My first "successful" lathe project

jnimz · Post by **jnimz** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:22 am

I am making these for the wife to sell on her Etsy Shop Online. Details for what they do are on her shop, and blog, but basically, this is an ancient tool for reliably winding balls of yarn, and also includes another tool for sizing the yarn for making patterns. maybe one day I will get a sweater or something as a thank you. So far, I've just got a house full of little bits of fur from about 9 different types of animal!

reible · Post by **reible** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:30 am

Hi,

I know nothing about knitting and the like, but it looks like you do... Since I have no idea what one of those looks like I'm going to say great job anyway... cause for sure it is woodworking and for that part of it I know you did a good job.

It must have been fun to turn as it says it is made out of purpleheart, I've never turned any but did a project once many many years ago. That was back in the dark ages when we still had only steel saw blades and that stuff was nasty to them. I bet I still have a couple of small pieces stored away somewhere.... I should get them out in the spring and see how they look/cut after being stored for 30 years in metal trash can of hardwood scrapes.

So how did the stuff turn?

Ed

jnimz · Post by **jnimz** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:57 am

Thanks Ed.

I know very little about the knitting thing. But I *DO* know that I am a big enough guy and being bald as well, I have NEVER heard anyone laughing at me the few times I have knit in public. I don't like knitting, but I learned enough to help the wife out when she over-promised Christmas presents this year.

I'd rather be out in my shop, because that relaxes me. My wife is happier knitting/spinning, as that relaxes her.

Next year, she has vowed that everyone gets something from my shop.

The pic above is actually walnut, but I've done several pieces in purpleheart. Come to think of it, almost every project I've done has had purpleheart in it! To date, I've done 2 end-grain cutting boards. One was maple, paduak, and purpleheart, and the other was maple, walnut and purpleheart. One box made out of purpleheart and aromatic cedar. Also the ball winder thingies; one of walnut, one of maple, one of purpleheart, one of laminated purpleheart and walnut, and one of laminated purpleheart, walnut, and maple.

Unfortunately, I started turning before I realized through more research that I really should have sharpened and honed my lathe tools before turning, so these projects have been done with the basic five lathe tools that came with the Shopsmith, and each one has been a hard won battle, because the tools are quite dull now!

I am really hoping I can find a decent sharpener very soon, because all these hardwoods are killing my tools! I suppose I could have started with softer woods, but these woods are pieces I had laying around my shop, so I am sort of beginning with a "trial by fire" approach. Fortunately, I am not messing up any "good project wood" while learning to turn!

I am basically using leavings, and such especially with the laminated (or is it segmented?)pieces. Hoping to salvage enough from the sale of these first few items to buy a sharpener, to turn out more, diverse and better quality items down the road.

BTW, has anyone heard of Monster Wood Tools? These guys are making some really good lathe tools for really reasonable prices. I would be happy to make my own, but I dont have the tools readily available, so I am on the search for reasonably priced lathe tools. I REALLY want to start turning burl and crotch bowls and such

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:02 am

Your ahead of the curve on me. I'm still trying to find the time, or get up the courage, to start a lathe project. Your work looks good to me, hope I do as well. I was thinking of something simple, like dowel handles for the rocking horse. Enjoy the sawdust.

jnimz · Post by **jnimz** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:17 am

Oh, I don't know that I am "ahead" of the curve...

I just had the wood available, and the suggestion planted by my wife...

I just hope that I can unlearn the bad habits that I am surely learning right now! One of these days, I will actually learn to use the tools I have correctly.

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

perryobear · Post by **perryobear** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:35 am

Jason,

Thanks for sharing your turning project with us, it looks great! You should get "extra points" for sharing out there in the "larger woodworking community" along with the reference to your Shopsmith equipment.

I haven't really tried my hand at any significant turning projects yet, but posts like this keep me looking in that direction - thanks for the encouragement.

By the way, my feeling is that any woodworking project that supports my wife's hobby activity, or house redecorating, etc. is a very good thing for me and my shop!

Thanks again

Dennis

horologist · Post by **horologist** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:30 am

jnimz wrote:Thanks Ed.

Unfortunately, I started turning before I realized through more research that I really should have sharpened and honed my lathe tools before turning, so these projects have been done with the basic five lathe tools that came with the Shopsmith, and each one has been a hard won battle, because the tools are quite dull now!

I am really hoping I can find a decent sharpener very soon, because all these hardwoods are killing my tools! I suppose I could have started with softer woods, but these woods are pieces I had laying around my shop, so I am sort of beginning with a "trial by fire" approach. Fortunately, I am not messing up any "good project wood" while learning to turn!

Santa brought me a chisel sharpening attachment this Christmas and my dad and I just spent a couple hours setting it up and sharpening tools that have never been sharpened since new.

Nick sold me on the concept at the owners weekend last summer, there is also a sawdust session:

http://www.shopsmithacademy.com/SS_Arch ... pening.htm

A local wood turning group has a web page with helpful info. They say that the largest source of trouble/discouragement for new turners is working with dull tools. I expect that most beginners (myself included) end up just turning with the tools as they come out of the box. Even a $100 Sorby chisel requires sharpening before it can be used effectively.

They also greatly favor a flat bevel such as the one you get with the strip sander vs. a hollow ground one sharpened with a similar jig on a grinding wheel. As a turner I am not sufficiently sophisticated to be able to tell much difference between the two.

I have both a Tormek and the strip sander and am now finding that the strip sander is much quicker and easier. Lee Valley sells a finer grit belt (1200) as well as a leather belt and I am interested to compare the two systems on my carving tools.

jnimz · Post by **jnimz** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:42 pm

perryobear,

Yeah, I figure if I do some stuff for the wife, it's easier to justify new purchases, if she *thins* I am doing it *all* for her

horologist,

Thanks so much for the tips! Turning is something that I think I am really going to enjoy, and I definitely want to make sure the tolls I am using aren't working against me!

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:56 pm

horologist wrote: Even a $100 Sorby chisel requires sharpening before it can be used effectively.

They also greatly favor a flat bevel such as the one you get with the strip sander vs. a hollow ground one sharpened with a similar jig on a grinding wheel. As a turner I am not sufficiently sophisticated to be able to tell much difference between the two.

Hi Troy! - - I also used the SS lathe tools with the bevel they came with. Even with these bevels, they worked much better when sharp.

Also I couldn't figure out why a flat bevel would be better than a hollow ground one, until I went to a traveling Academy. It was there I learned a better way to use the tools from what I had been doing. Rick taught us to "ride the bevel" into the cut. Magic words - "Ride the Bevel"! Letting the flat bevel ride on the spinning wood then raising the handle slightly until the tool cuts really works wonderfully well. It is my guess a hollow ground bevel would not be so easy to control.

gilamonster · Post by **gilamonster** » Sun Jan 11, 2009 1:47 pm

Jason -- have you ever turned Mesquite?

I have a supply of really nice wood, from a large tree in my sister-in-law's yard. If you'd be interesting in some to try, maybe you have some local wood to trade?

I've done a couple trades like this -- gives you a chance to try something not readily available to either of us... inexpensively.