Are you trying something new this year

Re: Are you trying something new this year

John K Jordan

>Right now I'm making a more precision base for my router that

>has more fine adjustments so I can really sneak up on those cuts.

Yikes, maybe you should get back that micrometer x-y adjustable microscope base/stage thing or whatever it is.

It is stouter than most optical stages, probably heavy enough for a router base for a small router. It might work well with the mechanism removed and flipped upside down so the adjustment knobs are sticking up.

Me, I want to try more turnings with chip and other carving.

JKJ

Re: Are you trying something new this year

Dave Paine

Right now I'm making a more precision base for my router that has more fine adjustments so I can really sneak up on those cuts.

I have seen some of your videos on using the router on the lathe which inspired me to try this out for some projects.

I decided to use a compound table, also called X-Y table, to achieve the precision of cut with the router. These tables have a screw thread which advances 100 thou (1/10in) per revolution. A good precision. This table does not have a lock on the slides. I have to tighten the gib nuts to lock, a bit of a pain.

I have a base to mount the router horizontal, and a separate sub base to hold the first base at 45 deg.

I mount one or both of these on the compound table.

I mount the compound table on a plywood base which is attached to the lathe bed. I was originally thinking I would design this to swivel, then found vibration caused it to move. So I changed to making the angle of the base fixed. Does not take long to make a new angle. A piece of plywood and a scrap cut to the width of the bed rails.

Re: Are you trying something new this year

john lucas

I may do that later. I have a cross feed vice and a larger XY table. I tried once to rig both of them up but ran into problems and don't remember what it was now. It may have been when i had the router mounted flat. This is just a modification of an older router table that fit on the lathe and will get me by for the projects I have planned. I think If I take the vice off my xy cross feed vice and just use the lower xy axis movements It may be thin enough to add the rotary feature that I really need. I did try to rig up my index table from my metal lathe but it's way to thick. Of course I could always buy a 24" lathe and that would solve the problem. Well other than paying for the divorce. I'm sorry honey we can't buy the new washer and dryer because I just spend 8 grand on a new lathe.

Re: Are you trying something new this year

Jorge

I like making sculptural turnings, and they sell!

But this year I want to really try something new: Bodgering!

I want to build a pole lathe, but will wait until I buy or create the proper tools, most likely buy them, I am no blacksmith.

Love the idea of working out in the woods under a tree, turning very green wood and have a finished product. Instant gratification!

Re: Are you trying something new this year *LINK*

john lucas

Been there done that. Pole lathes are fun. It doesn't take any special tools although I did find that tools with a sharper cutting angle work better. I sharpened my roughing gouge to a 35 degree angle for the pole lathe and used mostly spindle gouges and skews all sharpened to 35 degrees or sharper. Here is a video some of the kids at school made of me on my spring pole lathe.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOrctojBT2Y

Re: Are you trying something new this year

Jorge

Neat, besides chairs my real goal is bowls, there are quite a few shapes that can be done with a pole lathe and not with a power lathe. For those the tools are different, maybe just 3 hooks, about 18" long. Those are the ones I need to make or buy.

foot powered vs powered lathe  *LINK*

john lucas

After you make your tools then you can try this.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDgIGzw4VtA

Awesome!

Jorge

Looks like a mismatch of the turners as well

NICE!

Spoon Carving

Brad Vietje

...and with luck and a good deal of hard work, possibly even turning with heat in the winter! Fingers & toes crossed...

I got a Kolrosing set from Del & Mary Stubbs for my wife to add decoration to plates, platters and bowls that I turn, and I plan to get a crooked knife and sloyd for carving spoons, so I can do some hand work sitting down.

Happy New Year,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: foot powered vs powered lathe

Brad Vietje

Good luck getting into pole lathe work, Jorge! I'd agree with Dick -- the skills of the turners are not equal here. I'm sure Richard Raffan would have produced a pretty nice form in a lot less time -- probably Dick, too!

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: foot powered vs powered lathe

John Jordan

Look up Robin Wood for pole lathe bowl turning, he's a real master of that. None better, or even close for that matter.

John

Re: foot powered vs powered lathe

Jorge

Agree, Robin wood is a master.

Re: Spoon Carving

Jorge

Hey Brad,

I did not mentioned it, but I am already into spoon carving. It started as an exercise to keep my hand functional, in sad shape due to arthritis.

Well, I have fun doing it and plan to get more and more into it, it is helping the hand.

Have fun!

Jorge

Re: foot powered vs powered lathe

Jorge

Thankyou John,

I am aware of Robin Wood, he is a master of all things green wood. He is like a craft archeologist.

Re: foot powered vs powered lathe

John Jordan

Indeed he is, Jorge. I'm glad you know about him.

John

Re: Spoon Carving

Brad Vietje

Thanks, Jorge! Looks like fun, and pretty low cost to get good tools. Nice axe, hook knife & sloyd, plus a leather strop looks to be the bulk of it.

I also have an old shaving bench like the one in John's excellent video that I need to finish rebuilding, so I might even build a simple spring pole or treadle lathe one day, too. Nice to be a craftsperson with no electricity needed at times.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: Are you trying something new this year

Brad Vietje

Nice lathe design, John. Have you published plans for it? It would be easy to add the rear leg and longer foot pedal, but I like the flexibility of adding a treadle or motor -- very nice.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Spoon Carving - coffee scoops

John K Jordan

Spoons are fun! I've carved them with gouges and recip carver but usually use a rotary carver for much of the inside.

On thing might be interesting: I wanted some coffee scoops with a volume to match my plastic scoop. I pressed Silly Putty into the plastic scoop to get the volume, then carved out the bowl until that putty fit. The measure is perfect and the shape doesn't matter.

From Pink Flame and Cocobolo:

The curl on the handle is comfortable in the hand and makes it easier to grip. We have been using one daily for almost 10 years.

JKJ

Those are beautiful!

Re: Spoon Carving - coffee scoops

Leo Cuellar

Very nice, John. Fantastic idea with the silly putty!