New Items For The Lathe

Ferro Rod + Lathe chuck = Fire

Re: New Items For The Lathe

RabbyTat

Thanks!

I plan to make a ferro handle for a friend as you suggest, but will do it very differently.

Why not make a mandrel rather that using your ferro rod as a mandrel. That way the rod is not exposed to the chuck or chisels as you turn. Sparks, wood shavings and ferro rods seem like a bad combination in a dusty wood working shop.

Re: New Items For The Lathe

mikeee12345

They make this new high tech product called masking tape that goes over the ferro rod.

Re: New Items For The Lathe

Wayne Kuhn

A magnetic bit holder, screw bit, small piece of wood you have a nice stubby screwdriver. Same with the 2 dollar multi bit screwdriver at hf. Knock off the handle and turn your own. Great gift for the man that needs another screwdriver to add to the dozen he already has.

Re: New Items For The Lathe

Wayne Kuhn

Also been turning fidget sticks- check you tube

Re: New Items For The Lathe

Mike Brazeau

I never run out of people that don't appreciate a long handled shoehorn or back scratcher. Penn State have some excellent brass pieces that are easy to make handle for. I keep a few around all the time. 4/4 Rough sawn hardwood is adequate and readily available.

Re: New Items For The Lathe

Ron Pemberton

I turn pens and toothpick (pill) holders for my old friends. I get enjoyment in just giving these things to friends. I like smiles.

Re: New Items For The Lathe

mikeee12345

I made a map box to roll up printed maps into and when the grandson stops by to visit

there is always a new map rolled up in the "box" that gives directions on where to find

chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Each week I make it a little more challenging so he

learns how to read the map, directions and symbols. This "box" is also used for the wives

knitting needles when the grandson outgrows the game.

map box

John K Jordan

What a great idea! Photo, photo!

The map could lead to something different every day. It could be first step of a treasure hunt where the map leads to another map or clue, etc. I've done that on occasion and the kids have always "begged" for a repeat.

What dimensions? How do you hollow a box that deep - Forstner bit?

JKJ

Re: map box

mikeee12345

JKJ,

You are correct, I used a Forstner bit with a short extension to make my way into the wood blank.

One half fits into the other half in the middle of the cylinder "box". After hollowing the cylinders I

joined them together and finished turning and sanding the exterior of the "box'. This is a fun game

to play with the grandson because we also get to teach him the concept of directions North, South,

East and West so he can apply these skills later on in life. You can also take a photo and print it out

on the printer and provide clues to the treasure location. I used some Teak Wood Rounds to make the

box with as this wood is soft and easy to drill into. The one I made was about 2" in diameter and about

12" long.

Lemon Juicer

mikeee12345

Another item I was interested in turning was a Lemon Juicer made from olive wood.

Has anyone come up with a simple process to cut longitudinal grooves on a lathe turned item.

sketch or photo?

John K Jordan

Do you have a sketch? I can't quite picture what you have in mind.

Master craftsman Sir John Lucas is the best I know at being groovy.

JKJ

Re: sketch or photo?

mikeee12345

John,

My sketch resides in the Matrix and comes to light when the wood blank is spinning between centers. :-)

I was hoping to come up with a simple process to make a function tool (lemon press) without getting

too involved with the equipment needed to complete the item. Several different ideas are coming together in the Matrix as I am typing. Finished shoveling snow today now I can play with the lathe.

What I have done

Don Evans

Mike, make yourself a table that mounts in the banjo. Mine is made from a piece of 3/4 plywood laminate and a metal thing I cannot remember the name of but it is round with screw holes in it and the middle is threaded for a piece of pipe. Size the pipe for your banjo.

Now you need something that will spin a bit to cut the grooves and that will sit on the table you make and go to town.

Use you spindle lock to cut each groove.

Or you can do it manually with a carving tool!

Use your lathes indexer to mark for the grooves with a pencil on the toolrest.

Go to Harbor Freight and search for item 42831 this is the tool I purchased many years ago just to test this way of doing turned object with the intention if it worked I'd purchase a better one. Well surprise I'm still using this same one, I don't do this type of thing on many turnings but it works1

Don

Re: Lemon Juicer

Jorge

I did one for my sister on hard maple, trace lines with pencil, I used 6, cut in straight down with a fine saw, draw new lines between the saw cuts, use chisel or caving knife to remove the wood. A lot easier to do than explaining how to do it.

Re: Lemon Juicer

mikeee12345

Thank You All, for the different solutions to this project.

An adjustable sled riding on the bed of the lathe seems like a good project to expand on for other applications. I made a couple of proto-types and have moved towards a double ended juicer that

has a larger flat end that can juice a grapefruit and a smaller end that can juice a lemon. The larger

flat end will stand by itself in a plate or bowl while juicing the lemons, the smaller end can be held

with the hand when juicing a grapefruit. The first couple of proto-types I used a beading tool to cut

vertical rows of beads while the piece was mounted between centers. This tool works fine for juicing

the fruit, however if you are wanting the pulp from the fruit the longitudinal cuts in the tool would

increase the amount of pulp being cleaned from the rind of the fruit.

Another option I came up with was turning a ball between centers cutting vertical grooves across the

surface of the ball, locating the axis of the ball after turning it 90 degrees and remounting the piece between centers and turning a small round knob on the top half of the ball to use as a handle. rotating the piece 90 degrees provides the longitudinal cuts in the surface to scrape the pulp from the rind.