Two ways to hold the work
| Point | Spindle turning | Faceplate turning |
|---|---|---|
| How it is held | Between a spur centre in the headstock and a live centre in the tailstock | From the headstock only: a faceplate screwed on, a glued backing block, or a chuck |
| Grain | Along the lathe's axis | Across the lathe's axis |
| Typical work | Legs, handles, knobs, rolling pins | Bowls, platters, coasters |
| Main tools (WEN) | Roughing gouge, spindle gouge, skew, parting tool | Bowl gouge, scrapers, parting tool |
| Cutting direction | Downhill: from larger diameter to smaller | Inside a bowl, from the rim towards the centre (WEN) |
After WEN's and Grizzly's lathe manuals. Holding methods and tools overlap; the table shows the usual case. Not a ranking.
The grain explains most of the difference. In a spindle the fibres run end to end, so a cut runs smoothly 'downhill' along them, from a larger diameter to a smaller one, as WEN instructs. In faceplate work the fibres pass across the axis, so the tool meets long grain twice and end grain twice in every turn, and the cut is managed differently.
Cutting and scraping
- Cutting. With a gouge or skew, the bevel rides on the wood just behind the edge, so the edge slices fibres in a shearing cut. WEN keeps the bevel tangent to the turning surface and warns against pushing the tool straight in.
- Scraping. A scraper's edge takes a fine shaving with less risk of a catch; WEN calls the round-nose scraper non-aggressive and uses it to smooth surfaces without removing much stock.
- Carbide tools. Held flat and level, without a bevel to rub; how they differ is explained in woodturning tools.
- A catch. When an edge digs in unsupported, the tool can be snatched; Grizzly sets the rest close to the work to keep leverage small if one happens.
The stages of a turning
| Stage | What happens | Tool (WEN) | Speed (WEN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roughing | The square blank is turned to a cylinder, to about 1/8 in over size | Roughing gouge | Low |
| Smoothing | High and low spots planed even | Skew chisel | Can be increased |
| Detail | Beads, coves and V-grooves | Spindle gouge, skew, parting tool | As the lathe's chart gives |
| Sanding | Cut marks removed, grit by grit | Abrasive, folded, never wrapped | Slower |
| Finishing | Finish applied with the lathe off, then buffed at low speed | Cloth or brush | Lowest to start |
| Parting off | The piece separated from its waste | Parting tool, then a saw | Slower |
WEN's sequence for spindle work, from its lathe manual; exact speeds come from each lathe's own chart. Not a ranking.
Choosing wood to turn
WEN asks for spindle stock that is straight-grained and free of cracks, knots and nails. Grizzly goes further: embedded objects can be dislodged and strike the turner, loose or large knots can make a piece break apart, and excessively warped stock is unbalanced and should never be turned at speed. Cut a blank close to round before mounting it, so less of it hits the tool on every turn. Choosing boards in general is covered in how to choose lumber.
Learning safely
Safety— Nine safe steps
The Association of Woodturners of Great Britain sets out nine checks for every start: a visor or goggles; solid shoes; loose items — long hair, sleeves, ties, jewellery — secured; a speed suitable for the job; the work properly held; the tool rest set at the right height and position; the work spun by hand to prove it clears the rest; the tool on the rest before it touches the wood; and stopping the lathe whenever you are unsure. Grizzly also requires a face shield and safety glasses. See woodworking safety rules.
- The machine: the lathe guide.
- A first spindle, step by step: how to use a lathe.
- First projects: wood lathe projects between centres; wood turning projects on a faceplate and in multiples.
- Sanding and finishing in general: how to sand wood and the wood finish guide.
Before a first turning
- Spindle or faceplate work: holding method chosen
- Blank sound, straight-grained, cut close to round
- Tools for each stage to hand and sharp
- Speed taken from the lathe's own chart
- Face protection on; the nine safe steps checked
Sources
Terms and stages follow WEN's and Grizzly's lathe manuals; the AWGB's checklist is its own. Speeds and settings are each lathe maker's and are not given here as universal figures. Turning green (unseasoned) wood and hollow forms are outside this reference.
- 1.
Model 34034 14" x 20" Variable Speed Wood Lathe, Instruction Manual. WEN Products (store-hosted copy), 2019.
Used for: Spindle turning between the spur centre and live centre in straight-grained stock free of cracks, knots and nails; faceplate or chuck mounting for bowls and plates; the bevel kept tangent to the work for a shearing cut, cuts downhill from large diameter to small and never started at the end; roughing, beads, coves, V-grooves, parting, sanding and finishing as stages; the scraper as a non-aggressive tool; slower speeds to start, for parting and for sanding.
- 2.
Model G0844 14" x 20" Benchtop Wood Lathe, Owner's Manual. Grizzly Industrial, 2019.
Used for: Spindle and faceplate turning defined; mounting on a faceplate or a glued backing block; workpieces checked for knots, splits, nails and excessive warping, which can break apart or be thrown; turning tools in five categories.
- 3.
Woodturning Safety Guidance. Association of Woodturners of Great Britain.
Used for: A nine-point checklist for starting: eye or face protection, solid shoes, loose items secured, a speed suitable for the job, the work properly held, the tool rest set, the work spun to clear the rest, the tool on the rest before it engages, and stopping when unsure.
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