Before the Wood Spins

Turning is about more than just cutting wood from a whirling blank, but demonstrations are never long enough to teach turners how to maintain their lathe, sharpen their tools, and safe drilling techniques. The goal is to provide core knowledge on these topics.

Each of these three core topics need to be mastered to achieve the greatest joy in woodturning. Each topic is supported with detailed videos, published articles, and verbal explanation of each topic coming together in a multidimensional demonstration. The intent is to provide a go-to resource for topics that are critical, but frequently omitted in demonstrations.

T uning your Lathe Module

The module will address:

• Which parts of the ways should not be lubricated?

• What is a dry lubricant and where should it be used?

• Slipping tailstock

• Caring for your quill.

• What is galling and why do we care.

• What you should do if your drill chuck slips in the tailstock

• How to have your banjo strum musically (just joking really it is the proper care of a banjo).

• Why is the locking plate so important.

• Sources of vibration and wobble and their cure.
  

A Primer for Drilling on the Lathe

Drilling is a basic operation that is omitted in woodturning training. Much has been written about the use of a bowl gouge, but little information is available about how to drill safely.

This demonstration covers why turners experience “nasties” when drilling and the steps needed to prevent them. Information about a Morse-Taper is presented, how to repair a damaged arbor, how to change out an arbor for a new one, the importance of cleaning the quills, and how to repair a damaged quill. Once the groundwork is laid, various drilling techniques are demonstrated with a discussion of the pros and cons of each.

The typical comment I hear from people who have heard this demonstration is “I wish I had heard this years back”.

An Introduction to Sharpening

An overall approach to sharpening will be introduced that focuses on the improvements in sharpening systems that have followed the introduction of CBN wheels. Time permitting, techniques of sharpening off the grinder will be shown.

These topics are the black holes of woodturning. They are of critical importance, but never talked about. Each topic is backed up with my articles from the American Woodturner and videos.