That title got your attention didn't it?
Do you really think I could do that?
I was going to, as I was sure I still had some of Merv's pink plastic But can't find so went for African Blackwood instead.
While your here I did say I was gonna post some pics of my favourite tools and do a little thing about my work and stuff.
Get yourself a cuppa and sit back cos I am gonna bore the pants off ya, I dunno how many pics the forum allows so might have to go for a couple of replies to get it all in so please don't post the ridicule until I have finished init?
This is how I do my stuff and what I do it with, I don't say it's the only way or the right way but it's my way and might help some newbies.
read it and take the good advise and throw the rest in the bin.
First get comfortable, if you don't comfortable don't start. I never wear sleeves or a collar when turning, T shirt tucked in.
I keep a pair of steel toe capped boot s in the shed and wear my slippers much to my dismay on many occasions, Put the kin boots on that's why there in the bloody shed.
My ventilation system is an open door, leave it open for a quick escape when wood starts flying off the spinner. Stand comfortably in front of the lathe legs slightly apart so you can rock side to side back and forth transferring your weight as you move much like a golfer tee position without the flex and bat.
Comfy now?
Ring for room service to get kettle on, walk away from the lathe cos you forgot to sharpen your tools.
Prepare yourself for the task in hand get the tools and materials all ready to go and within easy reach.
Now pick them up off the floor and move them slightly further away, that was too close prat!!
Grab your favourite tool approach the spinner as before adjust the tool rest accordingly and switch on full speed, now switch it off and get the cuppa that's being brought down the garden by your beautiful assistant.
While you sip that get the kit ready to go cos you don't done that yet init? there is nothing on the lathe to attack and destroy.
First pic. Drills. I use this set of Dewalt, among many others, recommended by lots of people and I cannot fault them but that don't make em any better nor worse than any other sharp drill n my opinion.
What they are good for is sizing as they graduate in 0.5mm increments, invaluable when some pillock has nicked your set of transfer punches. George you were the last person to use them where the hell have you put them?
Ok tea drunk, current bun eaten, fag smoked, blank on tube and squared up, mounted between centres here we go.
I use one tool all the way through this and just to demonstrate control I am using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I use this tool for all my spindle work, I love the feel of it. This is the flat thingy I was talking about in another thread, about 1inch and a tadsworth wide, actually I have never measured it but at least 1 inch, far to big enough for this piddly little blank.
Nice firm grip on tool and and switch on, I always go straight in at full speed, not because I am in a hurry but my lathe is smoother there and I find it easier to adjust the tool not the workpiece.
With this tool I can cut, slice, tear, and scrape with very little adjustment of grip only to accommodate the twist in the blade.
Shown in this pic tilted to take heavy cuts of material off the blank, used at this angle-ish from square to to just above the bushes.
Then turned to flat to take thin slices, held firmly against the tool rest and the back of the tool lowered slightly to gently use the cutting edge.
That's what I find to be the trick in using not only this but any cutting tool, the tip moves little or not at all, the adjustment is made by the back hand lift and lower to adjust cutting angle.
Next I raise the handle to take a little scrape to finish the blank. I dunno if the pics show to clearly the different amount of material being removed as my Drain was the camera girl.
here is the blank straight from the tool with no sanding and for this demo I won't sand it but I will bring the pen to Woody's in a few weeks time to show it.
Ok I can't show it so start a reply with it.
Do you really think I could do that?
I was going to, as I was sure I still had some of Merv's pink plastic But can't find so went for African Blackwood instead.
While your here I did say I was gonna post some pics of my favourite tools and do a little thing about my work and stuff.
Get yourself a cuppa and sit back cos I am gonna bore the pants off ya, I dunno how many pics the forum allows so might have to go for a couple of replies to get it all in so please don't post the ridicule until I have finished init?
This is how I do my stuff and what I do it with, I don't say it's the only way or the right way but it's my way and might help some newbies.
read it and take the good advise and throw the rest in the bin.
First get comfortable, if you don't comfortable don't start. I never wear sleeves or a collar when turning, T shirt tucked in.
I keep a pair of steel toe capped boot s in the shed and wear my slippers much to my dismay on many occasions, Put the kin boots on that's why there in the bloody shed.
My ventilation system is an open door, leave it open for a quick escape when wood starts flying off the spinner. Stand comfortably in front of the lathe legs slightly apart so you can rock side to side back and forth transferring your weight as you move much like a golfer tee position without the flex and bat.
Comfy now?
Ring for room service to get kettle on, walk away from the lathe cos you forgot to sharpen your tools.
Prepare yourself for the task in hand get the tools and materials all ready to go and within easy reach.
Now pick them up off the floor and move them slightly further away, that was too close prat!!
Grab your favourite tool approach the spinner as before adjust the tool rest accordingly and switch on full speed, now switch it off and get the cuppa that's being brought down the garden by your beautiful assistant.
While you sip that get the kit ready to go cos you don't done that yet init? there is nothing on the lathe to attack and destroy.
First pic. Drills. I use this set of Dewalt, among many others, recommended by lots of people and I cannot fault them but that don't make em any better nor worse than any other sharp drill n my opinion.
What they are good for is sizing as they graduate in 0.5mm increments, invaluable when some pillock has nicked your set of transfer punches. George you were the last person to use them where the hell have you put them?
Ok tea drunk, current bun eaten, fag smoked, blank on tube and squared up, mounted between centres here we go.
I use one tool all the way through this and just to demonstrate control I am using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I use this tool for all my spindle work, I love the feel of it. This is the flat thingy I was talking about in another thread, about 1inch and a tadsworth wide, actually I have never measured it but at least 1 inch, far to big enough for this piddly little blank.
Nice firm grip on tool and and switch on, I always go straight in at full speed, not because I am in a hurry but my lathe is smoother there and I find it easier to adjust the tool not the workpiece.
With this tool I can cut, slice, tear, and scrape with very little adjustment of grip only to accommodate the twist in the blade.
Shown in this pic tilted to take heavy cuts of material off the blank, used at this angle-ish from square to to just above the bushes.
Then turned to flat to take thin slices, held firmly against the tool rest and the back of the tool lowered slightly to gently use the cutting edge.
That's what I find to be the trick in using not only this but any cutting tool, the tip moves little or not at all, the adjustment is made by the back hand lift and lower to adjust cutting angle.
Next I raise the handle to take a little scrape to finish the blank. I dunno if the pics show to clearly the different amount of material being removed as my Drain was the camera girl.
here is the blank straight from the tool with no sanding and for this demo I won't sand it but I will bring the pen to Woody's in a few weeks time to show it.
Ok I can't show it so start a reply with it.