A few people have messaged me asking what exactly is a "small turning". Good question! I don't have the definitive answer, but my opinion would be that if you can turn it on a mini lathe, it's probably in the "small" category. What do you think?
Sometimes it feels like ANYTHING I drop is that small!!If it falls on the shop floor and can roll under your work bench, it is small.
My thinking was that there are many (dozens?) of places where there is general turning discussion. Small turnings have some unique aspects shared with pens, so it seemed natural that we could expand a little into that area. Hey, if it's a bust and nobody is interested, so be it and it'll dry up and eventually end up with the rest of the forums that were my supposedly good ideas that bombed.I think the category should just be other turned projects other than pens. Leave small out of it.
Whatever you want to do Jeff. Just then why the question how small? You set the measurements. Just remember pens are made on full size lathes too. My thought is not many people here do turnings other than what you are seeing so it will settle on its own size issue. Even on the turning sites you talk about it is rare you see any project bigger than 12" diam. That can be made on a midi lathe which most of us have. Those full size lathe are generally for large bowls and long spindle work. Not seen anything come through here in the years I have been here.My thinking was that there are many (dozens?) of places where there is general turning discussion. Small turnings have some unique aspects shared with pens, so it seemed natural that we could expand a little into that area. Hey, if it's a bust and nobody is interested, so be it and it'll dry up and eventually end up with the rest of the forums that were my supposedly good ideas that bombed.
By "small" I was thinking about something that would fit on a mini, maybe 10" dia max. We can all define "small" however we want. I don't envision deleting a photo or discussion because it's not small.
This is an even larger lathe, and it turns wood:This is small .
This isn't
Thats cool .This is an even larger lathe, and it turns wood:
https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/giant-turned-wood-bowl-13-feet-wide
I know what you mean Earl.Sometimes it feels like ANYTHING I drop is that small!!