Using the lathe

[ricknwood]

Hi Paul, I'm one of three instructors for the Shopsmith Traveling Academy and would highly advise you to see when one of us is comming to your area. We all have been turning for a number of years and are very familiar with using the Mark V in that capacity. We also offer two other classes which I'm sure would be helpful to you or any other Shopsmith owners. The books I would recomend to you would be any of Keith Rowley's or Richard Raffin"s. They are both excelent. For our classes, go to owners site and education, traveling academy and then punch in your state. We book 2-3 months in advance.
Good luck, Planning, Practice and Patience. PURA VIDA Rick

[paul heller]

Thanks, Rick. I plan to see you folks the next time you are in the area. I'll bring my son along as well since he uses my Shopsmith as much as I.

Paul

[Spike13]

Woohoo! I just got a set of lathe tools and a live center from Shopsmith. They arrived today.

Most of my questions will be asked over in the intermediate woodworking forum as I've been doing this for many years. But as for lathe turning, well I'm a complete newbie.

It looks like I'll be self taught on this. I've seen Norm do it on TV, but never held a lathe tool in my hands before. Any advice or tips on how to get started and how to figure this out myself?

Thanks.

Paul

Paul,
I have to agree with Dick about catching a Shopsmith Academy when it's near you. You will find it very enlightening for the 3rd day class of lathe turning. It will give you the opportunity to see how the skew chisel is used in a shearing action, rather than the scraping action.

Start out by using the gouge first to get your piece round. This is the easiest tool to use. Watch the speeds for the size block. If you have a bandsaw, cut off at a 45 degree angle on all the corners as this will improve your turning time to get round. Circumscribe a diameter on the end of the block to see how much you can cut off. If you go by the book, ref. "Power Tool Woodworking for Everyone", watch the entrance angle when you do the shearing and NEVER enter from the end of the cylinder/round. Also, keep the toe of the skew above the round piece turned. Remember this: "Don't stub you toe! It's almost like peeling potatoes. You only use the middle third of the skew. Good luck! :)