Thread: My First Lathe

After using a lower priced face shield I found that the chips were getting in under the shield. To compensate I would tilt my head which exposed the top of my head, I replaced this with an Armadillo face shield. Do a search on the net and you will see how this covers the head and neck.

When you get your armidillo it's a good idea not to immediately drop it on the concrete floor

I'm with Pat. Could have been over tightened and perhaps an aggressive cut. Think I'm back in sydney next month. I'llhave to come for a play

Originally Posted by Pac man

Priorities went like this:
1. Exit onto Penannt Hills rd ramp
2. Proceed along said ramp
3. Watch out for goose in white ute with trailer trying to enter the ramp late at 100ks
4. Notice brown ute with familiar gas can rack
5. See number plate. tell wife that must be Pittwater Pete
6. Then see vicmarc blue thing then go oh der lathe.

Thats impressive spotmanship

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Dirk just made me a file handle.

Nice shape. Looks like a copper ferrule. Good job

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Re your bowl Dirk you'd be better starting bowl turning with a solid spigot for a foot and clamp on to it. You have the Longworth chuck to clean up any jaw marks when you finish.

In the longer run IME a recess in a foot works best and the design and practical limitations can mostly be overcome.

But best to get guidance from one of the masters and accelerate the learning curve:
Richard Raffan has several nicely done books drawing on great depth of experience.
K Rowley wrote one which is good for absolute beginners.
Mike Darlow has an into and other titles; he uses a technical language which you will be able to master and which reduces scope for confusion, and he has some very clear pics of how to do key cuts.

Gonna try a glue block on the back of a block of bluegum to turn a shallow dish. Glued it up tonight for later on.

Tonights project was to get a piece of tool steel that my tool sharpener guy gave me out of his scrap bin and turn it into a captive ring tool.

So the process was easier than I thought it would be. I forgot to take WIP pics, Oops.

Anyway here is the finished product


And here it is on a practice baby rattle.


Turned out alot neater than I imagined it to. Why I made one is because to buy they are expensive and I wanted to give it a go. Also my first real project is to make a baby rattle out of something nice for my girlfriends best friend, who is due in July.

Now all I need is alot of practice before starting on something nice.

I think I might have to cave and get a book on small projects so I can see how they are held in place and the orders to do the job in.

Hope all of you are enjoying the posts and my progress as much as I am.

Cheers
Dirk

Great looking job there Dirk

Choose your timber well for a baby. You dont want something that will easily split and become a choke hazard.

I might suggest a more chunky ring for a baby so it is a bit stronger but what you have done looks great

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Ok he's had a lathe for a minute and already made something I haven't, rings

well done and I'd add my agreement to the 'maybe the rings are a little thin' but it looks great

CONGRATULATION DIRK - When are you expecting the patter of the little feet now that you've made such a beaut rattle for the baby........

Do mum and dad know the exciting news???

I dont think its his baby crowie ... or there'll be aome explaining to do 😉

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

I dont think its his baby crowie ... or there'll be aome explaining to do 

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

.

Nice ring.

Regards
Paul

Nice start with the turnings
Dirk.
If you have access too tool steel(bloody lucky you).
And now have a lathe what about a marking knife.
Or a gents saw handle, I can give you some old hard point saw plate in a few weekends.
Which you can cut down for the saw plate for a small gents saw.
Fold up some steel sheet for the back not that hard in a small section 150mm would be heaps long enough.
And you have your first hand made saw.
Then sell it to your dad for $150 lol

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Ok he's had a lathe for a minute and already made something I haven't, rings

well done and I'd add my agreement to the 'maybe the rings are a little thin' but it looks great

Better get to it then! What else haven't you done? Hahaha

Yer I agree with you both about the rings being to small.
It was just a practice to see how well I could do them at this size. Larger is easier. I was also testing how much space I would need between them to be able to cut them off neatly and to try get as many as I can fit next practice round.

Originally Posted by crowie

CONGRATULATION DIRK - When are you expecting the patter of the little feet now that you've made such a beaut rattle for the baby........

Do mum and dad know the exciting news???

Not my baby. I don't think I could handle that just yet.
Also I only got a girlfriend last week hahaha.

My girlfriends best friend is the one expecting.
Also just found out my cousins fiancé is now pregnant.

So now I'll have to do 2.

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

Great looking job there Dirk

Choose your timber well for a baby. You dont want something that will easily split and become a choke hazard.

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Do you have any suggestions Dave?
Also need to find a finish that is baby friendly.