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Woodturning

Started by: aiflanc (1463)

Do we have any woodturners among our wigan worlders?.
I have been w/turning for about 12 years,

Started: 28th Mar 2013 at 15:44

Posted by: erontquay (inactive)

Imont has a wood/metal lathe, Drummond 1927. He made it so that he can operate it from his wheelchair.

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 15:50
Last edited by erontquay: 28th Mar 2013 at 15:51:38

Posted by: erontquay (inactive)



Think this is the one, but maroon in colour.

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:05
Last edited by erontquay: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:09:32

Posted by: Mac (inactive)

A superb hobby, Aiflanc. Wish I had the artistry.Nice pic of equipment, EQ...Any more pics?

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:10
Last edited by Mac: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:11:10

Posted by: dustaf (inactive)

You more of a bodger, Mac?

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:11

Posted by: dustaf (inactive)

Bodging

What type of things do you produce, Aiflanc.

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:14

Posted by: mache (inactive)

Knobs ???

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:17

Posted by: dustaf (inactive)

I've often wondered it barley twist legs are produced on a lathe.

Seems to me like the turning speed for wood would need to be too quick in order not to knock lumps out of the workpiece.

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:29

Posted by: dustaf (inactive)

Found a pic

Edit

Aha. A combined process

Turning and milling.

Both the workpiece and cutting tool rotate. Or at least that's what I'm assuming, as you can't actually see the tool.

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:32
Last edited by dustaf: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:39:02

Posted by: dustaf (inactive)

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 16:43

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 

My Dad had a wood lathe when he went to live down the south coast and became an ageing hippie.....he was good at it, I still have some of his stuff around the house....he used to paint too, had lots of arty farty friends.
Mum just shook her head and moved back to town......

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 17:57

Posted by: Mac (inactive)

That's an insult to bodgers.


Lizzie.

Replied: 28th Mar 2013 at 18:29

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

Mac- I do the usual stuff, bowls ,candlesticks, lamps etc., but lately I have done some chinese balls ,and apples with arrows through. I did some greedy mice for our club stall at a local village show and they went down well .
Erontquay - have a Record with speed control and bowl turning attachment. I bought this lathe and some other gear just before Christmas from a club member who had to give the hobby up through ill health,and so updating my old Record.
Dustaf- I have seen a demonstration by one of our club meeting demonstrators, making barley twist legs by using a router and a mechanical long feed combination. This combination also rotated the workpiece without power from the lathe which produced a reasonable effect but needed a lot of finishing . The long feed was made in plywood and with twine "ropes" and wooden pulleys ,but worked quite well. I think the ones in the video are simply copy lathes ,possibly cnc .
Thanks to all for the response to my initial post .

Replied: 29th Mar 2013 at 20:57

Posted by: jarvo (30250) 

I am a time-served Centre Lathe Turner. My favourite job was srewcutting 2/3 Acme threads. Loved it. I used to do it with a fairly high speed/feed rate; the threads were always spot on. Jem O'Grady used to do my tools in the Toolroom at Triangle Valve.

Brian Matthews taught me how grind parting-off and rollerbox tools from scratch. Brilliant setter was Brian and a nice guy to boot.
If you could set a rollerbox, you were a skilled man indeed...

Happy days.

PS: I have hardly done any wood turning; but be careful with the H&S...You've got to know what you're doing...

Replied: 30th Mar 2013 at 07:43
Last edited by jarvo: 30th Mar 2013 at 09:31:20

Posted by: dustaf (inactive)

Cheers, Aiflanc.

I'm glad Jarvo has seen this thread, as he has mentioned his work previously.

A thing which has always been at the back of my mind, is how far are the two (metal wood) separated?

If you look at the comments on both the youtube clips I linked to, it seems that CNC is rather scorned upon.

CNC = Done by computer.

Woodturning appears more free and artistic to me. With a natural 'living' medium. Whereas metal turning seems more 'prescribed'. Less artistic perhaps, but more skillful?

There's a bother causer.

It's a funny one as to when something becomes more-machine made, than man-made.

As Jarvo mentions with the H&S angle.

Turning behind closed doors?

Hands on?

Replied: 30th Mar 2013 at 16:42

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

I find woodturning very relaxing ,especially when the finished piece is finally polished and waxed,showing the beauty of the grain.
The satisfaction felt is tremendous and of course the work is of interest to family and freinds . Maybe the mystery of not knowing what will come out of the garage next helps.

I think that for myself,the craft is the occupation I would have loved, instead of becoming a moulder. (although I did enjoy that job until the latter years).
I had a little experience as an apprentice with a centre lathe, but it didn't hold the same interest for me as does woodturning .
With metal turning the machine and the settings determine the shape and finish produced, as the tools are held firmly in one place.I am not decrying the trade as I know it is a skilled job.

In woodturning the tools are all hand held,(not including drills ) and the tools are manipulated by hand movements and body position . Finish, off the tool, is usually determined by tool positioning and the hand and body manipulations. The timber and the turners temper also play a part. even the way a tool is sharpened plays a big part.
Coupled to all this is always the possibility of producing some quite expensive exotic firewood.If too much is taken off, you cannot put it back on .
The original piece of timber can determine not only the size but also the shape of the finished article.
In closing I would say that a good woodturner can usually use the article good or bad,in some way in a future project ,and he or she is never beaten until all is left is a pile of shavings.

Replied: 30th Mar 2013 at 22:23
Last edited by aiflanc: 30th Mar 2013 at 22:30:58

Posted by: jarvo (30250) 

I would have loved to have got more involved in woodturning, but time and circumstance prevented this. Turning metal was a job I became accustomed to, albeit by necessity, but there was a job satisfaction to it when your components were checked by QA and packed for dispatch.

I worked on a Colchester; lovely little machine. Turning small components for valves became routine, but always tested you to some degree. Turning was always a challenge.
The machining of stellite seats was a tough job; a red Wimet tool was needed, and you had to grind it after every seat that was machined...Wonder how a CNC could cope with that!

I'd go back tomorrow... Alas, the Valve is long gone...

Replied: 31st Mar 2013 at 10:22

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

During my moulding days we made various valve bodies and the other cast components from 2" to 20"sizes. These were mainly for Sealand Engineering at Keighley.We also made the valve chests, suction, and delivery, in sizes up to 30" ,all made in cast iron of various grades. An unusual job was the huge 60" valve seats in stainless steel we made for the Water boards.I understood these were for Gate valves.All of these were machined elsewhere.
Some challenges , yes, but always job satisfaction of a job well done.The inquests if any came back as faulty were a little painful.

Replied: 31st Mar 2013 at 11:11

Posted by: orlando (47)

how much would you expect to pay for a decent small lathe?

Replied: 1st Apr 2013 at 20:09

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

orlando-I may be a bit late in this but Welcome to Wigan World.
I have a suitable lathe for sale now. Record,CLO 24. Very easy to use,excellent learner lathe .One of my own lathes which I do not have room for . If you are interested in starting , I can include some basic tools .£65 .As you progress tools are available second hand,but be careful which you buy,as there is a lot of chinese stuff at carboots etc. I would join a club to learn the basics and also to get free advice,and also to aquire other tools.If you wish to contact me,please ask Brian for my contact details.

Replied: 1st Apr 2013 at 22:21

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 

welcome to Wiganworld Orlando....

Replied: 2nd Apr 2013 at 07:08

Posted by: orlando (47)

Thanks for the Welcomes. I've been on here for a while now but don't post very often.

I was rubbish at Woodwork at school but the time may be right now.

I'll be in touch about the lathe and things.

Nice Smilie Lizzie.

Replied: 2nd Apr 2013 at 20:38

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

orlando -- Thanks for your interest,look forward to your contact.

Replied: 2nd Apr 2013 at 21:09

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

Jarvo and dustaf---Looking through the posts on this thread I realise I hadnt mentioned the Health and Safety aspect of the hobby which is important. Obvious hazards, Ie Loose cuffs on clothing, Long hair should be tied back,(I dont have a problem with that one),But the obvious risks of the ability of lathes and timber to remove skin and flesh rapidly may not be so well known . The appearance of claret usually signals alarm .
The protection against dust is so important,and is strongly advised especially as some foriegn timbers may produce allergic reactions.
A particular hazard is the turning of English timbers which are Spalted . That is where timber has been felled and before milling, has been left to lay in contact with the ground . Over a relatively short period, bacteria will invade the sap lines of the timber. When the timber is turned ,the bacteria becomes airborne and can be inhaled causing lung infections.. The finished articles appearance is however very attractive,and sought after.The bacteria produce numerous random direction lines of Grey through to black on the piece.

Replied: 8th Apr 2013 at 11:07
Last edited by aiflanc: 8th Apr 2013 at 11:09:47

Posted by: ©art© (6154)

I have a small Record 24" bar bed, But the main one is usually known as the Rolls Royce of wood lathes....

A Harrison Graduate, 30" bed, plus large bowl turning clearance behind the head. very steady, altho' it should be at 500 lb weight

Here 'tis:

Replied: 12th Apr 2013 at 01:05
Last edited by ©art©: 12th Apr 2013 at 01:37:00

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

Nice bit of kit you have art.How long have you had it please?

Replied: 12th Apr 2013 at 22:54

Posted by: ©art© (6154)

Can't remember exactly, more than 10/15 years.

Just to the right of the Lathe is a big Band saw, & opposite a Pillar Drill, plus the usual grindstone & an electric welder all on a 12 ft bench.

In our house, it's known as "T'Mill"

Replied: 13th Apr 2013 at 01:29

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

@art@--Do you have a woodturning club near you?.

Replied: 17th Apr 2013 at 11:48

Posted by: ©art© (6154)

aiflanc . Nope, & never been a member of any.

Don't do a lot now, the machines are handy for odd jobs

Replied: 18th Apr 2013 at 00:56

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 



A wooden bowl with decorated lid my Dad made on his lathe....I think it is Jarrah....

Replied: 18th Apr 2013 at 01:09

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

Like the stuff I usually make Lizziedu, Nice timber Jarrah . I have used it a few times ,would like to use it a lot more ,but I think we have to go to particular importers for it,as such the price escalates.

Replied: 18th Apr 2013 at 16:17

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 

Thought it was Jarrah.....Thanks Aiflanc.....

Replied: 18th Apr 2013 at 21:30

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

Lizziedownunder--
Do you see anything made from Yuan pine on sale in Australia? .I understand this timber is fairly rare due to its former overuse .

Replied: 30th Apr 2013 at 21:25

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 

Huon Pine is fairly rare, comes from Tasmania......Huon Valley.....lovely place....

Replied: 30th Apr 2013 at 21:41

Posted by: aiflanc (1463)

Thanks for that Lizzie .I have a small peice,,given to me in 2011. I was told at the time that it was an off cut from the carved columns in your parliment building in Canberra.
I intend to make something worthy of its origin ,what that might be I havent decided.

Replied: 3rd May 2013 at 22:04

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 

Lucky you .....I think I have a lamp base somewhere tucked away made of Huon Pine.....must look it out......my Mum gave it to me.....it always looked nice with a shade on and the light shining and enhancing the wood.......

Replied: 4th May 2013 at 00:24

Posted by: fred mason (2836) 





Bought a mini lathe some years ago and made these pens. The rifle clip is Canadian Maple and the second one is made from Australian Red Mallee Burl.

(Also made some pens from Coolibah wood, but didn't see any jolly swagmen..!!!)

It's quite easy to pick up from books and youtube vids. Practice makes perfect of course.

Replied: 11th Jul 2013 at 08:14
Last edited by fred mason: 11th Jul 2013 at 08:16:46

Posted by: lizziedownunder (7434) 

Lovely Fred.....at least they are original .....wouldn't buy them in a shop....

Replied: 11th Jul 2013 at 10:58

Posted by: ©art© (6154)

On of my creations, a few years ago..

Replied: 12th Jul 2013 at 01:04

 

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