Search grantham418 . Heres the one I use on Amazon. The tool holder of a heavily-built engineering lathe clamps the cutting tool firmly and moves mechanically. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to avoid this problem. $1,200. Yes, you can. Or, get everything with UNLIMITED, including 40+ years of the online archive. I got Chatter every time my bit took too much bite too. This is vibration that leaves a rough or ridged surface on the work. The rigidity of a wood lathe is a problem. Wood lathe bearings may not be as good as metal lathe bearings. If you have any experience or advice, Id appreciate it. Again thank you again for the insight! 3. 1. Lathes are designed for turning wood. I wouldn't hesitate to try turning any of the free-machining alloys though. 16" x 40" 3-Phase Gunsmithing Metal Lathe. Dust Right Lathe Dust Collection System, Wood Turning Accessories by R. Fine Woodworking receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs. But power is not too much of an issue for small items, even in metal. AU $33.24. Free shipping. A similar job held in a chuck is harder, because the metal can move away from the cutting tool. $188.88. One of the main issues is that metal can get very hot while you turn it and can become sharp which can lead to injury. I occasionally turn some pens and other small objects using blanks laminated from wood and thin aluminum (soft drink cans). FREE delivery Dec 2 - 13 . Finally a voice of reason! On a wood lathe, I doubt you would be able to turn a metal backing plate accurately enough to be better than MDF. Speed is of the essence, or rather a lack of it is. Even on a lightweight lathe you can make simple shapes (for example putting a pointed end on a short bit of rod) in steel using a file, an angle grinder or a rotating grinding wheel held in a drill chuck. Itll just take a lot longer to see any discernible changes in the metal that youre working, so take your time and dont panic. The speed attainable - your lathe does go slow enough, but what is the torque like at those lower speeds? Lastly, its also vitally important to remember not to attempt to pick up or clean away any of the steel shavings while youre turning your metal, as unlike wood, when those shavings fly off the metal, theyre incredibly hot. Its hard enough to do on a metal lathe with all of the rigidity required for decent work. Turning metal on a wood lathe is tiring, particularly with steel, because the tool must be held firmly up to the work. It is good to understand that wood lathes are particularly made for turning wood. To spin metal on a lathe, you first build and install a fulcrum. 5. You can do woodturning in the proper way through a wood lathe machine, and your workpieces will get a better shape by the . Lathes are designed specifically for either woodturning or engineering purposes, rarely both. But if you dont have an engineering lathe and arent too ambitious, you can turn small items in brass, aluminium or even steel freehand quite successfully on a wood lathe. 3. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Wood lathes can be used to turn a variety of different materials, but can you use them to turn soft metals? MT1 Wood Turning Tool,Heavy Duty Bearing Tailstock Wood Metal Lathe Center,I4. Your email address will not be published. Your best bet is probably to pay a small machine shop to weld a piece of steel to the back of the chuck, turn it round and cut threads into it to fit. 5. I dont think it is likely to harm the lathe. The turning process basically would be the same way as turning a wood piece on a wood lathe. Copper is a base metal, while brass is an alloy. As steel is a lot harder to work than wood, turning it is really going to take it out of you, especially given that youll have to keep the gavel and file pressed hard to the steel for the duration of the job. AU $31.99. Yes, any of the leaded brasses or free-machining brasses should be fine. And you might be able to grind the metal to shape while it spins in the lathe using abrasives or a dremel type tool or a file. Aluminium turns with a graver or even a small short-beveled bowl gouge. I'd have a look at the achievable tolerances and see if it suits. 2. Theyre a bit smaller too. Metal shavings are hot and sharp when they fly off the main body of the steel that youre working, and they can easily blind you or cause a permanent eye injury if youre not wearing goggles. 5 Best Mini Lathe For Ring Making in 2021 Guides & Reviews, 3 Best Mini Metal Lathes in 2021 Buyers Guide & Reviews, Everything You Need to Know About Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter Outlets (GFCIs), Furnace vs Heat-Pump: Which Central Heating System Is Right for Your Home, Why Your Air Conditioning AC System Is Blowing Warm Air, How to Fix Common Plumbing Problems Yourself, The Right & Wrong Way to Use a Pipe Wrench. Turning steel is difficult because of the hard nature of the metal. It would be similar to a woodturning point tool, but with a more obtuse point. If you want to reduce the roughness while youre turning your steel, you can use a hard file to do it, which usually works well in conjunction with the previously mentioned sweet spot speed. You have to prevent the metal from moving away from the cutting edge. There are quite a few videos on how to do that on youtube too. Our biweekly podcast allows editors, authors, and special guests to answer your 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved. Mophorn Wood Lathe 14" x 40", Power Wood Turning Lathe 1/2HP 4 Speed 1100/1600/2300/3400RPM, Benchtop Wood Lathe with 3 Chisels Perfect for High Speed Sanding and Polishing of Finished Work. Sharing tips and experience. You may struggle to fit a cross slide and tool holder. If you turn metal on a wood lathe often or for long periods, you may end up damaging your lathe. This forum post is now archived. A lathe is a machine tool that rotates the workpiece about an axis of rotation to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, deformation, facing, and turning. One advantage metal lathe has over wood lathe is that its sturdier and hence enable you to handle unsteady wood pieces with less vibration. But like all simple answers, there are a number of caveats attached to the process that, depending on your point of view, mean that just because you can turn metal on a wood lathe, it doesnt necessarily mean that you should. Chunks of metal flying out of the machine are even more likely to do you harm than are lumps of wood. Normal chisels can easily break and dull. Even with tailstock support, that was not rigid enough, so I had to sand it to an acceptable finish. Now I have another use for the dial gauges! Metal splinters can be incredibly painful, and as the shavings tend to be much finer than wood, theyre also much more difficult to locate and remove, and the gloves will help to prevent them from getting stuck in your hands while youre turning your steel. This scenario is dangerous as the chisel can be thrown into the air and potentially harm a person nearby. Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. The surface may turn out to be rough, but sanding the work will fix it. J Jeff Gilfor Joined Nov 1, 2012 Messages 115 Likes 0 Location Tampa, FL Dec 20, 2012 #4 When sanding the metal can get quite hot so make sure you dont hurt yourself. The unavoidable chatter will almost certainly leave an incredibly rough edge on the steel that youre turning, but as long as youre careful and take your time, and dont gouge the steel too deeply, you should be able to polish the rough edges off later. The spinning tools used for this project are all made in my shop. . Now that we know that it is possible to turn metal on a wood lathe, even if it isnt advisable or the most sensible thing to do, were going to go into a little more detail about how you can do it while focusing on the previously mentioned caveats and taking them into account. SPONSORED. If your goal is to work with these harder metal types then you will need a metal turning lathe instead of one made for woodworking. Your email address will not be published. A lathe is an excellent machining tool that will help you shaping wood, metal, and a variety of other materials. Holding the tool in your hand so that it cuts steel is difficult. I dont expect to have to turn metal parts often, so I dont want to invest in a metal turning lathe. Even then there are rotation speeds and feed rates and depth of cuts that factor into all of this that needs to be addressed as well as cutting height and tool geometry, and if you think you are going to hand hold your cutting tool like a wood lathe.Not happening. Choose the right hard hitting JET Tools wood lathe now and get to work! AU $34.99. The item is a candle cup. Tools must always be used with a proper handle to stop the tang impaling your hand. Copper can harden and sometimes needs to be softened if it has trouble cutting. What it does, it holds a work-piece then rotates it to give any desired shape by performing different cutting methods. Nevertheless, wed like to part with a piece of advice for you; Always make sure to clean your metal lathes using a shop vac instead of compressed air if you choose to go ahead with turning wood using metal lathes.P.S. Although you can use metal lathes to turn wood, you also need to remember that low-priced wood lathes are capable of working with much bigger stock than cheap metal lathes. While turning metal on a wood lathe is technically possible, it's not a good idea for people who don't have any lathe experience. So for the stainless steel and all other metal Ill be using Ill only really be turning them slightly. I plan to adapt a cross slide and tool holder to secure the carbide-tipped tools. This just AINT worth the incredible danger! You can turn wood on a metal lathe. Can't do that with a wood chuck, but you can use thin sheet copper to shim the jaws to achieve perfection. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building! A file will help scratch the surface of the metal, removing chatter marks if necessary. Some metal alloys are more free-cutting and turnable than others. If you're turning wood on a metal lathe, you have to use the right chisels. I can't offer personal experience, but this chap can: he drills his holes on the back plate around the 24 minute mark in this video. Using the corners can cause the workpiece to "catch" - which can be potentially dangerous. They can get in your skin like splinters. Last Updated on November 4, 2022 by Charles Wilson. Turning Steel on wood lathe 18,885 views Mar 2, 2017 77 Dislike Share A Gontran 978 subscribers Turning steel on a wood lathe. With a sharp HSS tool, you barely even notice the aluminum. The strength needed to hold tools steady on metal exceeds what is required for woodturning. Instead of using scrapers, you can use gouges because they are easier to control. AU $61.88. The metal lathes that come with back-gear will allow lower speeds. Dont know if thatll help you determine the answer. A fulcrum can be described as a holding device that fits directly into the lathe. Top speed of metal lathes may not cater to specific tasks. It is recommended to use the tool at a 45 angle to the workpiece and avoid using the corners of the tool. Aug 2, 2012 (Edited) You can turn wood on a lathe made for turning metals. But many items dont need such precision. Wood the burrs, spalting and other decorative features in wooden bowls. You cant turn steel or other ferrous metals this way because they will ruin the cutting tools and quickly wear out the machine. This will be concentric with your lathe centre and also mean you will get minimal runout. Turning steel or other ferrous metal can quickly ruin the cutting tools and wear out your machine. A bit like a jam chuck. Find this Pin and more on Stained glass patterns by Richard Kane. If you are interested in working with these types of harder metal then consider getting a metal turning lathe instead of one made for woodworking. Free shipping. 8 Items Sort By JWL-1015 10'' x 15'' Wood Lathe Add to Compare Add to Wish List See details JWL-1015VS 10'' x 15'' Variable Speed Wood Lathe Add to Compare Add to Wish List See details The workpiece must be stiff, or well supported, so it doesnt flex. Cost: From what I've seen metal lathes cost more than wood lathes when you consider similar capacities and features. You dont want high speed when turning metal, certainly not that fast, it will cause vibration in the work. I came here looking for some insight into turning metal objects on a wood lathe and your post has been great. Thin rubber gloves that can easily tear are safer. Small items are possible. Brass can be finished in many ways, including polishing it to give the desired color. I havent tried machining solid metal blanks with a wood lathe yet, but the same light cuts and good technique that produce a good finish on wood should do the same with soft metals that are already round. The turning process basically would be the same way as turning a wood piece on a wood lathe. For a limited amount if turning, just use your woodturning chuck to hold your metal. 8x14" Digital Metal Turning Mini Lathe Machine Automatic Wood Milling 2500 RPM. Safety goggles are a must, and not wearing them isnt an option. Metals like brass, aluminum, and copper can be turned quite well on a wooden lathe; however, steel cannot. Using a wood lathe to turn metal may result in chatter. Which means the vibration on your workpiece, which will leave ridged or rough surface on it. Many people believe this is a bad idea but you can actually turn copper on your wood lathe. In general, you will get two options for a lathe in the market to work with two different kinds of materials- wood and metal. Light cuts using a robust and sharp tool, with minimum projection over the toolrest, should then produce an acceptable result. That's fantastic advice you give about turning my own backing plate! Carpentry Projects. If you can successfully turn steel on your wood lathe, youll be able to turn any other metal with ease. Mini Motorized Metalworking Turning Metal Lathe Machine DIY Wood Tools. hi terry iam just getting into lathes dont know what iam looking for can i use a small metal lathe to do wood working as well as metal .what do i need to look out for when buying a used lathe can you recommend a good starter lathe to learn on .glenn. I was seeing fingers on the floor and a cutting tool in someones eye! It is certainly possible to turn metal and even stone however there are some limitations: 1. Many projects do not require precision to the thousandths of an inch. We have created these special content collections organized to give you a deep dive When turning strong woods, a metal lathe is a great choice because it has more strength, but softer woods require a little more care to achieve a perfect handcraft. Wrenching a cutting tool can cause it to break and could put you in danger. Easy Woodworking Project Plans. The metal lathe offers an adjustable heat setting for turning wood, as well as a high level of accuracy and functionality. The metals I plan on using to turn would be, brass, stainless steel, copper, and whatever else a certain coin is made out of. Remember to let the tool cut and not force it. Any recommendations? In my mind, it comes down to 3 Cs: cost, convenience, and creativity. . Use tailstock supportwhenever possible. Sorby makes a line of tools for metal-spinning (on a "wood" lathe) Tim Yoder did two episodes of his WoodTurning Working (PBS) on the subject Making sawdust mostly, sometimes I get something else, but that is more by accident then design. If youre going to turn metal, or in this case steel, in your wood lathe then youll need to be properly prepared. And if it is, why would you want to do so? When turning metal on a wood lathe it is hard to avoid. Do please let me know how you get on. Thank you for replying to this in such a quick manner. Making true cylinders or flat surfaces accurate to a thousandth of an inch freehand is not easy. You will have to think about how you will hold the coins/rings. Try it Kevin. Since a good number of ferrous metal materials can be turned using a wooden lathe, our answer is in affirmative. Metal lathes are more expensive but they are worth the price. Instead, beginners should start by turning wooden projects to become familiar with the process. Now, lets talk about the advantages and disadvantages of turning wood on a metal lathe. Brass can be turned on a lathe and can also be made into parts for jewelry. 4pcs MT2 Live Center Drive Spur Centre Stick Spur Cup Wood Lathe Turning Tools. It helps to use a pivot pin in the toolrest to lever the tool into the work. I think I can make my own by drilling holes a lathe faceplate, which is made for screwing to the bottom of blanks for bowl turning. If you use hard turning, it leaves spiral patterns on the workpiece surface, resulting in sealing problems. Use a gravera bit like a skew chisel. I collect hobbies. They'll also need to develop a proper shearing technique before trying to turn metal. 1. While there are two separate schools of thought about whether you can, or cannot turn metal on a wood lathe, and whether or not you should even attempt to try doing it, the simple answer is that you can turn metal using a wood lathe. Start your 14-day FREE trial - and get building! I have a small project that I need this for, but Im still not sure if I want to risk my lathe or my health with this. But as far as holding the rings in place Ive watched a couple of videos on how to make a ring holder for turning rings using wood so holding the rings wouldnt be the issue. If youre looking to turn curved wood shapes, then metal lathes arent the one to go for. Different tools can help produce different forms. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQLrM1P-YQ, Big tabletop, metal legs, and wood expansion, How to build old-fashioned carriage doors, Editor's Letter: Technology and the future of woodworking. You can also use a metal lathe to turn wood. All turning machinery should have heavy bearings relative to its original design. The best wood lathes are typically not very expensive, but they can still do some small metalwork as well. Can't do that with a wood chuck, but you can use thin sheet copper to shim the jaws to achieve perfection. The manufacturer claims it has plenty of torque, even at low speeds, but they don't give a measurement of the torque. Never clear away swarf while the lathe is running. Advantages of Turning Wood on A Metal Lathe, Disadvantages of Turning Wood on A Metal Lathe, 20 Beginner-Friendly Wood Lathe Projects (That Sell), CNC Lathe Turret Alignment Procedure: 10 Steps, Lathe vs Milling Machine: 5 differences, why they matter. Many metal shops use a 4 jaw chuck and individually adjust each jaw to true the workpiece. Tool-post for metal lathes require custom design. When youre done sanding the wood, drill it with a 3/4 router bit6. + AU $1.99 postage. What tools are recommended for soft metal turning? The wood lathe could do a lot more than make rings, of course. Delta Wood Lathe With Cast Iron Legs Base Stand (No Motor) . Even on a lightweight lathe, you can still make simple shapes. Place your wooden workpiece on the lathe.2. To prevent chatter, you need a strongly built lathe, with good bearings. This wood lathe turning tool is notorious for being difficult to handle and requires patience to use correctly. The cutters installed in a metal lathe are unable to produce satisfactory results in wood surfaces and you need additional time and effort to sand the workpiece. Usually, woodturning is a skill and craft of using the wood lathe machine with a handheld tool like cross slides and cutting tools to cut a symmetrical shape around the axis of rotation. Laguna Tools REVO2436-220 24 l 36 3HP 220V REVO Lathe New. That having been said, there are plenty of 'tubers turning steel and aluminum on the wood lathe, though results reported are variable, primarily due to limited quality gear. For the life of me, I cant find the proper adapter. The techniques differ too so you cannot just use a piece of wood as you would with metal and work on a metal lathe. If you have a maker space nearby I'm sure you have a small machine shop close as well, and they are probably working still since they supply many essential businesses. Wood Lathes can be used for turning wood, but can also turn soft metals. Any runout you do get will be due to the chuck squishing the softer materiel from which the backing plate is made, and unevenness in the backing plate - hence MDF as the best option. 5. Cutting speeds are lower than for wood, but because only small items are possible, the normal low-speed setting on the lathe is probably OK. Woodturners are familiar with the problem of chatter. Long strands could even catch your fingers and drag them in. It will take longer, but you will get there in the end. Increase the speed for turning after the profile has been traced.4. You can turn softer, non-ferrous metals such as brass on a wood lathe. The primary reason why most woodworkers and metal turners pour scorn on the idea of turning metal on a wood lathe is mainly due to them believing in the old adage, the right tool for the right job. I thought about using a metal lathe in my local maker-space, but theyre all closed due to the pandemic. Woodturning can produce candlesticks, tool . The machine Im currently looking at is said to go as high as 3500 RPM. Id rather not do that because Id probably get the holes slightly off-center and end up with a bunch of runout. Turning Metal on a Wood Lathe - A 'Woodturning' Experiment 4,097 views Dec 12, 2021 Is turning metal in a wood lathe even possible?! The metal bar will be placed through a secure slot and attached with a complimentary bar. You should wear a face shield for all your turning. Wood Turning by Wood and Metal Lathe. Its OK for an occasional job, but if you are getting into woodturning you will want a proper wood lathe. A metal lathe can be used for wood, but there are problems, such as limited size range and access for tools, lack of a tool rest, the affect of the shavings and dust on the lathe and the risk of oil getting on the wood. Im interested in using a wood lathe (Laguna Revo 18-36, 220 V, 2 HP) to turn metal parts on occasion. 4pcs MT2 Steel Wood Lathe Live Center Drive Spur Cup Arbor Lathe Accessories. You could use a piece of MDF attached to a faceplate or as you say drill the holes, though getting it precisely centred could be a total nightmare. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 $ 14,130. This version of a lathe is not properly equipped to make bowls, or cups or difficult moldings and require modifications. Reading this article really helped me out on my decision to get a wood lathe to start turning rings! Some grades are liable to work hardening, so if the tool rubs on the metal it becomes too hard to turn easily. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQLrM1P-YQ. It is possible to reduce the amount of chatter that youll have to deal with while cutting your steel, and the main way to do it is by making sure that the steel youre turning, is held as tightly as possible in your lathe. The hardness of the metal resists the cut, and the cut is very liable to chatter. @Ben_M_CA, that's a great idea; I bet the smaller shops might need the business. A Jacobs chuck will hold small items. Chucks for metal holding typically come with three tapped M6 or M8 holes on the back. While working with unsteady wooden pieces, metal lathes are better because they maintain a slower speed as opposed to wood lathes. You can turn soft metals on a wood lathe, but it is not recommended to do this with ferrous metals. On a wood lathe, I doubt you would be able to turn a metal backing plate accurately enough to be better than MDF. "Can" is the important word here. If you are not ambitious with your project and do not have an engineering lathe, small items made of aluminum or some other softer metal may be turned on any lathe without a problem. Get instant access to over 100 digital plans available only to UNLIMITED members. Id have thought the cutting forces could easily pull the metal loose. 24W Metal Mini Turning Lathe Machine Motorized Metalworking DIY Wood Tool. Ive done it. Working freehand, accuracy is harder to achieve. turnery) is the art of carving wood into a round shape with radial symmetry. + $19.99 shipping. If you havent turned metal before, youre going to be in for a shock, as its a lot more difficult to cut than wood, mainly because its a lot harder. You can turn soft metals on a wood lathe, but it is not recommended to do this with ferrous metals. Do you have a dial guage? One way to make this process work and turn wood on a metal lathe is that you can use a big bar of steel in the tool holder, replacing the tool and utilize it as a firm rest for more traditional woodturning tools. Free shipping. @R_SS, my lathe is fairly stout; it has variable speed and can go down to 50 rpm. Wood care how to clean, refresh and repair wooden bowls. @John_C2, I took your advice and ordered some spigot jaws, which would hold some of the metal stock I need to turn. Turning copper is easy. . Do you have a dial guage? With that said my metal lathe isn't going anywhere, and I plan to upgrade to a better wood lathe than the old HF one I have now but it does work just fine Converting a wood lathe to metal lathe with milling vice - YouTube 0:00 / 13:52 Converting a wood lathe to metal lathe with milling vice 30,086 views Jan 21, 2018 240 Dislike. This vibration tends to result in a rough or ridged surface on the work. The simple answer is yes. You can design this with a solid metal bar. Plus tips, advice, and special offers from Fine This can happen when you use sandpaper. + AU $10.00 postage. When you use a metal lathe to turn wood, the leftover shavings from the wood may cause damage to the bed, carriage, and left slide to the metal. I have a metal lathe, but if I just wanted to shape a profile into the edge of a small ring of soft metal I would try hand tools and my wood lathe. Chula Vista. P.S. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Turning metal on a wood lathe. Wood lathes are great for working with a variety of materials like wood, plastics, copper, and aluminum. Turning metal on a wood lathe is tiring, particularly with steel, because the tool must be held firmly up to the work. WM210V Precision Metal Lathe Metric Thread Bench Lathe 900W #028284. A graver, which you can easily make yourself, wastraditionally made from square section tool steel with a diagonal flat, leaving a long point at one corner. The swarf is sharp and hot wood chips hitting your hand are annoying, but metal swarf can cut or burn. Its true, but it is important to note that you can only turn softer non-ferrous metals such as brass. Turning wood on a regular mini metal lathe makes more sense than turning metal on a wood lathe even if its the finest one. This is really going to help me out! Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abc0044ff64654a86eaeb951c4870acd" );document.getElementById("e7750a9ccf").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. As for the lathe chuck backing plate, these are often custom made to match a lathe by an engineering company. At the very least, you will need: Roughing Gouge Shallow Fluted Gouge Skew chisel Parting tool These necessary woodturning tools will get you started using your metal lathe as a woodturning tool. I found plenty of advice on YouTube about metal working with a lathe (Blondiehacks has an excellent tutorial). This is a great way to make prototypes or small metal pieces that you cant afford the time and expense of designing on a more expensive machine. See also turning with metal. Within a given budget, bigger machines are likely to be more useful, but it depends what you want to make. Place your wooden workpiece on the lathe. For example, modifying a drive centre while it is in the spindle taper is easy. If you want to turn wood primarily pickup a wood lathe and have fun - the investment in money and time will be much lower. One who practices this craft is called a turner or woodturner. It is about 5 inches tall. This gives more control. Turning metal on a wood lathe is possible, but not advised. You can't use the same cutters though. Free shipping . Slower speeds are best for carving since the metal lathe is . But they are not effective at working with harder metals. They are also very accurate. So be safe and be well. Youll have to control the speed manually. And I have my doubts about a wooden chuck, although you say you have seen it done. Free shipping. Personally, I think Lathes impart such an immense amount of energy into a system that any solution using screws and such cobbled together would be way too dangerous for use, at least for myself. These machines have sharper cutting tools that will last longer and wont wear out as quickly when dealing with steel or other ferrous metals. . More by the author: About: Check out some of my shop adventures on YouTube. If you can use a fixed pivot point, make sure you do, as itll make things a lot easier. than $10 a month. Michael, the risk is low if the item is held securely, it is round to start with and not too big, and if you go gently with the tools and keep the speed down. Yes, I do have dial gauges, which I used to setup my lathe, drill press, bandsaw, and miter saw, but it has been gathering dust since. Some wood lathes have a proper slide rest as an accessory, but without that accuracy comes from the turners skill. Or to put it more simply, woodworkers believe that wood lathes should be used to fashion wood, while metal turners believe that metal lathes are the only tool that you should use to turn metal. The surface may turn out to be rough, but sanding the work will fix it.5. Metal lathes are more expensive but they are worth the price. It is risky, too. How to Turn Wood on a Metal Lathe? Metal lathes require a fast and thorough cleaning after the wood is turned on it. Turning metal on a wood lathe can be a great way to experiment with shop projects. You should choose a lathe built for rigidity. Sturdier balance along with its power feed-in its carriage, metal lathes will also help you to turn long wood pieces. There are some safety concerns when turning soft metals on a wood lathe. I think you could achieve quite a lot with a good wood lathe, but a metal lathe is designed and equipped for the work. It must hold the workpiece firmly. A file thrown back by the chuck jaws can injure your hands, so always use tools with handles. Honestly, if youre going to try cutting steel freehand, you are going to run headlong into a lot of chatter (which happens when your tool begins to jump and skip over the material that youre turning), so be ready for it. A wood lathe can be used for small projects in soft metal, but it is not recommended. A lathe is a machine tool used principally for shaping pieces of metal, wood, or other materials by causing the workpiece to be held and rotated by the lathe while a tool bit is advanced into the work causing the cutting action. A wood lathe rotates faster than a metal lathe, which causes "chatter," and the carving tools heat up rapidly on metal. Internal turning You can use internal turning to enlarge the inner hole of the workpiece. Joshua, I have no experience of lower voltage machines. Begin by tracing a profile.3. A round high speed steel bar ground with a pyramid point would work. Metal lathes are the better option if you want to turn the wood piece into a cylindrical shape with precise dimensions. This is achieved using a lathe to spin a block of wood against hand-held carving tools. The less movement, or flex that there is in the steel, the less likely you are to end up facing undue amounts of skipping, or chatter. Commenting has been disabled. Many wood lathes are capable of turning a larger diameter than metal lathes. If youre looking for the right equipment to work on these types of projects then metal turning lathes maybe your best option. For short pieces where low accuracy is acceptable, it should be fine. Get complete site access to video workshops, digital plans library, online archive, and more, plus the print magazine. I'm wondering why metal lathes aren't used for [wood]turning. If the workpiece is held rigidly, the pivot pin can help prevent chatter too. Just be sure you stop the power to clean swarf and get rid of that neck tie. A file will shape the item and remove chatter marks if necessary. Turning aluminum is possible on a wood lathe, but you should not attempt to do this with ferrous metals. While were sure youre already prepared for any eventuality in your workshop, there are a couple of additional things that youll need to think about when youre turning metal. AU $23.99. I turned the aluminium finial shown above on my Graduate Shortbed lathe, mainly using a small gouge, cutting as if the metal were wood. Funnily enough it came up in my feed a couple of weeks ago! Eye protection is a must. Interrupted cuts, such as turning the corners off square stock, are particularly difficult freehand because it is hard to control the cutting tool. It is essential that the workpiece is secure in the lathe. More About granthams . It helps to use a pivot pin in the toolrest to lever the tool into the work. woodworking questions and connect with the online woodworking community. Wood lathes are not capable enough to turn more rigid materials such as metal or aluminum. Most people use them ring inlays, pen turning or small projects. A file thrown back by the chuck jaws can injure you. Was: Free shipping. There are a variety of adapter plates for metal lathes, but I cant find one to fit my wood lathe. In this article, we'll discuss what a lathe is, the . 4. Brass and aluminum tend to respond well to scrapers and gouges, respectively. A mini lathe, for example one from Record or Axminster is where most people start. Usually, the tailstock and headstock of a metal lathe tend to have a better alignment along with a strong quill. Metal lathes make turning long wood pieces easier. This is not surprising given the additional tooling necessary to work a metal lathe. There are various metal alloys, but some metals turn more easily and smoothly than others. Increase the speed for turning after the profile has been traced. As steel is much harder to turn than wood, youll need to lower the speed of your lathe and it might take you a while to find the right speed thatll enable you to work the steel properly, but youll find it through a process of trial and error - when you find that sweet spot with minimal chatter, thats the right one. Turning Brass on Wood Lathe 13,621 views Sep 24, 2020 386 Dislike Share Ebenisterie lose 6.58K subscribers This videos goes over the method for turning metal, specifically brass, on a. Brass should turn well, but stainless steel could be a problem. 360 is just the only type I've actually turned on my wood lathe so I can't give first-hand account to any other type. Tools leave a polished surface on brass. The turning of soft metal on a wood lathe is . My problem is adapting the typical three-jaw metal-working chuck to fit my 1-1/4 inch, 8 tpi spindle. 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