Woodchuck Question

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Wheaties

Wheaties

Member
Joined
May 8, 2009
Messages
714
Location
Omaha, NE
I seem to be getting chatter with my woodchuck. I just got it so I'm still learning it and I know everything is sharp. I am cutting at, or slightly below, them middle and holding the tool parallel to the floor as suggested, but it just seems to have some trouble occasionaly. It cuts very smooth with light cuts but not as great with more aggresive cuts. For example, I can do a PR pen about 5 times faster with a skew. And I can bring a wood blank to round faster with a gouge. I'm sure it's a user problem. Can you give me some tips for using this thing?

Thanks
 
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Work with the height of your tool rest and angle of the tool. Also, check your blade edge. The first time I used mine, I chipped the blade. I did not notice it until I could not cut anything.

I seem to have better results with the blade slightly above center, for rounding, and at center after rounding. The tool is 3/8" or 1/2" thick, so the tool rest is still lower than I would have it for a skew or gouge.

I have not been pleased with the woodchuck on PR, mainly because of heat. The PR seemed to blister for me using my Woodchuck.

I have used it with Aluminite, with good results.

The Woodchuck loves speed, so the faster you can turn the better results it will give.

Hope this helps.

edit: Just realized I did not answer your question. The chatter may be your hitting the bevel of the blade. Try raising the handle slightly when the chatter starts. If this helps, lower the tool rest so you are cutting with the leading edge of the blade.
 
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Zack, there is a learning curve to this tool. I can do pen blanks in 1/4 of the time but when roughing a bowl, I get the same problem. We have a quality product but be patient. Try changing the angle. It may help.
 
Wheaties said:
THarvey said:
The Woodchuck loves speed, so the faster you can turn the better results it will give.
This may be my problem. I think I was at around 2000 or so. I will crank it up to 3600 and see what happens. I have been playing with the angle a little without much luck yet. I'll keep trying
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Spin fast, but feed slow. If you plunge it too quick with the Woodcheck, the catch is nasty. :devil: DAMHIKT
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Speed is most important but I have been cutting more on the corner of the tool. I have been holding the tool flat on the tool rest and then starting on one side going straight across. It looks similar to what a metal lathe looks like (keep in mind I have only seen a metal lathe in action on TV). I may not be describing it well but it seems to work for me.
 
rjwolfe3 said:
Speed is most important but I have been cutting more on the corner of the tool. I have been holding the tool flat on the tool rest and then starting on one side going straight across. It looks similar to what a metal lathe looks like (keep in mind I have only seen a metal lathe in action on TV). I may not be describing it well but it seems to work for me.
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This is what I do as well. I start off to the side of the blank and take off about 1/16" at a time. I could go deeper, but then it heats up the wood or plastic a whole lot and that could lead to cracking.

Another thing I have noticed is sometimes it catches a chip and just rubs that chip against the blank instead of cutting. I have found it's best to pull away after every pass and clean off the end of the tool.
 
I have a woodchuch and i love it. I have cut deer antler and some very hard wood with it and it eats it like butter. I have learned that you have to slow. I start at one end of the blank and then move to the other end snd when i get as close to the bushing as i want then i use the middle of the blade to make little planning cuts until all is even across the blank.
 
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