Shopsmith Forums

charlese wrote:The standard spur drive center an fixed tail center should do you just fine. Remember to drill 1/8" holes in the ends and saw corner to corner 1/8" slots in the drive side. Also, apply bees wax to the dead center to prevent burning.

You should also try doing this work with another 3/4 x3/4 piece of pine or poplar in order to get the feel of the need technique. You will probably be happier if you make your wood about an inch longer than needed in order to remove the end holes and slots.

mrhart wrote:I guess thats what I forgot to account for, just a short supply of walnut and the parts are already cut close to finished length. I knew better. Thats why I posted the question. I'm not sure if once mounted up, I'd be able to sound down to 1/2" all the way to the end.

terrydowning wrote:Another option for reducing splintering where square meets round is to make a saw kerf where the transition is.

First setup your blank
scribe a line where the transition is to take place.
Put saw kerfs in an X fashion corner to corner on at least one end (both ends if you plan on flipping the stock) Not too deep, 1/16" or so should be fine, just enough for the spurs to get a purchase on the end grain and keep the stock spinning. Drill a 1/8" hole in the center, not too deep, maybe an 1/8 inch, just enough to get the points started in the center and keep them from wandering. The squeeze from mounting will do the rest of the work.

Mount the stock between centers (line up the x with the spur drive). Make sure to use plenty of beeswax for the dead center. I use a toilet bowl wax ring for this (clean and new of course:D ). Advance the quill and compress the wood into the spur drive and dead center and give it a few test turns by hand.

Position your tool rest as close as you can get it with out hitting your work. The closer the tool rest, the better your tools will perform especially skews.

With the lathe still unplugged, take a small saw and cut a kerf on the transition line you scribed earlier. I use one of those hobby sized fine tooth back saws. Cut just deep enough to cut the grain on the surface (1/8 " or so should do maybe a bit deeper on the corners) this will prevent tear out and provide a relief to work against.

Hone your skew.

Now you can plug in your lathe and start cutting use a sharp freshly honed skew and take light cuts to get to your final dimension.

Start a bit away from the transition relief cut and slice through the grain sneaking up on the transition, just take the corners off and get it round.

Next round the corners at the end and take it to final dimension, now you just have to work the final dimension to the relief cut and you're done. Remember light cuts and let the chisel do the work. If you have to apply pressure to make the cut, stop and hone your skew.

Since you're going to 1/2" on the final dimension, use a clean 1/2" wrench as a gauge to check your work.

Flip the blank and repeat the procedure. I would opt for flipping the stock as contacting the spur center with a skew is NOT fun and will most likely ruin your work. I'm also better on the tail stock side than I am on the head stock side.

Of course practice this once or twice on a cutoff you can spare or use in another project.

mrhart wrote:All good advice sir. I can get one end but the other end won't take a spur center without starting to crack.
Like I said before, I didn't leave enough length in my work piece to have extra. My explanation earlier was a bit foggy but basically I'm taking a 3/4 stick and making the last 2 inches on each end round.
If I had a chuck that I could put the round ends I have turned tonight in it, then I could do the other. I need a local lathe buddy...