Wood turning (lathe)

[stoxs]

hello folks

 

Thinking of borrowing my dads wood turning lathe, he has had it for a few years and not really used it.

 

Few pointers would be good in the best way to start out

 

best wood to work with ?

best way to dry it out?

best object to make first?

things not to do?

best height of lathe ?

size of timber to use width and length?

 

 

got some dry Laburnum should be dry now!

 

thanks in appreciation

[bob]

start on nice softish wood

i would suggest a bowl but i like bowls

or a baseball bat:thumbup:

wood wants to dry out slowly some paint the ends to stop it splitting i just cut em bigger:thumbup:

laburnum is nice

[stoxs]

thanks for that bob

 

you do a bit of turning then?

[Ian Leach]

hello folks

 

Thinking of borrowing my dads wood turning lathe, he has had it for a few years and not really used it.

 

Few pointers would be good in the best way to start out

 

best wood to work with ?

best way to dry it out?

best object to make first?

things not to do?

best height of lathe ?

size of timber to use width and length?

 

 

got some dry Laburnum should be dry now!

 

thanks in appreciation

 

What bob said

Make sure lathe is not on max speed when starting (i forgot and lathe ended up on other side of garage)

 

Height of lathe normal bench height.

 

Sharp tools good too and know what the tools are for. (i didnt and the flying bit of wood almost knocked me out).

 

I started on mushrooms (not the magic ones), just so i could get use to the tools.

 

Pine i started on, once mastered that and got a smooth finish with tools then anything else you turn will be easy.

 

wear a dust mask when turning or use a good extractor, also wear oven gloves a mankeni and a rubber ring (Beginers only).

 

If not sure what tools you have post a pic up and i'll se if i know.

[stoxs]

What bob said

Make sure lathe is not on max speed when starting (i forgot and lathe ended up on other side of garage)

 

Height of lathe normal bench height.

 

Sharp tools good too and know what the tools are for. (i didnt and the flying bit of wood almost knocked me out).

 

I started on mushrooms (not the magic ones), just so i could get use to the tools.

 

Pine i started on, once mastered that and got a smooth finish with tools then anything else you turn will be easy.

 

wear a dust mask when turning or use a good extractor, also wear oven gloves a mankeni and a rubber ring (Beginers only).

 

If not sure what tools you have post a pic up and i'll se if i know.

 

will do when we get set up Ian

 

please enliten me on the uses of the fellas underlined above

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I would have thought Lime would be a good starting wood?

[Ian Leach]

will do when we get set up Ian

 

please enliten me on the uses of the fellas underlined above

 

Oven gloves = wood canbe hot when coming off lathe

 

mankini = it is none snag clothing

 

rubber ring = to keep you a safe distance away from lathe and if a flying bit of wood does knock you out then you will collapse comfortable.

[Ian Leach]

I would have thought Lime would be a good starting wood?

 

Never used lime, havent found an intresting piece yet:001_smile:

[stoxs]

cool

 

i will go get them asap!

 

thanks for the valuable advice

[carlos]

i was thinkking that a book from libarry or amazon would be a good bet to help get you going.

the one i used was by keith rowley cant think of the name somthing obivous i think.

the book would cover speeds, chisels, techniques and all that.

beech and ash are nice easy woods to work as is sycamore, you will need a bench grinder to keep tools sharp and you will need to keep sharpening them often in order to gain the best finish on the piece.

yew and box and holly are great but be a shame to practice on the really.

hope that helps carl.