Turning metal on a wood lathe?

[Woodchipper]

How hard is it to turn soft aluminum on a lathe with turning tools?

 

[Dieseldoc]

If you asking about alum thin in fills on blanks not a problem. Carbide cutter tools will work best, but not staying sharp for long.

 

[leehljp]

I turn thin brass and aluminum spacers without a problem. I have turned 1 inch thick 4 inch long aluminum shaft on a wood lathe too.
An occasional posted photo:

Imported Photo from leehljp

Imported Photo from leehljp. Please edit title and description.

www.penturners.org

 

[Woodchipper]

Hank, that is what I was considering. What grade aluminum and what tool did you use?

 

[jttheclockman]

How hard is it to turn soft aluminum on a lathe with turning tools?

Aluminum brass and copper are all easy to turn using carbide tools as well as HSS tools if sharp. I have shown many many examples of me using aluminum as spacers and dots in pens I make. I also have made a few full aluminum body pens such as the one I show here. I use 6061 aluminum. It is a very common grade aluminum.

 

[carlmorrell]

I made this one a long time ago. Before carbide was a thing, so it must have been a HSS gouge followed by sandpaper

 

[Woodchipper]

Thanks to all. Opens up more selections for sales.

 

[Parawolf]

Ok really dumb question where can I get the brass and aluminum stock?
Thanks for your time..

 

[Woodchipper]

Amazon, MSC, to name a few.