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Hi Guys, What’s the best option for cutting holes through MDF.? I have a cheapo set of bi-metal hole saws, but they are struggling to cut through a 3/4 inch sheet of MDF. Is it the tools, or is it the MDF.? If it’s the MDF, what should I use to do the job ( 8 x 35mm holes) D.

Hi Guys, Thanks again for all your suggestions. I don’t have a problem marking the centre of a bowl blank. I either use a standard centre finder, or use my large transparent centre finder disc of the type to which Robbo referred. If I use a traditional faceplate, I use a rod with a nail in the...

Cutting disc in my angle grinder did the job. Thanks, guys. D

I have been given a faceplate ring . Marking a bowl blank centre in the usual way is ok , but should I then position the faceplate ring ‘by eye’, or is there a more accurate way of doing it? D

Thanks imageel.

Cheers, Roy. Would I need a generic metal cutting disc or a special stainless steel cutting disc, or some other sort? D.

Hi Guys I want to reshape a HSS Woodturning chisel by rounding the end. Grinding will take forever unless I can cut about an inch off before finishing it off on the grinder.. Is it possible to do that? The blade is about 1/4 inch thick, and about 1 inch wide. D.

Hi Pete, Thankfully I can change the belt on my Stratos without having to either remove the headstock spindle or cutting the old belt off. Phew!!!

Inspector ‘Drive Belts’ in the UK has replacement belts for the most popular lathe makes, but all are complete belts. The only machine for which a link belt is available is a Myford. Is it possible to use this belt on any machine? Mind you, I wouldn’t know where to start .

Get a copy of the late, great, Mark Clark’s book. ‘Woodturning - A Craftman’s Guide’. It covers the basics, with lots of good advice,and is very well illustrated by clear photographs. D.

Good point, Henniep. Looks like you’d have to take the headstock spindle out.

Good idea to wipe the motor.

Crofty I take your point. The head stock spindle centre height may be less than the distance of the motor from it, in which case, as you say, turning a bowl of maximum over the bed size would be no problem. It is difficult to judge this from the photographs, but, in any case it seems a really...

I’ve no idea about the make, but the motor mounted where it is seems a bit strange. It might interfere with turning a biggish bowl/platter. Hope you can identify it. Good luck with any restoration.

I can remember my mortgage interest rate being 15% . We mortgage payers struggled, but savers did very well. I’m now a pensioner. Mortgage rates are now very low, and thus good for mortgage payers, but interest rates on savings are almost non-existent. I feel people of my generation have been...

I generally agree with John in that I usually use traditional tools, finding them more versatile. Having said that, I do have a few carbide tip tools which I find useful as bowl scrapers. A member of my club uses nothing other than Easywood carbide tools, and produces some fantastic pieces with...

Have a look at Woodcrafts website.They produce decent carbide tools at a reasonable price. D.

Looked at the Sundstrom SR 540 EX. The headset is £244.43 . The motor unit is £694.19 (SR fan unit), or £1,172.18 ( SR 500 EX fan unit). Thus it’s all yours for £938.62 (if you opt for the non EX fan unit) or £1416.61 if you go for the full EX models. There are more expensive models eg. SR 580 ...

Amazing.

Thanks for that, dizjasta. It suggests I should experiment a bit, and see what happens D