Shopsmith Forums

I got an idea for a Christmas tree ornament which would allow me to get some much needed practice on the lathe & make a couple of little gifts for the kids as well. I tried my first one on a MK5 and couldn't get the speed low enough & had trouble getting the tool rest tight enough to feel stable. I haven't used the MK5 for any turning to this point but wanted to try it, but having learned on my dad's (now my) 10er, I decided to allow myself a fall back into my comfort zone. I'm glad I did. With the speedchanger on the lowest speed and with the added mass of the old machine, everything went great. Sometimes you can forget how good something is if you're away from it for awhile

The starting blank is a maple block 1 3/4" square & a couple inches long, center bored lengthwise, with a 1" walnut dowel glued into it.
[ATTACH]19178[/ATTACH]

This ornament involves 2 separate turning steps. The first step is to turn cone indents into each of the faces. (and sand each face to finished smoothness before rotating the block to do the next face. You must do the sanding during this phase) I used a Nova midi chuck to hold the piece for this phase.
[ATTACH]19177[/ATTACH]

After all 4 faces of the block are done, you remove the chuck & use the standard spur center & tail center & mount the dowel lengthwise on them to finish the ornament. You can just make this out of one block & stain the ends, but I liked the 2 tone effect from using a contrasting dowel better.
[ATTACH]19179[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]19180[/ATTACH]

Nice job Tom!

I really like how the project turned out plus it was nice to see how you did it.

I've just recently did some turning using the chuck with just two jaws, I wasn't too sure how that was going to work out but it did fine. I left some extra material at the clamping area but I like you you added some scraps to protect the project, going to have to do that from now on.

Going to have to get my 10er done next summer, didn't get anything done on it this year other then move some parts around... now I have to hope I can find them all again.

One of my brothers, up farther from you is getting snow, anything in your area?

Ed

Very nice - well done! So had you been able to resolve your MK5 tool rest problem, do you still think you couldn't do this on the MK5 due to not being able to reduce the speed enough?

Very nice!!! I have a love affair with walnut despite its tendency to attack my lungs etc.

425 rpm has got to feel safer than 700!

??? Source for walnut doweling? Ya make it?

dgale wrote:Very nice - well done! So had you been able to resolve your MK5 tool rest problem, do you still think you couldn't do this on the MK5 due to not being able to reduce the speed enough?

Regarding the speed, maybe it's just a comfort thing...I'm not sure. Here's what I do know. I'm in a lathe turning group in town that has some very talented turners. I've mostly observed & learned from them to this point, because a couple of them bring "show & tell" pieces that are better than many I've seen at fancy gift shops. A little intimidating, but awesome.
However, I was amazed that at all the demos they've done at meetings, except for sanding, they turn at very low speeds. Not just to round off the piece, but all the way through.

Without a speed reducer, I can't get there on the Mk5, but my 10er with the speedchanger, in the low range and at the lowest speed, get's me there.

As to the tool rest, it seems that no matter how tight I crank the wingie-dingie (not a technical term) I get movement. Granted, I haven't done lathe work on the Mk5 before & maybe I missed something, but the 10er's tightening method seems to work better.

If anyone out there uses the fancy universal tool rest, please chime in on your experience. While that looks like just the ticket, it's not in my budget right now. Same for the speed reducer, but I guess it doesn't matter as long as the 10er is here. Also, I like the extra weight of it in general...not when moving it around but when turning on it. (and, of course, it's hard not to love a machine that your dad helped you turn your first project on)

reible wrote:Nice job Tom!

I really like how the project turned out plus it was nice to see how you did it.

I've just recently did some turning using the chuck with just two jaws, I wasn't too sure how that was going to work out but it did fine. I left some extra material at the clamping area but I like you you added some scraps to protect the project, going to have to do that from now on.

Going to have to get my 10er done next summer, didn't get anything done on it this year other then move some parts around... now I have to hope I can find them all again.

One of my brothers, up farther from you is getting snow, anything in your area?

Ed

This was my first use of the chuck. I bought it a while back but never used it. I tried using a face plate but screw placement to avoid holes in the finished ornament was an issue. (probably wouldn't be if I used a single long block to start)
I wasn't sure removing 2 jaws was going to be okay, but it worked fine.

As to the snow...only about an inch but it is Wisconsin, so there will be more. Well I guess I'll just have to deal with it. With less incentive to ever go outdoors, I should get more shop time.

[quote="JPG40504"]Very nice!!! I have a love affair with walnut despite its tendency to attack my lungs etc.]
Yes, I did make the dowel. I started with a walnut 2x2 and a steel 12" square plate with a 1" hole drilled in it. I took an old railroad John Henry style track hammer (12 lb), lined up the 2x2 over hole, reared back & drove it through the hole to form the dowel. It takes a little practice. I did a lot of damage & ruined a lot of walnut getting the hang of hitting the mark. And, of course, I'm just kidding. A friend of mine who makes walking canes get's them on the web somewhere & gave me one. (I have too much time on my hands this morning...I should go to me shop & play there)

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has holes drilled in the wooden base top, to hold allen wrenches! You MkV/5 guys only have 1 allen wrench to use, we have 3.

Tom, even though I've got a DC motor, I DO use the speedchanger at times. The DC motor doesn't seem to have enough torque, at real slow speeds.

steve

skou wrote:I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has holes drilled in the wooden base top, to hold allen wrenches! You MkV/5 guys only have 1 allen wrench to use, we have 3.

. . .
steve

I have yet to see one without those holes!;)

Or at least IDNRO.

That's an awesome idea for Christmas, decorate the tree with wood!