John wrote:
Hi Bill,

Yes, this is spot on, I need to know what metal lathe is suitable due to the
power aspect, what speed is safe for woodturning using a metal lathe, I need
a metal lathe that can turn slow enough to allow wood to be turned.

Thanks.


"Bill Rubenstein" wrote in message
. com...

I believe that you will find that most pool cue makers are using metal
lathes rather than wood lathes.

OK, I'm mysified. Why a metal lathe? Is a pool cue now something other
than the long tapered wooden cylinder of my youth? Seems like one of the
simplest things you could possibly turn on a wood lathe--think stair
balusters with no shoulders, coves, and beads to make things
interesting. Might want a steady rest if you're making the whole length
as one piece.

I don't know much about metal lathes but most of the ones I've seen use
cutters that would leave a relatively awful scraped surface on your
stick that would require an inordinant amount of sanding with a lot of
chance of disturbing the smooth line of the cue. I can imagine that
bumps would be bad news!

Are there different kinds of cutters one can use on a metal lathe to
achieve a clean cut in wood?

Roger