DIY: Woodturning
Much easier than manual but obviously you pay for the privilege. The tailstock is at the opposite end of the headstock and is used to clamp the workpiece. The tailstock is fitted with a revolving centre whereas the headstock is fitted with a drive centre for driving the piece. Roughing gouge
Parting tool
Tailstock
Scraper
Both the headstock and tailstock slide along the bed. The bed is the base of the lathe and can be either steel tubes or cast iron rails. The more expensive models will be of heavy cast iron that adds to the overall weight of the lathe and reduces vibration.
Turning tools
As mentioned above, the sky is the limit when it comes to turning tools but all you will need to get started are the following: Roughing gouge: A U-shaped chisel with plenty of steel to combat vibration, this is the workhorse of the turning tools. It is the first chisel you would use to rough a square blank (cut a square piece of timber) into a cylinder, quickly and efficiently. It is however NOT to be used for bowl turning as it isn’t designed for this process and using it for this purpose can lead to accidents. Parting tool: A diamond shaped tool that is extremely versatile. Used for cutting grooves, parting the timber away and creating coves. Scraper: Used for smoothing or scraping the bottom of bowls. Spindle gouge: An extremely versatile tool and can be used for rounding stock, cutting hollows or cutting beads and coves. Bowl gouge: Having been designed for turning bowls, this heavy-weight chisel can overhang the tool rest without snapping.
Process
There are two methods; turning between centres, also known as spindle turning, and faceplate turning. Turning between centres is where the timber blank is held between two points – the drive centre in the headstock which is the one that turns,
Spindle gouge
Bed (base) Bowl gouge
The last piece of the machine is the tool rest. As the name suggests, this is where the turning tools are laid as they are held against the workpiece as it turns.
Tool rest
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Turning between centres
and the revolving centre in the tailstock which acts as a support. Projects that fall into this category are lamps, candle stick holders and stool legs. Faceplate turning involves a timber blank being
Faceplate turning SelfBuild & Improve Your Home