Shopsmith Forums

in making a pendent, I want to off set the hole that the cord goes through.

I am having trouble starting that hole.

I have first rounded the outside and curved the face of the pendent, (on center) then I switch to offset,(eliptical) but starting the hole on the curved face of the pendent is resulting in much small scrap firewood.

any help?

You might try a center drill or a countersink cutter to locate the hole and then follow up with the correct sized drill bit. What diameter of hole are you drilling?

Troy

well the center of the hole is about 3/8" but since it's eliptical it should end up like a fat tear drop.

I am not sure I see what drilling would do? It's spinning on the lathe, maybe by drilling it first it will a least stay where I put the bit to start the hole.

I'm not following what you're doing, but perhaps if you drilled the hole first, then shaped the pendant, you'd have better success. If you could post a picture, we'd be better able to help.

so after the pendent is shaped on center, you are supposed to go off center and shape out the hole.

I am having trouble starting the hole, wrong tool, holding it wrong, hole too big.

this is not my work

I'm with your idea, farley! Drill the hle first! You will have to a bit of sanding, but you were going to do that anyway.

Farley, after remounting the disk, use a pencil to locate the new center and outline the location of the hole you want to cut. That will show you where to cut the hole using a round nose scraper and skew, or small bowl gouge. If you can mount your drill chuck in the tail stock, you could also drill an appropriately sized hole and then clean it up with a skew used as a scraping tool. If not, locate the center and drill with a hand-held drill with the lathe turned off, then clean it up. Hope this helps, as that looks like a very nice pendant.

perhaps my problem has been in not going to the center of the relocated pendent.

I was thinking I wanted it toward the top and was trying to make the hole toward the top.

I'll try again-finding the center, as in life, being centered works.
thanks

Hello In Feb. 2011 Woodturning Design mag. Bill Danahue made a pendant like you were talking about.
The hole was drilled after the pendants basic shape was made but before finnishing, in the artical.
Just thought that you would like to know.
Have a Great day.
C.A.G.

Had some better sucess.

thanks for you help all