Lamp shade turning tools

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

John C Lucas

Ive only turned 2. I just used my bowl gouge with swept back wings. Turned it down an inch at a time. When i got close to the final thickness i used the gouge as a shear scraper. I use a light on the outside to show tbe woods translucency so i could match the thickness.

If it was a small diameter but deep shade i might use my captured bar system.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

Dennis in Southern Oregon

I have never turned a lamp shade, but that is basically what I do when turning the inside of the crown of a hat. I believe that Johannes Michelsen uses a specially ground splndle gouge for his hats. The wall thickness for hats is around 1/16-3/32 or so, which should be about the same as fo shades I would think.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

Don Tewell

Soren Berger has a special tool that he uses for lampshades. I have one but haven't come close to mastering or even minoring in using it, yet.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

Mike Stafford

I also have one of the Berger tools and I could not figure out how to use it properly until I went to a symposium where he was demonstrating in the vendor area and took lessons from him. After that I could use it just fine. I think the issue is that presentation of the cutting edge is not intuitive.

It works great for deep hollowing but requires frequent sharpening and the replacement cutters aren't cheap. The replacement cutters cost 2/3 the cost of the tool. Much easier to sharpen with his sharpening jig.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools  *LINK*

Bob Macgregor

There are several wooden lampshade videos on YouTube, but I couldn't tell for sure what the inside cutting tool was...maybe a carbide tip?

At least the videos show the general approach to doing a lampshade.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgsDWb0orSQ

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

John C Lucas

I really think its more about what tools younare comfortable using. There isnt a secret tool. Hat makers and others that turn thin like short main bevels. From my own experience turning larger thin objects its hard to beat a captured bar system.

I made a cutter similar to the Soren Berger. I also tried using modified drill bits and router bits. Hand held they all worked but were challenging. In a captured bar they worked quite well.

If you know me very well you know i will throw in A Hunter tool. I had a criend who is not a skilled turner. He came over one day and wanted to turn a thin wall vase. I was teaching another student and really needed to work with that student so i gave him a Hunter Hercules and 2 minutes of instruction. He holloed the whole thing without ever asking me another question. im still impressed bow easy that tool is to use.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

Ralph Watts

Pete,

The best shade turner I have ever seen is Andre Martel. There are some videos on Youtube. His hook tool is my tool of choice when doing the inside of a bowl or anything else where his tool will work. The beauty of the hook tool is that it cuts much like a bowl gouge but with far more control and less worry about grind angles on gouges. It takes some practice but for speed and smooth cuts it is sure hard to beat.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

Lyle Jamieson

Hi Pete, My hollowing system with the Jumbo bar is ideal for that. The laser is important to get a uniform and very thin wall thickness. You can make it paper thin if you like. Bowl gouges and other hand held tools will be very hard to handle in there, when it is that deep. The control is critical when you need to be thin and consistent.

Re: Lamp shade turning tools

Pete in Holland MI

Thanks guys. I hope to start playing with a smaller shade in a couple weeks.

Pete