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Thanks Jim, will do.

Thanks chambezio but not in Grafton.

I have an old Woodfast 280 lathe still running well except the pulley belt has given up the ghost.
I cannot find anything on the net about a suitable pully belt.
It is a 3 ribbed belt approx. 13...

I have a couple of Ryobi 18v drills that get a lot of work ( plus circular saw and reciprocating saw). Unfortunately the batteries don't last and are very expensive to replace. Last time I needed new...

I've had my superglue 2 years now (in the fridge) and it has never blocked up and still runs as freely as the day I bought it.

Obviously I don't use it often, I usually use PVA, keep the SG for...

I swear by Loctite 401. Keep it in the fridge and it never goes hard in the nozzle. Only speciality tool stores have it as it has to be kept in a fridge. Don't buy it off the shelf.

There are...

I have always had a Vicmarc VM100 on my 280. Works well. Aussie made. Very good quality. $229 from Carbatec (price reduced end of last year). Careful where you buy one, prices vary considerably.
...

Have a look at the Box Making forum. Lots of neat boxes you can make with nice pieces of timber.

Could even try gluing some together and try a bit of Woodturning of make some Bandsawn boxes

Don

Thanks for that info djstimber.

Their site looks interesting. Will try one of their packs to see how they go.

Don

Definately is a 280 L. It is a great machine - I have had one for 7 years now.
Woodfast still have spares for them. I managed to burn out the motor recently and got a new one for $120 and it is...

Logical question here is - where do you get good quality screws??

I've had screws break off before and it's a pain in the neck.

Any particular brands that are good quality?? Not sure that the...

Hi Kevin,
A couple of suggestions (based on fact I do lapidary as well as woodwork).

Best source is Lapidary Shows, could only find one in Vic - at VICTORIAN GEMKHANA, Morshead Park, BALLARAT on...

A bloke down the road builds wooden boats, mainly clinker. He is currently trying to install a steam engine in one of his boats. Last try the glass gauge that measures the amount of water in the...

I bought an old electric frypan from a garage sale for $2 and use this. I roll blanks in it of if the blank is too big use an old paint brush to paint the wax on.

Is it paraffin wax?? If so add...

Must admit I like the metric system but still think in and use both.

However some things just don't sound right in metric - imaging going to Subway and asking for a 30cm long.

Don

I would consider any box made predominately using a bandsaw as a bandsawn box - which could include a square box with flat top and dovetails - if you could be bothered making the dovetails with a...

The "normal" grey wheels on the average 6" and 8" grinders (ie Abbot and Ashby) are carborundum, not Aluminium oxide.

Have a look at this site -
...

I dropped into Garry Pye's shop on my way past a year or so ago and discussed wheels. He said the coarser the grit the quicker the cut and so the less heat generated.

Finer grits cut slower and so...

Woops, and I haven't even been on the turps. I meant spindle gouge. However!! for taking off a small shaving where the sides are vertical, a skew chisel would work nicely. Works in a similar fashion...

Depending on the diameter of the hole you are digging, try a large diameter drill bit or a Forstner bit. Digs out most of the wood and leaves just a veneer to scrape or sand off.

Definately don't...

I have had a Woodfast lathe for about 7 years and recently needed some parts (belt finally wore out and I busted the tool rest -forgot to rest the gouge on it before digging in).

Rang them and had...

I think you are on the right track Barrie. It's good to try different things, makes life interesting and takes you away from the "mob".

That particular shape is not my cup of tea, althought I'm...

Funny how different people see the same thing different ways.

Around here (Clarence River) the more stain the more highly prized the piece of mango.

Have attached 2 pics of a bowl top and...

In the end almost any lathe can be a good one - if you get one that does what you want it to at a price you can afford. Nothing wrong with a $300 Carba-Tek lathe if that is all you can afford, if you...

Arno,
When you are sharpening the scraper on the grinding wheel, you should make a couple of passes to get the angle correct and to get the finish as neat as possinle (ie no ridges, etc). Then for...

Hi Arno,
Could be any of a hundred things, but here are a couple of ideas.
Are the corners of the scraper sharp or rounded. A sharp corner can catch and cause this kind of problem.
Is the end ot...

Joash - See was used figuratively in this post.

Don

In this area it's illegal to have any camphor on your property under 6 inches dia. It's a declared noxious weed. In the next few years council plans to remove (or have landowners remove) all camphor...

Jacaranda is very easy to turn thin either wet or dry, although wet is easier. Fairly stable timber, does warp but not too fast. Don't leave to next day.

By wet I mean only a couple of days since...

According to Richard Raffan's book a bowl 4 inches deep and 10 inches wide should run at about 900rpm on a faceplate. The wider the bowl, the slower you go. Once bottom is turned out and thing is...

Have posted 2 more pics showing size and with top off.

Hickory - Design is based on a wine glass. Thinking of doing one with the lip on the top so that the bottom could double as a wine goblet....

You're doing great Dingo.

I mount my piece of wood on the faceplate with 4 screws then turn, sand and polish the base (including either a recess or foot for the chuck to grip on). Then turn it...

Thanks for the comments folks.

I used Shellawax liquid to polish it. The wood was already dark, the Shellawax just made it glow.

Tony Ward (Sculptured Box)sent me the piece of timber. I've got...

I decided to be part of Tony Wards box swap so made a woodturned "box". I liked what I did so thought I'd show it off. The wood is Blackhearted Sassafras. Did it as part of Richard Raffand...

Looks great JaD. Hope you make lots more BS boxes.

Re polishing, I was taught to sand while still wet. ie soak first up and sand with 400, When dry dip 600 into oil and sand. Each time it dries go...

I understand that ALL wood dust in Australia has been declared cancer causing.

It's all the more reason we need to make sure we use maximum dust protection. I have a Mistral exhaust fan in the...

Does anyone know who would sell Black Hearted Sassafras with plenty of good dark colour.

Looking for square post type stuff, about 110mm square in lengths about 20 to 30cm.
Want to make turned...

I've only been to one show but loved it. Distance is the main problem.

I have to do most of my shopping on the internet, and only get to browse through Carbatec Brisbane occasionally, but their...

If you can find one grab it quick. I bought one a couple of years ago and it has been great - I've really given it a flogging.

Bloke in Bunnies this morning said they are not stocking the GMC...

I'm willing to give this jaunt a go. Just wish I could have my piece of timber by 8 October as I am doing a 6 day woodturning course with Richard Raffan at Grafton Artsfest - and guess what the theme...

Found the answer - on a UK site of all places.

Have to remove the back plate of the chuck and tap out the pin with a flat ended nail. You'd think that this info would be in the manual.

Ern...

Thanks Ern,
Found the pin.

Tried pulling it out with needle point pliers - no luck. Any suggestions as to how I get it out?

Thanks
Don

I have had my VM100 for about 6 years. Just noticed today that when I clamped a bowl base into the jaws they were not turning true, ie the bowl was not centered.

Figured there might be some dust...

Hi ticklingmedusa,
I always use 4 screws on the faceplate to turn my blanks. However I never use wood screws, I use selftappers. Of course these vary in quality - go to a tradesmans supplier and get...

If you go to http://www.getpaint.net/index.html you can download PaintDotNet free (but watch out - it is 49MB).

This program is as good as Adobe PaintShop but free. Developed by University of...

Here is a piccy of my sanding setup on the lathe. I use a piece of dowel of whatever size, but you could turn your own.

Not my idea, came from Alan Williams in one of his bandsaw boxes caurses at...

Good to know you sell the paraffin Neil. Been buying mine by the 500g from the local craft shop. Expensive part is the beeswax. I have been mixing the two waxes using 5 to 10% beeswax. This seems to...

I have made bandsaw boxes out of cedar and use Triton PVA. Holds well. The joints to be glued are matching (ie regluing parts cut previously with a bandsaw). Have you fine sanded the parts to be...

Thanks for the comments on the outriggers in the links. makes sense what you said.

The first draft looks good. Will be interested in how it turns out in the end.

I reread the whole article on...

I know you are finished now and it looks great, but I found your first choice closest to what I have used.

I used Feast Watson Floorseal on a blue gum coffee table I built from scratch and on a...