Chatter patterns and the like

I assume you are meaning INTENTIONAL chatter patterns. The unintentional ones come with varying regularity for some of us and aren't easily controlled.

Seriously, though, what are you talking about specifically? The use of what's called a chatter tool? Making decorative grooves? Using gouges/skews in such a way as to cause harmonic patterns (yes, intentionally)? Using something like the Sorby texturing tool or a shop-made one that does close to the same thing? Or more along the lines of surface "enhancements" like using wire brush? and so on.........

I'm going to assume you mean the use of a chatter tool. You can see one way of making one here....

- Andrew

If you use the Eli Avisera chatter tools made by Hamlet in the UK

(they are available from CraftSupplies US I understand if you are out that way) have the chatterblade about 1/2" sticking out from the holder and have the lathe speedabout 2000-3000 rpm. Have your toolrest about 1 1/2" from theworkpiece endgrain (which I assume is where you will be putting thechattering) and support the tool with one finger underneath as well asthe normal support over the bar. Hold the tool at a slight downwardsangle and just pass the blades over the wood, from centre to outside,as if it were a whisper just gliding over the wood. I suppose I takeabout a couple of seconds to go across a 2" top The pattern is hard to predict but you can adjust it by altering thelength of the blade from the tool holder and the speed of the lathe. I tend to decorate mine with felt pens. You can see an example at I've only been turning for just over 12 months but this was a fairlyeasy technique to master - just be gentle. I owe my training of this and my other turning techniques to John Berkeley

Hope it helps

Paul

Here's a design for a chattertool handle I came up with:

on technique here, Andrew covers it very well.Tilting the blade at an angle as it shows in Andrew's drawing is a new one for me, I'll have to try it. The technique I've heard to be most effective is a quick, forceful jabbing, and dragging away from center. It only works on endgrain and not very well on softer woods.

On a different vein, I've just checked out our club's Serious Lathe texture tool which does work very well on side grain. With the cutter wheel set at an angle and guide assembly attached, it will actually carve angled fluting on a spindle.

Ken Grunke SW Wisconsin

Coulee Region Woodturners AAW chapter