Woodturning requires doing, and coordinating several things - with each
hand doing different things - but working together. After a while you
don't have to think about what's supposed to be doing what - when.
But there is a lot going on when you break it. You're right hand (if
you're
a righty) is moving the tool towards the wood, while adjusting one of
the two angles between the cutting edge and the surface of the wood
and may or may not also be rotating the tool around its long axis. The
left hand's jobs are a bit easier - hold the tool down on the tool rest,
sliding along the tool rest - and sometimes acting as a chip deflector.
When everything works it's like a symphony. When it doesn't - it can
get scary as hell.

If that isn't enough - I've got another thing to keep track of and
coord-
inate with everything else.

Let me back up a moment. I've got a JET VS mini/midi. The variable
speed is really handy to have - especially when you chuck up a chunk
of wood that's not a cylinder. Normally its lowest speed is low enough
to keep off center pieces from walking the lathe and bench around.
Tonight that wasn't the case.

I had a piece of cherry - about 8 to 9 inches acrossed it's width at
its max and about 11" long - green - and therefore wet - and therefore
heavied than if it were dry. Tried four or five centers locations to
get the wobble down to "not insane" and things were still wobbling
badly even at 500 rpms.

I use a foot switch on my lathe. I figured that if anything serious
happened, maintaining consciousness in order to stop the bleeding
would keep me too busy to turn off the lathe. And if I were on
the edge of unconsiousness and/or bleeding - I don't want to
also have to worry about having a chunk of wood hurled at me.

So, I step on the switch, roughing gouge at the ready, cut and
let off the switch. Step on the switch, cut and let off the switch.
After a few of those I got a rythm going that produce maybe a
200 rpm speed - low enough to do the roughing, but not fast enough
to develop any unacceptable wobble. Don't remember which song
I was keeping time with - could have been Ravel's Bolero and then into
a waltz - the Da Da Da Da Da - Dum Dum Dum Dum (Viennese Waltz?).
As the piece became less asymetric I switched to a cajun beat -
a do fey (?) and got up to maybe 300 rpms.

Will prepare a full report on the methodology - with charts and graphs
and a few tables of numbers, along with the corresponding song titles.
Will post them when their done. Figure with all the help I've gotten
here I should contribute something useful (NOT!)

charlie b
walkin, talkin' , chewin' and toe tappin'
next up - alternatin' winkin'
I luv challenges!

charlieb wrote:
[snip]
So, I step on the switch, roughing gouge at the ready, cut and
let off the switch. Step on the switch, cut and let off the switch.
After a few of those I got a rythm going that produce maybe a
200 rpm speed - low enough to do the roughing, but not fast enough
to develop any unacceptable wobble. Don't remember which song
I was keeping time with - could have been Ravel's Bolero and then into
a waltz - the Da Da Da Da Da - Dum Dum Dum Dum (Viennese Waltz?).
As the piece became less asymetric I switched to a cajun beat -
a do fey (?) and got up to maybe 300 rpms.

Viennese would be more of a Da Dum Dum Da Dum Dum. You were maybe doing
a quickstep instead?


Will prepare a full report on the methodology - with charts and graphs
and a few tables of numbers, along with the corresponding song titles.
Will post them when their done.

YES! I can see the syndicated show now, "Turning With the Stars". How
about the judges as Bonnie Klein, John Jordan, and Stuart Batty. "On
tonight's show we'll have Sugar Ray Leonard turning a hollow form, Elle
MacPherson making a box with a threaded lid, and Regis Philbin making a
newell post.

DW
(Sorry all, I just got in from my weekly wednesday ballroom night and my
mind is wandering. I'll be back in the woodshop tomorrow.)

David Wade wrote:

snip

Will prepare a full report on the methodology - with charts and graphs
and a few tables of numbers, along with the corresponding song titles.
Will post them when their done.

YES! I can see the syndicated show now, "Turning With the Stars". How
about the judges as Bonnie Klein, John Jordan, and Stuart Batty. "On
tonight's show we'll have Sugar Ray Leonard turning a hollow form, Elle
MacPherson making a box with a threaded lid, and Regis Philbin making a
newell post.

DW
(Sorry all, I just got in from my weekly wednesday ballroom night and my
mind is wandering. I'll be back in the woodshop tomorrow.)

How you get Out There isn't important. It's getting Out There that
is
- and you're well passed the point I've ventured to - so far. But I
am
considering building a pole lathe.

Sure would like to have seen Muhamid Ali turn when he was in his
prime. Fast hands - make that VERY fast hands - fast feet - and
a very quick mind. I'm betting he could've done "ornamental"
turning
with no jigs, fixtures or any kind of special mechanical help at
all.

charlie b

On Wed, 23 May 2007 21:55:29 -0700, charlieb
wrote:

So, I step on the switch, roughing gouge at the ready, cut and
let off the switch. Step on the switch, cut and let off the switch.
After a few of those I got a rythm going that produce maybe a
200 rpm speed - low enough to do the roughing, but not fast enough
to develop any unacceptable wobble. Don't remember which song
I was keeping time with - could have been Ravel's Bolero and then into
a waltz - the Da Da Da Da Da - Dum Dum Dum Dum (Viennese Waltz?).

Blue Danube?