Thread: Vermec Sphere Cutter

Yes it is a beautiful bit of kit. My only complaint was that the bearing housing is very large, yes providing a very stable housing, but reducing the available ball radius considerably.

Tis a good video Brendan .

As you point out in the video, you can sand before parting off, but the advantage of the way you did it produces a perfect sphere whereas hand sanding doesn't always . I have found whilst sanding between the cups, rather than stopping the lathe and repositioning the ball, if you just back off the tailstock slightly whilst sanding it will rotate on its own. So you end up sand, loosen tailstock spin, tighten sand, loosen etc. It allows the sanding to be done at multiple axes rather than just a few and again gives you a better perfect sphere. Rolling of course is the best test.

Haven't seen your clip yet, but the Vermec sphere turning jig is a quality bit of gear and performs very well. I enjoy using mine. Play around with the setting of the cutter angle as it can acheive some amazing results on various timbers. I realise it is always a compromise for the forward and away cuts but it can help at times.

Anything made by Vermec is well worth the small premium they charge.

Hi brendon,
Now theres another toy I have to get !!!
Great video thanks for showing
Cheers smiife

Thanks for sharing, Brendan.

I'm another Vermec fan.

Hi brendon,
I have watch the video a few times and was interested
in the threaded mandrill you are using, I have looked
at the vermec website and they have 2 one is fixed,
and the other one is revolving, I was a confused as I
would imagine yours would be revolving, any info would be
interesting, i was thinking about getting one and thought
It would have to be free to turn
Cheers smiife

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Yes it is a beautiful bit of kit. My only complaint was that the bearing housing is very large, yes providing a very stable housing, but reducing the available ball radius considerably.

Tis a good video Brendan .

As you point out in the video, you can sand before parting off, but the advantage of the way you did it produces a perfect sphere whereas hand sanding doesn't always . I have found whilst sanding between the cups, rather than stopping the lathe and repositioning the ball, if you just back off the tailstock slightly whilst sanding it will rotate on its own. So you end up sand, loosen tailstock spin, tighten sand, loosen etc. It allows the sanding to be done at multiple axes rather than just a few and again gives you a better perfect sphere. Rolling of course is the best test.

Thanks Neil, some good suggestions. Appreciated.

Originally Posted by smiife

Hi brendon,
I have watch the video a few times and was interested
in the threaded mandrill you are using, I have looked
at the vermec website and they have 2 one is fixed,
and the other one is revolving, I was a confused as I
would imagine yours would be revolving, any info would be
interesting, i was thinking about getting one and thought
It would have to be free to turn
Cheers smiife

Get the live/revolving one. Oh so handy. I do have the other type but it gets very little use now I have the live version.

Good video Brendan, well done
I really need to retire, too many ideas, tons of wood, and no TIME
Willy

Enjoyed your video. What size diameter did the finished ball come to and what resin did you use?

Originally Posted by Kidbee

Enjoyed your video. What size diameter did the finished ball come to and what resin did you use?

I actually didn't measure it but it would've been close to 90mm, leaning towards a smaller diam. The resin I used was:
http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/016...g?v=1344404379

That's a bit rich for my pocket. I have just turned a ball in cedar, not the easiest wood to get a good finish on but it took me about 10 minutes. A while back I had to turn 36 balls in ash. The problem with your machine would have been that they were only 5/8" diameter. They all had to be the same size as they are the ball race for a lazy Susan. All I did was to turn a series of 5/8" ash dowels and then turn the balls from there. Good fun and practice.



I found that the biggest chalange was to get the top and bottom races exactly the same. The balls were not so bad. I used small wooden pinch chucks to turn the spigots off and get them totally round which I believe is the normal practice. As a lone turner I reinvented the proverbial wheel and came up with that as a solution.

Originally Posted by Jonzjob

A while back I had to turn 36 balls... they were only 5/8" diameter. They all had to be the same size as they are the ball race for a lazy Susan.

And, if the challenge doesn't do it for you, given that they are not going to be seen, just buy them...

http://www.etsy.com/au/listing/17534...?ref=related-2

Enzo is a genuinely good bloke. Visited Enzo's workshop to have a look at his cnc machines via Turnfest. Got talking about his ball jig that I bought of him and told him mine was an early one and that it didn't have the centring pin like his newer ones. No worries. Enzo produced a new pin and the shaft it sits in and says "replace this in your jig when you get home". Got home and it fits perfectly after i punched out the old shaft. Thanks Enzo

Originally Posted by NeilS

And, if the challenge doesn't do it for you, given that they are not going to be seen, just buy them...

http://www.etsy.com/au/listing/17534...?ref=related-2

No good Neil, they are 6/10" and I wanted 5/8" jobbies

Although, as I ain't doing this to live and I love a chalenge I didn't even look for them mate. I do like my retirement