Is there a simple way to turn an oval bowl ... ?

> > or if it wraps

Film at 11!!

That is (AFAIK) the usual way that "oval" handles (ie, the typical sledgehammer handle) are made, at least by people using regular lathes (as opposed to factories with pattern lathes that will crank out an axe handle or gunstock just as easily, given the pattern or computer coded shape)

I find that not being able to catch the general public in time to stop their picking up and handling carefully turned round bowls will produce all sorts of shapes and misshapes, oval and otherwise; often making decorative smudges, cracks and fragments that I had never thought of. Generous and thoughtful, they quickly leave and almost never stay around to take due credit for their kind and special help. Have any of you enjoyed the pleasure of their expertise in making museum quality ornamental turnings from the mundane? :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

And cabriolet legs for furniture. Did a miniature leg once just to try the technique. But for oval "stuff", it is just easier to start with an oval blank. I've made a lot of mushrooms that way.

On Thu, 5 Aug 2010 2:02:05 -0500, Lobby Dosser wrote (in message ):

Darndest thing I ever seen! Thanks for the link. tom koehler

I played with those years ago on my Shopsmith.. the eccentric tailstock was interesting..

mac

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lot about the SS is interesting ... ;-)

Did you see this one?

Beautiful, intricate pieces (but too ornate for my tastes, not to mention skill level!). Though he mentions showing how the work was done, the only hints come in the TV feature tacked on the end. Remember he mentions he learned elliptical turning as a glass mold maker... That's not your everyday wood lathe in his shop! Though I'm in Indiana and the report was from Sacramento, I recognized the reporter. He's currently working as the lead weather man for his second Indianapolis station!

On Fri, 6 Aug 2010 20:45:21 -0500, Steve wrote (in message ):

yeah, i saw it. I started cruising around the net looking for oval turning and elliptical turning stuff. This was one of the hits. This guy does ornamental turning, and his lathe is actually a mill. You see his cutting tools are powered and mounted on a compound feed unit. He also has indexing capability and every other trick available on a machine like this. His skill is undeniable and rare. I saw the stuff he was showing in the video and I just wanted to eat my liver. Then it dawned on me, that his work and mine are in different universes, and there is no way of comparing the two. This is what he did for a living. He was trained in this work and did a long apprenticeship before even going into the shop as a mold maker. I let myself feel bad for a few seconds and then decided that I do okay for a self-taught amateur. I'm happy with the stuff I save or give away. I learn new techniques and keep moving. I'll never be masterful, but I'm happy with what I can do and learning to wring out what I can with what I am able to have.

The English chap demonstrating elliptical turning was using a wooden elliptical chuck that he made. He said it had its limitations but by golly it seemed to work just fine for him. I gotta figure out how to make that chuck. I've seen some blow-up illustrations, but am still looking for more info on this item. I'm gonna do it. It'll take awhile. I don't care. tom koehler okay, everyone... be of good cheer - this wood turning is great stuff

On Fri, 6 Aug 2010 23:55:32 -0500, tom koehler

I saw one demonstrated once at a club meeting that was pretty clever.. He chucked up a piece of 4x4, turned about 2/3 of a ball on the end, then drilled it on the lathe with a pilot hole dead center.. Then, he parted it off (straight cut, leaving a ball with flat side), ran a lag bolt through it to make it a screw chuck and put it in the lathe chuck with the flat side out.. It let him start at "true center" and then make changes to the axis by moving the ball in the chuck.. His demo was what he called a "drunk martini glass" and it was pretty awesome..

mac

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On Sat, 7 Aug 2010 1:25:16 -0500, mac davis wrote (in message ):

Well, yes, this is an interesting technique. My error was in not being clearer by what I meant, when I was talking about a wooden chuck. The chuck I was talking about was specifically for elliptical, or oval turnings. The chuck has sliding parts inside it, and assorted collars and pins for making the surface of the chuck travel in an elliptical motion rather than a regualr circular motion. Whatever is then mounted on the chuck surface will make an elliptical motion, so that when the cutting tool is applied to the workpiece an elliptical object is produced rather than a regular circular shape. tom koehler

Well, if you find a pattern for the elliptical chunk, aim me at it!

On Sat, 7 Aug 2010 20:04:39 -0500, Steve wrote (in message ):

I yam checking with my local library, online. We have an inter-library loan system that may just hook me up with a copy of the book (now out of print) that has the plans/instructions for this chuck. If I can dope it out, I will see to it that anyone here can get a squint at it, somehow. tom koehler

I have a copy (borrowed from the local woodturning club), on my "round to it" list is drawing out the sketches, but I don't know when I will get to it.