D K Woods wrote:
Hi folks, just got myself a HF lathe (34706) and I can't wait to get
started. But I've got a, probably very silly, newbie question here.

LOML wants me to try making hairsticks (the chopsticks-looking single prong
kind). Ok, sounds like fun...but I'm not sure where to start. My
knowledge of turning is...um...limited. (G)

How do you make a long (6" or so), very thin object (3/8" diameter or so),
that is turned to a ball on one side, and a long taper to a point on the
other?

Use a split collet, which can be made of wood.
Start with 3/8" dowels, either hardware-store variety, or turn your own
between centers of your chosen wood species. They can also be mail
ordered in various hardwoods--can't remember where offhand, though.

For the collet, use a block of hardwood 3-4 inches long, mounted on a
scroll chuck or faceplate. Accurately drill a 3/8" hole all the way
through it if you can. Turn the outside down so a PVC threaded collar
from a sink drain will tightly screw onto the end of the wood collet.
Taper the end just a bit to easily start the collar, and so when the
collar is screwed on it squeezes the sawcut end to grab the dowel. It
won't take much pressure to hold the dowel if it's made accurately to
fit in the 3/8" hole.

This way you don't need the tailstock for support at all, you can have
the pointed end sticking out maybe 3 inches and cut the long pointed
taper with a skew (Practice first) or a gouge. Then flip the dowel over
and turn the ball, you're done.

And if your lathe has a hole through the spindle that's big enough, you
can make them about as long as you want!

Ken Grunke
http://www.token.crwoodturner.com/shop/
member, Coulee Region Woodturners of Wisconsin
http://www.crwoodturner.com




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