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Movin' On Up - in the rpm range

Since I got the JET VS mini-lathe I've been turning everything - spindle work, lidded boxes, finials, hollowed christmas ornaments, small plates and bowls, hamburgers and buns, etc. in the LOW speed range (500-1200 rpms).

Then I started working on a vertical jewelry box - without the box. Think more like jewelry tree - central column with four horizontal disks spaced up the trunk - each disk with 8 horizontal "branches" to hang chains and necklaces, small narrow bracelets, earings and rings. Now imagine that the trunk has basically an "onion" shape and the "branches" are crude versions of Cindy Drozda type finials - none longer than 2

1/2", most around 1 1/2" long.

So, faced with 32 "branches" to turn - out of yellow heart, walnut, rosewood and probably ebony - the low speed range was producing more chatter than was acceptable, even wth very sharp tools. Hmmmmm - maybe it's FINALLY time to kick up the rpms - to the "mid range" (1100 to 2600 rpms).

Hmmm - at 2600 rpms, roughing small blanks (5 inches long and maybe

3/4" square) to round was so quick - and smooth. Turning down to a bit under 1/8" diameter with a 1/4" bench chisel was quick, smooth and easier to control light cutting. Switched to a half inch curved edges skew and rolling beads and cutting long tapering curves, even when things neck down to under 1/8th inch diameter was just as smooth and easy. The higher rpms seems to impart a stability that, in retrospect, was somewhat lacking at the lower rpms turning thin stuff.

Intuitively, it would seem that catches at lower rpms would be less dramatic than at high speed. I've had some spiral cut catches on some small diameter areas at 2600 and the affect is minimal relative to what was happening at the lower speed range.

When this jewelry tree is done I think I'll try small hollowing - christmas tree ornamants and then some multi-center turning at the "mid range" rpms.

How long did it take you to Move On Up?

charlie b

Reply to
charlieb
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About five minutes. But then I used to park army guys on the American Flyer tracks ...

Reply to
LD

For a long time now, popularized by such divergent notables as Conover and Raffin, there has been a mystique with slow-speed turning. It's gotten to the point where turning at the appropriate speeds somehow is cheating.

It is true that tools are somewhat easier to handle at slower speeds, large hollow vessels cannot be turned at anything other than slow speeds, sanding is always best done at slow speed, and surface speeds near 800 fps give the best surface finish. As your turning gets smaller in diameter, it is both allowable and desirable to increase the rpms. Once you learn proper tool use at slow speeds, there is no reason not to turn at the appropriate speeds.

Michael Latcha - at home in Redford, MI

Reply to
Michael Latcha

You're describing a pen blank, Charlie... Most books show pen turning speeds very high, I usually turn mine at around

2,000 to 2,500 depending on wood type and condition..

I've been very happy with the advice Bill Grumbine gave me years ago: Turn at the highest speed that feels safe and comfortable for you and the lathe..

Size does matter, Charlie.. Lots of very good bowl turners say that they never move their mini's from the

500 rpm setting... VERY few pen turners would say that..

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Reply to
mac davis

On larger bowls, I turn as fast as my lathe will let me. If you get vibration, then turn it down. With spindles, I usually have it at full speed. It is more of a ft per minute than a rpm thing. A 10 inch bowl at 800 rpm is going much faster than a 1 inch spindle at 2000 rpm. robo hippy

te:

Reply to
robo hippy

Taking a break from bowls, I have been turning Christmas tree ornaments. I turn them at 2600 from start to finish, including sanding. I thought parting the end would be a blast, but they simply drop down between the ways, where it is hard to get them out. Never had one fly away.

Reply to
Gerald Ross

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my experience - turn as fast as you can, but no faster - I use 3000 RPM for pens and small things (as fast as my mini lathe goes) but my larger lathe is set for 1500 max (low range) because a 3 ft diameter piece will shatter from inerial forces even at that speed.

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Reply to
Bill Noble

Hi Charlie, It's mostly been said and well about spindle speed. I don't know how long it took me to move on up, but it took me about a nanosec. to move back down. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

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Arch

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