Lathe, leveling the work?

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:20 am

As I'm sort of caught up on projects, and don't want to start too much, it seems like a good time to finally try my hand at turning. I did take the traveling academy class years ago. And I saved all the written notes. But it would be nice to see the initial setup of the chuck leveled to the live center. Also would like to see the process of tapering the end to mount on the chuck for bowel turning. Does anyone remember which Sawdust session this would be on, or have a link to the tutoring? A friend took down a patio, so I have some nice 4x4 redwood blanks cut to about a foot each to play with. Thanks, Gary

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:48 am

Gary,
Here is a link to WOOD Magazine Online videos. Under the Wood Video Categories click over to the last one, which is Woodturning. Click on it and you will see a few videos on turning. The ones on sharpening and using the skew and bowl chisels are really good. There was a thread where someone posted a list of all the sawdust sessions that had links and all you had to do was click on the one you wanted, but I can't find it now.

rkh2 · Post by **rkh2** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:30 am

Gary

The way I align my lathe setup is to put the drill chuck in the headstock with a brad point drill bit and the live center in the tail stock and bring them together so the points touch each other. Then I make any necessary adjustments on the tail stock end. I use the lock collars on my tail stock, so it is always lined up ready to go when I put it on the SS if I may have removed it for whatever purposes previously. Hope this helps. I think this method was demonstrated at a TA I had attended. As for my bowl turning, I have the talon chuck with the 1-3/8-inch x 1/2-inch diameter coarse threaded, Wormwood screw center which screws into the end of the bowl blank. When I am finished working the outside and bottom of the bowl, then I turn a taper which will fit into the chuck to hold it while I am hogging out the inside. I am sure there are other methods as well. I also try to round my blanks on the bandsaw which makes the material more in balance while turning it on the lathe.

anmius · Post by **anmius** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:38 am

You may find this section of the "Power Tool Woodworking For Everyone" on-line version helpful:

http://www.shopsmith.com/academy/latheturning/index.htm

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:16 pm

kalynzoo wrote: ...But it would be nice to see the initial setup of the chuck leveled to the live center...
Thanks, Gary

Hi Gary! I must be missing something here - I've always thought that if the standard drive center is aligned with the dead, or live, center - then the chuck will also be aligned (level) to the tail end.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:01 pm

charlese wrote:Hi Gary! I must be missing something here - I've always thought that if the standard drive center is aligned with the dead, or live, center - then the chuck will also be aligned (level) to the tail end.

YEP! It should! Do NOT know why one would want to use the drill chuck and 'brad' unless the standard drive center won't reach??? The quill would need to be extended with the drive center.

On my 'Goldie, a drive center will 'almost' reach a dead center and has almost an inch to spare when reaching a live center. The drive center CAN be slid on the spindle over 1/2" without having excessive run out.(for checking alignment ONLY)

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:40 am

Thanks all, you've been a great help.
Your not missing anything, as I have not tried yet, so I really was looking for a start. Lining up the drive ends, or using a brad point would seem to both work, and I now remember the demo. Yes, I will shave the sides on the bandsaw first. Looking forward to some shop fun....after I go bike riding with the kids.