Okay so this is probably stupid to post this at this point, but since when has that stopped me?
This really started out as a test of a shop made dust hood. I discovered VERY quickly that all the “duist hood” did for me was pick up sanding dust, but the shavings / etc… that come off the gouge at high velocity and get stuck to my shirt are pretty much on their own unless I put a port on the front of the lathe, or some sort of shield that would get in the way of my turning tools, no thanks…
So I figured I would chuck up a hunk of SYP 4×4 that I had from an old project that didn’t pan out well. and simply set it up on the lathe, and started turning it to round. Now with that MOSTLY done, I am realizing the size is just about right for a mallet, aside from the length part that is, and I can fix that… 
Now mind you, this is going to get made using the most accurate measurement system known to man, the scientifically calibrated eyeball… Okay I have no real idea what I am doing with it other than noodling around with gouges and skews. But I DO know that I don’t want this thing to be a baseball bat for sure. So I am planning on making it no longer than my factory made rubber mallets (12”), so I need to size up where the top, and bottom of this thing are going to be, and mark those points off, mark off the flare for the hand at the base, and where it flares up to the main striking portion, and start turning the handle down…
I have some extra time off tomorrow due to a work schedule slide, so I might just spend some spinny time getting my head straight, that is unless LOML has other ideas… If I can get in, do my work, and get out uninterrupted, I can get this done in probably 2 hours plus a bit for cleanup… So I am just hoping LOML doesn’t have other plans for me…
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
3 comments so far
David Kirtley
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1250 posts in 1171 days
#1 posted 849 days ago
How about something that surrounds the tool rest? That is where all the action is. A box that comes up under just below the edge of the tool rest and a bit of a hopper on the outside. Maybe have the hose come under the bed and connect on the front?
-- Woodworking shouldn't cost a fortune: http://lowbudgetwoodworker.blogspot.com/
mpounders
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598 posts in 1068 days
#2 posted 849 days ago
I watched a guy who has been turning quite a while and who has a shop with top end equipment (powermatic lathe and oneida super dust gorilla). He had a vent on a stand behind the lathe to collect dust, but used nothing to collect chips. He wore a thin skull-cap like thing to keep it out of his hair and had a light jacket-thing with elastic-fitted sleeves and no collar. Chips stuck everywhere but on him. I’m thinking about some kinda downdraft table/grill that you would stand on when turning!
-- Mike P., Arkansas, http://mpounders1.blogspot.com
dbhost
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4748 posts in 1405 days
#3 posted 849 days ago
I am wanting a leather turning apron, but catching turning chips is one of the things I have more or less given up on. I am planning on adding a floor sweep to the side of the band saw soon… (might be another quickie weekend project).
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
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