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My first lathe attempt

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:29 pm
by navycop
My son I and were experimenting with the lathe tonight. We got it kind of round. Then we tried doing some coves and valleys. I used the 60 degree live center and the drive center that came with the SS.
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:20 pm
by beeg
What lathe tool did ya use?

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:33 pm
by curiousgeorge
What ever tool you used it needs sharpening. I don't mean to sound harsh and by no means am I trying to dishearten you about this, but you really need to learn how to sharpen the turning tools before you learn how to turn. Many beginners get disgusted and quit trying simply because they don't realize that a sharp tool is a requirement and not an option when turning. Not to mention that a sharp turning tool is safer to use because it is cutting the wood instead of tearing at it. Please take this as constructive criticism and not as dissing your attempts in any way. I hope you continue learning and am sure you will come to love turning.

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:41 pm
by navycop
beeg wrote:What lathe tool did ya use?
I used the 1/2", 1" gouge and skew.
re: curiuosgeorge>Thanks also for the recommentation to sharpen them. Glad I found out now before I started doing something really expensive. No hard feelings. That's why I come here to learn from the "experts". I have to crawl before I can walk, then walk before I can run....

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:07 pm
by beeg
I'd say STAY AWAY from the skew for now. It's a great tool, but knot easy to use without some help.

practice turning

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:34 pm
by RobertTaylor
i actually had a piece of cherry that looked nearly identicle to your piece. i wish i had taken a pic of it before i recycled it today. it was a practice piece from our woodturning club's august meeting. we were to make a candlestick but only got as far as the practice. no one got started on the project but we had fun practicing lol. i figured i will never get around to making the candlestick so i recycled it into a display for my miniture birdhouse ornaments. tomorrow is the club meeting so i will try to post a pic tomorrow or sunday. stay tuned.

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:54 pm
by cocacola1012
curiousgeorge wrote:What ever tool you used it needs sharpening.
Does any one have plans for a lathe chisel sharping jig for the SS? I saw some online, but they were either to complicated for me to follow or they were for a grinder (which I don't have).

Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:18 pm
by judaspre1982
===========================

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 12:03 am
by kalynzoo
Definitely cleaner than my first try. :D It is truly heartening to read that it was a team effort with your son.

Sharpening Chisels

Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 2:15 pm
by bluekayak
I am glad you started this post. I just turned my first three pieces this morning, so this is a timely thread for me.

Last night I was polishing up the old chisel set that came with the used Greenie I bought last month. I was using my favorite polishing tool, the coarse nylon Weiler cup brush on my hand held drill with some Brasso. Not only did it polish up the chisels, it also sharpened them. I don't think this would work for really dull chisels, but it did clean off the burrs on the back side.

I also have a rubber bonded abrasive wheel (never used) that came with the used Gray Shopsmith set I just bought. The Shopsmith book says this wheel is good for touching up lathe chisels. There were several arbors, but it did not seem like any of them fit the abrasive wheel. Does anyone know which arbor is supposed to be used with the abrasive wheel?

Jerry Floren
St. Peter, MN