YES!! YOU can turn aluminum on a wood lathe!

[yort81]

This gentleman is running a kick starter campaign ... but about half way through his video... He turns his massive aluminum blank down for a gouge handle holder... at the end he notes it was 4 hours of actual turning time.

And YES!! it is just that easy! A bit slow.... but it's NOT hard to do... Drilling a pen blank out of 6061 or 7075 is not hard to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r33cqUSHEcw&list=UUAGJQfE8Li0xYgt1q5TYuvA

While you are there... Support his campaign

 

[crokett]

I did this on a wood lathe. The effect on the aluminum cap was a happy accident. I have some brass that I am going to turn at some point in the near future.

 

[New Bill]

Aluminum is really easy on the wood lathe. Carbide tools make it easier. Drilling is the hardest part and it's not that bad.

Aluminum is a lot more forgiving.....you're not going to break a blank!

Here's a few of the pens I've turned with 6061 aluminum.

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