Wood Turning
• Wood turnings are produced on
a wood lathe.
• Various types of turning tools
supported on a tool rest are used
to produce different shapes.
• Chair legs, bowls, lamp bases,
and stair balusters are examples
of items shaped on the wood
lathe.
Wood Lathe
• Size of a wood lathe is determined
by its Swing – the largest diameter
stock that can be turned.
• Bed length is the maximum
distance between the headstock &
tailstock centers.
• A standard size lathe is one with a
12 inch swing & 48 inch bed.
LATHE ACCESSORIES
4 Jaw Chuck
3 Jaw Chuck
Independent Jaws
For fast clamping of
For irregular shaped
stock.
Work-pieces
Self centering of stock.
Cup Center
Mounted in tailstock to hold
Work between centers.
Used for longer stock lengths.
Lathe Accessories
Spur Drives & Chisel Points
Mounted on Headstock spindle to
drive work piece (rotate work).
Center point of stock must be located
First before mounting spur drives.
Lathe Accessories
Face Plates
Used to drive work by screwing work to
face plate then mounting on spindle.
Good for turning short work like bowls.
Straight Tool Rest
Used to rest lathe cutting tools on
While turning work.
Good for long work-pieces.
Lathe Accessories
90 Degree Angle
Tool Rest
For shallow Bowls
Deep Curved
Tool Rest
For deeper
Interior work
Other tool rest styles
Turning Tools
GOUGE
ROUND NOSE
SKEW
SPEAR
PARTING
FLAT NOSE
• There are six basic shapes of turning tools
used on the lathe.
• They are available in various widths,
thickness and lengths.
• Turning tools cut best when hollowground.
GOUGE
• Used to cut rough stock to a
cylindrical shape.
• For rapid material removal.
• Does not produce a smooth
surface.
SKEW
• Used to make finishing or
smoothing cuts & to square
shoulders.
• Tool is placed flat on the tool
rest with the bevel down.
• A skew scrapes rather than cuts
the wood.
Round Nose, Spear Point
& Flat Nose
ROUND
SPEAR
FLAT
• Used when the tool shape fits
the contour of the work.
• These also make scraping cuts
and are held flat against the tool
rest when used.
PARTING TOOL
• This tool is used to cut off or part
wood.
• It can also be used to face off the
end of wood.
• Wood that is being parted must be
held in a chuck or face plate.
• Never attempt to part a piece of
wood mounted between centers.
Wood Selection
• Must be suitable for its intended
use.
• Woods commonly used for
turning include, birch,
mahogany, hard maple, oak &
walnut.
• Structural work-pieces should
be kiln dried, have straight grain
with few defects.
• Decorative pieces such as bowls
can use woods with defects &
wild grain patterns to enhance
their appearance.
Gluing Stock For Turning
• Gluing is sometimes needed to
achieve desired stock size.
• Also used to stabilize a product.
(less shrinkage or cracking)
• Only flat surfaced stock should
be glued together so separation
does not occur during the cut.
• Different types of wood can be
glued together to give a
decorative appearance.
• Scrap stock can be glued to
good stock for faceplate
turnings – keeps screws from
damaging finished product.
Gluing Continued
• A piece of notebook paper can be
glued between faceplate turnings
to help separate them later.
• Special adhesives called
cyanoacrylates are used by
professional craftsmen to glue
defects like loose knots in wood
turnings. (very hazardous dries
almost instantly)
Procedures for Turning
• For spindle turning:
– Stock should be about 1” longer
than completed length.
– Diagonal lines should be made on
each end of the work-piece to
locate centers.
– Diagonal cuts apprx. 1/8” deep
should be cut on one end for spur
drive.
– Stock greater than 2” thick should
have corners cut off on table saw
or jointer reducing amount of
stock to be roughed turned.
– Tool rest should be set parallel to
and 1/8” away from work-piece
and on center.
• For Headstock Turning:
– Select stock size needed for workpiece.
– Select smaller piece of scrap to
glue to work-piece and attach to
faceplate.
– Cut both pieces to a circular
shape.
– Screw assembly to face plate.
– Thread on face plate to spindle
nose of lathe.
– Adjust tool rest to center and 1/8”
away from work-piece.
– Turn work by hand to check for
clearance.
– Turn work-piece.