Thread: How do I... without breaking fingers

I tend to use sandpaper on one of those thick scour pads from the kitchen.

But the safest way is glueing on waste blocks on the sides during turning and finishing, then removing them when finished.

it's the removing them that gives me pause

No bandsaw. And if I use hot melt - no microwave. I know, I'm possibly the only person in Australia who doesn't have a microwave. I had one blow up in my face, puts one off a little.

How else would I remove it? Although at this stage of the game I'm thinking I'll try the scouring pad.

Thanks

Use a bigger piece of sand paper that can reach from one wing to the other. Then hold it parallel to the surface. Hold the paper kinda trailing on the work. Is that clear as mud.

Hand sanding after shear scraping works for me. Takes a lot longer, but I've still got all 10 fingers, and no near misses. You can also stop the lathe and use a drill with a sanding pad and velcro backed paper.

Check out videos on YouTube by bobham5 - he has one about a winged box which will be of help. I watched his video about a square plate and did everything just as he did (only slower) and it turned out great.

G'day Eliza

I don't have a bandsaw either. To remove the sacrificial pieces I just saw them off as close as possible with a hand saw and then clean up with very sharp bench chisel and sand to finish. It takes a while and is a bit nerve wracking but you just need to be a bit patient. I leave the piece in the scroll chuck to do this. It makes it easier to handle.

Cheers
Shorty

what about using an old thong behind the sandpaper?

Originally Posted by Broda

what about using an old thong behind the sandpaper?

Very good idea or a cork block or similar - just make sure you get the angle of approach in the right direction.

Cheer

BTW

No pictures to show yet. Just started late today, too late to take photos. Unscrewed the chuck and bought it inside with the wood still attached just in case.

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

No pictures to show yet. Just started late today, too late to take photos. Unscrewed the chuck and bought it inside with the wood still attached just in case.

of what

It's a bit late now, if you've already started turning, but an alternative way to glue on waste blocks is to laminate a bit of brown paper between, with PVA glue.

The brown paper "weakens" the joint a bit... usually not enough to cause trouble when turning, but enough that you can separate the joint later with a sharp knife. eg. Tap the edge of the knife into one end of the joint with a wooden block, then give it a twist to lever things apart.

It'll need a bit of a clean up with a scraper & sandpaper afterwards, but that's true whatever method you use, really.

Originally Posted by Calm

of what

Daytime temps of 30ish, night time temps of 15. Lathe outside in the open. Wood cracks.

I basically agree with Nalmo. However, you can go ahead and sand the bowl part on the lathe, that is the most difficult part. When you remove it, then sand the wings as suggested with a sander in a drill, an orbital sander, a palm sander, or by hand. All you are sanding at that point is basically a board. I have only made a couple of winged bowls but I would never try to sand the wings with the lathe running.
Mike

Originally Posted by ElizaLeahy

Daytime temps of 30ish, night time temps of 15. Lathe outside in the open. Wood cracks.

Dont let Jeff see this or he will be there in a flash. He really is a sook when it comes to cool weather. Imagine someone complaining about a top of 9 and no idea of the low while he was in Ballarat for 3 days.

Cheers

Eliza, Are those temps. in degrees F?