Lathe practice

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Big

Big

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I took a small piece of pine 2"X4" that was left over after I built a table for my band saw. Cut it in half and used the pieces for lathe practice.

I want to feel comfortable with my tools before I actually start turning pen blanks. So please, let me know what I am doing wrong.
 

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Pine is a soft wood and will tear easily, try to use a denser type wood, may oak and see how that works for you, also, make sure your tools are "sharp"
 
You won`t be making many beads and coves on pens . Practice 2-3 inch long flattish areas . If you have a piece of wood that has been cut at an angle to the grain , practice cutting from right to left and from left to right .
 
I go along with others in using a hard wood such as oak. When I first got my lathe I cut some oak to the size of a pen blank, drill a 7mm hole through it and put it on my mandrel (with out any brass tubes) and put a bushing on each end and pratice that way. There is some play but it will help you get the basic shaping.
 
Hi Big:

I also agree:

1. A denser wood - Pine is fine to start with, but too soft for real practice.
2. For pens, a wider "bead" area is appropriate.
3. YES - drill a 7mm hole, add bushings, make sawdust!!! Repeat...Repeat...
4. And yes... Having the lathe horizontal makes it "slightly" easier (unless you are RichL and use a lateral straight line lathe :eek:). If so, let me know!!! and ignore all my suggestions...

But... ANY cutting you can do on ANY wood will give you practice that will be helpful. At this point, you need to learn your tools! Next week will come the Masterpieces!

Have FUN!
 
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Looking back at your picture, I did notice a BIG problem...

WHERE IS THE SAWDUST??? THAT LATHE IS MUCH TOO CLEAN!

:mad-tongue::mad-tongue::mad-tongue:
 
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Big; Take time to learn how to properly sharpen your tools. A sharp tool makes the learning curve much easier. Also make good use of your digital calipers, never rely on bushings or fitting to be an exact match. I think the hardest things to learn on a lathe are long tapers and equal sized curves. What you said about feeling comfortable with your tools is probably THE most important part of turning or woodworking in general. If you are leary, unsure, or tence when using tools, mistakes will be made. The only thing wrong with your progress so far as I can see, is that your not trying your skills on harder woods. Surprizingly harder woods turn much easier than soft woods. Go out in the yard and find a limb that is big enough to turn. Go to the lumber company and ask if you can have or buy some of the cutoffs. many times they cut around knots or other inperfections that make great pen blanks. Ask if you have any questions ask, or look in the library for help. Welcome to the turning famly !!!! Jim S
 
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Ditto on sharp tools, varying hardness of wood and I think you will find that the mandrel is actually about 1/4" so use a 1/4" drill to avoid the slop you'll\'ll get from a 7mm hole unless you add the tube...
 
There is an Alan Lacer DVD that is about learning to use the skew, The Dark Side of the Skew, I think is the name. In the video he says to get two 8 ft 2" x 2" pine boards from the Big Box store and cut all of it into 12" lengths. Turn all of it into what ever shapes you want and by the time you're finished you will be where you need to be to call yourself a turner. It is worth finding and watching, in my opinion.
WB
 
Just go to it and have fun ,Get creatitive ,Trial & error will be your teacher once you learn how to hold tool's in proper position.
 
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Buy a bag of tubes and get started. If you like the way it turns out, assemble it. If you don't like it, turn the wood off the tube (even more practice) and start over. You don't have to assemble every blank you turn, just like a good photographer doesn't show every picture they take.
 
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