1. Home
  2. Woodturning Crafts
  3. Turning thin spindles - was 50 ways to lose - your finger prints?

Turning thin spindles - was 50 ways to lose - your finger prints?

My post re: discovering yet another way to abrade off my fingerprints prompted this message

When turning long thin spindles, in this case "hair sticks"

6 to 8 inches long, tapering from maybe 3/8" down to 1/8", even with pretty sharp tools, the piece wants to flex with the slightest pressure. Because of the length, the Escoulen string support method is cumbersome, limiting the working area severely. Hard to make a smooth taper by working on short areas one at a time. Due to the taper, a "support blocks" gizmo won't work well either. The larger 3 wheel supports are out of the question.

So, The Two Fingers Behind the Cutting Area, Thumb on Top of the Cutting Tool" method seems to be the common practice. It works very well - at a price - lots of abrasion on the finger tips behind the work - and the loss of tissue - some with blood vessels.

It was suggested wearing a goat skin glove, goat skin apparently being very wear resistant. But ALL leather stretches and loose things around turning things usually result in the loose thing becoming a turning thing - with my finger in it. Somehow, even polished turning wood can grab things. I don't want it to be any part of my anatomy.

How about tape? Electrical tape, masking tape, surgical tape - they work fine - 'til you need to remove them. After being in contact with skin for an extended period of time - say several hours, and gotten warm and even hot, they can also remove tissue I'd really prefer not to lose.

That leaves "coatings". CA glue was suggested, better than "new skin" / "tough skin", but Ex-freakin'-spensive! Am considering Gorilla Glue - sticks to ANYTHING and doesn't wear off fast - a plus and minus since it's not the most attractive thing to have on your hands. Maybe some sticky backer UMHW strips.

Anyone come up with other alternatives to being fingerprintless?

charlie b

Reply to
charlie b
Loading thread data ...

====> Charlie! Be a mensch and stop your kvetching! After two years of using your fingers on spindle turning, those fingers will have developed sufficient scar tissue or callouses that your problem will be non-existent!

*G*

Leif

Reply to
Leif Thorvaldson

I dunno. I've been using a wooden stick instead of my finger. Maybe you could turn some wooden thimbles and use those for more control.

- Owen -

Reply to
Owen Lawrence

Wood thimble! Burnishes the wood as a bonus - brilliant.

Now to come up with something for the middle pad of my middle finger. My grip has that middle pad rubbing on the back of the wood while it's tip is in contact with the back underside of the tool rest. If I can have both hands somehow touching the rest and the tool they work together.

I did find a bandage tape that is less sticky than those I've tried before. This stuff doesn't take skin with it as it is removed.

This turning thing is tricky - the right rpm, the right tool rest height for the tool being used, the right tool, bevel angles, approach and cutting angles - which vary because many of the tools involve rotating it while cutting. Chew gum while rubbing your stomach, while patting the top of your head while jumping on one foot AND blinking alterntate eyes - muttering "I'm not going to get a catch. I'm not going to get a catch. I'm not going to get a catch." while wondering "Did I make this weeks sacrifice to the wood turning gods? Did I send the monthly tribute to The Cabal?".

Reply to
charlie b

i would recommend wrapping abit of teflon tape that plumbers use to seal conections in pipes. becuase of its non stick quality you wont lose any of your precious tissue and there will be very little friction therefore less heat build up too. it's also relatively cheap and great to have around the house if you don't already.

Reply to
bizHB

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.