I've been turning now 2 years in October. From the start I realized it was going to be an addictive hobby/passtime. I'd read this group for at least 6 months prior to getting a lathe. I asked questions and received helpful answers. Well, a week or so ago I was merrily turning away a bowl in the basement on a chunk of spalted maple. I wanted to undercut the opening but realized it was gonna be dang hard to do so without the proer tool. My fingernail ground bowl gouge was only gonna let me go so far. So I pondered. I went out and looked at several sites. I came upon a Sorby tool that would do the job but the seller wanted a bit more than I was willing to lay out. I remembered reading on the website of one of the emeritii who posts here about making your own tools. I'd already made a passive sander or two. Why not try one to make a tool to help me out of my current situation? I grabbed a piece of maple, pretty much the only wood I have now and it works fine thank you very much, and began the process. I turned a handle, not too fancy. Drilled a half inch hole in the end to accept the half inch piece of round cold rolled I had. Hmmm, seems to be pretty nice so far. Tonite I grind a flat on the round stock, drill and tap for a 1/4 20 bolt. Tomorrow I shape a small piece of tool stell I have with my trusty dremel. If it works out, I have another addiction - a tool for every purpose. Heh!
Another side of addiction
Sep 01, 2005
7 Replies
Hi Kevin
Good going !!!!
Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo
Kev> I've been turning now 2 years in October. From the start I realized it was
Nice! Kevin. I am in a similar situation, only about 2 years later: don't have a woodturning lathe yet, I am turning on a small metal lathe for the time being, a real lathe is on the way! Made a round beading and parting tool yesterday, from a rod of an old typewriter with a shank of an HSS drill bit mounted at the end. If it doesn't work the way I want it, it will be changed into a round skew chisel. About the tool-handle mounting: will a tight fit be strong enough, or is some glue needed?
The fit was not really snug, more of a slip fit so I will drop in some CA or epoxy. I expect the first few tools to be a bit on the shall we say, primitive side. As experience accumulates I will dress them up a bit with ferrules (sp?) and perhaps a few decorative cuts. Good luck!
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Ferrules may help prevent premature failure of the new tool. It absorbs the side thrust of the tool shank. You can easily make a ferrule from a piece of copper pipe or plumbing fixture. Turn the handle end so its a snug fit, then a little epoxy or CA will ensure it stays in place.
Ken Moon Webberville, TX.
Thanks! Make your tools as good as you can, you won't regret in the future. Like Ken indicates, a ferrule is more than decoration.
Or you can wimp out like I do and just buy them...
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SNIP................
Or you can wimp out like I do and just buy them...
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=============================== Will!
That's WAY too easy and not nearly as much fun!
Ken
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