Wood Turners Using Metal Turning Lathes

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

G'day All - Currently I getting some advice in another forum as I do up a metal turning lathe which I hope to use for wood turning - I'm lookin' for any wood turners who use this method in the hope of getting some tips and advice on cutting tools etc etc. My main intended use at this time is to turn wooden toy truck wheels from around 50mm up to around 60mm in diam.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[pommyphil]

On a wood lathe we would turn them at 2500-3000rpm............

[Harry72]

make sure you seal it up well...woodturning = dust storm!

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

Thank you gentlemen - tips noted.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[Mobyturns]

Look up Bill Ooms - http://www.billooms.com/

Bill recently demonstrated at Turnfest. He uses a metal lathe for very precise wood turning using his custom created software for both thin turning and his unique variation of ornamental turning.

[Old-Biker-UK]

Been using my old Myford S7 for just about anything turnable including wood for the last 40 years. Doesn't appear to have suffered any, I can still turn to 1/2 thou if I need it.
One tip - use a decent pump oil-can to push the muck out of the slideways regularly and use a vacuum to clean up rather than compressed air that just blows the dust where you don't want it.

Mark

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

Mobyturns and Old-Biker-UK, gentlemen thank you very much - Mobyturns I'll certainly check out the link provided.
Old-Biker-UK, thanks for tips, I don't have a water feature on this old lathe I'm restoring, you can see it in metalwork forum under 'He Who Dares To Dream' - I'm very interested in finding out about the cutters used on it for wood turning. Thank you both again for your tips.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[Old-Biker-UK]

Re cutters:
Generally if I want any degree of accuracy as here http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=178372 (http://[URL="http://[URL") (talking about dense, stable hardwoods) I grab a tool holder with a cutter fit for mild steel (good top rake) and use the compound slide.
For fancy work I use a hand rest & (mostly home-made) small wood-turning tools.

Mark

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

Re cutters:
Generally if I want any degree of accuracy as here http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=178372 (http://[URL="http://[URL") (talking about dense, stable hardwoods) I grab a tool holder with a cutter fit for mild steel (good top rake) and use the compound slide.
For fancy work I use a hand rest & (mostly home-made) small wood-turning tools.

Mark
Thanks Mark - me computer having trouble finding that link - will kick her in the G--ts and try again later,

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

Mark, clicking on link tells me 'Problem in loading page', I tried a number of times but not workin'.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[oreos40]

the video isn't very goood but you get the idea. this lathe has done literally millions of turnings since 1949.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Z1sf00vxB3MI have some others on youtube as well for some of the tooling. the cross feed screw has been replaced by a lever and there is a template follower on the back of the crossfeed way cover. It can be used free hand as well. I have used hss tooling in the "lamp post" type holder. Quite a lot of relief can be ground in the tools both in the top and the side. I also use carbide inserts of many shapes. They are of a grind typically used for cutting aluminum. positive rake and sharp not honed. with a good amount of relief on the top as well. The bowls are kiln dried ash.and finish about 5" in diameter and about 3" tall.

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

Thanks oreos40 - Firstly I watched ya video and :o certainly going to take me ages to work out exactly what you were doing to create the bowl along with what you told me in text. Quote; the cross feed screw has been replaced by a lever and there is a template follower on the back of the crossfeed way cover. It can be used free hand as well. I have used hss tooling in the "lamp post" type holder. Quite a lot of relief can be ground in the tools both in the top and the side. I also use carbide inserts of many shapes. They are of a grind typically used for cutting aluminum. positive rake and sharp not honed. with a good amount of relief on the top as well. Unquote:

I have downloaded some metal lathe images that show all the names for different parts of a metal lathe so I'll have a check that all out to understand exactly what you are tell me. Again thanks for your help it to is greatly appreciated and I'll eventually learn.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[Old-Biker-UK]

this one seems to work
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=178372

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

Thank you Mark - Your first image is exactly the sort of cutters I'll be needing to use - the below two images show the rims that I'll be wanting to try and make from wood in 50mm or 60mm diam size for me wooden toy trucks.
344902344903
Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[GSRocket]

Hi, I have an old patternmakers lathe, to me it looks like a converted metalworking lathe but with a wider saddle with T slots
and a 3" taller spindle. I have turned alloy and small dia steel on it.
The biggest problem I think is lubricating the ways, especially when going from alloy to wood.
Wood dust is attracted to the oil and gums up very quickly. I use a nut oil that an old timer gave me and it is excellent
but I'm almost out of it now. I think there is something called silver slide? that can be used.
I use the "Eccentric Engineering" tool holder with round cobalt tooling and the wood just flys off.
I cut a half dozen 100mm dia (100mm long) cylinders out of 60 year old ironbark. The worse thing is it turned everything into a red dust powder.
And it was surprising, (for me) how often I had to sharpen the tooling. But I've also use standard HSS tooling in common tool holders.
Also turned the lathe into lever action and in the process of making the carriage, crossslide and compound independently lockable.
This and the lever action makes a massive time difference. Although a conventional metal working lathe would at least have a motorised carriage, mine doesn't.

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

The biggest problem I think is lubricating the ways, especially when going from alloy to wood.
Wood dust is attracted to the oil and gums up very quickly.

Thanks for you remarks GSRocket they come at a time when I was running this very thing thru me head today 'Oil and saw dust don't mix so what ya gunna do'. I was thinking along the lines of maybe a bees wax or something similar but as its gunna be a little ways off before I get my restoration finished maybe some others might have an answer for us. The oil you have nearly run out of wasn't 'Macadamia Nut Oil' was it?, is plentiful here in Qld ya never know?.

There is certainly a lot I'm tryin' to learn while I do me restoration, turning a metal lathe into one for wood use is bringing up a number of problems that have to be well and truly thought out. Imagine the problems one would have trying to turn a wood lathe into a metal turning lathe but lets not go there, because no doubt someone will pop up here and tell us how they did it.

Again thanks GSRocket for your help like all others is greatly appreciated.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[Mobyturns]

Kev,

Email Bill Ooms, I'm pretty sure he will respond with how he manages maintenance of his metal lathes for wood turning. At Turnfest he gave an intro on how he prepared the lathe out of the box, including removing grease etc. He also has a few published article which may be available on his web site. http://www.billooms.com/resources.html

[GSRocket]

The oil you have nearly run out of wasn't 'Macadamia Nut Oil' was it?, is plentiful here in Qld ya never know?.I just can't remember. It solidifies when it's cold. (Not coconut oil)
They use it in makeup and skin care. This pot given to me originated from a BHP workshop or a place like that. They were
using it as lubricant for something but everything changes and they stopped using it.
If I remember, I'll let you know but I can't get it anymore so I'll be looking for something else anyway.

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

I just can't remember. It solidifies when it's cold. (Not coconut oil)
They use it in makeup and skin care.
We'll find out something GSRocket - asked me wife and I gave up listenin' after gettin' a history on nut oils:roll: - I did take on board one nut oil 'Almond' - I'm stuck in front of computer for rest of to day so I'll do some Doctor Google searchin'.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[oreos40]

If you watch the area between the clamps on the back side you can see the edge of the aluminum template. there is a bolt through the aluminum plate above that which has replaced the crossfeed way cover.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49YzhwCKub0&feature=player_detailpage

[oreos40]

on the other vids I used a carbide cutter this one is a standard lathe HSS 1/4" square ground for cutting wood. this is a standard lamp post tool holder.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PycgbO4tK0&feature=player_detailpage

[oreos40]

this a broad explanation of a lathe I use for bigger stuff I built some time ago. The others are an atlas metal lathe this is a hybred rose engine, patternmakers, and wood lathe LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GBvyQd4sb8&feature=player_detailpage

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

oreos40 - thanks again for the posts - your video of the big lathe you use :o attach something along the size of the wheels I'm wanting to make would having them lookin' like a pimple on a pumpkin - what I'm currently restoring in size to your big machine is very small. Still great to see what you have created and plants ideas into me head - especially the use of a template. To make my wheels I'll be facing the chuck and was wondering how one would setup a template which would make work hopefully a little bit quicker - but that's just a thought at this stage.

What do you use for lubricating the likes of your lathe bed etc ? - while I'm still along way off from having my lathe operational I have wondered about the wood dust etc becoming a cloggin' mess if oils are used. I did some doctor google searching and have found that many who wood turn use a product called 'Liberon Lubricating Wax'. Currently I'm grounded from goin' anywhere near me shed and my toys so I've heaps of time to doctor google and come here to the forum.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[KJL1951 aka Kev]

Kev,

Email Bill Ooms, I'm pretty sure he will respond with how he manages maintenance of his metal lathes for wood turning. At Turnfest he gave an intro on how he prepared the lathe out of the box, including removing grease etc. He also has a few published article which may be available on his web site. http://www.billooms.com/resources.html

Thanks Mobyturns - I have his site in me computer and find a lot a bit over me head but there is heaps that I can learn all the same.
Will certainly drop him an email and see what he says. Thanks again.

Hooroo
KJL1951 aka Kev.

[oreos40]

way lube is past wax once in a while the big lathe has rollers with sealed bearings. I wil get a video of the lathe attatchment I use for rosettes. I face the lathe with a second head set at 90 degrees to the bed and mount the template as usual. I have been working on a plane in the garage and the lathe is buried but the weather is nice so I should dig it out.