Shopsmith Forums

Regardless of what chisels you are using, you should be cutting the rosettes by 'scraping'. This tends to dull the chisels quickly so touching up the edges is a constant.

http://www.shopsmith.com/academy/latheturning/index.htm#faceplate
Scroll down to faceplate turning - shaping.

I sharpened the parting tool using the disk sander and clamped a block of wood on the table with a guide clamped to that to match the angle of the parting tool, and sharpened it using a fine disk of sandpaper. And that improved the cutting tremendously. And after studying the "reading assignments" and watching the videos and with the sharpened tool I actually got one to pass inspection by the inspector general. And it went a lot faster after sharpening the tool. And learning. So I think I am now on my way to doing 30 more. I also found out that I have to balance the piece of wood I clamp into the faceplate to keep the ShopSmith from vibrating so much. I was making rectangular blocks to butt my baseboards to with the rosette at the top, until I discovered that I can't turn them that way. But if I make the longer piece simmetrical and turn the rosette in the center, then I can cut off one blank end and use that block for the top of the doorway and cut another rosette in that square block that was cut off the rectangular block. So I don't lose any wood.

It's a learning process. and it seems like you're on your way.

Caution, Wood turning can be very addictive.

mountain4don wrote:I sharpened the parting tool...

ATTTA BOY, Don! If your Inspector General is happy - we are all happy!

Remember what you read and viewed and STAY SAFE! Best Wishes!

Now the inspector general is suggesting that maybe I could turn all of those spindles for our stair railing. Is there anyway to turn them all similar without investing in the ShopSmith lathe duplicator? Thats more money than I have invested in my intire ShopSmith setup.

lightnin wrote:Make a story board with all the measurements and distances on it.
hold it up to the piece mark the high and low spots turn them to diameter using calipers then the rest is pretty much eyeball work.

I have seen it done never did it myself I'm sure others who have can give better more detailed advice.

Does the inspector general have any conception of the man-hours necessary for all this?;)

The Inspector General expects the entire room to be sheetrocked, taped, mudded, and painted and wallpaper put up and all the window moldings and casings and sills to be done tomorrow. And supper on the table when she gets home from work with a fresh cherry pie made for dessert. And the pie is in the oven. But I have already hinted that the spindle turning might take awhile. Especially if I don't have a device to copy the original ones. So, can I place one of the original ones right over the one I am turning and eyeball the one immediately below it to get it close enough as I turn it? And use calipers to compare them as I go? Only a trial will answer that I guess.

mountain4don wrote:The Inspector General expects the entire room to be sheetrocked, taped, mudded, and painted and wallpaper put up and all the window moldings and casings and sills to be done tomorrow. And supper on the table when she gets home from work with a fresh cherry pie made for dessert. And the pie is in the oven. But I have already hinted that the spindle turning might take awhile. Especially if I don't have a device to copy the original ones. So, can I place one of the original ones right over the one I am turning and eyeball the one immediately below it to get it close enough as I turn it? And use calipers to compare them as I go? Only a trial will answer that I guess.

To duplicate, you can use dividers like the one shown in the above video. Maybe a school type compass will work? Or --- maybe you can fabricate a couple of fixed dividers from light metal. That way they can have sharp points and make scratches.

charlese wrote:To duplicate, you can use dividers like the one shown in the above video. Maybe a school type compass will work? Or --- maybe you can fabricate a couple of fixed dividers from light metal. That way they can have sharp points and make scratches.

Come on Chuck, show off your 'dancers'!;)