P Doug (WA) Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 I am going to start a new project. Something I have wanted to TRY to build for a long time. See below: I don't have a solid piece of mahogany so I am going to glue together some scraps I got fron a friend's deck building project. I forgot what he called it but it is very simular to mahogany. I haven't glued the pieces together yet. I haven't used a lathe since high school, a loooong time ago. Should be fun. If it turns out good, or even close to good, I will buy a solid piece of wood and make a real one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 The picture looks like Phillipine Mahongany, but from your description it may be Ipe? Is it really dense and hard? Looks like a fun and yet complex project. I have lots of Honduran,. but nothing as large as you need. I may have some that is 2 1/2"; I will look today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Hagan Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 It does look like phillipine mahogany. Doesn't "sapelle" look about the same? I think they are both from the cedar family and not "true" mahogany. My experience with phillipine mahogany is that it splinters easily. Don't know how that translates to how well it turns, as I have never touched a lathe. I'm a little afraid too ... afraid it will be too addicting and I'll start turning everything in sight. I'm amazed at what people turn out on lathes. Take plenty of pictures and post them here as you go through the process on this one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 My lathe was quite addicting in the beginning; now it is a dust collector. :shock: I do use it for polishing and as a disk sander though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 Frank, I had this link on hand for wood identification... maybe you can find your wood in here! It has lots of pretty good photos and information this guy collects. http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/ Iv'e been hoping to get a lathe. I'd like to build some tables and turn my own legs. I've seen some pretty cool bowls too, that would make cool gifts. The woodturning guy on DIY kinda got me going on the idea. Keep looking for something used with a long bed. b. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 After I bought my lathe, I spend 3 times as much on tooling. A simple 4 jaw chuck and a few accessories can easily cost over $400-$500. Don't buy the cheap inexpensive gouges or other tooling. Get only quality HSS tools. It is amazing how fast a tool can become dull if it isn't quality. The best lesson I ever had on lather turning was basic sharpening. They never come from the factory with the proper bevel. Bowl gouges, for example, come with a standard even bevel. To work properly, they need to have a running bevel ground upon them. Then highly polish them up and they will stay sharp for quite some time. I use disks of MDF, on a chuck, with jewelers rouge to polish the gouges. It works outstanding and best of all, it's really cheap. I have turned more bowls than my wife likes to count. :roll: Replicating things like legs is a real art (which I don't have). If I were to replicate things like table legs, I would invest in a replicating attachment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Posted October 29, 2005 Report Share Posted October 29, 2005 Yup the replicator would be a must have for legs. One of the reasons I want to go used is so that when I buy something I would hopefully still have enough cash to get proper tools and the replicator to go along with it. There always is another tool to buy...It truly is a sickness. Thats ok though, each week I keep buying my lottery tickets, and thumbing through the tool catalogues, thinking, it could be me.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Doug (WA) Posted October 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 I checked with the gentleman I got the wood scraps from. He said it is "brazilan tiger wood". There really isn't a whole lot of lathe work to this project. Lot of drilling and sanding. I got the plans from this site: http:/websitetesting.homestead.com/Candlestick.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 And Doug, the thickest I have is 2 1/4". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Pyeatt Posted October 31, 2005 Report Share Posted October 31, 2005 You may find this interesting. Using a router to make those types of projects. Simple indexing and spiral cutting. http://bluemax44.home.pipeline.com/page7.html Also would work for mast turning as indicated in the article. I got this from John Teetsel's website. Found it very interesting and easy to do. But still like lathe work more than just about anything else. Absolutely recommend learning sharpening and burnishing of your chisels first. Makes all the difference in the world and really helps to learn just what you can actually do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave R1 Posted November 8, 2005 Report Share Posted November 8, 2005 I've got one of these although mine has the legs. It would make quick work of that candle holder. :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Doug (WA) Posted November 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Well darn. I got the project done. was going to post some pictures but for some reason imageshack won't accept my pictures anymore. I have to figure this out. Any other good free hosts out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave R1 Posted November 21, 2005 Report Share Posted November 21, 2005 Try Photobucket.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Doug (WA) Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Thanks Dave Here goes: starting- Jake would love the project... Sanding, sanding, sanding. Don't think I will do another one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Uh, am I missing something? Looks like a block of wood at this point. :? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Doug (WA) Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Uh' date=' am I missing something? Looks like a block of wood at this point. :?[/quote']You caught me in the middle of trying to figure posting the pictures out. How is it now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capt jake Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 WOW! That is pretty cool! I guess I did catch you in the middle of posting the pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave R1 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Looks like you made a good job of that. I guess you'll have to make another one now to go with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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