I do know that the catches I'm getting are severe enough to do damage, either to the mcahine, or myself. Also, I think this is how I bent the shaft on the first lathe. Overall, I am fearful at this point to continue until I figure this out.
I understand that a proper bowl gouge will become something I just can't continue without. At this time though, I can't believe that the inability to afford an expensive tool at this time is the only problem.
Automotive tire Wood Serveware Automotive design Automotive wheel system

Wood Headgear Hat Gas Tints and shades

This is how far I got into the inside of the bowl before I decided it was best for me to stop. I followed the advice I read in one of the books I've been in, and used a forstner bit to remove a lot of the center before beginning.
At this time, I can turn spindles and such, and some real nice bowl blanks. I cannot seem to get face turning, or the interior of bowls, right. So I left this piece chucked into the lathe for now, as a daily reminder that I need to try and learn some more.

As for the title of this entry, it is how I feel at the moment. This is now the first time I've felt this way, and probably won't be the last. It is a feeling I am sure some others feel when you try something that you've seen others make look so easy, and you just can't seem to get it right.
Oh, well, back to the drawing board. In other words, time to learn some more.
No advice from me, a total beginner here. I am sure if it was so easy, everyone would be doing it. I do like to little tool holder though. I need to make one like that.
 

Attachments

#97 ·
I Feel Like An Idiot

I've had the flu and haven't felt up to doing too much. I'm been puttering around though and doind what I can.
Spinning Gas Wood Engineering Cylinder

Yesterday, I pulled out my grinder and oil stones. It was something I could do sitting down. So I got some of my lathe tools sharpened up nicely.
Tire Automotive tire Wood Wheel Motor vehicle

One of my older sons had brought me a small pile of firewood. It was still pretty wet, but I remembered someone telling me green wood was a good idea to start with for practice. So, today, I pulled out my electric chain saw and chopped off a piece large enough for a small bow. After plenty of reading, and plenty of helpful advice from fellow Lumberjocks, and some new toys thanks to my friend Eddie and my wife, I was ready to crawl back on that horse.
Blue Wood Gas Engineering Machine

The first thing I done was chucked it up in the old lathe, the one with the bent shaft. As long as I'm still learning, I figured this would be a better idea. I can rough things out on this old lathe. That will get things almost balanced well before putting it on the good lathes.
Wood Gas Rectangle Engineering Machine

After it was balanced good, I put it on the Ridgid lathe that Eddie had given me. I worked with it here until I was ready to chop off the excess amount I did not need. I intentionally started with more wood than I would possibly need, in case there was any mistakes.
Blue Wood Gas Flooring Composite material

Up until this point, everything was going perfectly. The chips were flying and there was a smile on my face.
Motor vehicle Automotive tire Wood Gas Engineering

Then I mounted this onto the new lathe that my wife got me. Between the Ridgid lathe, and this new lathe, and both of them running true, things went so much smoother than my past experiences. The piece chucked into my four jaw chuck and ran perfectly true. There was no issues.
Then my new troubles began.
I have done a lot of reading lately. I thought I knew exactly what I needed to do. Apparantly I was wrong. No matter what I did, had so many, and with such severety, catches with the tools, that I wound up having to stop before I finished and make the decision to try and figure out what I'm doing wrong before I mess around and hurt myself.
No, I do not have a "proper" bowl gouge. I know that is an issue, but I can't believe that it the only problem.
I tried different tools.
I tried different angles.
I tried adjusting to tool rest to different positions.
I spent close to three of the most frustrating hours of my life trying to figure out what exactly I am doing wrong as compared to the information I've read and the tons of video I have now watched on bowl turning. As determined as I am though, I am not quite sure at this moment what exactly I'm doing wrong.
I do know that the catches I'm getting are severe enough to do damage, either to the mcahine, or myself. Also, I think this is how I bent the shaft on the first lathe. Overall, I am fearful at this point to continue until I figure this out.
I understand that a proper bowl gouge will become something I just can't continue without. At this time though, I can't believe that the inability to afford an expensive tool at this time is the only problem.
Automotive tire Wood Serveware Automotive design Automotive wheel system

Wood Headgear Hat Gas Tints and shades

This is how far I got into the inside of the bowl before I decided it was best for me to stop. I followed the advice I read in one of the books I've been in, and used a forstner bit to remove a lot of the center before beginning.
At this time, I can turn spindles and such, and some real nice bowl blanks. I cannot seem to get face turning, or the interior of bowls, right. So I left this piece chucked into the lathe for now, as a daily reminder that I need to try and learn some more.

As for the title of this entry, it is how I feel at the moment. This is now the first time I've felt this way, and probably won't be the last. It is a feeling I am sure some others feel when you try something that you've seen others make look so easy, and you just can't seem to get it right.
Oh, well, back to the drawing board. In other words, time to learn some more.
William that is wet endgrain it is a total to turn even with the
sharpest bowl gouge.

Jamie
 

Attachments

#126 ·
This Idiot Can Learn

Wood Headgear Hat Gas Tints and shades

In the photo above, you see yesterday's results. That was yesterday though. This is a new day. If you read yesterday's blog entry, and then read this one, you'll understand the idea behind the title of this one.

Stefang, I want to thank you for pointing me to Bob Hamilton's videos. They were a huge help. I've read and watched a lot of videos, and you are correct, there are so many techniques shown all over the place that it's hard to know right from wrong. I quickly learned to trust Mr. Hamilton's advice though from his honesty, and good way of explaining things.
I stayed up late last night, actually much too late, watching Mr. Hamilton's videos and some of the other people's videos that he had "liked". I learned a lot. Some things you can read. You can watch videos. There are things though that you never know you're doing wrong until someone finds a way for you to learn the proper way. That's what happened last night. I had one of those eureka moments.
I don't know if it was Mr. Hamilton, or one of his other "liked" videos, but someone had glued a pencil to the wings above the flute on their gouge. This allowed me to see exactly the cutting position of their tool as they worked. It was like a light went off and I knew exactly what I had done wrong. Well, I knew one of the most major things I'd done wrong anyway.

First things first is, I want to thank every single person who has tried helping me. Bearpie, Kreegan, Stefang, and Jamie Speirs have all been especially helpful to me. Those videos though, that was what made it all come together, for this problem anyway.
I decided that I was going about bowls all wrong. Don't ask me why I was insisting on doing a bowl by cutting end grain. I guess it just made sense to me at the time, round log, round bowl. I am leaving the end grain behind for now. While I do thing it is a useful skill that I will learn more of dow the road, I feel it is out of my skill range at this point in time.
Before doing so though, I just had to find out if I had learned anything from those videos.
Wood Headgear Shade Tints and shades Composite material

I don't know how much you can see in this photo, but I went about two inches deep in the end grain. I did so without a single catch. It went smoothly. This wasn't much, but extremely satisfactory to me. I was not going any deeper. Something else I learned from all the videos I watched last night was that someone finally answered a serious question for me. I learned the difference between a spindle gouge and a bowl gouge besides just the cut and flute, and the dangers of going to deeply using spindle gouge to hollow out a bowl. However, I found some reasonably priced bowl gouges and am going to get me some.

Now, before I go any further, let me explain something. I do not feel very well today. I did not even attempt to make a bowl today. I did just try to learn some techniques based on the videos Stefang recommended to me. I had a doctor appointment this morning. As soon as I made it back to the shop though, I used that same log I was chopping up yesterday and sliced off another piece.
Then I realized something. The blades I have for my bandsaw were not going to be good at all for cutting this wet wood. I've tried before with disaserous results. It is amazing how quickly green wood can ruin the wrong blade on a band saw. Additionally, there was no way I was going to ruin that thrity dollar blade presently on there trying to. So, check off one more thing I need to get if I am going to really get into this bowl turning thing very much.
Saw Wood Tool Machine tool Automotive tire

There was also no way I was going to allow those facts to stop me from practicing what I thought I'd learned.

I watched a video a long time ago about, why you never mount wood into a lathe in this orientation. I think that has been part of my hesitation. I decided to go for it though. I felt that I could see how things went and go from there. I wore a face sheild, stayed out of the line of fire of the chunk of wood, and flipped the lathe on. My fears of wood grain running this way quickly disippated. Yes, I resepct it, but I am no longer scared to death of it.
Now, some of you may see this chunk of log, with it's round bottom, mounted like this with a true beginner messing with it and aske if I am completely nuts.

Well, yes. Yes I am. However, stating the obvious at this point does nothing to help this conversation.

I had no intention of turning this completely into a bowl. As I stated before, this was just an exercise in technique. So I chunked it up on a screw chuck and only turned it enough to get it well balanced. Then I turned it around, exposing the clean side of it, and screwed it back onto the screw chuck again, so I could see what, if anything I had learned.
Tableware Dishware Natural material Wood Serveware

Natural material Wood Artifact Trunk Tree

It may not seem like much to some, but this was a HUGE accomplishment for me. I have struggled for a while to get this far.
No, it does not look great, but I will get there with practice. I wasn't expecting to all of a sudden be an expert bowl turner. I simply wished to see if I could make a dent into hollowing out this bowl without things getting crazy enough to make me stop again. It was a complete success. I did have a couple of catches on this one when I tried to take too much of a bite at one time. I backed off and took smaller passes though and things went amazingly smoothly.
I feel today like I may still be an idiot, but an idiot that is learning something at least. And if I stick with it and learn enough, maybe one day I can help someone else like others have helped me. Thank you all. I hope you're still there when I have my next duh moment.
For anyone who may be having trouble with turning, go watch some of Mr. Hamilton's videos. Stefang, one of our fellow Lumberjocks, recommended them to me, and they were a huge help.
Thank you again Stefang.
 

Attachments

#127 ·
This Idiot Can Learn

Wood Headgear Hat Gas Tints and shades

In the photo above, you see yesterday's results. That was yesterday though. This is a new day. If you read yesterday's blog entry, and then read this one, you'll understand the idea behind the title of this one.

Stefang, I want to thank you for pointing me to Bob Hamilton's videos. They were a huge help. I've read and watched a lot of videos, and you are correct, there are so many techniques shown all over the place that it's hard to know right from wrong. I quickly learned to trust Mr. Hamilton's advice though from his honesty, and good way of explaining things.
I stayed up late last night, actually much too late, watching Mr. Hamilton's videos and some of the other people's videos that he had "liked". I learned a lot. Some things you can read. You can watch videos. There are things though that you never know you're doing wrong until someone finds a way for you to learn the proper way. That's what happened last night. I had one of those eureka moments.
I don't know if it was Mr. Hamilton, or one of his other "liked" videos, but someone had glued a pencil to the wings above the flute on their gouge. This allowed me to see exactly the cutting position of their tool as they worked. It was like a light went off and I knew exactly what I had done wrong. Well, I knew one of the most major things I'd done wrong anyway.

First things first is, I want to thank every single person who has tried helping me. Bearpie, Kreegan, Stefang, and Jamie Speirs have all been especially helpful to me. Those videos though, that was what made it all come together, for this problem anyway.
I decided that I was going about bowls all wrong. Don't ask me why I was insisting on doing a bowl by cutting end grain. I guess it just made sense to me at the time, round log, round bowl. I am leaving the end grain behind for now. While I do thing it is a useful skill that I will learn more of dow the road, I feel it is out of my skill range at this point in time.
Before doing so though, I just had to find out if I had learned anything from those videos.
Wood Headgear Shade Tints and shades Composite material

I don't know how much you can see in this photo, but I went about two inches deep in the end grain. I did so without a single catch. It went smoothly. This wasn't much, but extremely satisfactory to me. I was not going any deeper. Something else I learned from all the videos I watched last night was that someone finally answered a serious question for me. I learned the difference between a spindle gouge and a bowl gouge besides just the cut and flute, and the dangers of going to deeply using spindle gouge to hollow out a bowl. However, I found some reasonably priced bowl gouges and am going to get me some.

Now, before I go any further, let me explain something. I do not feel very well today. I did not even attempt to make a bowl today. I did just try to learn some techniques based on the videos Stefang recommended to me. I had a doctor appointment this morning. As soon as I made it back to the shop though, I used that same log I was chopping up yesterday and sliced off another piece.
Then I realized something. The blades I have for my bandsaw were not going to be good at all for cutting this wet wood. I've tried before with disaserous results. It is amazing how quickly green wood can ruin the wrong blade on a band saw. Additionally, there was no way I was going to ruin that thrity dollar blade presently on there trying to. So, check off one more thing I need to get if I am going to really get into this bowl turning thing very much.
Saw Wood Tool Machine tool Automotive tire

There was also no way I was going to allow those facts to stop me from practicing what I thought I'd learned.

I watched a video a long time ago about, why you never mount wood into a lathe in this orientation. I think that has been part of my hesitation. I decided to go for it though. I felt that I could see how things went and go from there. I wore a face sheild, stayed out of the line of fire of the chunk of wood, and flipped the lathe on. My fears of wood grain running this way quickly disippated. Yes, I resepct it, but I am no longer scared to death of it.
Now, some of you may see this chunk of log, with it's round bottom, mounted like this with a true beginner messing with it and aske if I am completely nuts.

Well, yes. Yes I am. However, stating the obvious at this point does nothing to help this conversation.

I had no intention of turning this completely into a bowl. As I stated before, this was just an exercise in technique. So I chunked it up on a screw chuck and only turned it enough to get it well balanced. Then I turned it around, exposing the clean side of it, and screwed it back onto the screw chuck again, so I could see what, if anything I had learned.
Tableware Dishware Natural material Wood Serveware

Natural material Wood Artifact Trunk Tree

It may not seem like much to some, but this was a HUGE accomplishment for me. I have struggled for a while to get this far.
No, it does not look great, but I will get there with practice. I wasn't expecting to all of a sudden be an expert bowl turner. I simply wished to see if I could make a dent into hollowing out this bowl without things getting crazy enough to make me stop again. It was a complete success. I did have a couple of catches on this one when I tried to take too much of a bite at one time. I backed off and took smaller passes though and things went amazingly smoothly.
I feel today like I may still be an idiot, but an idiot that is learning something at least. And if I stick with it and learn enough, maybe one day I can help someone else like others have helped me. Thank you all. I hope you're still there when I have my next duh moment.
For anyone who may be having trouble with turning, go watch some of Mr. Hamilton's videos. Stefang, one of our fellow Lumberjocks, recommended them to me, and they were a huge help.
Thank you again Stefang.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks???

A very fetching start! No bones about it!!!

Congrats on learning a new trick!!!
 

Attachments

#165 ·
Lessons Learned In Bowl Turning

Learning to turn bowls is becoming quite an adventure. It seems sometimes that the more I learn, the more I have to learn. It is a fun adventure though, so I think I'll keep at it for a long time to come. Actually, the amount of knowledge and skill required I think is what makes turning even more interesting to me. A lot of wood working skills come easy to me. Sometimes, it seems they come too easy and there just isn't much of a challenge to it. Therefore, something like turning, that challenges me every step of the way, holds my interest much better. It has gotten to where some other skills I rely on for working wood become a bore. They are just going through the motions. Each time I turn on that lathe though I feel a sense of excitement of what I might learn today.
Natural material Wood Metal Concrete Art

I started out trying to turn bowls in end grain. I don't know why. Looking back on it, I think it just made more sense to me. It seemed to me, round tree, round bowl. It isn't that simple though. Through research and the help of some good friends guiding me towards some good video where I could see proper techniques, I've come a long way since turning the bowl in this photo.
Along the way, I learned that there is a place for end grain turning. However, after turning that end grain, I placed it on my work bench as a reminder of why you don't turn deep bowl in green end grain wood. All that cracking wood would just never do.
Wood Sink Sculpture Artifact Pedestal

This next bowl was never meant to be complete. It was just a practice piece to test some of what I'd been learning. Looking at it on my bench now though, I sort of wish I had turned a tenon on the bottom of it so it would be easier to go back and actually finish it.
Wood Cuisine Ingredient Dish Tool

It was along this same time that I started realizing the dangers of using spindle gouges for bowl turning. The gouge on top of this photo is a spindle gouge. The one on bottom is a bowl gouge. That's a lot of different in tool size. I found out it is more than just size though. Tool weight and balance, and strength, makes the bowl gouge just handle better for the over reaching past the tool rest that you do with bowl turning.
Wood Metal Engineering Art Lumber

In this photo, you see the bowl gouges I ordered. These are Benjamin's Best gouges from Penn State Industries. You can order these gouges here if you'd like. Through my inexperience, these seem to be some great tools here, and if you research the prices of bowl gouges around the internet, they are also very reasonably priced.
Basket Wood Storage basket Grass family Hat

Wood Food Ingredient Tableware Cuisine

My next trial in bowl turning turned into another disaster, but another lesson. I learned to start researching woods that I try to turn with. This is a hunk chopped off a cypress log. I tried turning it after mounting it with an reverse tenon. I'm not sure if that's the proper terminology, but I turned a recess in the bottom, reversed it, and then tried mounting it on my chuck with the jaws pushing outwards into that recess. I couldn't then understand why, not long after I started hogging the material out of the inside of the bowl, it slung off the lathe at high speed.
I done what I've started doing anytime I don't understand something turning related. I stopped and got on the internet to try and learn. I learned that cypress is not a good wood to be turning bowls with anyway.
Tableware Dishware Wood Storage basket Serveware

Ingredient Wood Natural material Rectangle Basket

That brings me to my latest bowl, and my first successful bowl. I know it doesn't look like much, but it is a huge accomplishment for me.
The bowl is only two inches deep. It started out as about a five inch deep bowl. I messed it up several times though, and when I did, would part off the top of the mistake and keep going. This was after all supposed to be a learning exercise. I'm afraid I won't be using the bowl. It is still green and I turned it thin, as a finished bowl, just for practice sake. In the future, I need to leave them thicker, unfinished, to be able to turn them down to a finished state after they've dried. That is for the future though. For, now, I'm happy enough turning green finished bowls that I know won't be usable just for the experience. I'll have usable bowls soon enough that I'll look back on these and laugh at them.
 

Attachments

#166 ·
Lessons Learned In Bowl Turning

Learning to turn bowls is becoming quite an adventure. It seems sometimes that the more I learn, the more I have to learn. It is a fun adventure though, so I think I'll keep at it for a long time to come. Actually, the amount of knowledge and skill required I think is what makes turning even more interesting to me. A lot of wood working skills come easy to me. Sometimes, it seems they come too easy and there just isn't much of a challenge to it. Therefore, something like turning, that challenges me every step of the way, holds my interest much better. It has gotten to where some other skills I rely on for working wood become a bore. They are just going through the motions. Each time I turn on that lathe though I feel a sense of excitement of what I might learn today.
Natural material Wood Metal Concrete Art

I started out trying to turn bowls in end grain. I don't know why. Looking back on it, I think it just made more sense to me. It seemed to me, round tree, round bowl. It isn't that simple though. Through research and the help of some good friends guiding me towards some good video where I could see proper techniques, I've come a long way since turning the bowl in this photo.
Along the way, I learned that there is a place for end grain turning. However, after turning that end grain, I placed it on my work bench as a reminder of why you don't turn deep bowl in green end grain wood. All that cracking wood would just never do.
Wood Sink Sculpture Artifact Pedestal

This next bowl was never meant to be complete. It was just a practice piece to test some of what I'd been learning. Looking at it on my bench now though, I sort of wish I had turned a tenon on the bottom of it so it would be easier to go back and actually finish it.
Wood Cuisine Ingredient Dish Tool

It was along this same time that I started realizing the dangers of using spindle gouges for bowl turning. The gouge on top of this photo is a spindle gouge. The one on bottom is a bowl gouge. That's a lot of different in tool size. I found out it is more than just size though. Tool weight and balance, and strength, makes the bowl gouge just handle better for the over reaching past the tool rest that you do with bowl turning.
Wood Metal Engineering Art Lumber

In this photo, you see the bowl gouges I ordered. These are Benjamin's Best gouges from Penn State Industries. You can order these gouges here if you'd like. Through my inexperience, these seem to be some great tools here, and if you research the prices of bowl gouges around the internet, they are also very reasonably priced.
Basket Wood Storage basket Grass family Hat

Wood Food Ingredient Tableware Cuisine

My next trial in bowl turning turned into another disaster, but another lesson. I learned to start researching woods that I try to turn with. This is a hunk chopped off a cypress log. I tried turning it after mounting it with an reverse tenon. I'm not sure if that's the proper terminology, but I turned a recess in the bottom, reversed it, and then tried mounting it on my chuck with the jaws pushing outwards into that recess. I couldn't then understand why, not long after I started hogging the material out of the inside of the bowl, it slung off the lathe at high speed.
I done what I've started doing anytime I don't understand something turning related. I stopped and got on the internet to try and learn. I learned that cypress is not a good wood to be turning bowls with anyway.
Tableware Dishware Wood Storage basket Serveware

Ingredient Wood Natural material Rectangle Basket

That brings me to my latest bowl, and my first successful bowl. I know it doesn't look like much, but it is a huge accomplishment for me.
The bowl is only two inches deep. It started out as about a five inch deep bowl. I messed it up several times though, and when I did, would part off the top of the mistake and keep going. This was after all supposed to be a learning exercise. I'm afraid I won't be using the bowl. It is still green and I turned it thin, as a finished bowl, just for practice sake. In the future, I need to leave them thicker, unfinished, to be able to turn them down to a finished state after they've dried. That is for the future though. For, now, I'm happy enough turning green finished bowls that I know won't be usable just for the experience. I'll have usable bowls soon enough that I'll look back on these and laugh at them.
I think you've already become a dynamite bowl-turner.
 

Attachments

#178 ·
The Bent Shaft Lathe

You may remember, my recent adventures into wood turning almost ended before it even got started good due to the bent shaft on an old lathe. In that corner, there sits three lathes now, a Ridgid, the big heavy flat bed lathe, and the bent shaft lathe. Every time I looked over at the bent shaft lathe, I've considered what to do with it. It sits on a heavy old bar and was just taking up space. While I do have a very large shop, I still don't like wasted space. I need to figure out what to do with it pretty soon before it bugged me to death.
So, I was looking into several books and catalogues at wood turning equipment. Some of the looking I must admit is only wishful thinking because of lack of funds. Something I seen though that peaked my interest was a buffing station that is sold to be mounted between centers on a lathe. I thought about this and realized that the bent shaft, and the resulting off balance turning, would not effect how a buffing pad works. However, the problem was still, I couldn't afford it. If any of you have seen much of my past work though, you know lack of funds doesn't usually stop me.
To start with, I see everything these days as an opportunity to turn something on the lathe, so I got started.
Wood Gas Auto part Machine Cylinder

On the headstock end, I just turned a cone that would seat itself into the morse taper. The other side of the cone I drilled a hole on center slightly smaller than the three eighths all thread and force threaded the rod into the cone.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Machine tool

For the other end of the all thread, I turned a bushing with a force threaded hole on one side, just like on the head stock end, and on the other side I installed a bearing. The old tail stock spindle was grinded down to a cone to snugly fit inside the wooden bushing.
At first, I scratched me head on how to get the hole for the bearing on the bushing. In the past, for through hole, I have drilled undersized holes for things such as this and used a spindle sander to slowly open it up for a press fit. This couldn't be done here though because I needed a blind hole that would not allow the bearing to press all the way through when I put pressure on it from the tail stock. Then it hit me, turn the hole on the lathe. That's what I done too. As I said earlier, I see so much these days as an opportunity to turn wood. I got a better press fit by turning this on the lathe than I ever could using any method I've tried in the past.
Wood Automotive tire Gas Tread Hardwood

Towards the middle of the all thread, I used a brass sleeve bushing as extra support. I don't know if I really needed this middle support or not, because I did not test it without it. I did know though that it wouldn't hurt it.
It is simply a brass sleeve bushing, sandwiched between holes in three pieces of wood, and mounted on the old tool rest base.
Wood Gas Lumber Brick Metal

So here is my new buffing station. On the far left is a sanding disk. I took an old spindle sander that originally mounted on a drill chuck and made that. I haven't used those sanding disks since I purchased a dedicated spindle sander. So it needed a new home anyway. Next is a piece of wood I turned with different profile. I will load this up with emory paste. I intent to use it to touch turning tools on while turning. This ought to help me extend the life of the edge of my tools and keep me from going back to the grinder with them quite so often. Then, on the right side of the center support, I have buffing pads from course to fine.
Wood Hardwood Flooring Gas Wood stain

While doing all this, I decided to just turn that whole bar into a work station to sharpen tools. The buffing station is on top. The grinder is right below it. I also now have a dedicated sharpening jig system on the grinder. I will probably blog about that one at a later date. Also, I built a new lathe tool holder. This is identical to the old one on the left side of the table. At this time it has my new bowl gouges in it, and I am currently awaiting some scrapers from Penn State Industries that will find a new home here as well.
Behind all this, on the bar top surface, I drilled various holes to hold my chucks, faceplate, knockout tools, and so forth. I have plenty of room there to add more holes for more accessories as I'm able to get them.

I completed all this and admired my work, but was unhappy. I wanted to turn something. My back was hurting though, and my boys weren't presently there to help me lift any wood to get a bowl blank. I remembered a turning exercise I had done a long time ago though and remembered it was fun to do. I thought I could do a better job of it this time since my turning skills are steadily improving.
Hand tool Burin Wood Finger Tool

Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Art Auto part

These captured ring things are fun to turn. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do them. They actually sell dedicated tools for making these. I just use a gouge, skew chisel, and parting tool to make them though.
 

Attachments

#179 ·
The Bent Shaft Lathe

You may remember, my recent adventures into wood turning almost ended before it even got started good due to the bent shaft on an old lathe. In that corner, there sits three lathes now, a Ridgid, the big heavy flat bed lathe, and the bent shaft lathe. Every time I looked over at the bent shaft lathe, I've considered what to do with it. It sits on a heavy old bar and was just taking up space. While I do have a very large shop, I still don't like wasted space. I need to figure out what to do with it pretty soon before it bugged me to death.
So, I was looking into several books and catalogues at wood turning equipment. Some of the looking I must admit is only wishful thinking because of lack of funds. Something I seen though that peaked my interest was a buffing station that is sold to be mounted between centers on a lathe. I thought about this and realized that the bent shaft, and the resulting off balance turning, would not effect how a buffing pad works. However, the problem was still, I couldn't afford it. If any of you have seen much of my past work though, you know lack of funds doesn't usually stop me.
To start with, I see everything these days as an opportunity to turn something on the lathe, so I got started.
Wood Gas Auto part Machine Cylinder

On the headstock end, I just turned a cone that would seat itself into the morse taper. The other side of the cone I drilled a hole on center slightly smaller than the three eighths all thread and force threaded the rod into the cone.
Wood Gas Machine Auto part Machine tool

For the other end of the all thread, I turned a bushing with a force threaded hole on one side, just like on the head stock end, and on the other side I installed a bearing. The old tail stock spindle was grinded down to a cone to snugly fit inside the wooden bushing.
At first, I scratched me head on how to get the hole for the bearing on the bushing. In the past, for through hole, I have drilled undersized holes for things such as this and used a spindle sander to slowly open it up for a press fit. This couldn't be done here though because I needed a blind hole that would not allow the bearing to press all the way through when I put pressure on it from the tail stock. Then it hit me, turn the hole on the lathe. That's what I done too. As I said earlier, I see so much these days as an opportunity to turn wood. I got a better press fit by turning this on the lathe than I ever could using any method I've tried in the past.
Wood Automotive tire Gas Tread Hardwood

Towards the middle of the all thread, I used a brass sleeve bushing as extra support. I don't know if I really needed this middle support or not, because I did not test it without it. I did know though that it wouldn't hurt it.
It is simply a brass sleeve bushing, sandwiched between holes in three pieces of wood, and mounted on the old tool rest base.
Wood Gas Lumber Brick Metal

So here is my new buffing station. On the far left is a sanding disk. I took an old spindle sander that originally mounted on a drill chuck and made that. I haven't used those sanding disks since I purchased a dedicated spindle sander. So it needed a new home anyway. Next is a piece of wood I turned with different profile. I will load this up with emory paste. I intent to use it to touch turning tools on while turning. This ought to help me extend the life of the edge of my tools and keep me from going back to the grinder with them quite so often. Then, on the right side of the center support, I have buffing pads from course to fine.
Wood Hardwood Flooring Gas Wood stain

While doing all this, I decided to just turn that whole bar into a work station to sharpen tools. The buffing station is on top. The grinder is right below it. I also now have a dedicated sharpening jig system on the grinder. I will probably blog about that one at a later date. Also, I built a new lathe tool holder. This is identical to the old one on the left side of the table. At this time it has my new bowl gouges in it, and I am currently awaiting some scrapers from Penn State Industries that will find a new home here as well.
Behind all this, on the bar top surface, I drilled various holes to hold my chucks, faceplate, knockout tools, and so forth. I have plenty of room there to add more holes for more accessories as I'm able to get them.

I completed all this and admired my work, but was unhappy. I wanted to turn something. My back was hurting though, and my boys weren't presently there to help me lift any wood to get a bowl blank. I remembered a turning exercise I had done a long time ago though and remembered it was fun to do. I thought I could do a better job of it this time since my turning skills are steadily improving.
Hand tool Burin Wood Finger Tool

Wood Gas Automotive wheel system Art Auto part

These captured ring things are fun to turn. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do them. They actually sell dedicated tools for making these. I just use a gouge, skew chisel, and parting tool to make them though.
That buffing station is ingenious! I knew that bent shaft lathe was driving you nuts (as it would me). You turned a broken tool into a totally useful item. Great work! I've never thought of putting emory paste on a wood substrate. Let us know how that works out.
 

Attachments

#197 ·
Close Only Counts With..............

I was going to title this entry, Close To Success. Every time I think of the word close though, I think of my Uncle who used to say, close only counts with horse shoes and hand grenades".
I'll get to that unsuccessfuly, but learning, experience in a bit. First, I wanted to share a few thoughts of mine as I go down this turning road.

First, I've learned an important lesson lately. I've been down a lot the last few weeks. I'm currently going through a particular bad spell. My wife has been having to help me just to get my socks on most of the time the last few days. So walking and standing much has been out of the question. Thanks to that though, I've been doing a lot of reading and video watching about turning.
I've known this lesson before now, but somehow didn't realize the significance of it until I tried it. I've seen so many people on videos turning bowls simply attached to the headstock in various manners with no support from the tail end. That's all fine and good, but I have to remember that these guys making these videos have more experience than me. So, the tailstock is my friend.
Lately, when I'm able to practice my bowl turning skills, I've been using the tailstock to help support my work piece. This has helped greatly. It keeps the piece from moving off center in case I do get a catch. Also, it allows me to bring the speed up a little more with confidence. I have found that, while I don't want the bowl blanks spinning at deadly, airplace propeller speeds, turning at the slowest speed also seems to always set me up for catches. A little more towards the middle of the speed range seems to do a better job. The use of the tail stock support helps me achieve this.
Wood Gas Engineering Machine Cylinder

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Tread Motor vehicle

Some of you may remember the hard wood piece I turned for the buffing station. I intended to use it like a moving strop. We discussed on one of these earlier blog series if it would work or not. It did, but extremely poorly. I had to leave the tool on it so long and with such force, that it quickly wore away any compound you put on it. Since I haven't been able to do much lately, I was able to take the time for this easy task and removed the hardwood piece and go with MDF.
I hate working with MDF and have never tried turning any, so I wanted to keep the pieces as perfectly round as possible. So I drill a three eighths hole, the size I needed for the shaft, and made a temporary circle jig for my router. I have a circle jig, but it uses a quarter inch center pin, and I wanted to be sure to have the three eighths hole perfectly centered. That's why I made a temporary instead of using my regular one.
I happy to report that, useing the circle jig, it took very little effort to true up the setup after mounting it on the shaft, and the MDF works great as a strop.

Blue Table Wood Gas Machine tool

This is the old bar and bent shaft lathe I turned into the buffing station. I can't remember if I showed this whole setup last time or not. Anyway, I've basically turned this whole area into a buffing station/grinding station/accessory storage area. This whole setup sits just to the end of where my two lathes are. The grinder is just below the buffing station. The two tool holders hold a majority of the turning tools.
Wood Burin Gas Cylinder Hardwood

Actually, the one on the right holds the basic tools I use for pretty much everything. There are extra Harbor Freight tools on the side of the station that I grab to grind some one time profile I wish to try. The ones in the left tool holder are a cheap set that was given to me. The ones in the right though, the ones in the right are my better quality tools I have bought in smaller sets or seperately to get just what I wanted. Someone told me once that a matching set looks nice, but when you get the proper tools, nothing will match. They were right. A lot of these tools don't match. All are various lengths. Each has it's own use and does a good job though.
Dishware Wood Gas Serveware Creative arts

This is a view from the back of that station. Here I've drilled holes to hold other accessorries like extra tools rests, centers, and such. I'll be having to add more hole as needed, and soon, because I have on order now a couple of S-shaped bowl rests and some better quality centers.

You may notice the bowl sitting towards the left of that last photo. That is the bowl that is the main topic of this entry. I was proud of the progress I was making on that bowl, before it all went to crap.
Wood Gas Machine Table Rectangle

I was getting near the point of making finishing, shearing cuts on that bowl when the lathe started bogging down. A couple of times it actually came to a complete stop. I thought maybe I was trying to make too deep of cuts. I thought about that though. I was to a point of taking very fine cuts, trying to make a real smooth finish. Besides, even though this is a ten inch bowl, towards the end, when it is actually much lighter than I started with, it shouldn't be bogging down a three quarter horse motor.
So, my first though, since the only complaint I've heard about this lathe when I was researching it, was some people having problems with the Reeve's Drive system, I thought it was maybe the belt slipping. So I took the cover off to investigate. It was not the belt. Actually, it was also the time when I realized it was the motor for sure, that I also noticed the burned smell coming from the motor.
So, since it was still under warranty, and my son offered to help, it was an aggrevating task of disassembly, making a trip to Jackson, and reasssembly. I'm hoping this was a case of just a bad motor in a batch. This is the first I've heard of motor issues with these lathes.
The new one, the one pictured above, seems to be working fine, but back to the story about the bowl.
Dishware Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Composite material Naval architecture

Here is a better view of the bowl. I was quite happy with it until the lathe started messing up. I know it's got some crack in it, but I thought it added character. When the motor would bog down, the speed would go way down to stopping, or almost stopping. Everytime this would happen, in addition to my inexperience, I wound up with extremely rough cuts. It seemed that, before I figured out the motor was the culprit, the more I tried to fix the bowl, the worse it got. I should have stopped before going to far, but hindsight…..., well, ya'll know.
Dishware Wood Serveware Creative arts Hardwood

As you can see in this photo, when I kept going, I got a tad too thin on the bottom.
I was going for about a quarter inch thick. However, when you keep taking tiny bites to try and smooth out a messed up piece, those tiny bites start to add up to a bowl that's well on it's way to becoming a funnel.
That's ok though. Do you remember the bowl was sitting on the accessory table in the earlier photo? I've been needing something on that table to throw small parts in.

All that being told, I have really been enjoying these adventures in wood turning. As a matter of fact, all my limited shop time lately has been taken up by it to the point that I haven't done anything else, even scroll work. I now have new problem though.
Wood Automotive tire Wall Gas Lumber

I am finding that less and less wood that people give me is going in the fire wood pile, and more and more of it is going in the stacks that I think I can get usable turning wood out of. It is starting to become a pile that is getting in my way. As soon as I'm feeling more up to it and can get some help out here, I've got to find a better place to put it than behind my work area to the table saws.

Before anyone says it, that huge peice towards the right is not something I plan on trying to put on a lathe. That is what I use to block round pieces on so I can cut them down to size with a chain saw.
 

Attachments

#198 ·
Close Only Counts With..............

I was going to title this entry, Close To Success. Every time I think of the word close though, I think of my Uncle who used to say, close only counts with horse shoes and hand grenades".
I'll get to that unsuccessfuly, but learning, experience in a bit. First, I wanted to share a few thoughts of mine as I go down this turning road.

First, I've learned an important lesson lately. I've been down a lot the last few weeks. I'm currently going through a particular bad spell. My wife has been having to help me just to get my socks on most of the time the last few days. So walking and standing much has been out of the question. Thanks to that though, I've been doing a lot of reading and video watching about turning.
I've known this lesson before now, but somehow didn't realize the significance of it until I tried it. I've seen so many people on videos turning bowls simply attached to the headstock in various manners with no support from the tail end. That's all fine and good, but I have to remember that these guys making these videos have more experience than me. So, the tailstock is my friend.
Lately, when I'm able to practice my bowl turning skills, I've been using the tailstock to help support my work piece. This has helped greatly. It keeps the piece from moving off center in case I do get a catch. Also, it allows me to bring the speed up a little more with confidence. I have found that, while I don't want the bowl blanks spinning at deadly, airplace propeller speeds, turning at the slowest speed also seems to always set me up for catches. A little more towards the middle of the speed range seems to do a better job. The use of the tail stock support helps me achieve this.
Wood Gas Engineering Machine Cylinder

Wheel Tire Automotive tire Tread Motor vehicle

Some of you may remember the hard wood piece I turned for the buffing station. I intended to use it like a moving strop. We discussed on one of these earlier blog series if it would work or not. It did, but extremely poorly. I had to leave the tool on it so long and with such force, that it quickly wore away any compound you put on it. Since I haven't been able to do much lately, I was able to take the time for this easy task and removed the hardwood piece and go with MDF.
I hate working with MDF and have never tried turning any, so I wanted to keep the pieces as perfectly round as possible. So I drill a three eighths hole, the size I needed for the shaft, and made a temporary circle jig for my router. I have a circle jig, but it uses a quarter inch center pin, and I wanted to be sure to have the three eighths hole perfectly centered. That's why I made a temporary instead of using my regular one.
I happy to report that, useing the circle jig, it took very little effort to true up the setup after mounting it on the shaft, and the MDF works great as a strop.

Blue Table Wood Gas Machine tool

This is the old bar and bent shaft lathe I turned into the buffing station. I can't remember if I showed this whole setup last time or not. Anyway, I've basically turned this whole area into a buffing station/grinding station/accessory storage area. This whole setup sits just to the end of where my two lathes are. The grinder is just below the buffing station. The two tool holders hold a majority of the turning tools.
Wood Burin Gas Cylinder Hardwood

Actually, the one on the right holds the basic tools I use for pretty much everything. There are extra Harbor Freight tools on the side of the station that I grab to grind some one time profile I wish to try. The ones in the left tool holder are a cheap set that was given to me. The ones in the right though, the ones in the right are my better quality tools I have bought in smaller sets or seperately to get just what I wanted. Someone told me once that a matching set looks nice, but when you get the proper tools, nothing will match. They were right. A lot of these tools don't match. All are various lengths. Each has it's own use and does a good job though.
Dishware Wood Gas Serveware Creative arts

This is a view from the back of that station. Here I've drilled holes to hold other accessorries like extra tools rests, centers, and such. I'll be having to add more hole as needed, and soon, because I have on order now a couple of S-shaped bowl rests and some better quality centers.

You may notice the bowl sitting towards the left of that last photo. That is the bowl that is the main topic of this entry. I was proud of the progress I was making on that bowl, before it all went to crap.
Wood Gas Machine Table Rectangle

I was getting near the point of making finishing, shearing cuts on that bowl when the lathe started bogging down. A couple of times it actually came to a complete stop. I thought maybe I was trying to make too deep of cuts. I thought about that though. I was to a point of taking very fine cuts, trying to make a real smooth finish. Besides, even though this is a ten inch bowl, towards the end, when it is actually much lighter than I started with, it shouldn't be bogging down a three quarter horse motor.
So, my first though, since the only complaint I've heard about this lathe when I was researching it, was some people having problems with the Reeve's Drive system, I thought it was maybe the belt slipping. So I took the cover off to investigate. It was not the belt. Actually, it was also the time when I realized it was the motor for sure, that I also noticed the burned smell coming from the motor.
So, since it was still under warranty, and my son offered to help, it was an aggrevating task of disassembly, making a trip to Jackson, and reasssembly. I'm hoping this was a case of just a bad motor in a batch. This is the first I've heard of motor issues with these lathes.
The new one, the one pictured above, seems to be working fine, but back to the story about the bowl.
Dishware Wood Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies Composite material Naval architecture

Here is a better view of the bowl. I was quite happy with it until the lathe started messing up. I know it's got some crack in it, but I thought it added character. When the motor would bog down, the speed would go way down to stopping, or almost stopping. Everytime this would happen, in addition to my inexperience, I wound up with extremely rough cuts. It seemed that, before I figured out the motor was the culprit, the more I tried to fix the bowl, the worse it got. I should have stopped before going to far, but hindsight…..., well, ya'll know.
Dishware Wood Serveware Creative arts Hardwood

As you can see in this photo, when I kept going, I got a tad too thin on the bottom.
I was going for about a quarter inch thick. However, when you keep taking tiny bites to try and smooth out a messed up piece, those tiny bites start to add up to a bowl that's well on it's way to becoming a funnel.
That's ok though. Do you remember the bowl was sitting on the accessory table in the earlier photo? I've been needing something on that table to throw small parts in.

All that being told, I have really been enjoying these adventures in wood turning. As a matter of fact, all my limited shop time lately has been taken up by it to the point that I haven't done anything else, even scroll work. I now have new problem though.
Wood Automotive tire Wall Gas Lumber

I am finding that less and less wood that people give me is going in the fire wood pile, and more and more of it is going in the stacks that I think I can get usable turning wood out of. It is starting to become a pile that is getting in my way. As soon as I'm feeling more up to it and can get some help out here, I've got to find a better place to put it than behind my work area to the table saws.

Before anyone says it, that huge peice towards the right is not something I plan on trying to put on a lathe. That is what I use to block round pieces on so I can cut them down to size with a chain saw.
I wouldn't discard that bowl. One thing you learn as an artist is that there are no mistakes. Just apply a bit more creativity to and it may be worth more than it would have before.
 

Attachments

#213 ·
Now THIS Is What I Call Fun

I sat here this morning trying to figure out what I was going to do. I was hurting so bad I couldn't even put my boots on until my wife got home from her night shift at work to help me. I lurked around Lumberjocks until then. As soon as I got my boots on though, I was determined not to let the day be a total waste. I was going to do something, even if it was wrong. Not only that, but I wanted to do something on the lathe.
Wood Artifact Mesh Plywood Pottery

And I did do wrong. I had a good reason though. I could not bend over at all this morning. I could not handle running the chain saw or picking a large enough piece up and hold steady to cut on the band saw. I did feel though that if I could get something chucked up on the lathe, I could sit on a stool and hold a tool. So that's what I done.
This was not from a prepared blank at all. I simply predrilled a hole into a short piece of a small log and run it up onto a screw chuck. I then just started rounding it down on the lathe while sitting. I had been seeing these type bowls on videos online and decided to try my hand at it.
Natural material Wood Pottery Trunk earthenware

Because I started with a whole log instead of a half, the pith runs right through the middle of this bowl. I'm sure this will probably crack pretty badly as it dries. I put it aside anyway to let it dry. I'll see if it can be saved even for a display piece in a few months when it is dry enough to finish.
That brings me to my lesson for today. You may have noticed that I'm learning a lot of lessons lately.
My lesson today is that to never assume a piece of a log is dry without cutting into it and seeing what the middle is like. I actually thought this was a dry piece of log. It seems that way anyhow, until I got closer to the middle. The middle was wet. I'm talking about been soaking in the bathtub wet.
Wood Ingredient Natural material Cuisine Tree

After getting it done though, I hope this is salvagable when it's dry. I love the way that pith made this design inside the bowl. It looks so interesting to me.
That brings me to today's entry title. Now THIS is what I call fun. It may be the wrong technnique turning the whole log as I done. I assume it is anyway based on everything I've read, seen, and been told. I don't care though. Taking a whole piece of a log, round with bark on, and turning it into something on the lathe is the most fun I've had in a long time. I have enjoyed all the turning I've been learning, but after today, I can definately see myself making more live edge turnings. As soon as I'm able, I want to split some logs down the middle and do some that may make more stable pieces.

The rest of today's entry isn't wood turning, but I'm placing it here anyway because it is just what I done today.

By the time I got the bowl done, I wanted to turn another bowl. However, I seen no sense in turning another bowl with the pith through the middle like the other one, and I still knew I wasn't up to preparing anything better at the moment. Actually, I was feeling even worse and didn't feel up to even trying to get another small piece of log up to the lathe. So I had to find something else to do, with easily prepared material, that I could do on my stool or another chair.
Wood Gas Circle Automotive wheel system Auto part

I noticed some blocks of wood I had cut wrong for another project sitting on one of my many wood catch all places. They were wrong for what I originally cut them for, but they were the perfect size for something I hadn't done in a while. Besides, I've had several people the last couple of months ask about them. You see, I used to have several of them around that I would show visitors to my shop. I have since given them all away to different people though.
These are made with sapelle blocks. The middle is a cube in a cube. The other two are a cube in a cube in a cube.
These are about the size of the largest I've ever done. The reason is that these are the largest I can cut and get square with enough accuracy to do them right with the equipment I have. One of these days I want to figure out a way to get perfectly square wood that is large enough to do four, or maybe eve five, cubes inside of each others. Three is the most I've been able to do successfully with this size.
 

Attachments

#214 ·
Now THIS Is What I Call Fun

I sat here this morning trying to figure out what I was going to do. I was hurting so bad I couldn't even put my boots on until my wife got home from her night shift at work to help me. I lurked around Lumberjocks until then. As soon as I got my boots on though, I was determined not to let the day be a total waste. I was going to do something, even if it was wrong. Not only that, but I wanted to do something on the lathe.
Wood Artifact Mesh Plywood Pottery

And I did do wrong. I had a good reason though. I could not bend over at all this morning. I could not handle running the chain saw or picking a large enough piece up and hold steady to cut on the band saw. I did feel though that if I could get something chucked up on the lathe, I could sit on a stool and hold a tool. So that's what I done.
This was not from a prepared blank at all. I simply predrilled a hole into a short piece of a small log and run it up onto a screw chuck. I then just started rounding it down on the lathe while sitting. I had been seeing these type bowls on videos online and decided to try my hand at it.
Natural material Wood Pottery Trunk earthenware

Because I started with a whole log instead of a half, the pith runs right through the middle of this bowl. I'm sure this will probably crack pretty badly as it dries. I put it aside anyway to let it dry. I'll see if it can be saved even for a display piece in a few months when it is dry enough to finish.
That brings me to my lesson for today. You may have noticed that I'm learning a lot of lessons lately.
My lesson today is that to never assume a piece of a log is dry without cutting into it and seeing what the middle is like. I actually thought this was a dry piece of log. It seems that way anyhow, until I got closer to the middle. The middle was wet. I'm talking about been soaking in the bathtub wet.
Wood Ingredient Natural material Cuisine Tree

After getting it done though, I hope this is salvagable when it's dry. I love the way that pith made this design inside the bowl. It looks so interesting to me.
That brings me to today's entry title. Now THIS is what I call fun. It may be the wrong technnique turning the whole log as I done. I assume it is anyway based on everything I've read, seen, and been told. I don't care though. Taking a whole piece of a log, round with bark on, and turning it into something on the lathe is the most fun I've had in a long time. I have enjoyed all the turning I've been learning, but after today, I can definately see myself making more live edge turnings. As soon as I'm able, I want to split some logs down the middle and do some that may make more stable pieces.

The rest of today's entry isn't wood turning, but I'm placing it here anyway because it is just what I done today.

By the time I got the bowl done, I wanted to turn another bowl. However, I seen no sense in turning another bowl with the pith through the middle like the other one, and I still knew I wasn't up to preparing anything better at the moment. Actually, I was feeling even worse and didn't feel up to even trying to get another small piece of log up to the lathe. So I had to find something else to do, with easily prepared material, that I could do on my stool or another chair.
Wood Gas Circle Automotive wheel system Auto part

I noticed some blocks of wood I had cut wrong for another project sitting on one of my many wood catch all places. They were wrong for what I originally cut them for, but they were the perfect size for something I hadn't done in a while. Besides, I've had several people the last couple of months ask about them. You see, I used to have several of them around that I would show visitors to my shop. I have since given them all away to different people though.
These are made with sapelle blocks. The middle is a cube in a cube. The other two are a cube in a cube in a cube.
These are about the size of the largest I've ever done. The reason is that these are the largest I can cut and get square with enough accuracy to do them right with the equipment I have. One of these days I want to figure out a way to get perfectly square wood that is large enough to do four, or maybe eve five, cubes inside of each others. Three is the most I've been able to do successfully with this size.
William, you get more done in a day when yer feelin bad than most folks get done in a month! I no from nothing about turning but I wonder what would happen if you shellacked the devil out of that live edge bowl right now before it dries and cracks? Just a thought. I love that bowl and hate to see it fall to pieces.
 

Attachments

#233 ·
Round Bowl In A Square Block

It's funny to me. I've had several larger bowls thrown at me. I've had heavy pieces of wet wood drop on me. I've hurt my back trying to lift a piece. Then, after all that, today a small piece of dry wood spinning on the lathe brought blood from me for the first time since I started down this road learning to turn.
People in nature Gesture Finger Thumb Nail

Don't worry. It's nothing serious. It's just a small nick. I will tell ya'll more about that later. First, on to today's adventures.

.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Natural material Shelf

Wood Writing implement Musical instrument Electric blue Baize

This tool was dropped shipped to me. It was a gift from a friend. I was told that the friend's friend swore by it and wanted my opinion on it. It is twenty-two inches long. It has a five eighths inch shaft. Set screws in the end allow you to put whatever router bit you want in it to have different profile cutters. It sounded like a good idea, so I said I'd give it a shot.
The tools works, but I wouldn't buy it myself. I tried it in different applications. I tried presenting it with the carbide edge at different angles to the wood to see how it would act. Here is how I feel about it.
It does a good job on spindle work, but doesn't work as good as my regular high speed steele tools. It would get the job done, but you'll have to do more sanding than you would if you just used high speed steele gounges and skew chisels.
For bowls, trying to make sheat cuts with it is asking for a catch. If you very carefully present the edge at just the right angle, it will make shear cuts, but leaves an edge more like you used a dull scraper than a gounge.
It works better if you present the edge like a scraper. However, the finish it leaves is rougher than my high speed steele scrapers, requiring extra sanding or having to go back over it with a sharp high speed steele tool.
I have tried it more on bowls than spindle work. I may have a different opinion after trying it more with spindles. At this time though, I immediately pass over this tool to reach for a high speed steele tool. So, even though I may find uses for it in the future, I don't think it's worth the money.

.

Wood Volute Automotive wheel system Spiral Automotive tire

I am proud of myself. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but I cut a good recess today to mount onto my four jaw chuck. I'd been having problems with this task. My chuck doesn't hold well unless you have a square shoulder inside the recess. I was getting catches while trying to do this. I had been trying to do it with a gouge like I've seen other people do it. Today, I decided to try and finish up that shoulder with a skew just to see how it worked out. It worked perfectly. I'm learning more and more every day in turning that one shoe does not fit all when it comes to technique. What works for some may not work for others.

.
Now onto my accomplishment of the day.
I actually felt worse today than I did yesterday. I didn't even feel up to lifting a small piece of log as I done yesterday. I was going to have to figure out something else if I was to accomplish anything at all. I looked around the shop for a bit while waiting on the coffee to brew. I have numerous small blocks of sapelle on a shelf like table in one corner. I thought about more cube in a cubes, but those get boring after doing several. What else could I do with small blocks of wood?
Ya'll may have noticed that a lot of my ideas are simply versions of other things I see online. Well, this is another one of those versions of something I've seen somewhere else. It is dry wood though. So I was able to actually make a finished project today!
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Varnish Circle

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Gas Hardwood

Wood Material property Rectangle Gas Jewellery

This is not actually how I pictured it when I started. By the time I realized it was not working as planned though, I'd already taken too much off the sides and there was no going back. I still think it turned out nice though for someone with my limited experience.
It is made out of a 6×6x2.5 inch block of sapelle. It has two coats of Johnson's Paste Wax. It isn't a great finish, but it's what I had immediately on hand. I enjoyed this project and plan on making more versions of this design. Next time though, I will plan on curving those wings down, as I originally planned, before I get to having too much fun and take away too much material.

.

Now, about the nick on my little finger that brought blood, and it is my lesson of the day.
When turning something like this, remember that just because the lathe is spinning so fast that you can't see those little square wings hanging out there, they are still there. If you forget that little fact, even for a split second, it will bite you.
 

Attachments

#234 ·
Round Bowl In A Square Block

It's funny to me. I've had several larger bowls thrown at me. I've had heavy pieces of wet wood drop on me. I've hurt my back trying to lift a piece. Then, after all that, today a small piece of dry wood spinning on the lathe brought blood from me for the first time since I started down this road learning to turn.
People in nature Gesture Finger Thumb Nail

Don't worry. It's nothing serious. It's just a small nick. I will tell ya'll more about that later. First, on to today's adventures.

.

Wood Hardwood Wood stain Natural material Shelf

Wood Writing implement Musical instrument Electric blue Baize

This tool was dropped shipped to me. It was a gift from a friend. I was told that the friend's friend swore by it and wanted my opinion on it. It is twenty-two inches long. It has a five eighths inch shaft. Set screws in the end allow you to put whatever router bit you want in it to have different profile cutters. It sounded like a good idea, so I said I'd give it a shot.
The tools works, but I wouldn't buy it myself. I tried it in different applications. I tried presenting it with the carbide edge at different angles to the wood to see how it would act. Here is how I feel about it.
It does a good job on spindle work, but doesn't work as good as my regular high speed steele tools. It would get the job done, but you'll have to do more sanding than you would if you just used high speed steele gounges and skew chisels.
For bowls, trying to make sheat cuts with it is asking for a catch. If you very carefully present the edge at just the right angle, it will make shear cuts, but leaves an edge more like you used a dull scraper than a gounge.
It works better if you present the edge like a scraper. However, the finish it leaves is rougher than my high speed steele scrapers, requiring extra sanding or having to go back over it with a sharp high speed steele tool.
I have tried it more on bowls than spindle work. I may have a different opinion after trying it more with spindles. At this time though, I immediately pass over this tool to reach for a high speed steele tool. So, even though I may find uses for it in the future, I don't think it's worth the money.

.

Wood Volute Automotive wheel system Spiral Automotive tire

I am proud of myself. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but I cut a good recess today to mount onto my four jaw chuck. I'd been having problems with this task. My chuck doesn't hold well unless you have a square shoulder inside the recess. I was getting catches while trying to do this. I had been trying to do it with a gouge like I've seen other people do it. Today, I decided to try and finish up that shoulder with a skew just to see how it worked out. It worked perfectly. I'm learning more and more every day in turning that one shoe does not fit all when it comes to technique. What works for some may not work for others.

.
Now onto my accomplishment of the day.
I actually felt worse today than I did yesterday. I didn't even feel up to lifting a small piece of log as I done yesterday. I was going to have to figure out something else if I was to accomplish anything at all. I looked around the shop for a bit while waiting on the coffee to brew. I have numerous small blocks of sapelle on a shelf like table in one corner. I thought about more cube in a cubes, but those get boring after doing several. What else could I do with small blocks of wood?
Ya'll may have noticed that a lot of my ideas are simply versions of other things I see online. Well, this is another one of those versions of something I've seen somewhere else. It is dry wood though. So I was able to actually make a finished project today!
Wood Wood stain Hardwood Varnish Circle

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Gas Hardwood

Wood Material property Rectangle Gas Jewellery

This is not actually how I pictured it when I started. By the time I realized it was not working as planned though, I'd already taken too much off the sides and there was no going back. I still think it turned out nice though for someone with my limited experience.
It is made out of a 6×6x2.5 inch block of sapelle. It has two coats of Johnson's Paste Wax. It isn't a great finish, but it's what I had immediately on hand. I enjoyed this project and plan on making more versions of this design. Next time though, I will plan on curving those wings down, as I originally planned, before I get to having too much fun and take away too much material.

.

Now, about the nick on my little finger that brought blood, and it is my lesson of the day.
When turning something like this, remember that just because the lathe is spinning so fast that you can't see those little square wings hanging out there, they are still there. If you forget that little fact, even for a split second, it will bite you.
That wound looks like a real gusher! You'd better go get some stitches in that!

Despite your horrific near amputation, your turning looks top notch!
 

Attachments

#255 ·
A Good Day

I am not completely over this bad spell I've been having, but I did feel a lot better today than I have in about a week. So I went to the shop, all gung ho about doing something with some of those logs. I stopped short though and considered that I am supposed to have three fellow Lumberjocks visiting my shop on Saturday. I'm not completely well, so there is no sense in taking a chance on putting myself right back down by over doing it too soon. So I decided to stick with what I've been doing.
I pulled some more dry wood off the shelf and started thinking what I could do with it.
Blue Rectangle Wood Comfort Tints and shades

Table Chair Wood Outdoor furniture Rectangle

Wood Vase Serveware Pottery Tableware

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Art Circle

It still isn't exactly what I had in mind, but I'm getting there. It doesn't matter how many I do before I get it perfectly like I want. Each one done is simply more practice, and as they say, practice makes perfect.
The middle of the bowl, the actual bowl part of it, doesn't sit on the table. It sits just on the four wings of it. I wish I could have brought it up higher to show this more, but this was only a two inch thick piece of wood to start with. I am happy with it though just to say I got this far. It seemed like for a while there that each and every bowl was a new aggrevation. It is getting now so that I have the confidence that I need to know I can hollow out a bowl without issue and I can focus more on the overall design of the piece. That in itself makes this enjoyable endeavor even more fun.

.

Also, in between pulling the wood off the shelf and actually starting to work on it, I made a quick trip to the hardware store for a single forstner bit. This was in response to Stefang's suggestion from yesterday's blog entry. You see, my largest bit, before purchasing the one I got today, was two inches, and about an eigth of an inch shy of being large enough to drill a hole for my four jaw chuck to open into. The set originally had a two and one eighth bit in it, but I damaged it long time ago doing something foolish. So the quick trip replaced the missing bit and allowed me to drill a reverse recess in the wood to mount a blank on my chuck.
Thank you Stefang for making that suggestion. It made today's experience even more enjoyable. I usually have to use a face plate, turn a recess, and then switch to the chuck. With the ability to drill the recess though, I can now turn a bowl using my chuck alone. That eliminates having to stop and mess around with changing accessories. I have found that between various distractions, like sharpening for example, I like anything that helps save time and allows me to turn more.

.

While looking at that bowl shown above, I liked the curvature as the wood goes from the sides of the inside, flowing nicely over and down the sides to the wings. It reminded me of inside of a flower petal. This immediately made me pull another piece out and go with an idea I had.
I don't know if I can explain this without something to show, but here goes. I had an idea to make a similar bowl as above, except, coming out of the bowl, it would curve out the same, down at a lesser angle, then back out to square wings that would stick out at a slight downward angle. I can see what I want in my mind, and it would look similar to an open flower.
So that's what I started on. It was going nicely, until one of the square wings broke off. I was going for a delicate look and I think got a little carried away with cutting it on the thin side.
Wood Rectangle Eyewear Serveware Tints and shades

I did not scrap it though. I just turned the other three wings off and made it into a simple bowl. Well, actually, it looked to simple at that point. So I decided to try my hand at another technique I had read about during the past week when I was down.
I used a skew to cut three lines, two on top, and one on bottom. Then I used a length of copper wire to burn the lines. It isn't much, but just those simple lines turned a simple, plain looking bowl into what I think is a real nice piece.
This was my first time trying this burning technique. You can bet the wire went into my large junk bowl though. Some of you may remember what I'm talking about. That's the bowl I cut through the bottom on several days ago. It is on my accessory table where I now keep small parts in. Anyway, the wire went in it because I will be playing with that burning technique some more. I like the way it looks. There's no way I could get clean lines that thin with paint or ink.
Tableware Dishware Blue Wood Serveware

For some readers, like Randy, who like learning lessons through my mistakes and failures, I have no "lesson of the day" today. It was a real good day. I had no issues at all. I think I only remember one catch and I know what caused it and immediately corrected that, back cut the area to give me a smooth surface, caught my gouge back above it, and rode that bevel right on in, taking that catch out of memory in the blink of an eye.
So Randy, I'm sorry I have no hard learned lessons for you today. The sun shines on us all from time to time though.

While I still have a lot to learn, I want to take this time to thank a few people.
Stefang, Bearpie, Rich, and Jamie, without you guys, I would have never gotten this far so quickly. Thank you all so much for all the advice and support you've given me. I hope I can count on your help in the future. One day I hope to be good enough that I too can help someone else learn this exciting avenue in wood working.
Randy, Dave, Marty, Grizz, Jeff, Andy, and so many others that I can't even think of all your names at the moment, thank you for all the kind words, motivation, and kicks in the pants when I've needed it most. You guys are the best.
 

Attachments

#256 ·
A Good Day

I am not completely over this bad spell I've been having, but I did feel a lot better today than I have in about a week. So I went to the shop, all gung ho about doing something with some of those logs. I stopped short though and considered that I am supposed to have three fellow Lumberjocks visiting my shop on Saturday. I'm not completely well, so there is no sense in taking a chance on putting myself right back down by over doing it too soon. So I decided to stick with what I've been doing.
I pulled some more dry wood off the shelf and started thinking what I could do with it.
Blue Rectangle Wood Comfort Tints and shades

Table Chair Wood Outdoor furniture Rectangle

Wood Vase Serveware Pottery Tableware

Wood Rectangle Wood stain Art Circle

It still isn't exactly what I had in mind, but I'm getting there. It doesn't matter how many I do before I get it perfectly like I want. Each one done is simply more practice, and as they say, practice makes perfect.
The middle of the bowl, the actual bowl part of it, doesn't sit on the table. It sits just on the four wings of it. I wish I could have brought it up higher to show this more, but this was only a two inch thick piece of wood to start with. I am happy with it though just to say I got this far. It seemed like for a while there that each and every bowl was a new aggrevation. It is getting now so that I have the confidence that I need to know I can hollow out a bowl without issue and I can focus more on the overall design of the piece. That in itself makes this enjoyable endeavor even more fun.

.

Also, in between pulling the wood off the shelf and actually starting to work on it, I made a quick trip to the hardware store for a single forstner bit. This was in response to Stefang's suggestion from yesterday's blog entry. You see, my largest bit, before purchasing the one I got today, was two inches, and about an eigth of an inch shy of being large enough to drill a hole for my four jaw chuck to open into. The set originally had a two and one eighth bit in it, but I damaged it long time ago doing something foolish. So the quick trip replaced the missing bit and allowed me to drill a reverse recess in the wood to mount a blank on my chuck.
Thank you Stefang for making that suggestion. It made today's experience even more enjoyable. I usually have to use a face plate, turn a recess, and then switch to the chuck. With the ability to drill the recess though, I can now turn a bowl using my chuck alone. That eliminates having to stop and mess around with changing accessories. I have found that between various distractions, like sharpening for example, I like anything that helps save time and allows me to turn more.

.

While looking at that bowl shown above, I liked the curvature as the wood goes from the sides of the inside, flowing nicely over and down the sides to the wings. It reminded me of inside of a flower petal. This immediately made me pull another piece out and go with an idea I had.
I don't know if I can explain this without something to show, but here goes. I had an idea to make a similar bowl as above, except, coming out of the bowl, it would curve out the same, down at a lesser angle, then back out to square wings that would stick out at a slight downward angle. I can see what I want in my mind, and it would look similar to an open flower.
So that's what I started on. It was going nicely, until one of the square wings broke off. I was going for a delicate look and I think got a little carried away with cutting it on the thin side.
Wood Rectangle Eyewear Serveware Tints and shades

I did not scrap it though. I just turned the other three wings off and made it into a simple bowl. Well, actually, it looked to simple at that point. So I decided to try my hand at another technique I had read about during the past week when I was down.
I used a skew to cut three lines, two on top, and one on bottom. Then I used a length of copper wire to burn the lines. It isn't much, but just those simple lines turned a simple, plain looking bowl into what I think is a real nice piece.
This was my first time trying this burning technique. You can bet the wire went into my large junk bowl though. Some of you may remember what I'm talking about. That's the bowl I cut through the bottom on several days ago. It is on my accessory table where I now keep small parts in. Anyway, the wire went in it because I will be playing with that burning technique some more. I like the way it looks. There's no way I could get clean lines that thin with paint or ink.
Tableware Dishware Blue Wood Serveware

For some readers, like Randy, who like learning lessons through my mistakes and failures, I have no "lesson of the day" today. It was a real good day. I had no issues at all. I think I only remember one catch and I know what caused it and immediately corrected that, back cut the area to give me a smooth surface, caught my gouge back above it, and rode that bevel right on in, taking that catch out of memory in the blink of an eye.
So Randy, I'm sorry I have no hard learned lessons for you today. The sun shines on us all from time to time though.

While I still have a lot to learn, I want to take this time to thank a few people.
Stefang, Bearpie, Rich, and Jamie, without you guys, I would have never gotten this far so quickly. Thank you all so much for all the advice and support you've given me. I hope I can count on your help in the future. One day I hope to be good enough that I too can help someone else learn this exciting avenue in wood working.
Randy, Dave, Marty, Grizz, Jeff, Andy, and so many others that I can't even think of all your names at the moment, thank you for all the kind words, motivation, and kicks in the pants when I've needed it most. You guys are the best.
Well, William . . . looks like you're just having way too much fun for one person! :D I should try turning sometime, but maybe I should take a lesson or two before doing?
 

Attachments

#285 ·
Turn, Turn, Turn, And Learn, Learn, Learn

Wood Gas Machine tool Engineering Machine

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but even though I've been getting better, I've only been turning out an average of about one small turning a day. The reason for this is that, being left handed, and with a bad back, the awkward way I have to lean over sometimes to take those hollowing cuts made me have to take frequent breaks. It also was leaving me hurting a lot of times.
Then today a light bulb went off in my head and I wondered how anyone could be so foolish. There is a reason the head of my lathe rotates.
Light Automotive lighting Blue Dishware Textile

Wood Dishware Serveware Automotive lighting Gas

I started this bowl yesterday. I had friends over to the shop yesterday though and had forgotten it was still in the chuck on the lathe until I went into the shop this morning. So I finished it. It is made of sapelle and finished with boiled linseed oil.
Wood Natural material Artifact Art Bathtub

Wood Hood Bumper Tints and shades Automotive exterior

Next, I'd seen some of these rectangular shaped turnings on the internet and decided to give it a try. I figured that, if nothing else, it would be more practice at turning with a lot of open air.
Actually, it seems that most everything I'm turning now I see as a learning opportunity more than anything else. Some of it may not be great, but with enough practice, I beleive I'll get there.
This is made of sycamore and finished with boiled linseed oil. I've used a lot of sycamore with flat style wood working. I thought it would be a great wood for turning. Based on what I seen with this one though, I'm not so sure it is a good wood for turning. I may try it again one day with something that doesn't have so many open areas in it.
Light Blue Automotive tire Wood Orange

Tableware Dishware Wood Serveware Mixing bowl

Then this last bowl I also done just as practice. I am having problems sometimes when I get into tight posts while hollowing. On things a tad larger, I have no issues. If my angle of approach on my tools isn't right, I have plenty of time to correct myself and ride the bevel in. However, in tight spots, there is little time, if any, and it is easy to get a catch if you don't go in correctly and swiftly turn the gouge a bit to ride that bevel.
This bowl is only three inches wide. That made for a nice small area to work with repeatedly to get it hollowed out all the way in.
This one is also sapelle, and is also finished with boiled linseed oil.

All this brings me to a question, or a few, for you wood turners out there.
What type of finish do you all use?
What is best for bowls?
What finish will allow one to use a bowl for liquids, such as soup or milk in cereal, be washed in water, and still hold up over time?
Will the finished bowl still wick up liquids and constantly expand and contract?
What is the best way to get that shiny, almost wet look on finished pieces?
I guess the simple way will be to just say I need all the finishing advice I can get. I know I need more sandpaper. I have no where near the grit selection I know I'm going to need if I want the best results. As soon as I'm able to afford it, I will get some sand paper. In the mean time, I want to start learning all I can about finishes. I hope to soon make some pieces that can be in a finished state and be used in my own kitchen, and I have a few friends I wish to make finished bowls for.
 

Attachments

#286 ·
Turn, Turn, Turn, And Learn, Learn, Learn

Wood Gas Machine tool Engineering Machine

I don't know if anyone has noticed, but even though I've been getting better, I've only been turning out an average of about one small turning a day. The reason for this is that, being left handed, and with a bad back, the awkward way I have to lean over sometimes to take those hollowing cuts made me have to take frequent breaks. It also was leaving me hurting a lot of times.
Then today a light bulb went off in my head and I wondered how anyone could be so foolish. There is a reason the head of my lathe rotates.
Light Automotive lighting Blue Dishware Textile

Wood Dishware Serveware Automotive lighting Gas

I started this bowl yesterday. I had friends over to the shop yesterday though and had forgotten it was still in the chuck on the lathe until I went into the shop this morning. So I finished it. It is made of sapelle and finished with boiled linseed oil.
Wood Natural material Artifact Art Bathtub

Wood Hood Bumper Tints and shades Automotive exterior

Next, I'd seen some of these rectangular shaped turnings on the internet and decided to give it a try. I figured that, if nothing else, it would be more practice at turning with a lot of open air.
Actually, it seems that most everything I'm turning now I see as a learning opportunity more than anything else. Some of it may not be great, but with enough practice, I beleive I'll get there.
This is made of sycamore and finished with boiled linseed oil. I've used a lot of sycamore with flat style wood working. I thought it would be a great wood for turning. Based on what I seen with this one though, I'm not so sure it is a good wood for turning. I may try it again one day with something that doesn't have so many open areas in it.
Light Blue Automotive tire Wood Orange

Tableware Dishware Wood Serveware Mixing bowl

Then this last bowl I also done just as practice. I am having problems sometimes when I get into tight posts while hollowing. On things a tad larger, I have no issues. If my angle of approach on my tools isn't right, I have plenty of time to correct myself and ride the bevel in. However, in tight spots, there is little time, if any, and it is easy to get a catch if you don't go in correctly and swiftly turn the gouge a bit to ride that bevel.
This bowl is only three inches wide. That made for a nice small area to work with repeatedly to get it hollowed out all the way in.
This one is also sapelle, and is also finished with boiled linseed oil.

All this brings me to a question, or a few, for you wood turners out there.
What type of finish do you all use?
What is best for bowls?
What finish will allow one to use a bowl for liquids, such as soup or milk in cereal, be washed in water, and still hold up over time?
Will the finished bowl still wick up liquids and constantly expand and contract?
What is the best way to get that shiny, almost wet look on finished pieces?
I guess the simple way will be to just say I need all the finishing advice I can get. I know I need more sandpaper. I have no where near the grit selection I know I'm going to need if I want the best results. As soon as I'm able to afford it, I will get some sand paper. In the mean time, I want to start learning all I can about finishes. I hope to soon make some pieces that can be in a finished state and be used in my own kitchen, and I have a few friends I wish to make finished bowls for.
wow….your doing some really good turning, i can see that grasshopper has progressed…i cant help you with your question, i have heard of finishes that are for the very reason you stated, but i dont remember …im sure you can find that out with no problem…the bows are beautiful william..i hope you feel better tomorrow…grizz
 

Attachments

#296 ·
The Trouble With Turning

Alright, this is getting downright ridiculous. I'm addicted to bowl turning. I'm already in a twelve step program for scrollers, and now I've turned a pen, and found it to be just as addicting. I think I'm in trouble.

I made a mistake about a week ago. I let my wife look at the Penn State Indutries catalog. She seen pens and started asking when she was getting one. This made it apparant that I'd be making a pen sooner or later. At the moment though, I do not have the money to get proper pen kits. So I figured I'd wait a while on that idea. I was a tad mistaken I guess, especially if you talked to my wife.
So, I couldn't afford pen kits. Instead, I had the idea of going to the store and getting Bic pens, removeing the inserts, and turning her some simple pens.

The first problem I had was I did not have a good way to accurately drill the hole through long pieces of wood for the inserts to go in.
Automotive tire Bumper Automotive exterior Tread Rim

This photo shows what happens when the holes are not drilled one hundred percent perfectly straight.

So I looked in the Penn State catalogue and seen a real nifty drill press jig for making the holes for pens.
I couldn't afford it though, just like I couldn't afford pen kits right now.
Wood Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Machine

It was simple enough though to make my own and it works perfectly. I took a drill press vice and removed the metal jaws. I replaced them with wooden jaws that I carefully measured, marked, and cut V-notches in to center the blanks straight up and down. I mounted this on a board such that you can loosen the star knobs and move it forward and back, or loosen the round knobs and move it side to side. This allows infinite adjustment for anything I need to use it to drill in the future.
So it was on to turning a pen for my wife.

.

Did any of you catch that? I said A pen. That is as in one pen, singular, only one.
You seasoned turners already know where this is headed I'll bet.
Font Art Metal Wood Writing implement

I don't claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think five is more than one pen. After doing one, I couldn't seem to stop. These are so much fun I think because you can do them so quickly and move on to the next idea for the next pen. Yes, a pen is simple, but there is so many different ways to do a simple pen.
As soon as the first was done, I thought of another design change. Then I thought of using a different wood. Then I wanted to use a different wood again. Next thing I knew, the day was about gone and this single pen had taken on a while other adventure in wood turning.
Writing implement Office supplies Tobacco Art Chemical compound

The first two were made of sapelle. I use sapelle a lot because I have a lot of it. These looked nice enough, but both of them developed a tiny crack close to the point when I pressed the inserts in. I think the straight grain causes it to split too easy in this thin area. I used super glue to fix them, but I decided then to try a different wood.
Musical instrument Natural material Baize Wind instrument

Next I decided to try a small piece of sycomore I had lying near the bench. I had decided sycamore was not a good choice for the face plate turning I done with it yesterday. It turned out quite nice for a spindle turning though. I wish the photo showed it better. The grain on this pen is very pretty and I think I'll be making more of these.
Musical instrument Baize Wind instrument Natural material

These two are from two different pieces of pecan to try different colors. I found out from these that I like using hard wood better. I was able to use one size smaller drill bit for a very tight press fit of the inserts because the hard wood does not crack as easily as the other woods I tried.
I made the longer one large in diameter because I planned on keeping it for myself and I have large hands. However, when my wife came to choose the one she wanted, she took them all, including this one. Oh well, that just means I have to turn some more.

So the problem with turning is it is too darn addicting.
Hi! My name is William. I am an addict. I love wood, and I'm leaving the meeting. I've decided to give in and just be a life long addict.
 

Attachments

#297 ·
The Trouble With Turning

Alright, this is getting downright ridiculous. I'm addicted to bowl turning. I'm already in a twelve step program for scrollers, and now I've turned a pen, and found it to be just as addicting. I think I'm in trouble.

I made a mistake about a week ago. I let my wife look at the Penn State Indutries catalog. She seen pens and started asking when she was getting one. This made it apparant that I'd be making a pen sooner or later. At the moment though, I do not have the money to get proper pen kits. So I figured I'd wait a while on that idea. I was a tad mistaken I guess, especially if you talked to my wife.
So, I couldn't afford pen kits. Instead, I had the idea of going to the store and getting Bic pens, removeing the inserts, and turning her some simple pens.

The first problem I had was I did not have a good way to accurately drill the hole through long pieces of wood for the inserts to go in.
Automotive tire Bumper Automotive exterior Tread Rim

This photo shows what happens when the holes are not drilled one hundred percent perfectly straight.

So I looked in the Penn State catalogue and seen a real nifty drill press jig for making the holes for pens.
I couldn't afford it though, just like I couldn't afford pen kits right now.
Wood Electrical wiring Gas Engineering Machine

It was simple enough though to make my own and it works perfectly. I took a drill press vice and removed the metal jaws. I replaced them with wooden jaws that I carefully measured, marked, and cut V-notches in to center the blanks straight up and down. I mounted this on a board such that you can loosen the star knobs and move it forward and back, or loosen the round knobs and move it side to side. This allows infinite adjustment for anything I need to use it to drill in the future.
So it was on to turning a pen for my wife.

.

Did any of you catch that? I said A pen. That is as in one pen, singular, only one.
You seasoned turners already know where this is headed I'll bet.
Font Art Metal Wood Writing implement

I don't claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think five is more than one pen. After doing one, I couldn't seem to stop. These are so much fun I think because you can do them so quickly and move on to the next idea for the next pen. Yes, a pen is simple, but there is so many different ways to do a simple pen.
As soon as the first was done, I thought of another design change. Then I thought of using a different wood. Then I wanted to use a different wood again. Next thing I knew, the day was about gone and this single pen had taken on a while other adventure in wood turning.
Writing implement Office supplies Tobacco Art Chemical compound

The first two were made of sapelle. I use sapelle a lot because I have a lot of it. These looked nice enough, but both of them developed a tiny crack close to the point when I pressed the inserts in. I think the straight grain causes it to split too easy in this thin area. I used super glue to fix them, but I decided then to try a different wood.
Musical instrument Natural material Baize Wind instrument

Next I decided to try a small piece of sycomore I had lying near the bench. I had decided sycamore was not a good choice for the face plate turning I done with it yesterday. It turned out quite nice for a spindle turning though. I wish the photo showed it better. The grain on this pen is very pretty and I think I'll be making more of these.
Musical instrument Baize Wind instrument Natural material

These two are from two different pieces of pecan to try different colors. I found out from these that I like using hard wood better. I was able to use one size smaller drill bit for a very tight press fit of the inserts because the hard wood does not crack as easily as the other woods I tried.
I made the longer one large in diameter because I planned on keeping it for myself and I have large hands. However, when my wife came to choose the one she wanted, she took them all, including this one. Oh well, that just means I have to turn some more.

So the problem with turning is it is too darn addicting.
Hi! My name is William. I am an addict. I love wood, and I'm leaving the meeting. I've decided to give in and just be a life long addict.
Nice pens. And nice penmanship if that's yours on the jig.
 

Attachments

#324 ·
The Disappearing Pen Mystery

Jewellery Natural material Metal Font Nickel

Since the five pens I turned yesterday were quickly confiscated by my wife, I decided to turn some more today. My idea is to have some in a cup next to my lathe. That way, when certain family members and such come over and hint that they want something I've made, I can give them a pen instead of something I've got countless hours into.
I realized today that, now that I'm used to turning them, I can turn them out pretty quickly. I turned eleven today. One of them left with my son when he came by before I could even get it in the picture.
Finger Jewellery Body jewelry Natural material Wood

I made five out of pecan.
Terrestrial plant Font Vegetable Fashion accessory Flowering plant

Three out of oak.
Font Fashion accessory Terrestrial plant Wood Natural material

I made three out of sycomore, but like I said, one of my older sons took one of those before I even got photos.

So, as I finished these, I put them in a cup on the bench beside my lathe. I started getting tired this evening and started cleaning up. I then went to get the cup and put them up. Between my two grown sons, my grown daughter, my wife, and a friend, the cup is already empty.
I'm going to have to hide these things. I can't just keep making these until they get tired of taking them.
 

Attachments

#325 ·
The Disappearing Pen Mystery

Jewellery Natural material Metal Font Nickel

Since the five pens I turned yesterday were quickly confiscated by my wife, I decided to turn some more today. My idea is to have some in a cup next to my lathe. That way, when certain family members and such come over and hint that they want something I've made, I can give them a pen instead of something I've got countless hours into.
I realized today that, now that I'm used to turning them, I can turn them out pretty quickly. I turned eleven today. One of them left with my son when he came by before I could even get it in the picture.
Finger Jewellery Body jewelry Natural material Wood

I made five out of pecan.
Terrestrial plant Font Vegetable Fashion accessory Flowering plant

Three out of oak.
Font Fashion accessory Terrestrial plant Wood Natural material

I made three out of sycomore, but like I said, one of my older sons took one of those before I even got photos.

So, as I finished these, I put them in a cup on the bench beside my lathe. I started getting tired this evening and started cleaning up. I then went to get the cup and put them up. Between my two grown sons, my grown daughter, my wife, and a friend, the cup is already empty.
I'm going to have to hide these things. I can't just keep making these until they get tired of taking them.
Nice work William
 

Attachments

#340 ·
Move Along, Nothing To See Here

I have to apologize. I have no new project or techinques or newly learned advice to share today. I just felt a need to post today about yesterday's non-progress.

First of all, I did not make much yesterday. I did make my kids some sort of spinning top things. I call them "some sort of" because they weren't great. They were just ideas I was working on as I went along. The kids liked them though. Before I could even think of whether I wished to snap a photo or not, they had broken one and spun the other one under a low lying heavy table where it may stay awhile before being retrieved. I may go back to this idea at a later day. I seen in the Penn State Catalogue where I can get ball bearing inserts for these and yo-yos. I think my kids would absolutely love those when I get to a point where I can afford to add that to an existing order.
On that note, the tops. While I seen them as an idea that I was kicking around, my kids seen them as fascinating new toys. The reason I bring this up is my evergrowing concerns about today's youth. My kids are different than most these days. Yes they have video games, but I push them to work more than just their fingers on a game controller. They like simple toys, like jacks, marble, cards, and such. Watching them play with the spinning tops yesterday though reminded me that today's kids aren't much different than we were. Some of them just need to be introduced to simpler things earlier in life, while they are still young enough to enjoy them.
What I did do yesterday was mostly search and play. First, the search. I knew I had it, I just had to find it. I've been doing mostly flat work for so long that the highest grit sandpaper I had on hand was 400 grit, and seldom went that high. Now that I've started turning though, I'm finding myself more and more needed finer paper. I had stashed some away a long time ago. As usual though, when I put something where I'll know where it's at, I have troubles finding it when I need to know where it's at. I found it, it is a box I had with a hoard of sandpaper I had bought a long time ago at a good deal. This is various grits all the way up to 2000 grit.
So I played around for a long time yesterday with sanding up higher on the lathe than what I've been doing. Boy does it make a difference. If you carefully sand up through the grits, and it doesn't take long on a spinning lathe, you can get a sanded finish that looks almost like glass, and this is before you apply any type of finish. So now I can sand my turned projects to look better.

Some of you may remember my less than great opinion of the router bit tool I was recently given when I tried it on bowls. I told then that I would one day give it another go on spindle. Well, since I had messed up on one of the spinning top ideas yesterday, I took it as an opportunity to give that tool another try.
First all, you can see or order the tool here if you'd like. I did not put that in the original review of this item because, as it was a gift to me, I did not know exactly where to get one. It turns out it came from my favorite turning supplier, Penn State.
On spindles is where this tool shines. While I couldn't do anything with it on bowls, it felt like there was little that I could NOT do with it on spindle stock. It cuts easier, with no sharpening so far, and leaves a finish that is ready for only the finer grits of sandpaper. The only drawback, and an expected one, was with the router bit that came in the tool. It seems to be kind of dull from the factory. Once I decided to try a better quality bit in it, it cut like hot butter.
My only gripe with this tool would be my percieved overall cost savings, which would be little to none. I learned the hard way long time ago not to mess with cheap router bits. The Freud bits that I buy locally run about thirty bucks a piece, so I only buy the ones I need. That being said, if I were to use one of these bits extensively in this lathe tool, I would worry about dulling one side more than the other, or messing with the balance of it. Therefore, if I was to use this tool much, I would lean towards buying bits just to be used in the lathe tool. At thirty bucks a piece, I can't see the cost savings over prices I've seen for dedicated lathe tools.
So as usual, in my opinion, any tool that does many things, while it may do some well, usually does so with compromises. Even I sometimes decide to make those compromises if the cost savings are great enough to make it worth doing so. I still just don't see that here. On the other hand, if you have many extra router bits that are not being used, such as when buying whole sets, then this tool may be just the perfect tool for you to finally put those extra bits to use.

.

The next thing I want to talk about is kindness. A fellow Lumberjock has given me an emial gift certificate. I am not at liberty at the moment to tell who or how much. I will say though that it was generous, and an unexpected act of kindness that left me speechless.
This person, although I'd seen and talked to (I think) a couple of times here on Lumberjocks, I really do not know on a personal level like I do some other jocks here. So to me, this person was pretty much a stranger. I've had friends do things for me before, and even those occassions kind of put me off guard. I'm just not the sort of man who's used to people doing things for me. I do for myself with whatever I may or may not have left over after providing for my family. That's just the way it's always been. So, when someone I hardly know does something like this person has it just floors me.
Enough of that. I was speechless yesterday. Today I can go on and on about it. I just wish to say to this person, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was extremely kind of you. I will be sending something your way as soon as I can as a token of my gratitude. Still though, it doesn't repay the help you've provided to get me started with some proper pen making supplies. I pray that your kindness is returned upon you. If I lived closer to you I would come take care of your yard, do your dishes, or something.
Ok, I said enough of that didn't I?
So, I had to figure out what to order with the gift certificate. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? It is amazing though how many options there are in pen turning on the Penn State website.
I wound up ordering a mandrel, which I will have to have in order to make these proper pens. I ordered extra bushings because everywhere I read for advice says you need to have extras on hand. They are cheap too, so that wasn't bad. Then, with bundle kits, I got a total of thirty eight pen kits. There isn't a huge variety in what I ordered. The idea though, in my opinion, is to get started. These will give me the practice and then I can move up from there on trying different styles to see what I like best.
Again, thank you so much. I wish I could, but I can't think of anything else to say on that matter that I haven't already said. So on that note, I will end my rambling now for this entry.

Happy turnings everybody!
 
#341 ·
Hi william. It sounds like you are really enjoying your lathe and experimenting a lot. I got a little Swedish book with some traditional turnings, among them some old time tops. The design of one called for drilling a hole in the pointed end and gluing in a small brass round top nail. I turned some of these and the brass provided a great bearing for long lasting spins. Glad to hear that you are getting into pen turning. I've never turned one, but those who do seem to enjoy it a lot. The spontaneous gift you received says a lot about the guy who sent it. It's good to know that such people are still around.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top