Thread: Ball Turning ( and a probable return to square one.)

Hi BT,

Does that 3 jaw even clear the cross slide?

The "disc" on my ball turner fits under the 3 jaw, but not the four.

Did you try an ER chuck as Michael is using?

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Hi BT,

Does that 3 jaw even clear the cross slide?

The "disc" on my ball turner fits under the 3 jaw, but not the four.

Did you try an ER chuck as Micheal is using?

Stuart

No Stu, the 5" chuck smacks into the cross slide. And the only ER chucks I have with Morse arbors are ER 25s. That bar is 1", I'd need a 40. I'm probably the only one on this forum who hasn't made a spindle nose mounted ER chuck and if I do it would have to be a 32 for which I have a number of collets. I do have a 40 for the mill but only an inch and a 25mm collet for it. Collet acquisition can become a bit of a bottomless pit.

BT

Funny you mention ball turners BT. I am in the process of building one myself. I do not have the Z issues that you have. My ball turner is based on one of yours(?) I believe. I am making the dovetail slot, indexable tip and brass gib etc. One modification is putting a bearing in it. Likely overkill, but worth the learning exercise for me.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

I do have a 40 for the mill but only an inch and a 25mm collet for it. Collet acquisition can become a bit of a bottomless pit.

I can sympathise with you having just purchased a few ER40 collets. Expensive little things. They work out to about $10 each if your buying singles. Also for another project in the works - an D1-4 ER40 collet block. Currently sitting as a roughed down round bar of 120mm OD, to 50 on the nose.. painful roughing!

As for the fancy Helix Clamps, I still have it in my mind to make a set. You had best not talk about them any longer as my ER40 collet block will fall down yet another rung on my list.

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

No Stu, the 5" chuck smacks into the cross slide. And the only ER chucks I have with Morse arbors are ER 25s. That bar is 1", I'd need a 40. I'm probably the only one on this forum who hasn't made a spindle nose mounted ER chuck and if I do it would have to be a 32 for which I have a number of collets. I do have a 40 for the mill but only an inch and a 25mm collet for it. Collet acquisition can become a bit of a bottomless pit.

BT

I haven't made one Bob and I have no intention of doing so. A D1-6 mount is way too expensive to make or buy and as my lathe came with what appears to me to be an excellent taper turning attachment, I will be making an MT6 collet chuck with a draw tube. I have ER32 collet set and will probably buy an ER20 set for the drill sharpener. I am hoping these will suffice.

Dean

Originally Posted by variant22

Funny you mention ball turners BT. I am in the process of building one myself. I do not have the Z issues that you have. My ball turner is based on one of yours(?) I believe. I am making the dovetail slot, indexable tip and brass gib etc. One modification is putting a bearing in it. Likely overkill, but worth the learning exercise for me.

Same here. Been on my "to do" list ever since Bob started this thread https://www.woodworkforums.com/163049-ball-tool/page-5/I I promised to make a replacement gear knob for a mates Patrol and so figured it was time to make a ball turning tool to round the end. I had planned on copying Bobs. A notable effort should be given to Ray and Josh's effort on page 5 second post with their V way design. I like the simplicity. Unfortunately by the time I saw their design I had already committed to a design using a tapered roller bearing. I agree, it's over kill but same as variant, I had the bearing and figured it would be fun. Stupid computer won't let me hit carriage return! Simon

Originally Posted by Anorak Bob

What has attracted my attention is Michael G's up and over device. Compact but with a pretty generous amount of travel. Could be the inspiration for ball turner No.2.

Wow. I've inspired Bob! (Normally it's the other way around).

Having used it for a couple of things, there is not much I'd change on it. In reality the outer most positions on the slide are not used but the length helps keep things solid, so I'd probably mount it so that it pivots a little closer to the middle of the slide - that should allow some concave surfaces to be turned too. The feed knob works well and if I was building another I'd keep that feature, although it could be a bit beefier I suppose (although it has not given problems to date). I certainly feel a lot more comfortable using it with an ER collet rather than chuck but a chuck still works. I think if a chuck was all I had I'd be tempted to make a cranked tool so that I was not so close to the jaws at full stroke. The handle is still a work in progress but seems to do the job so will probably stay that way. If I planned on using it lots I might try a better cutting tool/ tip but once again it is adequate. Like most lathe work the more rigid the cutting tool is the better.

The QCTP mount is good - the only downside is of course that you blokes can't borrow it unless you have a BXA tool post to fit it on.

Michael

PS - when are we going to see photos of that 3 ball handle fitted to a lathe?

Originally Posted by Michael G

Wow. I've inspired Bob! (Normally it's the other way around).

Having used it for a couple of things, there is not much I'd change on it. In reality the outer most positions on the slide are not used but the length helps keep things solid, so I'd probably mount it so that it pivots a little closer to the middle of the slide - that should allow some concave surfaces to be turned too. The feed knob works well and if I was building another I'd keep that feature, although it could be a bit beefier I suppose (although it has not given problems to date). I certainly feel a lot more comfortable using it with an ER collet rather than chuck but a chuck still works. I think if a chuck was all I had I'd be tempted to make a cranked tool so that I was not so close to the jaws at full stroke. The handle is still a work in progress but seems to do the job so will probably stay that way. If I planned on using it lots I might try a better cutting tool/ tip but once again it is adequate. Like most lathe work the more rigid the cutting tool is the better.

The QCTP mount is good - the only downside is of course that you blokes can't borrow it unless you have a BXA tool post to fit it on.

Michael

PS - when are we going to see photos of that 3 ball handle fitted to a lathe?

Hey Michael,

Any chance of providing a link to your post featuring the turner in detail ? I used the search facility but my search was in vain.

BT

Hi BT,

Well you know what your next job is


I'll just add the funny tool post set up on mine was to allow working very close to the chuck, very deep on the left hand side. The price you pay for that is its a pita to set up.

I think my set up is "better" than Michael's in one way only, size. It can turn a ball something bigger than 6", but lets face it how often am I going to want to make a 6" ball?(it maybe more rigid but I dont see that as much of an issue as most of us are unlikely to be knocking balls out by the 100).
Having to take the cross slide off is also a pita.

Only one thing I would question about Michael's, looking that the picture above, if that ER chuck was a your 3 jaw would the thumb wheel would hit the chuck if you were trying to get deeper with the tool on the left hand side of the ball? Amongst other things Michael's also keeps your hands further from the spinning things.

Stuart

p.s. I think simons non working link is what you are after?
https://www.woodworkforums.com/163049-ball-tool/page-5/

Starts about here Bob
https://www.woodworkforums.com/163049...ml#post1606669
and then there are some more photos on the next page I think.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

I think my set up is "better" than Michael's in one way only, size. It can turn a ball something bigger than 6", but lets face it how often am I going to want to make a 6" ball?

Mine is capable of a 6" ball but like you I wonder when I'd ever want to make one - hence my comment about perhaps moving the pivot up a little.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Only one thing I would question about Michael's, looking that the picture above, if that ER chuck was a your 3 jaw would the thumb wheel would hit the chuck if you were trying to get deeper with the tool on the left hand side of the ball? Amongst other things Michael's also keeps your hands further from the spinning things.

Yes it would, but that's more about knowing the limits of where you can go. In the 3 ball handle thread I parted off, reversed the handle and was off again, so it is not insurmountable.

(https://www.woodworkforums.com/185195...ml#post1778984)

Michael

Originally Posted by Stustoys

p.s. I think simons non working link is what you are after?
https://www.woodworkforums.com/163049-ball-tool/page-5/

Yea sorry. I normally test before posting but I got visitors and I didn't have much time!

Bob, sing out if you want a couple of spherical washers while you sort out how to make Mk II. More ball turning eye candy -

P1020354 (Medium).JPG

Michael

Show off !

Originally Posted by Michael G

Mine is capable of a 6" ball but like you I wonder when I'd ever want to make one - hence my comment about perhaps moving the pivot up a little.

So nothing then lol

I must have missed the pivot thing.

Originally Posted by simonl

Yea sorry. I normally test before posting but I got visitors and I didn't have much time!

I'll forgive you this time. but I cant be sure about the others

Stuart

bob heres mine. untested as of yet

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