Lathe cutting top window blocks

[mountain4don]

I tried the gouge and parting tool to turn my rosetts in the oak blocks and was much more successful. Thanks to you guys. I am still not doing a real good job with it though. It seems the parting tool heats up pretty fast and I can't cut a whole rosette at one setup, but have to turn it off to cool for awhile between sessions. And I am having trouble just as I start the parting tool into the wood at one of the grooves it wants to skip over and make lines on the already shaped circles near the center. But I have been using the parting tool on its side to use the point to make a groove. Maybe I should just use the 1/8" wide flat tip to start a groove and then turn it on its side to finish the v groove? The gouge is very hard to do anything with and wants to skip all over the place and doesn't cut much out. Maybe I need to get a smaller gouge somewhere?

[beeg]

Are your tools SHARP? Are ya riding the bevel when ya use em?

[mountain4don]

I read through the link to the lathe duplicator and couldn't quite see how the tool rest was mounted? What is it attached to? What keeps it from tipping over when cutting? How is it moved? I guess those little tiny bits it uses won't put much force on it? But cutting with it must be extremely slow? I thought about buying one of these to reproduce the spindles on our stair railing. But my wife bulked on the high price of the unit and it looks like it would take a really long time to cut 36 new spindles. So she decided to just buy some similar ones already cut. It is much cheaper than buying the duplicator?

[mountain4don]

Are your tools SHARP? Are ya riding the bevel when ya use em?

I guess they are sharp? They are ShopSmith brand circa 1981 and have never been used? Do I have to sharpen them before I can use them? And what kind of equipment does it take to do that? Probably a much finer wheel on my grinder and some sort of special rest to get the proper angle? And what do you mean "riding the bevel" when I am using them? I am not even sure at what point I should be setting my tool rest? I have it set so the blade contacts the spinning wood about 3/16" above the center. And I am holding the tool roughly 90 degrees to the face of the spinning wood. Any suggestions on this would be helpful.

[beeg]

My suggestion is to find a local chapter of the AAW and join. http://www.woodturner.org/search/custom.asp?id=1509

[judaspre1982]

==============================

[wa2crk]

turning a rosette should be possible on the SS but I would use a round nosed scraper tool. Cutting a rosette is similar to hollowing a bowl. So I think that a small bowl gouge or the scraper would be easier.
Bill V

[reible]

Hi,

I don't see this as being to big of deal. Have I ever tried? No but I have made candle sticks where the base is much like what needs to be done here. I did them for Christmas gifts and used several types of wood, oak included.

Sharp tools are a must.

I've also seen the drill press method, big issue here would be running them slow enough (300-500 rpm). See here for more information and video's

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... osette.htm

(Also note that you can chuck in tail stock and use the lathe for cutting.)

I have an old sears router table with a rosette making attachment that I keep just for making them. I have not used it in years, just can't seem to part with it.

Summery:

Should be something that can be done on a lathe with the shopsmith. Making them identical might require some experience and or the use of the duplicator.

If you can reduce the speed ((rpm) then the drill bits should work and be a cheap solution with consistent result. Speed reducer or powerpro come to mind.

Ed

[cincinnati]

If you are looking for something cheaper in a cutter.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... osette.htm

Like others have said, First sharpen your tools. Lathe tools most often need sharpening during use. Don't make sharping a big deal. You can use a disk sander, belt sander or a cheap bench grinder. Yes, Some are better that others but for the limited use you need, don't go spending $$$$.

[mgdesigns]

There actually a rosette cutter for routers.
Rockler has them:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... e%20cutter
MLCS:
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite ... osette.htm (much cheaper, and made to run on a drill press)

I think I could turn a rosette easily enough, using skew, small spindle, and parting gouges. Should not be too awfully difficult.