How big a bowl??

[rcartmetal]

How big a bowl have people turned on their SS without the speed reducer?
I realize that balancing beomes more critical as diameter increases, and I doubt that the maximum diameter the way tubes will allow is going to be safe. So just how big has anyone managed?

[simons360]

l have turned 8" bowls on my SS but am thinking a speed reducer would be the thing to have if going bigger.

[rcartmetal]

I would like to turn a bowl that will be about 11 inches in diameter. In looking at some (way)back issues of Fine Woodworking I ran across an article on turning spalted wood, and they were using a ShopSmith lathe to turn a piece that looked like it was a good foot across.

[Greenvilleguy]

Spike, I can't help you. The largest I've ever turned on the SS about 8". My limitation is bowl blanks. Thats about the largest chunk I've been able to find. Just for info, I don't have the speed reducer.

However, if you like; I can write a post (for your wife's benifit) swearing that you need to purchase the speed reducer to turn an 11' bowl.

[chettrick]

The speed reducer won't change the diameter of bowl you can turn, just makes it go slower. I used one today, fantastic. Worth the money.

As far as size goes, it can't be any bigger than twice the distance from the spindle to the way tubes, of course, or it will hit. Then rounding it will reduce the size even more.

[paulmcohen]

The speed reducer won't change the diameter of bowl you can turn, just makes it go slower. I used one today, fantastic. Worth the money.


I think the issue is a 11" blank spinning off balance at 750 RPM is one dangerous thing. I use the speed-reducer even for 6" bowls. I just starting turning square edged bowls out of whole logs (split down the middle) and I would not dream of doing it without the reducer.

[manvelar]

I just tried to turn a large piece of cherry without the speed reducer - 12 inches in diameter and about 4 1/2 inches thick. The original piece was somewhat round but far from exact. The machine started bouncing around and seemed dangerous to me - I grabbed a pencil and held it on the spinning piece to draw a perfect circle around the point I had defined as the center and then took it over to the band saw for refinement. Once getting it circlar on the band saw, it ran okay but I was still a little nervous with it. I don't have a speed reducer or the money to buy one right now, but if I did, I'd be using it. Most of my work has been solid bowls no more than 8 inches in diameter and 2-3 inches thick and those turn fine - also have done a little segmented turning up to around 9 inches in diameter without any problems. However, anything larger or heavier than that, I'd want to get the reducer - it's on my Father's Day list.

[rcartmetal]

Okey dokey, the speed reducer is on sale so I now have acquired one, I will prolly get it going in the next day or so and see what turns up!