Post by dicklaxt on Nov 16, 2009 5:19:15 GMT -6
You will need a brown paper grocery bag and a piece of 2 x 6 scrap lumber.
I learned this trick from our mutual friend Limey.I don't know if this was something he thought up or not but it sure is a good way to hold a blank when you don't have a chuck.
Mount a 3" faceplate in the approximate center of a bowl blank with lag screws,mounted to the side that will eventually be turned away(inside of bowl),mount faceplate and rough blank to spindle and turn a rough balance on the blank and true the side opposite the faceplate absolutely flat checking the surface with a metal staight edge,the side of a heavy scraper tool works great for this. Now remove the faceplate from the spindle and blank,set the blank aside and mount(use 3/4" lag screws) the faceplate to the center of a square piece of 2 x 6 with corners lopped off,mount to spindle and turn round and true the face of the 2 x 6 flat as you did the bowl blank.Watch out for the tips of the lag screws when turning down the face of the 2 x 6,don't cut away to much.You should now have a round block attached to the faceplate with a true flat face.
Next spread a thin coat of TiteBond II wood glue on the now turned 2 x 6 glue block face,the trued side of the bowl blank and both sides of a piece(slightly larger than the 2 x 6 glue block) of brown paper grocery bag(don't use brown wrapping paper it won't hold),sandwich all this together while still on the spindle working left to right,,,,the 2 x 6 turned glue block,the paper sheet and last the bowl blank(center the blank on the glue block by eye),bring the tail stock up and press everything firmly together being careful not to squeeze all the glue out.
Let this set in place for two hours and remove the set up from the lathe if you need to use the lathe or just leave it on the lathe overnight.When the drying period is over you can now turn the bowl,the glue joint is the base or foot of the bowl,complete all aspects of the bowl in this position,turning,sanding and finish.When turning the edges of the foot be very careful as a catch at this juncture is just waiting to happen.You will be turning between the blank and the headstock so be careful of this as its a little tight quartered,make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing.
Next we have to separate the glue joint,lay a towel across the ways or get a partner to catch the bowl, get a large butcher knife or meat cleaver,insert the knife or cleaver blade edge in the joint line and rap sharply with a hammer,the bowl will drop off,set the bowl aside and retrue the glue block by turning away the glue residue,( remember the lag screws are still in there).
The separation of the glue joint can be done with a parting tool in lieu of the knife/or cleaver but you shorten the life of the glue block by using this method.
Remove the faceplate and glue block as an assembly and side aside to be used again in the future on the next project.
There are methods of cleaning up the base of the bowl with other holding tool helpers ,compression chuck,friction chuck etc but we were going to do this without a chuck so get out the sand paper,scrapers etc and clean that foot up(keep it flat,don't you just hate a round bottomed bowl or plate) and apply the finish.
There you have it a bowl turned on a lathe with out a chuck.If I forgot a step holler or figure it out,,,,,,,,,,
Thanks Limey ,see you are still teaching.
dick
I learned this trick from our mutual friend Limey.I don't know if this was something he thought up or not but it sure is a good way to hold a blank when you don't have a chuck.
Mount a 3" faceplate in the approximate center of a bowl blank with lag screws,mounted to the side that will eventually be turned away(inside of bowl),mount faceplate and rough blank to spindle and turn a rough balance on the blank and true the side opposite the faceplate absolutely flat checking the surface with a metal staight edge,the side of a heavy scraper tool works great for this. Now remove the faceplate from the spindle and blank,set the blank aside and mount(use 3/4" lag screws) the faceplate to the center of a square piece of 2 x 6 with corners lopped off,mount to spindle and turn round and true the face of the 2 x 6 flat as you did the bowl blank.Watch out for the tips of the lag screws when turning down the face of the 2 x 6,don't cut away to much.You should now have a round block attached to the faceplate with a true flat face.
Next spread a thin coat of TiteBond II wood glue on the now turned 2 x 6 glue block face,the trued side of the bowl blank and both sides of a piece(slightly larger than the 2 x 6 glue block) of brown paper grocery bag(don't use brown wrapping paper it won't hold),sandwich all this together while still on the spindle working left to right,,,,the 2 x 6 turned glue block,the paper sheet and last the bowl blank(center the blank on the glue block by eye),bring the tail stock up and press everything firmly together being careful not to squeeze all the glue out.
Let this set in place for two hours and remove the set up from the lathe if you need to use the lathe or just leave it on the lathe overnight.When the drying period is over you can now turn the bowl,the glue joint is the base or foot of the bowl,complete all aspects of the bowl in this position,turning,sanding and finish.When turning the edges of the foot be very careful as a catch at this juncture is just waiting to happen.You will be turning between the blank and the headstock so be careful of this as its a little tight quartered,make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing.
Next we have to separate the glue joint,lay a towel across the ways or get a partner to catch the bowl, get a large butcher knife or meat cleaver,insert the knife or cleaver blade edge in the joint line and rap sharply with a hammer,the bowl will drop off,set the bowl aside and retrue the glue block by turning away the glue residue,( remember the lag screws are still in there).
The separation of the glue joint can be done with a parting tool in lieu of the knife/or cleaver but you shorten the life of the glue block by using this method.
Remove the faceplate and glue block as an assembly and side aside to be used again in the future on the next project.
There are methods of cleaning up the base of the bowl with other holding tool helpers ,compression chuck,friction chuck etc but we were going to do this without a chuck so get out the sand paper,scrapers etc and clean that foot up(keep it flat,don't you just hate a round bottomed bowl or plate) and apply the finish.
There you have it a bowl turned on a lathe with out a chuck.If I forgot a step holler or figure it out,,,,,,,,,,
Thanks Limey ,see you are still teaching.
dick
