Wood Lathe

My wife had been asking me for some time to get her a wood lathe. She's also says (justifiably) that I need to get better at suprising her with gifts. So, one Christmas I found a suitably sized used Craftsman lathe at my favorite purveyor of used tools, as well as a selection of chisels. I topped that off with a 4-jaw chuck and a face shield from a well known discount merchant, and a couple of books on turning.

The gift was a success--up to a point. Neither she nor I had ever used one before. And as a wood lathe can be one of the more dangerous woodworking tools, I wasn't going to experiment, and I certainly wasn't going to try to teach her if I did, as I might be unknowingly passing on unsafe information. Fortunately, one of our friends had recently taken a turning class, and was willing to show us the basics.

After we had all learned roughing and practiced making some copes and beads, I picked up the nicely turned mallet K. had brought with him, with the intent of tracing it to make a copy later. K. instead suggested we go ahead and copy it then. I had a suitably sized blank of maple handy, and he'd forgotten one of the pieces he needed to complete the project he had wanted to work on (the tool he had wanted to make a handle for) so it didn't take much arm twisting to get us to agree.

Here's the end result of our combined effort:

The finish is one I often use on tool handles, and it works suprisingly well--mineral oil. Specifically, that available at just about any discount retailer or corner gas station: good ol' 10W-40. Initially it may feel too slick, but after letting it sit and soak in for an hour or so it feels just fine. I also like the way it pops the grain and the slight amber cast it imparts.

So once again, thanks K.!

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Last updated 11/7/06

© 2006 Glenn S. Lyford, all trademarks etcetera property of their respective owners.