"res055a5" wrote in message
news:xtsod.808$Rs2.4@trnddc03...
when i mounted a wood block off center about a half inch, it made the
lathe
vibrate badly
and that was turning slow...didn't dare take it up faster. am trying to
turn a three cornered, curved
bowl. should i screw it to the face plate waste block or will gluing it
do?
if i get to turning it and it
comes off, then it would have more than usual momentum!
advice wanted before I kill me or the house.
rich
=======================
Rich,
I advise keeping the work piece between centers for the whole operation,
except finishing the bottom. This will greatly reduce the possibility of
launching an unguided missle! :-) Start by finding the center of the piece.
Mount it "on center" and rotate it slowly and mark a circle of about where
you want the outer diameter of the bowl/dish to be. Stop the lathe, remove
the piece, do an equal size circle on the reverse side. Now, mark off the
circle on one side into 3 equal segments and mark with an awl or nail for
use as attachment points for the centers. Transfer those points to the other
side so that you have the 3 marks directly opposite each other. Now chose
one set of those marks and attach the work piece. Turn down to the circle
oposite your centers, move to the other 2 points and repeat the process. Now
you should have your triangular shape. The hollowing may be done using the
center points for a circular dish-out, or the 3 outer points for a pocketed
dish. Same with shaping the outside, depending on how you want the finished
shape to be. (the outside shaping would usually be done as you're shaping
the triangular shape, or "on center" for a round shape. Hope this is clear
enough to follow.

Ken Moon
Webberville, TX