Well you got to start somewhere ...

[derekcohen]

My first turning. Never touched a lathe before. So here's me and the $69 GMC and a few newly-sharpened very cheap turning chisels.

All I had was a 6-1/2" piece of Jarrah to hand and a desire to make a small mallet for my paring chisels. I try not to use a hammer on these, but when trimming dovetails sometime you need to give it a little nudge. Hence the small mallet (I have a few others of reasonable size).

Now on to chisel handles. Any advice?

Regards from Perth

Derek

[routermaniac]

Derek looks good, what did you finish it with?

[Sturdee]

Nice work Derek. But you using a power lathe doesn't seem right somehow. :D


Peter.

[echnidna]

Nice work Derek. But you using a power lathe doesn't seem right somehow. :D


Peter.
He's going to put bike pedals on it in the future! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[derekcohen]

using a power lathe doesn't seem right somehow

Actually, I connected it up to the old Singer sewing machine treadle. My wife is fair puffed from all the peddling. I'll have to give her a go next time ...

I burnished the surface with shavings, then finished with a single coat of Danish Oil to seal the wood.

This could become quite addictive..

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Sprog]

I burnished the surface with shavings, then finished with a single coat of Danish Oil to seal the wood.
Derek

You will get a smacked wrist! You should be using Shellawax :D :D :D

Shellawax (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/shell.html)

[macca2]

Welcome to the turning side of woodwork. Yes it does become addictive.
Nice first effort.

Macca

[John Saxton]

Derek,this may be of some assistance www.wawa.com.au

West Australian Woodturners Association.

However you seem to be coping quite well...hm.. wonder where that saying came from ..obviously from the day's of yore!

Cheers :)

[RETIRED]

Now on to chisel handles. Any advice?

Regards from Perth

Derek
Drill the tang hole first and use that as a centre.

Off centre holes ( no rude comments) look terrible.

[smidsy]

Hei Derek,
Great work - when the wife gets tired you could always swipe next doors moggy and stick it in a king size version of a mouse wheel.

Liddlelow craft group out in Kenwick is a great group if you're looking for a turning club - pm me if you want contact info.

Cheers
Paul

[adrian]

Drill the tang hole first and use that as a centre.

Off centre holes ( no rude comments) look terrible.

Now he tells me!!! ;)

[RETIRED]

:D

[Grunt]

Derek,this may be of some assistance www.wawa.com.au



Bunch of cry babies. Wah Wah.

[ozwinner]

Off centre holes ( no rude comments) look terrible.
What ever do you mean old chap??

Al :confused:

[outback]

Off centre holes ( no rude comments) look terrible.

Oh perlease, you can't go around making comments like that and not expect a couple of comments. :D

[ozwinner]

I think we are being baited by the master baiter.


Al :D

[boban]

I think you should check your spelling oz. I'm sure it's one word not two....

[Wayne Davy]

:eek:

:D

[RETIRED]

I think you should check your spelling oz. I'm sure it's one word not two....
I agree that the spelling is wrong, should be Masterblaster! :D :D :D :D :rolleyes:

[silentC]

What's with the thread title, Derek? Reckon you been hanging round those yanky forums too much.

[derekcohen]

Why the thread title, SilentC? Well, I assumed that a mallet would be elementary-level and rather mundane for the woodturners here ...

Regards from Perth

Derek

[silentC]

I was having a dig at your use of the American style "You got to" instead of "You've got to" or "You have got to" ;) You'll be saying "prolly" next... Only joking!! :D

PS. I like the mallet, I'll have to make one myself.

[derekcohen]

You'll be saying "prolly" next...

You're prolly right .. :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[arose62]

Hi Derek,

my first turning was a mallet as well.

And, re: your question about chisel handles - you can do better than copper pipe for the ferrules without trying too hard.
There's Lee Valley, but also search through the plumbing section at Bunnings - they have all sorts of brass fittings that make nice ferrules.
Welding supply places have the crimp-on fittings for gas hoses which (uncrimped) make nice ferrules for smaller tools.

Cheers,
Andrew

[MajorPanic]

Hi ya Derek,

I started with a mallet too & I still use it on a regular basis to change saw blades. :eek:

I was taught by a master turner who only uses a skew chisel & 2 gouges (a roughing gouge & a small gouge.)

BIG TIP: Master the skew chisel & you are 85% there!!!!

In the end I sold the lathe as I didn't have the touch that's needed to be a good/great turner. Sure, I could turn a complicated leg for a table but I couldn't turn the other 3 to match doing it freehand.
I'm not interested in copy lathes and accessories, if I can't do it, I can't do it so I gave it away. :(