Playing with my lathe!!!

[alphaman]

Anyone one else work with a lathe. This is my first project it's a piece of wood from a line tree. I think this will be a beer mug. It not finished yet. I'll keep u guy updated. 4152941530

[jchief]

Looks good Lawrence.

I am going to get a lathe next year for my rod building stuff and look to make other stuff with it also.

What kind do you have and are you happy with it?

[Matt G]

Man thats awesome. I would love to see how that is done.

[meaux fishing]

that looks awesome... nice work

[alphaman]

Here is another one. 41533 thanks guys!

[fishinpox]

lookin good!, be careful those thing can eat fingers quick if you try to remove to much material at once, or hit a knot . keep posting as you go

[Bluechip]

Stay with it.... I never cut much wood on a lathe but I have made a many steel blue chips (username) on lathes....

Just wear your eye protection and just what Pox said.... Don't try to "hawg" with it because it will bite you. You will learn your limits very quick.

[Country Boy]

Nice work man.

[Gerald]

When you set the wood in the lathe, turn the wood by hand to make very sure it does not hit the tool rest. Then "bumb" the on switch to test how it turns. And.....stand to the side when you do this to keep out of the way incase something bad happens.

Keep your tool rest close to the spinning wood, if the wood is more than a 1/2 inch from the rest, stop and adjust. Start out using a small width tool to make the first "ruff" cuts to get close to round. Always keep your tools very sharp. Dull tools are dangerous. Hold the tools firmly...one hand on the tool rest and the other on the handle. Keep your tools pointing slightly upward and just above the center line.

Always be sure the lathe is set to the lowest speed to start with. Good lighting is a must.

Enjoy your wooded working, but always be safe.

[alphaman]

Looks good Lawrence.

I am going to get a lathe next year for my rod building stuff and look to make other stuff with it also.

What kind do you have and are you happy with it?

Its an old school delta Rockwell. I'm going to clean this one up and then buy a new one in a few weeks. 41548

[Gerald]

A little more information...

When it comes time to sand a finished piece, I use an old broken belt from my belt sander. Just hold it to the wood as it spends in the lathe, but always keep sand paper moving.

I found that the standard tools just would not make the deep cuts that I wanted. A file is made from very hard metal and will hold a very good edge. Making any shape tool is easy using a grind stone in the lathe. The more pointed tools that I made are very good to use when first starting to work on a piece of wood. With the narrow point, it does not take off too much wood at a time.

I also made a tool rest that is a little longer and to sit closer to the wood. Now, I mostly use the lathe to sharpen stuff or grind metal as needed. The table is a mess, but it showes the old Craftman lathe. Don't buy a grinding stone from Harbor Freight....cheap but very poor quality.

I don't have most of the things that I have made, but here are some picture of one of the first things I made. The plant stand was made from a log from a Sycamore tree. I love the wood grain that it has.

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[alphaman]

Made this one yesterday.41619

[Feesherman]

Made this one yesterday.41619

What is it?

[alphaman]

I really don't have a name yet. I would say ash tray. R candle holder. I just go with the flow. I'll stray with one main idea then it changes as I start turning.

[swamp snorkler]

The radiologist who works with my wife is a wood turning club. He does some beautiful work. I'll have to get his website.

[Matt G]

I saw some nice cedar wood on the side of the road by my house today and thought about you. If you want, I can stop and grab you a few logs.

[alphaman]

Yes sir if you can if its till there!!

[alphaman]

41716

[Raymond]

41716

Ha!, The PoPo is making Bongs!:)

[alphaman]

Ha!, The PoPo is making Bongs!:)

Lol

[Jephry]

Your work looks pretty sweet man, I run a manual for an oilfield company for a living and prob couldn't make anything lose to this. Keep it up man.

[bgizzle]

I have two lathes. A commercial and a finishing lathe. I mess with mine all the time. Make all kinds of stuff

[jchief]

I am looking for a small metal bench lathe if anyone runs across a good deal please let me know.