Here are a few images of some turning innovations I have
come up with that really work for me.
A Quiet Dust Collection System
First of all, the dust collector. This is built around a recycled HVAC
squirrel cage fan taken from a dumpster. These fans are wonderfully quiet
compared to all the paddle wheel ones on the market, but they require large
ductwork, for their air flow drops dramatically if there is a load. I use
the Oneida pleated filter on it, and the pan on the bottom is so easy to clean.
The collector system as a whole. All heat or coolness stays in the shop.
The blue curtain pulled up for the photo keeps the shavings out of the pleats.
The 220V HVAC fan with plywood adaptor panels, close up.
The 1/4" plywood cone and 10" ducting.
Having a large cone is vital to efficiency of the system.
Calipers
Here is a set of wooden calipeers
Wooden calipers, 6" throat. Notice reference marks on the right side.
Close up of spring. Careful sanding is necessary before assembly to make
the gauging tips meet just right.
Here is a shot of caliper patterns on a 1" grid. The curves
need not be exact to make this most functional tool.
the 9" throat caliper I use the most
the pattern for a 9" deep throat caliper
the 13" caliper, good for larger bowls and most of a globe
The Gouge Extender
A half inch diameter gouge with extension, with worn one beside for
comparison
The gouge extension before assembly. 3/4" cold rolled steel bar
stock has 1/2" hole drilled 2 " into one end.
Medium CA glue firmly bonds extension to
wood handle. Thin CA is run downthe gouge into the extension.
A
propane torch will break that bond loose to replace the gouge.
This is 7/8" stock for a 5/8" gouge. The home turned handle is too thick
for comfort.
Boring Bars for Globes and Deep Bowls
Sometime back in the early 1980's I was introduced
to the Thompson boring bar at a workshop with David Ellsworth.
I went home and made one for myself with 36" of 1" cold rolled steel
and a hacksaw (bottom tool below). I turned a lot of deep
globes with it, and had a 3/4" dia. made to compliment it.
Twenty years later I bought a flat bar version made by Bob Vaughan
(top tool below), and found it most steady. So I adapted
the slotted bold idea to some 3/4" x 1 1/4" flat stock, and came up
with the tool in the middle below. Denny Martin, a turner and
machinist in our local club, made me two more sizes of this tool.
They really work well, especially using a prop stick below the right
hand to hold the tool level with only downward pressure.
Denny is making these for sale now.
Here is his flyer.
Contact him if you want to try this fine boring bar option.
Three versions:
Bottom - 1" round stock, hand sawn slot, Thompson Tool style, 1983
Middle - 3/4" x 1 1/4" stock, 2008 version, power hacksaw slot, 2008
Top - Bob Vaughan version adjusted to 35 deg. angle, square hole for tool bit,
tiny allen set screw, 2007
Close up of rectangular stock Thompson Tool. 1/4" sq. tool steel
big, 8% cobalt HS steel. The tip is ground
to an off center fingernail
shape.
This allows you to make a wide stock removal shaving with the right hand side
while,
or a finer final skimming cut with the center or left side.
Bottom of tool, showing tapered
head of split bolt carefully ground and seated to be flush for smooth removal
from spinning bowl.
Using the boring bar with a prop stick. My hand wraps around
the tool handle and grips the prop stick.
The boring bar, prop stick, and cart of shavings that came out of
the bowl bit by bit. The toolrest is out of position for the
photo.
The Parting Tool Post
You can make a custom tool rest from a single post of your tool rest post
diameter,
with a bevel on one side. Mine is 1 1/2" diameter, but the 1"
works great too.
With the post up close, a pointed gouge can remove a lot of material fast to
provide a relief undercut up to the screws.
One can use a small gouge to make fine shearing cuts trimming the
base of the bowl down
to a smaller diameter. down.The post in this position was used with a 3/8" gouge with a sharp
fingernail
grind to trim down
the mounting stock to the left of the parting tool slot,
before the parting tool
was used.
With the post up close and slightly to the right of the slot you get good
support for the parting tool.
Here is the post in 1" stock for my 1642 lathe.
And are the three posts, with one on the right widened to 1 1/2" by welding
a rod across the top.