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Lesson learned the hard way

3K views 35 replies 24 participants last post by  ldl 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well it finally happened. A bowl busted on the lathe while I was turning. Until I bought the Powermatic I had never tried to turn large bowls. This bowl was 14" and I had rough turned the outside close to where I wanted it. I had the inside finished and sanded. I went to finish the outside when I had a grab. I had my face shield on but had raised it to check the grab and forgot to put it down as I haven't used it in the past. When I put the tool back to the bowl it broke in two. It hit me in the face and cut it a little bit. It happened so fast I didn't know what happened. They say bought experience is the best kind.

I am having trouble with my face shield fogging up any suggestions. I have no heat in the shop. I haven't been wearing a mask recon that would help?

Taught me two lessons. 1. Always put your face shield back down. 2. Always check for cracks in the bowl while turning.

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Wood Composite material Natural material Auto part Art
 

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#4 ·
SHUCKY-DARN IT WILL SCARE THE CRAP OUT OF YOU WHEN IT HAPPENS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TWICE I HAD MY SHIELD DOWN AND IT HIT HARD ENOUGH TO CRACK ONE OF MY SHIELDS. DEWAYNE I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A WIRE MESH SHIELD. I KNOW THEY MAKE THEM I JUST HAVEN'T LOOKED HARD ENOUGH TO FIND ONE. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WILL WORK LIKE I WANT IT TO OR NOT. I AM GLAD YOU WEREN'T HURT.
 
#7 ·
I got a big ole head and with my beard I don't know if that's what causes it. I see where on some folks the shield set way out on their head but mine is pretty close. I think I have it set to the furthest hole but I'll have to check it. It gets so bad there will be water droplets on the inside of it. I will try the RainX and see if it helps.

Gene check where they have welding supplies. Also here's one link.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/search.shtml?searchQuery=wire+screen+face+shield&op=search&Ntt=wire+screen+face+shield&N=0&GlobalSearch=true&sst=subset
 
#8 ·
DeWayne,
Heat, and along with it moisture rises. If it can't escape it will condense on just about any surface that has a temperature differentiation.

You might try drilling some relief holes at or near the top to let your breath and body heat escape?

With no heat in your shop there is a large temperature differential so the faster you lose the heat and moisture, the less fog you'll have.

Remember, your body loses the most heat from your neck up, (An old cowboy rule), block the heat loss, you'll stay warmer, remove the heat and everything is more comfortable.
 
#13 ·
There are special liquids you can apply to a faceshield which will prevent fogging. Check motorcycle accessory sites and eye protection sites. Government issued eyepro to troops going downrange has a small bottle that comes with each set and it works very well. Google it and you should find what you are looking for. Good Luck!
 
#16 ·
Thanks for all the remedies. I think I might just go down the line and try them till I find one that helps me. I do have a large head and a very full beard that may have something to do with it. There's not much room inside. May be sealing things in. Holes may be a good idea.
 
#19 ·
I ain't gona let this bowl get the best of me. I cut the rough ends where it broke off and will make a wall hanger something another. My wife said put a light in it. Dono yet as I'm not through with it yet.

Wood Artifact Sculpture Natural material Serveware


I will cover the open side with a board and turn it right side up. Then put a hanger or keyhole slot for hanging.

Wood Bumper Automotive exterior Automotive tire Natural material


Most times the wood will tell us what it wants to be if we listen. I guess I didn't listen this time.
 

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#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
Let me preface by saying I have an extreme aversion to eye injuries for no good reason. I have to be sedated to get an eye exam. With that said, I am overly cautious when it comes to eye protection. I wear glasses to see. When I am at the lathe I wear my glasses, goggles over my glasses, and a face shield. Also my shop is not heated. The best stuff I have used to prevent fogging is Cat crap. I'm not sure what it really is, but it's not actually cat crap :)

I snowboard a lot and this is the only stuff that keeps the fog off my ski goggles when I wear them over my glasses. It works great in the shop too.

I tried the wire mesh shields and I hated it. It's far too dark and makes it tough to see details. I left it up more than I put it down, so it wasn't doing me much good.
 
#25 · (Edited by Moderator)
Close call. I have had bowls come off the lathe but not like that. One broke a $150 window….the lathe is now perpendicular to the window not parallel. LOL I usually get catches on the inside not the outside.
I didn't see anyone talk about prevention of this kind of incident.
Did the bowl split before it came off? How was it mounted? Do you think there was a crack? What cutting tool were you using?

Mounting with a chuck I usually finish the outside of a bowl before doing the inside with the possible exception of some finish sanding. The centrifugal force on the sides of the bowl can cause it to bow slightly as the sides get thinner during the inside cutting. If nothing else when you go back to finish the outside you will end up with a lopsided shape or 2 sides that are thinner depending on the grain of the wood. Also with large bowls you need to consider the speed or feet per second the outer parts are traveling at. I usually keep larger bowls at less than 1000 rpm's. Finally if the outside is finished and you are turning the inside you are out of the line of fire so to speak.

Good thought to check for cracks during the turning. They can often be stopped or repaired by letting super glue (medium or thick) seep into the crack. The medium and thick glues are slower to set up so they penetrate the crack well. Often I can then turn past the crack and eliminate it or at least stop it from getting worse.
 
#26 ·
Idl, just superglue the two halves back together and finish 'er off!
My Powermatic safety shield has evolved into a nice work-light holder….I guess I should think about using it for it's intended purpose.
I accidentally knocked a toolrest into a bowl once and half the bowl bounced off my face-shield and wen't 20 feet up into the overhead of the shop where it bounced around a couple times before it came back down.
Just scratched the face-shield and made a believer out of me…but as I get older I keep forgetting to put it back down after checking work.
I've half way solved that by going to a full-face respirator mask….too hard to pull off to just check minor things so it stays on the whole time I'm at the lathe.

Show us the bowl when you finish it.
 
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