He is also an author and editor at theengineerspost. Continue pushing the tool into the stock gradually, in passesso that you remove a roughly equal amount of wood with each pass. These are uwe, vee tipped tools for cutting off work pieces. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Watch the below-mentioned video to get understand about lathe machine operation. Related Stories from Make:.

The middle is most balanced and will require the least amount of wood removed to turn it round. I like to make a mark or dint in the wood at this point, which helps me to locate these points on the lathe.

I would recommend working with the grain in the direction of the lathe, as this makes everything a little easier. Make sure the wood is securely held between centers and the tail stock is locked in place. When you are happy that your tool rest is at the right height for you and at a distance appropriate for the blank, you should be ready to work. I have known some people to rough out using a number of different tools, but the best one for the job is the roughing gouge aka the Spindle roughing gouge.

Make sure your tool rest is in a position where it can support your tool Which Wood Lathe Tools To Use 00 and introduce the bevel of the gouge before angling the handle up and introducing the cutting edge.

I would recommend using a stance where you can move easily allowing your body to move the tool rather than just your arms. The skew chisel can be used to do a number of different things, but tends to be known for its ability to give planing cuts.

I like to raise my tool rest and approach the wood as flat as possible. Approach the cut with the bevel and try to cut with the middle part of the blade. I also love making super fine detail with the skew. To do this, I use the pointy end like a knife. Making sure the tool is supported, I introduce the pointed end and make a cut. Then I come in from the sides of this cut to neaten the whole thing.

You can achieve an unbelievable fineness of detail with this technique. If you mastered the roughing gouge, then this should come easier to you as this is the same idea only at a smaller scale. This is a great tool for putting in pretty details like beads and coves.

To make a bead, first figure out where you want the top and bottom part to be. Then as you move the tool along the rest from one point to the other, rotate your tool to introduce more or less of it into the wood, cutting the shape. You simply introduce it and watch it cut. I would recommend making two cuts with this tool rather than cutting all the way through; this will reduce friction.

Instead, finish the job with a saw. The bowl gauge can be used in a similar fashion as the spindle gouge, often to cut the outside bowl profile and a tenon. The tenon is a section of wood that protrudes from your project, allowing a chuck to grip onto it from one end.

Once a section of wood is mounted in the chuck using this tenon, the bowl gouge can be used to easily form the inside or outside of the dish. I tend to work from the outside edge inwards when using a standard bowl gouge. Eventually the cut will lead to the bevel rubbing more than cutting, providing a smooth surface and a safe operation. This is my favorite type of bowl gouge. With this tool, you have a few more options because of the wings built into its design. When I am making a dish with the swept back bowl gouge, I will use the wings to cut and then drag back towards the edge of the bowl.

This noise was my primary reason for upgrading. Some machines will offer a longer distance between centers, allowing you to turn items like pool cues and standard lamps.

Likewise, there are machines that accommodate wider projects, such as salad bowls and platters. Generally Which Wood Lathe Tools To Use Zero I abide by the saying that if you buy cheap you buy twice, but you might be able to find a real bargain with a secondhand lathe. I would recommend heading to your nearest woodturning club and asking for advice. I am an award winning wood tuner, former teacher, artist and prop maker, developer and researcher residing in the UK.

I cannot think of anything better than the excitement of a new project and the pride of a job well done. I think that sharing knowledge and experiences is one of the best things anyone can do so spend a lot of time doing just that. Our websites use cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the Make: ecosystem. Out of these cookies, some are categorized as essential for the working of basic functionalities of our websites.

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Woodworking Workshop. A beginner tool set for woodturning only requires a handful of tools. A Basic Kit I recommend that a beginner start by getting a fairly modest chisel kit, learn how to use them, and then slowly add other tools to their collection.

The cut profiles of all the various tools covered here. The cut profile of a spindle roughing gouge. A spindle gouge in action.

The cutting profile of a skew chisel. The unmistakable profile of the parting tool. The cut profile of the bowl gouge. The fingernail, or swept back, gouge. Tip: Saving Money on Tools You might be tempted into thinking cheap tools will do the job. Sharpening your tools One thing that really pays off when woodturning is making sure your tools are sharp. Using the tools There are two main types of turning. An example of wood setup for spindle work. Preparing for spindle work When working between centers, it is a good idea to find the middle part of the wood.

An example of spindle work using a roughing gouge. Skew The skew chisel can be used to do a number of different things, but tends to be known for its ability to give planing cuts.

Twist the tool slightly and observe the flight path of the chips to adjust it so they fly away from you to your right or left. Continue pushing the tool into the stock gradually, in passes , so that you remove a roughly equal amount of wood with each pass. This will eventually cut away the angular corners, leaving your work piece round, and with practice, cylindrical in shape. Stop the lathe frequently when you are just beginning, to check your progress, look for stress Which Wood Lathe Tools To Use On Mac cracks in the wood, and clear debris which may begin to accumulate on the lathe bed.

You may want to use a pair of calipers to check the diameter of your work piece along its length so you finish with the desired diameter. The slower your tool movement, and finer , or lighter the cut, the smoother the finished cut will be. Sand the work piece when you are finished cutting if desired. You can sand the stock by hand while it is turning if you use caution. Turn the lathe off, and swing the tool rest out of the way, then select a suitable grit and type of sandpaper for this process.

Turn the lathe back on, and hold the paper lightly against the wood, moving it back and forth to prevent removing too much wood from one area of the work piece. I'm using round dowel sticks on my small lathe. It is hard to get them fit on center so they spin smooth and true.

How can I consistently find the center of the end of these round dowels? Use a center finder template to mark a line across the end of the dowel. Rotate the dowel in the center finder and mark another line. Where those lines intersect is the center of the dowel. You may find it helpful to set the drive spur and live center by drilling a small hole at the center mark at both ends using a drill.

The center spurs of the drive center and live center will then "home" more easily, and are less likely to wander while you adjust the tailstock to hold the piece securely in the lathe. Yes No. Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8. If the motor is running in 'forward' mode, the top comes toward you. If it is running in reverse for sanding, the bottom comes up first. Not Helpful 2 Helpful 6. Towards the operator - the wedge of the cutting tool should be able to "dig" into the work. Not Helpful 7 Helpful It depends on the tool you are using.

For a scraper, for example, the tool rest needs to be set so with your scraping tool resting on it, the point of contact is in the center. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Keep your chisels sharp! Helpful 46 Not Helpful Stop your work piece frequently to inspect, measure, and make comparisons to templates while turning. Once you have removed too much wood from the work piece, you have a very labor intensive piece of firewood.

Helpful 25 Not Helpful Allow lots of practice time. This is machine-assisted hand work, and perfect results cannot be expected overnight. Helpful 21 Not Helpful 8. Helpful 18 Not Helpful 7. Buy the highest quality turning tools you can afford, and buy an assortment for different turning tasks.

Helpful 16 Not Helpful Helpful 14 Not Helpful Start small, projects like yo yos , tops, and drumsticks use small, inexpensive piece of lumber. Helpful 17 Not Helpful Look for non-typical wood for turning. Tree limbs, gnarly wood too tough to split, scrap lumber, and other sources can give you an excellent variety of turning stock. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0. Choose appropriate woods for your projects. Woods with excessive resinous oil sap, knotty, splinter nature, or very high moisture contents do not tend to give good results for beginner wood turners.

Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0. Use measuring tools for repeat projects. Calipers and templates allow you to reproduce a design repeatedly. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Do not operate the lathe if excessive vibration is noticed. Helpful 17 Not Helpful 2.

Be aware of loose clothing or hanging strings or ties, keep all clothing well away from spinning project.. Helpful 16 Not Helpful 2. Consider a turner's smock , a heavy, full body apron when turning large work pieces and making heavy cuts. Helpful 11 Not Helpful 1. Turn off the lathe and allow it to come to a complete stop before leaving the machine.

Helpful 14 Not Helpful 3. Helpful 10 Not Helpful 2. Wear a respirator when working with woods that create fine dust such as junipers, cedars, and very tight-grained hardwoods like black walnut or woods you may be allergic to. Helpful 12 Not Helpful 3. Free spin your work pieces before turning the lathe on to make sure they clear the tool rest. Helpful 10 Not Helpful 3. Helpful 13 Not Helpful 5.

Helpful 10 Not Helpful 4. Helpful 10 Not Helpful 5. Inspect tools for chips, cracks, or damaged handles before using and during heavy use. Helpful 9 Not Helpful 6. Read the safety warnings in your lathe's owner's manual before beginning. Helpful 8 Not Helpful 5. Helpful 9 Not Helpful 7. Related wikiHows How to. How to. Co-authors: Updated: March 16, Italiano: Usare il Tornio da Legno.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. I learned to use a lathe 65 years ago while taking wood shop with our teacher Mr. I haven't used a lathe since, so l wanted to make preparations beforehand. Rated this article:. More reader stories Hide reader stories.

Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. About This Article Co-authors: Paul Wilhite Jul 31, Katherine Hahn Aug 16, I need the help since I do not have a lathe and have never attempted to make a baluster! Jim Lolohea Jul 29, Thanks for your articles, which really increased our capacity for better products. Lutz Kunstler Aug 21, Pictures do contribute a lot. New starters like me get a thorough understanding of how things work and what to look out for.

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