| Project by USCJeff | posted 122 days ago | 314 views | 2 times favorited | 9 comments |  |
 |
My first go at the lathe was the chisel handles and mallet I posted afew weeks ago. I figured a Peppermill was the next step. I used a Rockler 8” Kit. I was pretty happy with the wood. It is East Indian Rosewood. It was a little cheaper than a couple other Rosewood variants. I started with a 3×3x12 blank. $10 for the blank and the same for the kit.
I did have some issues with the kit. It really don’t think it was thought out very well. For starters the mechanism requires a 1 1/16” shaft through the base. I’d be willing to bet not 1 in 20 Lumberjocks has that bit on hand. I took a 1 1/8” spade bit to the grinder for a couple light swipes. The large hole is 1 5/8”. That’s not uncommon, but a little larger than my largest forstner bit. Needed a new set anyhow. Add $50 to Porter Cable. I then needed a Jacob’s chuck for my tail stock. I found one at my favorite high-end top shelf Harbor Freight Store. $5 well spent – working like a charm. Never can tell there until I get it home.
The directions were a joke. The kit included a picture of the holes. The sequence to the drilling and turning would be very helpful. I found several sources on the net that made sense and limited the number of times I needed to rechuck the piece.
I’m now ready to crank out a few more gift pepper mills. Fun project.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
9 comments so far
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
16717 posts in 471 days
posted 122 days ago
looks good
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Dusty56
home | projects | blog
3460 posts in 582 days
posted 122 days ago
They always make the kits “unique ” so that you’ll have to purchase new tools !
The Rosewood is gorgeous as well as your turning : )
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
LesB
home | projects | blog
541 posts in 337 days
posted 121 days ago
Nice start on pepper mills.
I have complained about their off size parts for over 20 years. They all seem to do the same thing. Just don’t buy the ones with plastic fittings. They are next to junk in quality.
If you check my posted projects you will see a modification I have made to the Pepper mills I make. Adding a salt shaker in the capstan. I have never seen anyone else do it in wood.
-- Les B, Oregon
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
7302 posts in 1140 days
posted 121 days ago
Great looking pepper mill. All in all it was worth it though, huh? Like you said, now you can crank em out, pretty easily.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Scott Bryan
home | projects | blog
20629 posts in 716 days
posted 121 days ago
Jeff, this looks good. I can see that you have been bitten by the turning bug! :) It does sound like you are having fun with the lathe and being able to produce some nice pieces like this is a plus as well.
Have fun and keep on turnin’.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
USCJeff
home | projects | blog
899 posts in 962 days
posted 121 days ago
I remember you pepper mill post, Les. Your’s and pretty much all the others that I found on the site went into what I wanted in the end. This kit was stainless steel. Hadn’t come by a plastic one yet. I’m holding off on the salt shaker integration. I think I might do salt mills down the road to compliment these presents.
-- Jeff, South Carolina
Karson
home | projects | blog
25793 posts in 1294 days
posted 121 days ago
Jeff looks like a great job. I’ve seen some high tech pepper mill parts at least high priced. I want a pepper mill that cuts most of the pepper to be the same size and is able to be adjusted from fine to coarse without too much problem.
The wood looks great. I got some shorter Mesquite pieces from BlueStingRayBoots and some Desert Ironwood.
I need to get back to some practice on the lathe.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
TedM
home | projects | blog
1843 posts in 626 days
posted 121 days ago
After all the trials and tribulations you did a great job!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
sIKE
home | projects | blog
1094 posts in 648 days
posted 121 days ago
Very nice looking Pepper Mill, my wife has shown a slight interest in the lathe and have suggested one of these as a project.
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"