Trouble turning bottle stoppers

texomawood · Post by **texomawood** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:17 am

I have started turning bottle stoppers and I am having a problem. I am using a mandrel to turn the stoppers but the blank keeps turning free on the threaded end of the mandrel when I start to round off the edges.
I am using the correct size drill to drill the hole in the blank, I am using a clamp fixture and drill press to hold the blanks during drilling and I am using new sharp tips on my chisels when turning. About 50% of the blanks will spin free, any ideas out there?
Also has anybody figured out an easy way around the interference the tilt assist causes when trying to use the tailstock on small pieces? I was thinking of replacing the bolts and nuts on the tube caps with longer bolts and wing-nuts to make it easier to remove.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:44 am

I think I recall a reading thread where a Morse-taper extension socket was suggested for solving the short-piece problem. I couldn't find the thread, but here is a link to an extension socket at an attractive price: http://dewitt-tool.com/dewes2-2machine_ ... et_es.aspx

texomawood · Post by **texomawood** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:42 am

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Have you used one???

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 8:28 am

texomawood wrote:Thanks for the link, I'll check it out. Have you used one???

No, I don't have the lift assist, so I have never needed an extension.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 11:43 am

texomawood wrote:I have started turning bottle stoppers and I am having a problem. I am using a mandrel to turn the stoppers but the blank keeps turning free on the threaded end of the mandrel when I start to round off the edges.
I am using the correct size drill to drill the hole in the blank, I am using a clamp fixture and drill press to hold the blanks during drilling and I am using new sharp tips on my chisels when turning. About 50% of the blanks will spin free, any ideas out there?
Also has anybody figured out an easy way around the interference the tilt assist causes when trying to use the tailstock on small pieces? I was thinking of replacing the bolts and nuts on the tube caps with longer bolts and wing-nuts to make it easier to remove.

Wood Turner!

Turn a tenon on a hunk of wood that will slip into the tailstock hole(the big hole created by removing the adjustable center).

Bore(turn?) a hole in the opposite face(end) to receive the adjustable center. Add a tapped hole for the setscrew(or two or three . . .)

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 8:02 pm

texomawood wrote:I have started turning bottle stoppers and I am having a problem. I am using a mandrel to turn the stoppers but the blank keeps turning free on the threaded end of the mandrel when I start to round off the edges.
I am using the correct size drill to drill the hole in the blank, I am using a clamp fixture and drill press to hold the blanks during drilling and I am using new sharp tips on my chisels when turning. About 50% of the blanks will spin free, any ideas out there?
Also has anybody figured out an easy way around the interference the tilt assist causes when trying to use the tailstock on small pieces? I was thinking of replacing the bolts and nuts on the tube caps with longer bolts and wing-nuts to make it easier to remove.

Hi,

I have not made bottle stoppers but I have turned items that are pretty much done just like bottle stoppers. You use a threaded portion that mounts in the drill chuck. In my case I built my own use a bolt but I think most of them pretty much look alike. In my case I use a washer and nut that lets me snug up after threading the wood on.

The tap I have is a commercial one made for threading wood and again I think they are pretty much all alike.

You do need to use the tail stock initially, if you have the shopsmith live center you can buy some extensions, I believe they are 1-1/2" long each and I know that two will work together giving you 3". I thought at some point I had read that the limit was 2 but I have not been able to find that warning again.

I too have a MT2 extension but I must warn you that things you mount in it need to have a tang or you will find it very difficult to get them apart after(the drift needs to make contact with the inserted part to allow it to come apart).

If you have issues with the lift and either can't or don't want to deal with it for this operation this might help:

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=12916

The mounting of the lift assist using wing nuts might be questionable, I don't know if you can get them snug enough that way.

Now as to what is happen when your turning it is mystery to me but here is a shot video that gives you some of the basics. Have a look and see if you can see what might be going on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJJ41IiEb_4

If you need more details or part numbers for the shopsmith extensions let us know so I or someone can dig them out for you.

Ed

jay61 · Post by **jay61** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:41 pm

I like to use the Jacobs chuck to turn stoppers. I took a 3/8" concrete anchor bolt, cut the end off, and mount it in the chuck. I drill and tap the blank with a cheap 3/8" tap set I bought at the big orange box store. I don't use the tail stock, but there is nothing wrong with doing so. I love the shopsmith for bottle stoppers! Turn your stopper, then mount your chuck on the left side to reverse
sand!

jay61 · Post by **jay61** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 7:57 pm

I forgot, as reible mentioned, use a washer and a nut to tighten up your blank. A 3/8" flat washer is a little smaller than the chrome or stainless stopper hardware, making a nice reference to work from.

reible · Post by **reible** » Wed Oct 09, 2013 8:14 pm

Here is another thread you might want to look at. It shows the version I have made and the bottoming tap I use.

https://forum.shopsmith.com/viewtopic.php?t=9258

Good luck with all of this.

Ed