Spent quite a bit of time making shavings and have a few observations.

I really need to build a custom stand for my little lathe. I put it on one
of those commercial tool stands and after a day of turning, figured out why
my back is killing me. Thing is way too high. The spindle height is about 6"
above my elbow.

Brand new tools need to be sharpened.

Bought a Barracuda chuck which seems to be a big help. Although I had
something happen that confused me. I chucked in a piece of maple 1 1/2 x 1
1/2 x6. Roughed it round. Played around with some shapes and had something
that looked like an egg cup so I parted off the end and tried some end grain
hollowing. Went ok for a bit but had the tool catch and then the wood moved
just a tad in the jaws. I couldn't seem to rechuck it where it was on the
original axis.

Trying to decide if I chucked it wrong or just didn't tighten the jaws
enough. I'm guessing the latter.

Also, I had a problem trying to get rid of the little "pip" in the center of
the hollowed out area. I'm guessing a drilled hole down the center would
make it easier. Also seems that it would be easier to use a Forstner bit to
drill out most of the wood and use the chisels for clean up

Found that if the tool rest is too far from the work, I got a lot of
chatter.

I am right handed - found that I am most comfortable with left and on tool
and right on handle. I found it uncomfortable when I switched that. How d
most of you turn - left handed, right handed or ambi?

God learning experiences - have ordered some of the books and DVD's
recommended.

Having fun and that's what it's al about!

Vic

--
There are 10 kinds of people - those who understand binary and those who
don't

Vic Baron wrote:
Spent quite a bit of time making shavings and have a few observations.

I really need to build a custom stand for my little lathe. I put it on one
of those commercial tool stands and after a day of turning, figured out why
my back is killing me. Thing is way too high. The spindle height is about 6"
above my elbow.

Brand new tools need to be sharpened.

Bought a Barracuda chuck which seems to be a big help. Although I had
something happen that confused me. I chucked in a piece of maple 1 1/2 x 1
1/2 x6. Roughed it round. Played around with some shapes and had something
that looked like an egg cup so I parted off the end and tried some end grain
hollowing. Went ok for a bit but had the tool catch and then the wood moved
just a tad in the jaws. I couldn't seem to rechuck it where it was on the
original axis.

Trying to decide if I chucked it wrong or just didn't tighten the jaws
enough. I'm guessing the latter.

Also, I had a problem trying to get rid of the little "pip" in the center of
the hollowed out area. I'm guessing a drilled hole down the center would
make it easier. Also seems that it would be easier to use a Forstner bit to
drill out most of the wood and use the chisels for clean up

Found that if the tool rest is too far from the work, I got a lot of
chatter.

I am right handed - found that I am most comfortable with left and on tool
and right on handle. I found it uncomfortable when I switched that. How d
most of you turn - left handed, right handed or ambi?

God learning experiences - have ordered some of the books and DVD's
recommended.

Having fun and that's what it's al about!

Vic

What kind of jaws do you have on the chuck? One way to align a
spindle is a tailstock live center with a cone attachment. The cone
can be reversed to fit inside a hollowed turning to stabilize it.
This is a picture of one, but you may be able to find it cheaper than
this.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...30,49238,43190


--
Gerald Ross

What's a nice girl like you doing in a
dirty mind like mine?

On Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:46:42 -0700, Vic Baron wrote:

I really need to build a custom stand for my little lathe. I put it on
one of those commercial tool stands and after a day of turning, figured
out why my back is killing me. Thing is way too high. The spindle height
is about 6" above my elbow.


My General mini sits on a cabinet. Was just the right height for my
previous lathe, but the General sits higher. I just took a couple of
2x4s and built a "duckboard" to stand on. Works, and the price was right.

I am right handed - found that I am most comfortable with left and on
tool and right on handle. I found it uncomfortable when I switched that.
How d most of you turn - left handed, right handed or ambi?


I'm left handed, but find that some cuts work better one way and some the
other. You'll probably find the same thing as you continue.

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

On 10/8/2011 1:46 PM, Vic Baron wrote:
Spent quite a bit of time making shavings and have a few observations.

I really need to build a custom stand for my little lathe. I put it on
one of those commercial tool stands and after a day of turning, figured
out why my back is killing me. Thing is way too high. The spindle height
is about 6" above my elbow.

Brand new tools need to be sharpened.

Bought a Barracuda chuck which seems to be a big help. Although I had
something happen that confused me. I chucked in a piece of maple 1 1/2 x
1 1/2 x6. Roughed it round. Played around with some shapes and had
something that looked like an egg cup so I parted off the end and tried
some end grain hollowing. Went ok for a bit but had the tool catch and
then the wood moved just a tad in the jaws. I couldn't seem to rechuck
it where it was on the original axis.

Trying to decide if I chucked it wrong or just didn't tighten the jaws
enough. I'm guessing the latter.

Also, I had a problem trying to get rid of the little "pip" in the
center of the hollowed out area. I'm guessing a drilled hole down the
center would make it easier. Also seems that it would be easier to use a
Forstner bit to drill out most of the wood and use the chisels for clean up

Found that if the tool rest is too far from the work, I got a lot of
chatter.

I am right handed - found that I am most comfortable with left and on
tool and right on handle. I found it uncomfortable when I switched that.
How d most of you turn - left handed, right handed or ambi?

God learning experiences - have ordered some of the books and DVD's
recommended.

Having fun and that's what it's al about!

Vic


you may have done nothing wrong - a catch puts enormous forces onto the
piece and will shift the wood in a chuck and the fibers deform, so it's
nearly impossible to get it back perfectly - but don't worry about it -
keep practicing and you will learn to avoid the catches

"Gerald Ross" wrote in message
...
Vic Baron wrote:
Spent quite a bit of time making shavings and have a few observations.

I really need to build a custom stand for my little lathe. I put it on
one
of those commercial tool stands and after a day of turning, figured out
why
my back is killing me. Thing is way too high. The spindle height is about
6"
above my elbow.

Brand new tools need to be sharpened.

Bought a Barracuda chuck which seems to be a big help. Although I had
something happen that confused me. I chucked in a piece of maple 1 1/2 x
1
1/2 x6. Roughed it round. Played around with some shapes and had
something
that looked like an egg cup so I parted off the end and tried some end
grain
hollowing. Went ok for a bit but had the tool catch and then the wood
moved
just a tad in the jaws. I couldn't seem to rechuck it where it was on the
original axis.

Trying to decide if I chucked it wrong or just didn't tighten the jaws
enough. I'm guessing the latter.

Also, I had a problem trying to get rid of the little "pip" in the center
of
the hollowed out area. I'm guessing a drilled hole down the center would
make it easier. Also seems that it would be easier to use a Forstner bit
to
drill out most of the wood and use the chisels for clean up

Found that if the tool rest is too far from the work, I got a lot of
chatter.

I am right handed - found that I am most comfortable with left and on
tool
and right on handle. I found it uncomfortable when I switched that. How d
most of you turn - left handed, right handed or ambi?

God learning experiences - have ordered some of the books and DVD's
recommended.

Having fun and that's what it's al about!

Vic

What kind of jaws do you have on the chuck? One way to align a spindle is
a tailstock live center with a cone attachment. The cone can be reversed
to fit inside a hollowed turning to stabilize it. This is a picture of
one, but you may be able to find it cheaper than this.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...30,49238,43190


The chuck comes with 4 different sets of jaws - I had the set that fit my
blank. That center looks interesting.

Thanx!

On Sat, 8 Oct 2011 15:46:42 -0500, Vic Baron wrote
(in message ):

Spent quite a bit of time making shavings and have a few observations.

I really need to build a custom stand for my little lathe. I put it on one
of those commercial tool stands and after a day of turning, figured out why
my back is killing me. Thing is way too high. The spindle height is about 6"
above my elbow.

Brand new tools need to be sharpened.
not only thaty, but you may prefer a different shape and angle. frequent
touch-ups are good, to keep that edge sharp. As with any and all cutting
tools, you will injure or cut yourself more easily with a dull tool than a
sharp one.

Bought a Barracuda chuck which seems to be a big help. Although I had
something happen that confused me. I chucked in a piece of maple 1 1/2 x 1
1/2 x6. Roughed it round. Played around with some shapes and had something
that looked like an egg cup so I parted off the end and tried some end grain
hollowing. Went ok for a bit but had the tool catch and then the wood moved
just a tad in the jaws. I couldn't seem to rechuck it where it was on the
original axis.

Trying to decide if I chucked it wrong or just didn't tighten the jaws
enough. I'm guessing the latter.

one of the little things about round stuff and machines. Once the work is
jarred out of its center, it is pretty darn difficult to get it back just
exactly right.

Also, I had a problem trying to get rid of the little "pip" in the center of
the hollowed out area. I'm guessing a drilled hole down the center would
make it easier. Also seems that it would be easier to use a Forstner bit to
drill out most of the wood and use the chisels for clean up

yeah, that little pip is kinda like your final exam. You will learn what
works for you. There is no real single correct answer for that. Whatever
works and is not scary or dangerous is right.

Found that if the tool rest is too far from the work, I got a lot of
chatter.

yup, this is correct observation.


I am right handed - found that I am most comfortable with left and on tool
and right on handle. I found it uncomfortable when I switched that. How d
most of you turn - left handed, right handed or ambi?

I am severely right-handed. I work with my right hand on the tool handle and
the left hand on the tool bit, guiding it and steadying it on the rest. Left
foot is forward, right foot somewhat back, as approriate for balance, the
weight shifting back and forth depending on just what I'm doing. My forearms
are approximately level, or parallel with the floor.

God learning experiences - have ordered some of the books and DVD's
recommended.

Having fun and that's what it's al about!
again, yup, correct observation

Vic





--
I will find a way or make one.