3.
LONG SPINDLES
A long turning can be worked in short sections,
with joints arranged to be at shoulders where
they will not be noticed.
Long thin work that is likely to whip while turning
should be supported at one or two places by a
backstick. This is easy to make. A simple one
consists of a short length of wood mounted
vertically in an extra tool rest, and notched so
that it can be used to support the spindle from
behind. An improved type which uses 2 roller
skate wheels to form the notch-size is shown.
27
turning. The first finished turning can also be used
as a template.
Attach the template to a board, then mount
the board behind the lathe on hinges, so that
the template can be moved down to touch the
workpiece and allow you to closely observe
progress of your work.
If a great many turnings are being produced, a
diameter board will save the time used for
resetting callipers. This is simply a thin board
along the edge of which a number of
semicircular cuts have been prepared to
represent all the various calliper settings required
for measuring the sizing cuts. Each semicircular
cut is held against the workpiece instead of using
the callipers.
Position the backstick against a pre-turned
portion near the centre of the spindle, this
portion being at least 3mm over finish size to
allow for later removal of any marks made upon
it.
Operate lathe at a slower speed than normal.
Lubricate the workpiece at point of contact with
the backstick, using beeswax (preferably), or
grease.
After completing the turning, remove the
backstick and finish off the original point of
contact. Sand off any slight burns remaining on
workpiece.
4.
CUTTING DOWELS
Dowels of any size can be turned quickly with
the simple jig shown. If the stock is prepared as
a split or quartered turning, half round and
quarter rounds will be produced.
The jig uses a 1/2” gouge as the cutting tool and
will produce dowels up to 11mm diameter. Make
the jig from suitable hardwood stock as shown.
The hole through the jig must be large enough
at the side, to the left of the gouge, to allow
passage of the square stock. At the right of the
gouge this hole must be just the diameter of the
finished dowel. Make the jig so you can hold
and guide it by hand.
To start, centre the stock as you would for a
spindle turning and turn down about 50mm at
the right end to desired size.
Then remove the stock, place your jig over the
turned end, with turned portion through the
smaller jig hole, and re-centre the stock on the
lathe.
Hold the jig firmly and start the lathe. Push the
jig slowly right to left along the stock until the
whole dowel is complete.
Fig. 50
fig. 51
Fig. 49
