Thread: First Practice Wood Turning Project with a Few Observations and Questions

Nice lathes gents.
Start8ng from a solid base only maximizes the pleasure, and chances for strong results.

Carbide tools are great, I own a few and they have a place on the rack. They scrape not cut so they aren’t the be all end from a finish, or traditional turning perspective, but last long, are easy to turn to a fresh edge and sharpen up easily on a diamond card.
My skew isn’t radiused, but isn’t straight either. Sort of a two angled face with the leading third on one angle, then the back two third on a different slant. Works for so many cuts.
Tool catches on those roughing gouges are usually the edge of the rad catching on fresh wood.
Always remember to cut downhill or into the centerline, not uphill, or away from the c/l when hogging out lots of shavings.
Adjust your tool rest in often and keep it close. Keep your tool on wood c/l, not the post itself. But become familiar with running tools slightly above or below that centerline as well.
Soft wood is cheaper to learn on but hardwood is better to learn on, and to use in general.
Faster is gooder for wood. Lathe speeds above 1800 rom unless you are hand sanding.
Unlike metal speed er up as the work takes shape, but be slower if it’s rough, early cuts and off balance..
Get a drill chuck for the tail stock! And a center finder jig, get a set of calipers, inside outside and a dead blow to set your live center in hard stock. And a digital caliper that offers fractions as well as decimals. Some Forstner bits to go with that drill chuck.
When you are ready for new gouges, buy them without handles and turn your own. Puts all the value in the steel.
Good practice and custom grips set to your hand size every time.
And most important, have fun and wear nothing dangly.