Thread: reverse mounting bowls

Originally Posted by mat_au

hi all looking to make a jig to do the bottom of my bowls as i dont have enought money to buy one atm and i cant reverse mount the peice in the chuck. ive seen them on the inernet so i thought id ask the question whats the easy way to makes one or how can i do this without spending much money. (saving for a bigger lathe)

hi mat,
not too sure what you mean by a jig to do the bottom?
do you have a chuck on your lathe ?
maybe a pic of what you are after might help ?
the guys are usually very helpfull but i think you need too explain a bit more
you will get more help that way
cheers smiife

I think you're talking about a longworth chuck style to reverse mount your bowls? I purchased mine, but I have seen some people with home made ones. I don't know the specs but I'm sure it is possible

Just Google 'making a longworth chuck' - plenty of info out there - much of it overdone but they are easy enough to make if you have a router.

Originally Posted by TTIT

Just Google 'making a longworth chuck' - plenty of info out there - much of it overdone but they are easy enough to make if you have a router.

Agree with that.
Jim

Another option is a Jam-Chuck screwed to the faceplace, or screw a bit of MDF (or similar) to a faceplate and glue a bit of router mat to it (not the non-slip stuff for caravans etc).

You can then hold your turning in place with the tailstock while you cut away the waste mounting wood except for the very middle, which can then be cut away with a saw and finished with a chisel and abrasive paper.

I just use a friction chuck (jam chuck to some) as Dragonfly said.
If I built one it would be is a donut chuck. Some people make several top plates with various size holes to match different size projects. You only need to remove one bolt to install/remove an item.
http://azwoodturners.org/DoughnutChuck.pdf
Cole jaws or Longsworth work also but most I have seen tape the item to the chuck to make sure it is not orbited if the grippers get loose at all.

Simplest I've seen, and used before I made my Longworth chucks, is a disk of plywood mounted on a faceplate. Turn a groove to mate with the rim. Wrap tape across the near bottom of the bowl to the back of the disk at both ends of the tape. Four strips of stout (e.g. with filament) tape should be sufficient. Staple tape to the disk for insurance if in doubt.

Cut new grooves for new size bowls as needed. Replace the disk when necessary.

Found in "Lathes and Turning Techniques; The Best of Fine Woodworking," ISBN 1-56158-021-X, by Betty Scarpino.
FWIW, Betty is current editor of American Woodturner, Journal of AAW.

Cheers,
Joe

I use Joe's method above. I have used tape and found it left sticky stuff on the bowl so usually run the tailstock center up to the bowl with a small wood button on the end to not penetrate into the wood.

I completely finish everything but the little nub, then unscrew the faceplate and bowl and use that to hold the bowl while I trim off the nub and hand sand and finish the last bit.

In a weak moment I bought the big jaws and buttons for my Oneway chuck to finish bowl bottoms, but found that the groove cut in plywood makes the bowl run more accurately, and the time and effort to change jaws on the chuck is a pain.

thanks all went on google and found some plans for a longsworth chuck that im going to give a go at making in the next week or two should make doing the bottom of bowls alot easier

if you have a headstock shaft that is hollow you can make up a vacum chuck they work well bring the tailstock up till the last bit and take light cut with a sharp gauge

Cheers Ian

the quickest low cost easy to make chuck would be a donut chuck

http://www.cumberlandwoodturners.com...ng%20Bowls.pdf

Simple Donut Chuck | Three Seasons Woodturning