.. . . can fit on the head of a pin?

A while back I got into, and then out of, turning small. Not miniatures
of something larger but just little delicate things I called Spinarets,
a cross between a spire and a minaret. At the time I was using a skew -
a lot.

http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/T...urning14C.html

Since then I found that using a 1/4" bench chisel like a bedan let me
turn to even smaller diameters. But a catch with it was catastrophic. A
quarter inch of cutting edge is just too twitchy when you're turning
down near the 1/16" diameter range.

The width of the cutting edge was the problem. So - I tried using
something with a quarter of that sized cutting edge - a 1/16th inch
thick parting tool. And not one of them fancy Store Bought parting
tools - but an old bayonet saw blade with the teeth ground off - blue
masking tape for the "handle".

Used like a tiny bedan, the thin parting tool alowed me to turng down
into the 0.04" diameter range. That's a bit smaller than 1/16" and a
bit larger than 1/32" - over an inch and a quarter length. Not quite
the diameter of a straight pin - but . . . I think I can get even
closer.

My goal - to turn a piece that answers the question
"How many angels - can fit on the head of a pin?"

http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/T...nyAngels1.html

If you haven't YET tried turning a "long" really small diameter piece -
have a look and consider doing something that's small - really small.

I'm going to try and do a video of how I use my parting tool to turn
small. Will post the URL when I've got it on YouTube.

Questions, comments, suggestions always welcomed.

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
snip


My goal - to turn a piece that answers the question
"How many angels - can fit on the head of a pin?"

http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/T...nyAngels1.html

If you haven't YET tried turning a "long" really small diameter piece -
have a look and consider doing something that's small - really small.

I'm going to try and do a video of how I use my parting tool to turn
small. Will post the URL when I've got it on YouTube.

Questions, comments, suggestions always welcomed.

As usual, very interesting work. You noted that poplar was not a good choice
and I suspect you will quickly reach a lower limit with most woods. The
cellular structure is too large. Basswood or Holly might get you smaller.
Tagua nut is another option for very small turnings and you might also
search on 'ivory substitutes' or look at some of the plastics.

How are you seeing this stuff while you turn? I'd need at least 4X
magnification at the scale you're turning. Electron microscope in your
future? Nano Turning!

Thanks for sharing!

LD

snip
You noted that poplar was not a good choice
and I suspect you will quickly reach a lower limit with most woods. The
cellular structure is too large.

I don't think that's the problem with poplar. Oak? Yes. With poplar
it's the wood's strength that's a limiting factor. To turn this small
and smaller, just as is the case with "normal sized" turnings - you have
to get the bevel rubbing and then ease down towards the cutting edge.
THAT exerts SOME force on the wood being turned

Not ALL poplar is the same and the sapwood is softer than the hardwood.
I suspect that this poplar dowel is more sapwood. I have turned
heartwood poplar down to 0.032" diameter - but only for a 5/8" length.
This latest small diameter piece is at 0.042" - in maple. I'm pretty
sure I can get down past 0.03" in maple.

Basswood or Holly might get you smaller.

Haven't got any holly, but the basswood I've turned didn't behave as
nicely
as when I've carved it.

Tagua nut is another option for very small turnings

I've turned tagua but at small diameters it's pretty brittle. And
getting a piece
long enough is kind of rare - since it usually has voids in the
middle. Also is
proned to scortching at 1800 rpms.

and you might also
search on 'ivory substitutes' or look at some of the plastics.

I've turned ABS, PVC and several different acrylics. Very easy to
get
chatter - and at higher rpms - melts.

How are you seeing this stuff while you turn? I'd need at least 4X
magnification at the scale you're turning. Electron microscope in your
future? Nano Turning!

Below a certain point I'm using the parting tool as a scraper. If
there's
no chips and sawdust obscuring things, seeing where I'm working is no
problem. Much to be said for bifocals.

Thanks for sharing!

The amount of effort required to share stuff is miniscule. Helps to
have your own website - and the software to maintain it.

What I hope sharing does is - to get others to try things they
haven't
tried before. Round & Brown is fine. But turning has so many more
areas to explore.

If it gets someone ELSE to share - we all benefit.
LD

On 5/10/2011 11:47 AM, charlie b wrote:
. . . can fit on the head of a pin?

A while back I got into, and then out of, turning small. Not miniatures
of something larger but just little delicate things I called Spinarets,
a cross between a spire and a minaret. At the time I was using a skew -
a lot.

http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/T...urning14C.html

Since then I found that using a 1/4" bench chisel like a bedan let me
turn to even smaller diameters. But a catch with it was catastrophic. A
quarter inch of cutting edge is just too twitchy when you're turning
down near the 1/16" diameter range.

The width of the cutting edge was the problem. So - I tried using
something with a quarter of that sized cutting edge - a 1/16th inch
thick parting tool. And not one of them fancy Store Bought parting
tools - but an old bayonet saw blade with the teeth ground off - blue
masking tape for the "handle".

Used like a tiny bedan, the thin parting tool alowed me to turng down
into the 0.04" diameter range. That's a bit smaller than 1/16" and a
bit larger than 1/32" - over an inch and a quarter length. Not quite
the diameter of a straight pin - but . . . I think I can get even
closer.

My goal - to turn a piece that answers the question
"How many angels - can fit on the head of a pin?"

http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/T...nyAngels1.html

If you haven't YET tried turning a "long" really small diameter piece -
have a look and consider doing something that's small - really small.

I'm going to try and do a video of how I use my parting tool to turn
small. Will post the URL when I've got it on YouTube.

Questions, comments, suggestions always welcomed.


try this http://www.lavieenbois.com/html/trembleur_eng.htm

http://robert.bosco.pagesperso-orang...mbleursen.htm# or even
http://robert.bosco.pagesperso-orange.fr/modeleen.htm

--
www.wbnoble.com