wood turning

vanmeter2r · Post by **vanmeter2r** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:48 pm

I have a question that I hope don't seem stupid, but I do need some professional answers. O.k, I am trying the lathe for the first time tonight, by trying to make a cheap pressure treated 12" 4x4, round (Trying to make a roller if it turns out alright). Anyway, I set up the lathe as per shop smith directions and video (utube), measured center on each end of the board (made a cross), sharpened tools (very important), and am currently using 1" gouge. The problem I am having, first, I don't really know How the heck I am suppose to properly hold the chisel to the wood, every once in a while I move my gouge wrong and it really gouges the wood and kick backs on me, I have watched sawdust sessions. Second, I am having a problem of the wood piece coming loose after awhile (stops spinning and I have to re-tighten headstock or arm) or if I gouge to hard, how to I get the headstock to better hold the wood.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:06 am

Cut an X in the drive end of the stock, to fit the drive spur. Also ya need to ride the bevel of the gouge.

shipwright · Post by **shipwright** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:16 am

The Lathe can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. I would like to suggest that you get someone to show you how to do it first hand, someone who can watch and correct you. And no offense, Beeg but "riding the bevel" refers to cutting as opposed to scraping. I don't think someone who hasn't had at least some experience at scraping and who has no one to guide him should try to "cut". IMHO of course.

Paul M

vanmeter2r · Post by **vanmeter2r** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:17 am

Thank you for the reply, but how deep of an X do I need to cut ( by any chance do you have any example pictures)? So instead of using the gouge tip, are you saying to lean the tool back to the bevel? I have a question about the Shopsmith rest; am I suppose to follow the angle of the rest since I;m new to this or is it better to just get my own feel for the lathe?

reible · Post by **reible** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 1:22 am

Hi,

Not sure how you have prepared the work piece before you put it on the lathe so I don't know if you tried to get it as round as possible before you started attempting to round it with the lathe setup.

If you just stuck the 4 x 4 in the lathe you are working way to hard. You need to use the table saw to cut some of the edges off so it looks like a stop sign (8 sides).

Here is a quick sketchup view

[ATTACH]9861[/ATTACH]

Hope this helps some,

Ed

vanmeter2r · Post by **vanmeter2r** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:54 am

darn, I'm doing it the hard way, I knew I should have rounded the sides on the shop smith, but I think with my excitement to start my first project on the machine, I just got blinders. Thanks, I will just cut another piece and trim the sides.

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:01 am

As to coming loose...don't forget that the wood you have chosen to use is a soft wood, and you'll most likely need to stop every now and then to make sure that it is still tight.

I hope that when you said to be used as a roller it is for shop use and not like a roller to be used in the kitchen.

pennview · Post by **pennview** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:17 am

Just my opinion, but I'm not sure I'd want to be turning "pressure treated" wood on a lathe. The chemicals used to treat the wood are toxic!

MikeG · Post by **MikeG** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:38 am

Check out this link for info on holding and using the lathe tools. OP by bettyt44720 in the thread on making your own lathe tools.
http://www.woodworkinglathe.com/page4.htm

cv3 · Post by **cv3** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:50 am

The national wood turners have a very good organization. You can find if they have a chapter near you. The group here is really helpful they have classes at their meetings and they are a really nice group for people. I have learned a lot from them over the years.

http://www.woodturner.org/community/cha ... apters.asp