Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

Fred L. - North Carolina

>Very interesting ! Never heard of it. Sounds to me like somebody with metal lathe experience tried to adapt metal cutting bits to wood turning.

"... As the wood was turned, the spindle was leaned towards it and the cutting bit did the work. "

In my mind the tool pivoted or was hinged at the bed level or thereabouts. If the tool bit is at center height when vertical, as you lean it the tool bit will be progressively positioned lower than the lathe center. . .

I don't think the arrangement would be very user friendly since you also have to move the tool sideways.

Sometimes I use properly ground metal bits for woodturning. They are usually at the end of a metal shaft with handle that resembles other woodturning tools.

Lathe duplicators are a distant cousin of what you described.

Maybe some turners with more years in the craft will remember something like you described. I am very curious about it.

FredL the tinkerer

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

John Lucas

>I believe what you were using was some sort of copy attachment. That's how they work. The bottome part follows a template and the cutter which is usually mounted like you describe cuts the work. In some cases they are spring loaded and driven by a drive chain but the one I used works just like I described.

They do duplicate the shape but do a bad job of cutting the wood. It tends to tear the grain and require a lot more sanding.

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

WoodBiker

>John,

No these were specific cutting tools with no other attachments or anythig that would be used to duplicate another shape.

Imagine a mini- lathe on a table. You would hold the top of the 'spindle' and guide the bottom with the other hand. But on a larger scale. Maybe the lathe bed was extended towards the worker to support the tool.

It was far better than anything I have ever seen with standard turning tools.

You know how sometimes you can get chatter, well these eliminated this problem. Yes, I know chatter can be caused by dull tools, or loose grain, etc. But these tools were GREAT!!

Thanks for your response. I'll keep searching and if I find them, I will post it up.

Bob

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

WoodBiker

>Fred,

Yes, the bit was at or VERY near lathe center, and you would hold the top and cause the 'lean' of the tool with that hand. The other hand would be positioned at or near the bottom of the tool to assist in moving it closer as the wood reduced in diameter and to help move it laterally. It was the smoothest,least jarring, wood turning I had ever seen.

I hope someone comes up with an idea, or maybe I will try to figure out my own.

Thanks!!

Bob

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Bob, you'll never become an expert woodturner unless you learn to use the tools that the pros use. What you're describing is some sort of duplicator.

Wally

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

WoodBiker

>Gee Wally, (I feel like The Beaver) Uh, no, it wasn't a duplicatiing tool, it was a specific cutting tool for a wood lathe. I saw it at an tools exhibition over 20 years ago and wondered if they still exist.

To become an expert woodturner, I should buy a lathe FIRST!

Thanks for your support,

Bob

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

John Lucas

>Oh man you have to have a lathe. That's what I've done wrong. I'd love to see the tool your talking about. I'm a tool nut but I've never seen that one. You might try the handtool messageboard. Many of those guys are collectors and someone may have seen one of those tools.

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

WoodBiker

>Wally,

Please forgive my 'pissy' response. I just reacted.

But in fact it is a specific tool and I am interested in it because I thought it was a good idea. I ALSO want to use the "Pro tools" as you put it. I haven't touched much woodworking in over 20 years with the exception of home and commercial construction, so I am about as new to turning as they come. I did make a few bowls and bats in high school, but they are all gone now.

Re: Can't find - "Spindle Tools"

WoodBiker

>Thanks John,

I will check there too.