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Newbie question re: using hands to steady spindles

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to the turning world. I've taken an intro bowl-turning class, and am working through spindle turnings, picking up tips from Raffan's line of books.

One thing just looks wrong to me: Raffan suggests using one's fingers to counter-balance the force of the chisel on very thin spindles. I understand the need for some sort of back pressure, but fingers? It just seems counter-intuitive - I pay extra careful attention to keep my fingers *away* from moving machinery (and have still gotten bit by a router).

It just seems too darn easy for the fingers to graze the wrong way and get sucked down between the wood and the tool rest.

What's the general consensus on touching the spinning work with bare hands? And if hands are a no-no, how do you stabilize thin spindles?

Thanks in advance,

Larry

Reply to
Lawrence Gallagher
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Larry For most spindle work and especialy for thin ones, I tend to wrap my fingers around it as a steady when necessary. Steady rests are available and are also easy to make but for most work between centers they are not needed, just use the hand not holding the tool. Be careful the wood does not bite :-)

Reply to
Darrell Feltmate

Reply to
Jim Pugh

I fabricated a rest with some aluminum flat stock and a couple of rollerblade wheels. And easy, one-evening project.

Max

Reply to
Maxprop

I handle the spinning wood quite frequently when I turn - to feel flat spots, rough areas, disruptions in the desired curve, and to support an edge or spindle. I'm quite comfortable doing this and the direct interaction provides invaluable feedback.

The only times I've been injured doing this is when I get too close to the chuck and get my fingers or knuckles rapped by the corners of the spinning jaws. But even then it's merely a shallow bite and little more than short term pain and annoyance.

On one occassion I did have the skin on the pinky side of my right palm get caught between the rest and the spinning wood. Lost the top layer or two of skin by friction burning it away. This wasn't a matter of intentionally touching the wood, but of too wide a gap between the rest and the portion of the bowl that got me.

As you gain experience with your turning, I predict you'll become more comfortable with easing the separation between you and the wood. Do what you feel comfortable with at the moment and let the relationship between you, the lathe, the tools and the wood develop with time.

Reply to
Owen Lowe

Thank you all!

The part about "if it doesn't feel safe (yet) don't to it" makes perfect sense, as does the advice for baby steps. I'm sure I'll get there someday...

I basically got a message of "*never* touch the wood" from a workshop I recently took, and wanted to see whether this was a truly debatable point.

Thanks all for the common sense replies.

-Larry

Reply to
Lawrence Gallagher

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