Woodchuck Toolrest Collar

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SteveG

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Joined
Dec 21, 2009
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Eugene, Oregon 97404
Was using my Woodchuck, turning pens, and thought to myself: This carbide insert went dull way too soon! It was NOT the carbide, it was me. I have made a small collar that resides on the post of the toolrest and automatically sets the "perfect" height of the tool rest for the Woodchuck. This can stay on the post all the time, since all other tools I use call for the toolrest to be set higher. I do switch the collar between my short bar and 6-inch bar rest, and the last time I switched, it went on upside down. This allowed the toolrest to slip too far down and I was turning with the Woodchuck WAYYYYYY below centerline. It is time to make two new collars, designed and manufactured to be "Steve proof". When the collar is on right, it works GREAT, and saves a lot fiddling with the height setting for the Woodchuck.
 
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Steve, I did sorta the same thing for my Skogger. I just drilled and tapped a 10-24 hole and put a screw in it. It keeps it at the right height and you can't get it backwards!:biggrin::wink:
 
Minotbob said:
Anybody know of any videos that show the correct way to use the Woodchuck Pen Pro?
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Bob, I borrowed a camcorder yesterday, it's not a very good one, But I'm going to try and do a video that will help, and hopefully I'll be putting a DVD with all the new orders and will send one to folks that have purchased one IF they request it and IF I can figure out how to do it, I'm not real camera savy., but I'm gonna try....
 
bitshird said:
Bob, I borrowed a camcorder yesterday, it's not a very good one, But I'm going to try and do a video that will help, and hopefully I'll be putting a DVD with all the new orders and will send one to folks that have purchased one IF they request it and IF I can figure out how to do it, I'm not real camera savy., but I'm gonna try....
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Ken
I'd be happy with it on Youtube.
Thanks
 
YEAH! Make the Juggalo do it!!:biggrin:


No... wait.....


That might not be such a good idea. The video might end up with C.P.... (you know the rest) as the background music and I GUARANTEE a whole list of people would take offense. I am a Juggalo and I am almost offended by that one... but not really.:biggrin::eek::eek::eek:
 
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It is my understanding that most carbide cutters are supposed to be used at almost horizontal position. There is an interesting blurb in the new Woodturning Design about HSS versus carbide cutters.
 
andyk said:
It is my understanding that most carbide cutters are supposed to be used at almost horizontal position. There is an interesting blurb in the new Woodturning Design about HSS versus carbide cutters.
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may be supposed to be used that way, but when I was working with mine this past weekend I found the sweet spot when I had the cutter at about 45 degrees (just the corner of the tool on the rest). Just like I use my skew. Honestly made me wish the handle was round on the bottom to make it easier.

It will likely turn into one of those what works for me bits.
 
The woodchuck is supposed to be used perfectly level to the floor so the cutting edge does all of the work. I would rather use my cell phone to film the proper way to use a woodchuck and no I would never use theme music for anything work related.
 
I made a real quick video of turning a maple blank to round. My camera man had just called me to dinner so it had to be fast! In the first part I was trying to show how the cutter is by no means new, (it's been used for countless pens), but as you will see it still hogs the wood. I was just trying to show how quickly it will take a hardwood down to size.... of course by using a little finesse, you can get a much smoother finish. It will leave a surface like glass when used right!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BoZ9It2tx_5QyM0n1iqd0V9lS4rY8-gKT4xLJM2GU8g?feat=directlink
 
Lenny TRhanks, that is the way the tool was intended to be used, BUT I think that what ever way works best for an individual is the best way, I've had guys tell me they ride the bevvel with it, and if it works for them that's fine, but it's supposed to be cutting edge at or very slightly below center and the tool parallel to the floor. I also have had to make a riser for my tool post, I just took a piece of 1 inch pipe parted it off at about.840 and put that between the Banjo and the tool rest around the post, It only raises my tool rest about .050 but that was all I needed, On my 1014 I had to raise it up almost a 1/4 inch maybe a bit more.
The constant pounding of the tool against the rest will drive the tool rest down, and you can wind up cutting too low. it also makes a lot of banjos hard to tighten. This also prevents breaking off one of the diecast handles that tighten the tool rest into position.
If no metal lathe is available a hacksaw and a file will work just fine, I made all of my risers from Pipe nipples from Ace hardware.
 
Ken, a youtube video showing how to correctly install an R2 cutter would be GREAT. The only problem I ever have with the Woodchuck is immediately after I change R2 inserts.

The "4" mounts right up and cuts perfectly. the "2" want to fight with me abit.
 
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