How to fix a blank?

Re: How to fix a blank?

Bert Workman

>Use the end that is square to the sides for attaching to the headstock, either with a faceplate or the screw thingy. Then just turn it true. I don't know that it would make much difference either way but this way would mean less cutting to get it true.

Good luck,

Bert

Re: How to fix a blank?

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>Just be sure you keep the best side to be the inside bottom.

If you start between centers you can clean up one side, reverse it in the same drive center and tailstock holes and do the other side.

Good turning and be safe

Bill

Re: How to fix a blank?

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>Turn it between centers to face off each end. Turn the exterior, and then turn a tennon on the side of the blank that will be the bottom of the bowl (or attach a face plate). Reverse the bowl and turn out the interior. Use the tail stock for as long as is reasonable. If it is going to be a hollow form, put the good side on top; otherwise the good side should be in the bottom of the bowl.

John

Re: How to fix a blank?

RevDoug

>I've put it on a face plate for good measure and will go between centers as soon as I get the bad face flat. Thanks for all your suggestions.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug

Re: How to fix a blank?

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>If you have the face plate attached, you have lost the benefit of mounting between centers, i.e., moving the blank around so that features of the blank (grain figure, sap/heart wood, voids, etc) are located when you want them (centered, level, etc). Once you attach the face plate, you have dictated the orientation of the bowl so that it is parallel to the one face of the blank.

I don't let the rough cuts of my chainsaw dictate the subtle positioning of my vessels within the blank. The only time I use a face plate is when I am turning outboard. Then, I use a hand plane or my Arbortech to flatten a face of the blank so that my face plate holds the blank in the orientation that I want.

John

Re: How to fix a blank?

RevDoug

>I agree with you John. I only plan on leaving it on the face plate long enough to square up the bad face. My other issue is that the Shopsmith lathe that I'm working with for now is so light that it is next to impossible to straighten up an out of balance blank. So, I plan to straighten up everything using the face plate on the headstock end, live center on the tailstock, and as much balast as my dad can supply on the lathe itself. Then I'll go between centers to get the rest right.

Thanks for all the help you guys have given on this matter.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug