How to Use the Wood Lathe (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-02 02:12

With the wood lathe you can make practical household tools, beautiful decorative projects such as candlesticks and cups, or even toys like spinning tops and yo-yo. There are machines of different sizes, from hobby models, which are positioned on a work table, to large industrial models that weigh tons, but they all have some basic elements in common. Here are some instructions for using these unique machines.

Steps

Step 1. Choose the lathe that's right for you

Bench lathes are ideal for small projects like ink pens and yo-yos, larger machines can be used to make furniture legs and handrails. Here are some differences in features:

• The length of the carriage is the distance between the two centers, or the maximum length of the piece that can be machined.
• The opening indicates the maximum diameter of the piece that can be machined.
• The power indicates the torque developed by the motor, which determines the maximum weight of the workpiece without straining the motor.
• RPM are the maximum revolutions per minute. Note that most, if not all lathes have varying speeds. A lathe that can work at a low number of revolutions will allow you to start machining an irregular piece without excessive vibrations, while fast machines speed up the work and give more precise results.
• Weight and composition. Heavier machines with iron bearings and steel frames offer a solid work platform, but are difficult to move if you work in a lab full of things.

Step 2. Choose where to start

A simple job can be turning a square or irregular piece of wood into a perfectly cylindrical shape. Often the first step is to make a spinning top or other round object.

Step 3. Choose the right chisels for the job

Lathe drills are called chisels. There are long, round, curved chisels that allow a good grip and enough leverage for the turner to accurately control the cut with minimal effort. Common wood chisels are too short and are not made for this purpose. Here are some of the many types of tools you can find:

• Gouges. They usually have a special shape to perform a certain type of cut. For example cup gouges, with a concave cutting edge to forge the curved and smooth surface of a cup, V-shaped or knurled gouges to make grooves or knurls.

  

• Scrapers. They are flat or slightly curved chisels for removing wood from flat or cylindrical shapes, or for roughing out a piece.

• Cutting tips. They are thin, V-shaped tools for cutting pieces.

  

• Spoon tips have a spoon-shaped cutting surface and are often used for carving cups.
• There are also crooked, goblet, tapered, funnel-shaped tips.

Step 4. Get to know the parts of your lathe

A basic lathe consists of a carriage, a head, a tailstock and a tool holder. Here are the functions of each of these parts.

• The head consists of the drive system, which includes motor, pulleys, belts and spindle. For a right-handed it will be placed at the left end of the lathe. At the end of the head, facing the counterhead, the front plate assembly is mounted, with the spindle and central pin for frontal processing such as cups and plates, or other flat or frontal processing.

  

• The counterhead is the end of the lathe that turns freely, with the spindle and center opposite. It has a knob or other device to clamp the workpiece between the two centers of the lathe.

  

• The tool holder is similar to a mechanical arm with a metal guide to support the chisel used to work the piece. It can be adjusted by sliding it on the trolley at the base, with an intermediate arm that can move parallel or perpendicular to the trolley. Then there is an upper arm, which houses the actual tool holder. This set has three joints, which are tightened with screws or clamps to secure it during processing.

  

Step 5. Read the user manual before using the lathe for more specific instructions on the features and safety regulations

Keep the manual handy. It will come in handy when you decide to buy additional tools, when you need to do maintenance or when you want to know the range and specifications of the lathe.

Step 6. Choose a piece of wood that fits your project

For a beginner it is a good idea to use a soft wood such as pine or spruce. Look for a piece with an even grain and few compact knots. Never turn a piece of wood that is cracked or with yielding knots, which can open during processing, becoming projectiles launched at a considerable speed.

Step 7. Square the piece

For example, if you start with a rectangular piece, reduce it to a square shape. Then smooth the corners, creating an octagonal piece, further reducing the amount of wood to be removed to get to the cylindrical shape you want.

Step 8. Cut the piece to the desired length

For a beginner it is good to start with a piece measuring less than half a meter if you are using a medium sized lathe. Longer workpieces are more difficult to machine accurately, and maintaining a uniform diameter over the entire length can take a lot of work.

Step 9. Mark the center of each of the two ends and place it between the two centers of the lathe

Keeping the lathe tailstock open, insert the workpiece until it is pushed against the tip of the center. Squeeze the head using the knob and push it against the center pin, in the opposite head. Make sure the workpiece is tight and all joints are tight, otherwise the workpiece may fly off as you work it.

Step 10. Position the tool holder parallel to the piece to be turned, keeping it detached enough to allow rotation without hitting it, but as close as possible

A good working distance is about 2cm. Remember that the closer the tool holder is to the workpiece, the more leverage and control you will exert with the chisel.

Step 11. Spin the workpiece to make sure it doesn't hit the tool holder

It is always good to do this by hand before turning on the lathe, in order to make sure it has the necessary space.

Step 12. Choose the chisel to use for turning

A roughing gouge is good for starting to turn an irregular or square piece, rounding it off. Practice the chisel by holding your left hand (for right-handers) on the metal blade behind the tool holder, and your right hand at the end of the handle. Keeping your elbows close to your body will help you better control the tool.

Step 13. Turn on the lathe at minimum speed

Put the sharp part of the blade on the tool holder, without touching the workpiece. Check the handle and slowly begin to move it closer to the workpiece. You have to move it perpendicular to the piece, until the sharp edge touches the wood. If you force or bring the blade too fast, you risk sticking it in the wood, causing it to break or causing you to lose your grip on the tool if the lathe does not stop. This is one of the most dangerous steps for a beginner.

Step 14. Feel the resistance of the blade and observe the size of the chips being detached from the workpiece

When grinding a piece, the chips should be small, about half a centimeter.

Step 15. Begin moving the blade parallel to the direction of rotation, continuing to cut slightly lengthwise

When using a gouge or similar tool for roughing, you can bend or tilt the blade and let the chips come out at a certain angle, so that they are not covered during machining. Tilt the tool slightly and observe the trajectory of the chips and adjust it so that they end up on your right or left.

Step 16. Continue to push the tool onto the workpiece gradually, in several passes, in order to always remove more or less the same amount of wood with each pass

By doing this, you will eventually smooth the corners, rounding off the piece. With a little practice you will get a cylindrical shape.

Step 17. Stop the lathe more often if you are a beginner, to check your progress, to look for cracks in the wood and to clean the chips that are starting to accumulate on the carriage

You can use a gauge to check the diameter of the workpiece over its entire length to achieve the desired diameter.

Step 18. Refine the now rounded piece by increasing the speed of the lathe and holding the tool so that it just touches the wood and moving it slightly along the length of the piece of work

The slower your movement and the lighter the cut, the more precise the final result will be.

Step 19. If you want, sand the piece when you have finished carving it

You can sand it by hand on the lathe, being careful. Turn off the lathe and move the tool holder then take the suitable sandpaper. Turn on the lathe and place the paper gently against the wood by moving it back and forth to avoid removing too much wood from just one portion of the work piece.

Advice

• Use measuring tools for batch projects. The caliber and patterns allow you to play a piece multiple times.
• Stop often to inspect, measure and compare your work to the model. If you remove too much wood, you will have wasted effort and will end up with only one piece of wood to burn.
• Take some time to learn. This is manual work done with the help of a machine and you cannot expect perfect day-to-night results.
• Choose the appropriate wood for your work. Woods with too much resin or that are knotty or that separate easily or are very damp are not suitable for a beginner.
• Keep the chisels sharp!
• Start small. Projects like yo yos, spinning tops, drum sticks need small, inexpensive pieces of wood.
• Look for woods that aren't usually turned. Tree branches, gnarled woods and scrap pieces offer a wide range of possibilities.
• Keep your work area clean and well-lit.
• Buy the best tools you can afford and buy a large assortment to serve a variety of functions.
• Always be very careful in an emergency.

Warnings

• Do not continue if you notice excessive vibrations.
• Turn off the lathe and let it come to a complete stop before you walk away from the machine.
• Observe all safety measures indicated on the machine.
• Spin your parts around before turning on the lathe to make sure they don't touch the tool holder.
• Wear eye protection, preferably a face shield, when working on the lathe.
• Read the safety information in the manual before you begin.
• When working larger pieces, consider using a turner's apron, a heavy apron that covers the whole body.
• Wear a face mask when working with wood that creates fine dust (such as juniper, cedar, and other fine-grained hardwoods such as walnut) or woods you may be allergic to.
• Do not use electric machines in the presence of flammable liquids.
• If you have long hair, tie it back to prevent it from getting caught in the lathe.
• Check the tools for nicks, cracks or damaged handles before using them, especially if you use them regularly.
• Make sure all joints are tight.