Thread: Rubberset 400 replica project

Originally Posted by MikeB52

A fellow member sent me another challenge.
The aforementioned ironwood rubberset challenge begins!
Attachment 304862

I have zero doubt that this is going to make an awesome brush!

Test trimmed it on the lathe first to check hardness and rough shape it.

First critical pass, nothing snapped! Good 2 go.
Think it is going to look awesome too!

That does have a nice look to it.

Back to the lathe for trimming and clean up, quick acetone wipe to see what it’s lookin like.

Decided I want to hit the metal store after work tomorrow, get some hollow rod in bronze, aluminium, and brass, see what contrasting metal ferrules will bring to the mixes.
Taig should do that kind of work just fine.

Damn... that is a beautiful piece right there!

I wonder if stabilizing the handles after rough out then doing the finish pass might give the wood better defense from tearing out? Seems like on all the handles there’s little bits of tear out at the end of the fillet. I had that problem with a few handles I turned though they seemed to clean up with some patient sanding.

I can’t wait to see what you make one of those brush handles out of next.

That grain is really going to pop once you finish it. DIdn’t expect the grain to be so prominent.

The tear out seems more related to the tool direction during its passes. Unlike in traditional turning, this carver head spins like a dremel and travels up, and back down the piece. On the return passes the cutter is traveling against its cut rotation so the tear out occurs.
Really unless I change my program and only cut in one direction, which would double the machine cycle time and number of moves required, I’d rather sand it.
On my normal lathe I seal softer pieces to avoid tear out like you suggest, with great success.


Grabbed some brass. Dang that stuff is pricey! Maybe subtle use of brass only.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Grabbed some brass. Dang that stuff is pricey! Maybe subtle use of brass only.

A narrow brass ring between the two pieces would be pretty cool.


Pete <:-}