Thread: Need a new challenge?

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

And there's nothing to stop you from turning a practice box beforehand, just so's you know what to do... or more importantly, what not to do.

Here's one I prepared earlier today... (I had the day off. ) A piece of Jefferson's Congo Mahogany with a River Redgum finial. I certainly managed to do something I'm hoping doesn't happen come August. Who can pick it first?

It is larger than the specie

Lid a bit thin?

Crack in teh foot andy - too hot with the sandpaper aye??

Originally Posted by David Mitchell

It is larger than the specie

Actually, it's a tad undersized. The blank started at 9cm³

Originally Posted by Calm

Crack in teh foot andy - too hot with the sandpaper aye??

Bingo! Not the sandpaper though, the tip of the finial and the rim of the lid are a bit battered too. I'd just finished turning it and was carrying it in from the shed...

...when I dropped it on the concrete path. Being spindle turned, the foot fell to pieces. CA to the rescue, but it just ain't the same.

Hey Skew, What tool did you use to go under the rim on the body for the lid to sit on? Specially shaped scraper? One of those tools with different shaped thingies to go on the end?

Looks like our Box Challenge/Turnalong has started a little early.

Originally Posted by tea lady

Hey Skew, What tool did you use to go under the rim on the body for the lid to sit on? Specially shaped scraper? One of those tools with different shaped thingies to go on the end?

It's a highly technical tool, called a bent nail in a stick. One day I may buy a "custom" tool to do the job, but until I win Tatts the nail will have to do.

I do have a homemade swan-neck tool, but I find it to awkward for use in confined spaces. It works well when undercutting the rims of larger bowls though.

Looks like our Box Challenge/Turnalong has started a little early.

Early? Nup. What I mainly turn are goblets and "gobletty" lidded boxes. Although I've been doing a few bowls of late... Still, if you think for even one minute that I'm not going to turn one until the turnalong, then you better think again!

Actually, I'd planned that particular one to be a WIP for Eliza on hot-melt gluing. But the camera played up... although I didn't know it at the time. Pity, as there would've been a shot of it unbroken.

Nail on a stick eh? Where's the pics then? Any particular nail? A concrete nail? Or any nail? Out with it man

Skew, similar thing happened to me. I didn't catch the base before it flew off the lathe - got a chip out of one side, and a gouge out of the other!

I gave it to Zoe as a "bowl for M&M's"

And after I had got the inside of it smooth and shiny with no tool marks!!!

I'm still not sure what size things are suppose to be. I'm math challenged.

If I start with a piece cut square, how big should it be on each side???

I just finished one in camphor laurel with a red cedar finial. Found out what I really need is a good pair of calipers - or make the lid where the finial sits so that it doesn't matter if doesn't fit exactly!

My challenge to myself, however, is my real weak point - the inside of the bowl shapes, getting the width of the wall right, and getting the sanding right.

Do you have one of these yet Eliza? Yet another thing to buy. And they can be pretty Exxy.

No, that's what I need. So far I've been eye balling it! I think I've been lucky, holding a ruler over the top of the piece really doesn't do it

Originally Posted by tea lady

Do you have one of these yet Eliza? Yet another thing to buy. And they can be pretty Exxy.

and don't buy plastic ones.

Or pasta ones?

Really, you need a set of those vernier gauges and either a set of spring calipers or, better still, a set of double-ended calipers.

(We like spending your money, Eliza. )

Originally Posted by tea lady

Nail on a stick eh? Where's the pics then? Any particular nail? A concrete nail? Or any nail? Out with it man

Concrete nails are the best for this sort of thing. They hold their edge longer between grinds.

Me, I'm lazy. I'll pick up the nearest nail that's 4" long or over and use that. Concrete, gal, bright or rusty. They all work. I don't mind the extra trips to the grinder and the nail's a throwaway at the end of the job.

FWIW, I drive the nail into the wood first, clamp the last 1/2" in a vice and bend it over with a hammer. Then grind it to shape... a flat on each side, a flat on top and lastly the bevel. (Sounds obvious, but change the order of any of the steps and it makes the next steps more difficult!)

Resharpening is just switching on the grinder, switching off the grinder, and then a quick touch of the nail to the wheel while it's winding down. Otherwise it takes too much off.

just got back on teh lathe today after a long break (6 mounths).

im in.