Shopsmith Forums

Wow! to me seems like a lot of engineering for no real need. Having done a few faceplate turnings for pepper mills and toothpick holders, I found absolutely NO need to center the mounting wood onto the faceplate. Can someone tell me why it is necessary?

I've always thought - So what, if the mounted wood is not centered. If the uneven corners/edges bother my eyes, I can just trim them with a gouge.

The real centered wood is the stuff that's attached to the faceplate wood.

Of course, if one starts with a workpiece that's already been cut to the desired width, then it would be necessary to center stuff. But workpiece wood is rarely expensive enough to not have a thickness that's larger than the outcome. If this were the case, I would be collecting all shavings and sawdust, glueing it into a mass and re turning it.

charlese wrote:Wow! to me seems like a lot of engineering for no real need. Having done a few faceplate turnings for pepper mills and toothpick holders, I found absolutely NO need to center the mounting wood onto the faceplate. Can someone tell me why it is necessary?

I've always thought - So what, if the mounted wood is not centered. If the uneven corners/edges bother my eyes, I can just trim them with a gouge.

The real centered wood is the stuff that's attached to the faceplate wood.

Of course, if one starts with a workpiece that's already been cut to the desired width, then it would be necessary to center stuff. But workpiece wood is rarely expensive enough to not have a thickness that's larger than the outcome. If this were the case, I would be collecting all shavings and sawdust, glueing it into a mass and re turning it.

Balance Chuck. Big stuff turned by 'real men:D' require balancing. But then if trees, they be one side heavy if not very dry!

I sorta agree, but a decent starting 'point' is nice!;)

RonKlein wrote:A 5/8" brad point bit works pretty well for centering the faceplates, too.

Ron

Now that you mention it that is how I was taught. Since I don't know any other face plate that has a 5/8" hole I suspect Shopsmith is where I learned it. It is either in the SS manual or that is what they taught in the traveling academies. But I almost had to have heard it from Shopsmith.

I hadn't faceplate turned in so long I had completely forgotten about it when I read this forum but the minute you mentioned I could remember centering my face plate with a 5/8" brad point.

Ed in Tampa wrote:Now that you mention it that is how I was taught. Since I don't know any other face plate that has a 5/8" hole I suspect Shopsmith is where I learned it. It is either in the SS manual or that is what they taught in the traveling academies. But I almost had to have heard it from Shopsmith.

I hadn't faceplate turned in so long I had completely forgotten about it when I read this forum but the minute you mentioned I could remember centering my face plate with a 5/8" brad point.

Did not Craftsman lathes also have a 5/8" shaft?

JPG40504 wrote:Did not Craftsman lathes also have a 5/8" shaft?

Maybe but I never had a Craftsman lathe and ever turned on one so I had to learn it elsewhere.

From sketchup to metal.

Finished product with only one small change. The stop collar is now a custom version, cost about $5 but I like it.

And I know it didn't happen if there are not pictures.........

[ATTACH]24151[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]24152[/ATTACH]

Now I can check this off my list. Oh by the way, this was not my handy work I farmed it out.

Ed

I'm guessing Rick Herrel got the work along with your custom tool rest.

Rick does do outstanding work.

The workmanship is top notch as everything I have from Rick. Should make a display case for this work, almost hate to stick them in the drawer.

In case anyone want to have a set made feel free to contact Rick he can fix you up with ones just like mine.

http://www.penturners.org/forum/member.php?u=2915
"The pain of using a cheap tool lingers long after the joy of saving money has passed"

Ed

terrydowning wrote:I'm guessing Rick Herrel got the work along with your custom tool rest.

Rick does do outstanding work.