Thread: Beginner's pride

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Uhmm, I was feeling pretty good with myself for making my first bowls using a "proper" lathe, then I see the works of Messrs. Weissflog and Lee in the last post (bugle sound in the distance to mourn the death of my pride...)

Hmmm... pleasant forms, a damned good thickness and no obvious tool marks. Although... are those sanding marks I see in the flash highlight on pic #1? Or just artifacts in the photo?

Mate, you have every right to be proud of 'em. I would be and I reckon I've a wee more practice on a "real" lathe than you.

Yep, you can be proud of these bowls.
If your sandpaper is revolving as the piece rotates in the lathe you may avoid the circular rings caused by the abrasive hand held at one angle. Also, when cropping the pics, try to leave a bit of open space on all sides of the subject.

Good stuff Frank, you seem to have the hang of that, now go & practice your photography a bit.

PS. The foot on the 2nd one needs pruning a bit.

I'd say that's damn fine work for a beginner! You've nothing to apologize for here, mate. I wish I could turn like that. Keep it up and you'll be showing these old hands a thing or two in no time.

Thanks for your advice guys, much appreciated.

I definitely need more practice with photography.

Gil, how do I "revolve" the sandpaper? I tried a circular motion with the hand, but does not seem to make a difference.

With #1 there are indeed two small marks (5mm straight lines in the dark area right of the flash light). I admit that after 1 hour of sanding I was too bored to get them out . What look like circular lines in the flash are streaks of poorly buffed EEE. The spigot in the screw chuck broke before I was happy with the finish. Now that it is off the lathe, I was thinking of wiping it with a bit of turps. Will it be ok?

Cliff, how do I "prune" the foot?

Thanks again for your advice.
Cheers
Frank

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

... how do I "revolve" the sandpaper?.....

http://www.ubeaut.com.au/rotary1.htm

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

... Cliff, how do I "prune" the foot?...

Make it a bit smaller/thinner.
Here is a pic of a similar shape item that I have reversed into a set of large bowl jaws to 'clean up' the foot.

Frank, nice job on your first bowls. I echo what Ceesco says.
For the revolving sandpaper, here's a shot of mine. They're made from RollerBlade Wheels (most of 'em), 1/4" all thread, Flip-flop rubber, Velcro, and 1" dowels, with a bit of epoxy to hold it all together.
Just hold 'em against the spinnin' wood, (and slow it down a bit, so it don't get too hot).
I expect that Gil may come back in with his idea, too.

Of course, "rotary" sanding... how silly of me!
And even the option of building my own tool, cool! (although since i broke my coccix on roller blades 50years ago I haven't been anywhere near them... ).

I will try making a cup chuck and holding the small bowl steady with the tailstock to touch up the foot, with a 1mm rim it will be a bit hair raising... it's all experience. If I pull it out, next week, and manage a good pic of it, I'll brag a bit more.

Thanks
Cheers
Frank

Well done, Frank. (except the photography )

Absent Cole jaws, Longworth chuck, donut chuck, etc., here's a fairly simple way of finishing the bottom of a bowl: Mount a scrap piece of plywood (round optional) on a faceplate. Turn a groove to mate with the rim of the bowl. Mount the bowl in the groove, with duct tape wrapped around the back of the plywood and/or faceplate. Turn away.

Thanks, OGYT. I've collected heaps of roller blade wheels from garage sales. Now I have another use for them.

Joe

Thanks, Al, those inline skate wheel sanders are neat.
Here are a couple pics if inertial sanders. The articulated one is not mine, but I like it. Mine is the dirt simple 3/4" dowel with an angled hole at one end with a bushing in it. Robert Sorby sells a fancier version, and U-Beaut Enterprises (owner of this fine forum) sells a rotary sander too. Check them out...

Thanks Al & Gil for the pix of the homemade sanders


Cheers...................Sean

Nicely done Frank or was that Earnest

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Uhmm, I was feeling pretty good with myself for making my first bowls using a "proper" lathe, then I see the works of Messrs. Weissflog and Lee in the last post (bugle sound in the distance to mourn the death of my pride...)

It doesn't matter how well other folks are doing when looking at your own work; it's more a matter of comparing what you have done with what you are doing now. You can probably tell that from what folks have been saying, that is, what you have done is something to be proud of and you have every right to feel good. he muttered vociferously into his whiskers.

Originally Posted by Frank&Earnest

Uhmm, I was feeling pretty good with myself for making my first bowls using a "proper" lathe, then I see the works of Messrs. Weissflog and Lee in the last post (bugle sound in the distance to mourn the death of my pride...)
Oh well, just look at the nice figure of the olive timber (only polished with EEE).
The first, 186w 38h 4 thick, comes from the centre of the leftover from slabbing a small log. The external shape is dictated by the curvature of the log.

The second was a problem solving exercise: how to mount and get a pleasant shape out of a minuscule chainsawn sliver: 98w, 20h, 3mm tapering down to 1 at the lip.

Everyone else has covered everything pretty well but EEE is not a finish but an abrasive.

The finish will dull quickly unless you actually apply a finish. Yeah, I know, a bit Irish.